When I’m digging into what questions I want to try and challenge you with—sometimes I find some details that I think are pretty cool. Here is something that intrigued me—and will lead to a question below.
On March 21st throughout the entire decade - there were 10 Billboard Hot 100 #1 songs for that day/week. Nothing surprising here—but when you look at the songs that were #1 on that particular day/week—some big hitters were there.
A breakdown of all the #1 songs on March 21st:
March 21, 1980 - Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen. Arguably one of their top 5 hits of all time—definitely top 10. Was #1 for four weeks—tied for third-most #1 weeks that year.
March 21, 1981 - Keep On Loving You - REO Speedwagon. Hated the song; hated the band Pt. 1….but it was their first #1 single. Only made it one week.
March 21, 1982 - I Love Rock n Roll - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts. Tied for most weeks at #1 that year at seven weeks. Their only #1 hit. Insane smash hit.
March 21, 1983 - Billie Jean - Michael Jackson. I mean, c’mon.—Monster hit—seven weeks at #1 that year—crazy that it was the second-most weeks to Every Breath You Take—but took Michael to another level.
March 21, 1984 - Jump - Van Halen. Their biggest hit and only #1 hit. Stayed #1 for five weeks—tied for the most amount of #1 weeks that year. Took them to a new level as a band.
March 21, 1985 - Can’t Fight This Feeling - REO Speedwagon. Hated the song; hated the band Pt. 2…but this one made it three weeks at the top—which was tied for the most weeks that year. Their second and final #1 hit.
March 21, 1986 - Sara - Starship. Yawn. One week wonder. But kudos. I guess.
March 21, 1987 - Lean On Me - Club Nouveau. Made it two weeks at the top—cool little One-Hit Wonder remake.
March 21, 1988 - Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley. Made it two weeks at #1, and seems like it’s become more popular over the years— Astley was the man!(F.A.T. Editors Note: See S1: Episode 20)
In my opinion - three all-time classics that took these artists to an entirely new level- I Love Rock n Roll, Billie Jean, and Jump. Two hits that were just a little behind being all-time classics - Crazy Little Thing Called Love & Never Gonna Give You Up. Lean On Me is on many lists of Top One-Hit Wonders of the 80s. And two REO Speedwagon songs that I’m guessing plenty of high school kids danced to. No comment on Sara.
This is Part 1—Let’s look at the 90’s next week, oddly for the same date.
If you notice—I skipped 1989…..see Anything Goes below.
TV 📺
Before & After💥
In honor of J.R. Ewing getting shot on March 21, 1980—let’s dabble with a deep-cut Dallas question. Before he went on to much bigger and better things on the big screen—this future Academy Award winning actor appeared in four episodes of Season 11 in 1987 & 1988. He portrayed “Randy”, a boyfriend of one of the teenage characters on the show.
Name this future movie star.
Movies🎬🍿
Name This/Movie Quotes💥
“I just thought he was real quiet.”
Name this 1994 comedy—and the two characters pictured below.
Music🎧📻
Music Videos….As Described by A.I.💥
Who is the artist and what is this 1986 hit song that A.I. described here?
Opening Scene – The video begins with abstract imagery of cells dividing and an egg hatching, symbolizing creation and life. This sets the tone for the surreal, transformative visuals that follow.
The Singers Face and Stop-Motion Animation – The singers face appears as he sings directly to the camera. Stop-motion animation surrounds him with shifting patterns of fruit, fish, and everyday objects, creating a playful and constantly evolving backdrop.
Dancing Chickens and Claymation – Animated clay chickens "dance" in sync with the music, while the singers face is morphed and manipulated through claymation techniques, adding to the whimsical, surreal feel.
Train Set and Roller Coaster Effects – The singers head appears as a landscape where a toy train runs around his face, symbolizing movement and progress. Stop-motion and cutout animation give the scene a handcrafted, tactile quality.
Dancing Fruit and Human Motion – The singers body is replaced by stop-motion fruit and vegetables that assemble and reassemble to the beat. Dancers’ hands and arms create synchronized patterns around him, blending human and animated motion.
Face Distortion and Lightning Effects – The singers face is manipulated with digital distortion and lightning effects as the intensity of the song builds. Animated shapes and light patterns reflect the growing energy of the track.
Final Scene (Floating and Vanishing) – The video concludes with the singer lying down as animated stars and light trails pass over him. He peacefully fades away, symbolizing completion and release.
Anything Goes🍟📖🏆🪀🗓️
Hodge-Podge💥
From 1987 - 1989, this solo artist had seven Billboard Top 20 hits—and this was her second and final #1. It actually was #1 for three weeks during the March 21, 1989 timeframe.
Who is this artist and what is her second #1 hit song?
Submit your answers and chat more about trivia. Just send me an email at finalanswertrivia@gmail.com.
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