Which '80s Song Is Your Theme Song?

By: Amanda Monell
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Which '80s Song Is Your Theme Song?
Image: Sire and Warner Bros.

About This Quiz

Many think the 1980s was the dawn of the digital era. New technologies were popping up in almost every aspect of life. From heart transplants and compact synthesizers to personal computers and DNA mapping, no one could deny the '80s was a big deal. Fashion was no exception, with bright neon colors littering the landscape. And with loud fashion came even louder music.

Music was fun, catchy and, most notably, dance-able.  Instead of performing live, many of the hits had music videos, each with a bigger production budget than the last. To show the world the true definition of a music video, Michael Jackson released "Thriller" in 1983, the third video from his album of the same name. Director John Landis and special effects guru Rick Baker (director and Academy Award-winning makeup artist for "An American Werewolf in London") helped bring Michael Jackson's horror-movie themed video to life. And with horror icon Vincent Price providing voice-overs and a 45-minute documentary following it, "Thriller" became a masterpiece.  

It wasn't just the men spending big bucks on videos. Madonna had a slew of tuxedo-clad men in her "Material Girl" video. She then followed that up with a lion and trips to Venice and New York for her "Like a Virgin" video. She even held a contest that decade for the bragging rights (and $25,000) for creating the concept for her "True Blue" video. 

So in the name of big hair and bigger personalities, what would be the theme song of your life?  One way to find out is to take this quiz!

Which Madonna song would you sing at karaoke?
"Papa Don't Preach"
"Like a Prayer"
"Like a Virgin"
I'd rather sing something else.

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Name the music genre that is most represented on your playlist.
Pop
Electronica
Indie
Punk rock

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Select the song you would play at your wedding.
"(I've Had) The Time of My Life" by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
"Love My Way" by the Psychedelic Furs
"Endless Love" by Lionel Ritchie and Diana Ross
"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" by Queen

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You're on a road trip. Which song would be blaring out your sound system?
"Vacation" by The Go-Go's
"Pink Cadillac" by Bruce Springsteen
"Freeway of Love" by Aretha Franklin
"Get Out of My Dreams, Get Into My Car" by Billie Ocean

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Which one-hit wonder wrote your jam?
"I Want Candy" by Bow Wow Wow
"99 Luftballoons" by Nena
"Come on Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners
"Mickey" by Toni Basil

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You want to pack something to read on the plane. What will it be?
A "Choose Your Own Adventure" book
A fashion magazine
"Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte
A biography on The Misfits band

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Tiffany rose to stardom by singing in malls. Which of her songs did you most relate to?
"I Think We're Alone Now"
"Could Have Been"
"Promises Made"
"Walk Away While You Can"

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You're doing homework when a Debbie Gibson song comes on the radio. Which song would have you grabbing your brush and singing into it like it's a mic?
All of them!
"Foolish Beat"
"Lost in Your Eyes"
"Electric Youth"

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Choose the song that most speaks to you, based on geographic location.
"Angel of Harlem" by U2
"Africa" by Toto
"Born in the U.S.A." by Bruce Springsteen
"One Night in Bangkok" by Murray Head

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What color boombox did you own?
Pink
Silver
Red
Black with stickers

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Which Wham! song got your feet tapping?
"Club Tropicana"
"Do It Right"
"Careless Whisper"
"Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go"

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Rap and hip hop were in their infancy in the '80s. Which song did you like the most?
"Push It" by Salt-N-Pepa
"She's Crafty" by the Beastie Boys
"The Message" by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
"Rapper's Delight" by Sugarhill Gang

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You've met someone amazing. Which song would you sing to them?
I'd write my own song.
"Diamond Are a Girl's Best Friend" by Marilyn Monroe
"Party In the U.S.A." by Miley Cyrus
"Only You (And You Alone)" by The Platters

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Which song best describes your school days?
"Hot for Teacher" by Van Halen
I didn't really care for school.
"Smokin' in the Boys Room" by Mötley Crüe
"(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party)" by Beastie Boys

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Michael Jackson exploded onto the scene in the '80s. Which of his hits do you dig the most?
"The Way You Make Me Feel"
"Bad"
"Thriller"
"Billie Jean"

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Which country song would you dance to at a honky-tonk?
"Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses" by Kathy Mattea
I wouldn't be caught dead at a honky-tonk.
"All My Ex's Live in Texas" by George Strait
"Why Not Me" by The Judds

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Select your favorite New Kids On The Block song.
"Hangin' Tough"
"Cover Girl"
"What'Cha Gonna Do (About It)"
"I Need You"

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Choose a song about work you would play during your commute to the office.
"Manic Monday" by The Bangles
"Just Got Paid" by Johnny Kemp
"9 to 5" by Dolly Parton
"Money for Nothing" by Dire Straits

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Glam rock was huge in the '80s. Which of these bands did you most prefer?
Poison
Guns N' Roses
Warrant
Ratt

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When it came to glam rock, Poison was a top contender with its style of music. Which of their tunes did you most dig?
"Every Rose Has its Thorn"
"Nothin' But a Good Time"
"Talk Dirty to Me"
"#1 Bad Boy"

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Which Guns N' Roses song speaks to you the most?
"One in a Million"
"Paradise City"
"Patience"
"Reckless Life"

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In 1989, Metallica became the first metal band to appear on a Grammy broadcast. Which of their songs would you bang your head to?
"Whiplash"
"Master of Puppets"
"Seek & Destroy"
"Am I Evil?"

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The '80s had some incredible movies. Which soundtrack gave you the chills?
"(I've Had) The Time of My Life" from "Dirty Dancing"
"Live to Tell" from "At Close Range"
"The Goonies 'R' Good Enough" from "The Goonies"
"Beyond Thunderdome" from "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome"

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In your opinion, what made the '80s music so awesome?
'80s music is so much fun!
The music was so innovative.
The songs are so sweet.
A lot of the music was so raw and full of passion!

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You've just found out your significant other cheated on you. Which song would you play to cheer yourself up?
I wouldn't mope; I'd just go out and look for someone new.
"Cold-Hearted Snake" by Paula Abdul
"Love Bites" by Def Leppard
"Hit Me With Your Best Shot" by Pat Benatar

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Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start The Fire" lit up the charts in 1989. Were you a fan?
It had a pretty catchy hook.
Loved it!
Goodness, no! It was so depressing.
It was okay.

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If you were an actor, which movie would you have been cast in?
"When a Man Loves a Woman"
"Pretty Woman"
"Coyote Ugly"
"Indecent Proposal"

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Your mohawk drew inspiration from which song?
"Our Lips Are Sealed" by The Go-Go's
"I Love Rock 'n' Roll" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" by U2
"Call Me" by Blondie

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Which duet had you singing along?
"Ebony and Ivory" by Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney
"Easy Lover," performed by Philip Bailey and Phil Collins
"When Love Comes to Town" performed by B.B. King and U2.
"Islands in the Stream" performed by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers.

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Several artists have revisited old '80s songs. Which of these remakes is your favorite?
I only listen to original material.
"It's My Life" by No Doubt
"Land of Confusion" by Disturbed
"I Hate Myself for Loving You" by Halestorm

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You Got: