The 80’s was a great decade for music. With artists like Bon Jovi, Queen, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and more the music of that decade was a hit.
Even today, people born way after the 80s are familiar with 80’s music and all it had to offer. Whether your parents played 80’s music constantly when you were growing up, or you’re just an old soul who found the genre on your own, this 80s music quiz is for you.
These 80’s music trivia questions and answers showcase all there is about the decade and what music back then had to offer. There was a wide variety of artists from that decade who went on to be legends in the music industry.
This trivia quiz will test your knowledge of all there is to know about 80’s music. Take it with your parents, friends, or by yourself and see how far your knowledge goes!
If you’re looking for more trivia about music, check out our 90’s music quiz, 60’s music, 70’s music trivia, and our 80’s pop culture quiz!
Who sang ‘Like a Prayer’?
Heart
Los Lobos
Paula Abdul
Madonna
What artist’s collection of songs spent the most time at number one on the Billboard charts in the 1980s?
Lionel Richie
George Michael
Michael Jackson
Paul McCartney
Just like that river twisting through a dusty land’ is from which Duran Duran song?
Girls on Film
Rio
Save a Prayer
Is There Something I Should Know
Happened so naturally, I did not know it was love’ is from which Chaka Khan song?
Through the Fire
Missing You
I Feel For You
Ain’t Nobody
What Bonnie Tyler song spent four weeks at number one on the Billboard chart?
All Night Long
Lady
Eye Of The Tiger
Total Eclipse Of The Heart
He came into her apartment, He left the bloodstains on the carpet’ is from which Michael Jackson song?
Billie Jean
Thriller
Heal the World
Smooth Criminal
Who scored a number one hit on the charts with the song ‘Toy Soldiers’?
Bad English
Tiffany
Martika
Milli Vanilli
Who scored a spot on the charts with ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’?
Phil Collins
Judas Priest
Guns N’ Roses
KISS
Alone in the night as the daylight brings, A cool, empty silence’ is from which song?
Raspberry Beret
Time After Time
I Want to Break Free
Vienna
I was a PFC on a search patrol huntin’ Charlie down’ is from which military-themed song?
In the Army Now
19
In the Navy
Camouflage
What band did Joan Jett sing with on her albums?
The Pacemakers
The Blackhearts
The Banshees
The Backups
Girl you are to me, all that a woman should be’ is from which song by Atlantic Starr?
Sometimes
Forever
Always
Immediately
Which of these is an ’80s Phil Collins song?
Born in the U.S.A.
London Calling
Bust a Move
In the Air Tonight
I guess I should of known, By the way you parked your car sideways’ is from which Prince song?
Little Red Corvette
Raspberry Beret
1999
Purple Rain
Who spent three weeks at number in 1987 with the song ‘Alone’?
Falco
Heart
Nelson
Van Halen
I don’t want half hearted love affairs’ is the start of which song?
Papa Don’t Preach
Straight Up
Cherish
Perfect
Give me time to realize my crime’ is the start of which Culture Club song?
Karma Chameleon
Do You Really Want to Hurt Me
Church of the Poisoned Mind
Miss Me Blind
Who sang the number one hit ‘Who Can It Be Now’?
Air Supply
Stars On 45
Christopher Cross
Men At Work
Hey little sister what have you done’ is the first line of which song?
Jump
Heal the World
White Wedding
Nasty
Which UK band released the hit ‘Tainted Love’ in the ’80s?
The Police
Tight Fit
Black Box
Soft Cell
Who sang ‘I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)’ with George Michael in 1987?
Aretha Franklin
Whitney Houston
Paula Abdul
Diana Ross
And you can dance, For inspiration’ is the start of which Madonna song?
Into the Groove
Crazy For You
Gambler
Material Girl
Into the sea, You and me, All these years and no one heard’ is from a song by which group?
Van Halen
Iron Maiden
The Cure
Big Country
And the night goes by so very slow, Oh I hope that it won’t end though’ is from a song by which group?
Mr Mister
Heart
Wham
Erasure
Who sang ‘On My Own’ with Patti LaBelle?
Stevie Wonder
Phil Collins
Michael McDonald
Bon Jovi
Who sang ‘Like A Virgin’?
Debbie Gibson
Madonna
Lionel Richie
The Police
It’s strong and it’s sudden and it’s cruel sometimes’ is from which song?
The Power of Love
How Will I Know
Purple Rain
Stand and Deliver
What group hung tough for a week on the charts at number one with ‘Hangin’ Tough’?
Fine Young Cannibals
Mike + The Mechanics
New Kids On The Block
The Bangles
1989 the number another summer’ is from a song by which group?
Run DMC
NWA
Aerosmith
Public Enemy
Every generation, Blames the one before’ is the first line of which hit?
You Got It
The Living Years
Love Train
Loco In Acapulco
I can’t get any rest, People say I’m obsessed’ is from which song by the Fine Young Cannibals?
Johnny Come Home
Suspicious Minds
She Drives Me Crazy
Good Thing
Who sang the songs ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ and ‘Atmosphere’?
The Smiths
Talking Heads
The Specials
Joy Division
What song by Cutting Crew spent two weeks at number one in the 1980s?
(I Just) Died In Your Arms
Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now
Amanda
At This Moment
I pictured a rainbow, You held it in your hand’ is from which song?
Whole of the Moon
Dignity
Fisherman’s Blues
Real Gone Kid
Who sang ‘Say, Say, Say’ with Paul McCartney?
Luther Vandross
Stevie Wonder
Lionel Richie
Michael Jackson
What group scored a hit with the song ‘The Flame’?
Atlantic Starr
Simply Red
Cheap Trick
INXS
Give me so much love, That I forget myself’ is from a song by which group?
Pet Shop Boys
Tears for Fears
Eurythmics
Duran Duran
What singer earned a song on the charts with ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’?
Debbie Gibson
Tiffany
Rick Astley
Billy Ocean
And now we’re flyin’ through the stars, I hope this night will last forever’ is from a song by which artist?
Whitney Houston
Dionne Warwick
Aretha Franklin
Chaka Khan
Just like every cowboy sings his sad, sad song’ is from which song by Poison?
Unskinny Bop
Stand
Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Fallen Angel
All the Japanese with their yen, The party boys call the Kremlin’ is from which song?
When Doves Cry
Walk Like an Egyptian
Sweet Dreams
Love is a Battlefield
Who sang the one hit wonder ‘She Blinded Me With Science’?
Eddy Grant
Gary Numan
Robbie Dupree
Thomas Dolby
Who sang the song ‘Say You, Say Me’?
Michael Jackson
Dionne Warwick
Prince
Lionel Richie
Who spent two weeks at the top of the charts in the 80s with ‘One More Night’?
Foreigner
Phil Collins
John Parr
Bryan Adams
Which of these was a hit album for Poison in 1988?
Every Tree Has Leaves
Everybody Loves Chris
Every Song Is a Love Song
Every Rose Has It’s Thorn
Who had a hit in the 1980s with ‘Venus’?
Bruce Hornsby & The Range
Berlin
Bananarama
Gregory Abbott
I was beat, Incomplete, I’d been had, I was sad and blue’ is from which Madonna song?
Crazy For You
Material Girl
Like a Virgin
Dress You Up
He says that he’s going to marry me, We can raise a little family’ is from which song?
Into the Groove
Papa Don’t Preach
Material Girl
Like A VIrgin
What group had a hit in the ’80s with ‘Take On Me’?
INXS
Wham!
Eurythmics
A-ha
I had a dream when I was young, A dream of sweet illusion’ is from which Queen song?
Radio Ga-Ga
Under Pressure
One Vision
I Want to Break Free
And if I stare too long, I’d probably break down and cry’ is from which song?
How Will I Know
Dancing on the Ceiling
Sweet Child O Mine
Rumours
Diana Ross sang the hit song ‘Endless Love’ with whom?
Michael Jackson
Lionel Richie
Stevie Wonder
Paul McCartney
I’ve seen the signs and the looks and pictures, That give your game away, yeah’ is from which Duran Duran song?
Is there something I should know?
All She Wants Is
Wild Boys
Rio
But I’m quite sure that you’ll tell me, Just how I should feel today’ is from which song by New Order?
Blue Monday
Temptation
Dream Attack
True Faith
Which ’80s band wanted to: ‘make music like a factory would build a car, with a designer’s attention to detail’?
Tubeway Army
ABC
Depeche Mode
Spandau Ballet
What group had a number one hit in the 1980s with ‘Invisible Touch’?
Genesis
Human League
Simply Red
Pet Shop Boys
Fun and sunshine, there’s enough for everyone’ is from which Wham song?
Last Christmas
Wild Boys
Club Tropicana
Wake Me Up Before you Go-Go
I’ve never been closer, I’ve tried to understand’ is the first line of which song?
Words
Beat It
Africa
Temptation
Good morning miss, Can I help you son’ is the first line of which Madness song?
Michael Caine
Baggy Trousers
House of Fun
Embarrassment
Who spent a week at number one with ‘The Way You Make Me Feel’?
INXS
Michael McDonald
George Harrison
Michael Jackson
What U2 song spent the most time at number one of the Billboard charts in the 80s?
Tomorrow
With Or Without You
Beautiful Day
Two Hearts Beat As One
It doesn’t matter what they say, In the jealous games people play’ is from which song?
Our Lips are Sealed
Every Breath You Take
Living on a Prayer
Don’t Want To Miss a Thing
Bobby McFerrin scored a number one hit in the 80s with what song?
Love Bites
Another Brick in the Wall
A Groovy Kind of Love
Don’t Worry, Be Happy
How, how can it be, That a love carved out of caring’ is from which song by Level 42?
Something About You
Lessons in Love
Running in the Family
Children Say
A few stolen moments is all that we share’ is the start of which Whitney Houston song?
How Will I Know
I Wanna Dance with Somebody
Live Forever
Saving All My Love For You
I met a strange lady, she made me nervous, She took me in and gave me’ what, according to Men at Work?
Cookies
Breakfast
Coffee
Kisses
Cause teacher, There are things that I don’t want to learn’ is from which George Michael song?
Careless Whisper
One More Try
Father Figure
Faith
Caroline laughs, and it’s raining all day, Loves to be one of the girls’ is from a song by which group?
Iron Maiden
Psychedelic Furs
Proclaimers
Van Halen
How many number one hits did Michael Jackson have in the 1980s?
8
11
10
9
What group had a hit in the 80s with ‘Take On Me’?
A-ha
Wham!
Eurythmics
INXS
Who sang the song ‘Cold Hearted’?
Bon Jovi
Rick James
Paula Abdul
Richard Marx
Who sang the song ‘Up Where We Belong’ with Joe Cocker?
Amy Grant
Kim Carnes
Jennifer Warnes
Ann Wilson
What band sang the hit song ‘Centerfold’?
Genesis
Van Halen
The J. Geils Band
Aerosmith
What was the only number one hit in the 1980s for Billy Idol?
Sweet Sixteen
Rebel Yell
White Wedding
Mony Mony
Who sang the pop song ‘Open Your Heart’?
Tiffany
Whitney Houston
Debbie Gibson
Madonna
The band Toto had only one number one song in the 80s. What was it?
Let’s Dance
Africa
Come On Eileen
Missing You
How can you see looking through those tears?’ asked which group?
Men at Work
Abba
Erasure
Mental as Anything
Who scored three number one hits including ‘Baby Don’t Forget My Number,’ ‘Girl I’m Gonna Miss You’ and ‘Blame It On The Rain’?
Culture Club
Milli Vanilli
New Kids On The Block
Mr. Mister
Who was the best-selling female artist of the decade?
Whitney Houston
Madonna
Tina Turner
Janet Jackson
Who scored a number one hit by singing with Kenny Rogers for the song ‘Islands in the Stream’?
Patti Austin
Loretta Lynn
Deniece Williams
Dolly Parton
Who had a hit in the 1980s with ‘The Greatest Love of All’?
Dionne Warwick
Whitney Houston
Debbie Gibson
Madonna
Who sang the song ‘Billie Jean’?
Michael Jackson
Stevie Wonder
Diana Ross
Lionel Richie
What hugely successful (to this day) song did Journey release in 1981?
Open Arms
Don’t Stop Believin
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
Wheel in the Sky
Which song spent the most weeks at number one and became the most successful song on the Billboard in the 1980s?
Like a Virgin
Every Breath You Take
Physical
I Love Rock ‘n Roll
It’s such a shame our friendship had to end’ is from which Prince song?
Purple Rain
1999
When Doves Cry
Raspberry Beret
Walk This Way’ was released by Run-D.M.C. in which year?
1988
1989
1986
1983
Can you hear me calling, Out your name’ is from which song by Fleetwood Mac?
Rumours
Everywhere
Big Love
Little Lies
What band sang the hit song ‘Jump’?
Mötley Crüe
Aerosmith
Van Halen
The J. Geils Band
Bobby McFerrin scored a number one hit in the ’80s with what song?
A Groovy Kind of Love
Love Bites
Another Brick in the Wall
Don’t Worry, Be Happy
What group sang the hit song ‘Every Breath You Take’/
Genesis
Survivor
The Police
The J. Geils Band
I’ve fallen in love, I’ve fallen in love for the first time’ is from which Queen song?
We Will Rock You
I Want to Break Free
Killer Queen
Radio Ga-Ga
Movie and TV star Bruce Willis became a one-hit wonder with what hit song?
Obsession
Two Of Hearts
Respect Yourself
At This Moment
Who had two number one hits in the 80s with ‘The Look’ and ‘Listen To Your Heart’?
Simple Minds
Roxette
Simply Red
Robert Palmer
Who released an album named Swordfishtrombones in 1983?
Tom Waits
David Bowie
They Might Be Giants
Talking Heads
What group got a spot on the charts with a cover of the song ‘La Bamba’?
Ollin
The Premiers
Santana
Los Lobos
What band scored hits on the charts with ‘Careless Whisper’ and ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go’?
Falco
Tears For Fears
REO Speedwagon
Wham!
What group sang the song ‘Walk Like an Egyptian’?
The Bangles
The J. Geils Band
Bananarama
The Blackhearts
Weird Al Yankovic found himself on the Billboard charts with ‘Eat It,’ a parody of what musician’s hit single ‘Beat It’?
Madonna
Michael Jackson
Prince
The Police
I’ve got the brains you’ve got the looks, Let’s make lots of money’ suggested which group?
Metallica
Erasure
Duran Duran
Pet Shop Boys
Who scored a number one hit with the song ‘Morning Train (Nine to Five)’?
Debbie Gibson
Dolly Parton
Madonna
Sheena Easton
Who sang the hit song ‘The Next Time I Fall’ with Amy Grant in 1986?
Gregory Abbott
Eddie Rabbitt
Bruce Hornsby
Peter Cetera
You can do better
Not bad
Great!