Make an ’80s Playlist and We'll Guess Your Job

By: Ian Fortey
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Make an ’80s Playlist and We'll Guess Your Job
Image: pidjoe / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

The 1980s may have produced some extremely questionable fashion choices, but if nothing else, it was a decade of some pretty memorable music. Was all of it awesome? Of course not, but what decade produced nothing but great music? There's an incredible mix of loud and crazy metal, peppy, upbeat pop songs, catchy dance hits, soulful R&B and maybe even a few rock anthems that have endured. You can tell it was a decade of memorable music because we're still discussing it decades later. 

These are the songs that defined a generation of people. They shaped thoughts and opinions that provided a soundtrack for major events both on a world scale and a personal one. It's important and influential music. It's so important and so influential that we can probably glean some important details about your life from nothing more than your taste in '80s music. And not just obvious stuff like which member of the Jackson 5 you liked the most. Much more in-depth information like, for instance, what you do for a living in the here and now in this decade. Not sure such a thing is possible? Open up your '80s music heart to us and take the quiz, you'll see what we mean!

If you need to start the day on the right foot, what band is going to be first on the playlist?
AC/DC
Madonna
Prince
Michael Jackson

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Few musicians made an impact like David Bowie. What's his best '80s hit?
"Ashes to Ashes"
"Let's Dance"
"Under Pressure"
"Fashion"

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If you were hitting up the dance floor, what '80s tune was getting your feet moving?
"Super Freak" by Rick James
"Push It" by Salt-n-Pepa
"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper
"Flashdance" by Irena Cara

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They didn't call Michael Jackson the "King of Pop" for nothing. What was his best '80s song?
"Thriller"
"Beat It"
"Billie Jean"
"The Way You Make Me Feel"

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If Michael Jackson was the King of Pop then Madonna was likely the Queen. Pick your favorite Madonna tune.
"Like a Virgin"
"Material Girl"
"Express Yourself"
"Into the Groove"

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If you like things with a bit more oomph there's always Guns n Roses. What was their best song?
"Welcome to the Jungle"
"Patience"
"Sweet Child O' Mine"
"Paradise City"

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Prince really made his mark in the '80s. Did you have a favorite Prince track?
"Darling Nikki"
"Raspberry Beret"
"Little Red Corvette"
"Purple Rain"

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They call him "The Boss." What's the best Bruce Springsteen tune?
"Born in the USA"
"Dancing in the Dark"
"Glory Days"
"Hungry Heart"

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The '80s didn't start the British Invasion but the Brits still held their own. What was the best British act in the '80s?
The Police
David Bowie
Elton John
Joy Division

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Modern hip-hop owes a lot to the bands that took off in the '80s. Who was the best one?
N.W.A.
Run D.M.C
Beastie Boys
Grandmaster Flash

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Boy bands may have dominated the '90s and 2000s but there were some solid girl bands in the '80s. Pick your favorite!
The Bangles
The Go-Gos
Sister Sledge
Salt-n-Pepa

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It's Bon Jovi time! Pick your favorite track.
"Wanted Dead or Alive"
"You Give Loves a Bad Name"
"Livin' on a Prayer"
"Bad Medicine"

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If you have to queue up a Def Leppard song, what would it most likely be?
"Rock of Ages"
"Pour Some Sugar on Me"
"Photograph"
"Animal"

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It's hard to deny Lionel Richie's popularity back in the day. Which of his songs is best?
"Dancing on the Ceiling"
"Hello"
"Endless Love"
"All Night Long"

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Teen pop stars had a good decade in the '80s, but who was the best of the bunch?
The Jets
Tiffany
New Kids on the Block
Debbie Gibson

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John Hughes directed "The Breakfast Club" and "Sixteen Candles" and a ton of other iconic '80s movies. Which song from his films is your favorite?
"Oh Yeah" by Yello from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"
"Don't You (Forget About Me" by Simple Minds from "The Breakfast Club"
"Pretty in Pink" by the Psychedelic Furs from "Pretty in Pink"
"Holiday Road" by Lindsey Buckingham from "National Lampoon's Vacation"

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Cyndi Lauper kept it fun for that whole decade. Which of her songs is worth another listen?
"The Goonies R Good Enough"
"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"
"True Colors"
"She Bop"

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If you were going to pick a single Elton John song from the '80s to listen to, what would it be?
"I'm Still Standing"
"Empty Garden"
"I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues"
"Little Jeannie"

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If you're throwing an '80s party, which of these tracks must be played no matter what?
"She Drives Me Crazy" by Fine Young Cannibals
"I Wanna Dance with Somebody" by Whitney Houston
"Take on Me" by A-Ha
"Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey

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Some of the best tunes from the '80s were one-hit wonders. Pick your favorite.
"99 Red Balloons" by Nena
"Come on Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners
"I Ran" by A Flock of Seagulls
"Safety Dance" by Men Without Hats

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If you had to pick but one hair band to be the greatest of all '80s hair bands, who would it be?
Twisted Sister
Motley Crue
Poison
Quiet Riot

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Some songs got a little sexy in the '80s. Which one was the steamiest?
"Pour Some Sugar on Me" by Def Leppard
"Sexual Healing" by Marvin Gaye
"Physical" by Olivia Newton-John
"I Want Your Sex" by George Michael

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Love is a rocky road to travel some days. What '80s tune was the best breakup song?
"Every Rose Has Its Thorn" by Poison
"Careless Whisper" by George Michael
"Don't You Want Me" by the Human League
"Goodbye to You" by Scandal

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Annie Lennox and the Eurythmics were pretty awesome. What was your favorite song?
"Sweet Dreams"
"Here Comes the Rain Again"
"Would I Lie to You"
"Missionary Man"

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No matter the decade, some bands just won't get the fame they deserve. Which '80s band was super underrated?
Dokken
When in Rome
Europe
Crowded House

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You can't have an '80s playlist without The Clash. Pick one of their best!
"Rock the Casbah"
"Should I Stay or Should I Go"
"London Calling"
"White Man (in Hammersmith Palais)"

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Madonna stands out as one of the most powerful female voices of the '80s but she was far from alone. What other woman rocked the mic?
Joan Jett
Tina Turner
Whitney Houston
Cyndi Lauper

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Like it or not, New Kids on the Block paved the way for years and years worth of modern boy bands. What was their greatest hit?
"Hangin' Tough"
"Step by Step"
"Please Don't Go Girl"
"The Right Stuff"

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What musical genre do you think really made its mark in the '80s?
Metal
Punk
Rap
Pop

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This has mostly been focused on what you want to hear. What '80s song will never, ever get onto your playlist?
"We Built This City" by Starship
"The Final Countdown" by Europe
"Rock Me Amadeus" by Falco
"Don't Worry Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin

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You Got: