Last week's weeks Trivia Challenge concerned itself with a seasonal theme for the day (our post valentines salute to love gone wrong), so there was no mention of the Grammy awards ceremony that took place earlier that week.

Every year the I scan the list of Grammy nominees and winners to see if artists or trends from the 80's are in evidence. The big story this year was the Dixie Chicks, who overcame a rather undeserved reputation as pariahs and took home five Grammys (funny, criticizing the president only seemed to help Green Day).

There's not a whole lot of country music that shows up in an 80's play list, but I do remember that there was a lot of talk back then about the 'new country' that was emerging. Artists like Dwight Yokham, Marty Stuart, and K.D. Lang were redefining what the genre meant to people. If one were to look for an 80's equivalent of the Dixie Chicks, one might settle on The Judds. True, The Judds never attacked Reagan's military strategies, and where the Dixie Chicks are a trio, The Judds were a duo (if only Ashley Judd had pursued singing instead of acting . . . )

Nevertheless, The Judds were the most successful country duo of the era, and they won the Grammy for "Best Country Performance By A Duo Or A Group With Vocal" four times during the 80's ('84, '85, '86, & '88). The Judds won their first Grammy for their first number one single on the Billboard Country chart. What was the name of the song?

Bonus Question: I will confess that if my mother hadn't been such a huge Judds fan I would have been oblivious to The Judds and anything else from the country scene. Dance music and club music doesn't get represented quite as thoroughly as country, but there were two awards this year.

80's artists dominated the categories, with one nomination for Depeche Mode and two for the Pet Shop Boys. Madonna got nominations in both categories, and took home the award for "Best Electronic/Dance Album." Madonna got nominations back in the 80's, but no awards. She got her first Grammy in 1991 for "Best Long Form Video" (For the "Blonde Ambition World Tour: Live!), and then picked up a bunch of awards in 1999 for "Ray Of Light." So what was the name of the song that got Madonna her first ever Grammy nomination back in the 80's?

The 80's were a great time for tragic songs about love gone wrong. Back then, love was tainted, love was a battlefield, and modern love just walked on by. Love was a stranger, a bizarre triangle that would tear us apart again. Seems like only Tiffany was having a good time with it.

So, with such a wealth of great 80's tunes for the broken hearted, this Thursday's post Valentines salute to songs of spite and betrayal could very well go into the next day (but of course it can't). If ever there was a band that could throw together an ode to disappointment, it was Depeche Mode. They had some great love songs too, but every album included at least one cut that cut through the heart.

I specifically remember a friend of mine breaking up with his girl to the tune of "Leave In Silence." Cold blooded. Subsequent albums included gems like "Love In Itself," "Lie To Me," and the classic "Policy Of Truth." So what was the name of the Depeche Mode album that opened with the somber command to "Leave In Silence?"

Bonus Question: Depeche Mode wrote lots of bitter tunes, but they never had an album called "Love Stinks" (wouldn't have fit their image very well). What was the name of the band who did have an album called "Love Stinks?"

The halftime show at this year's Superbowl was provided by the one and only Prince, and what a fine performance it was! From the fireworks to the marching band to the raw energy of the set, it brought some much needed excitement back to the Superbowl. And they pulled it off amidst a downpour, which only served to underscore the last song in the set.

The set included the song "Let's Go Crazy," a big hit from the Purple Rain soundtrack. In the lyrics to the song, Prince mentions calling up a shrink in Beverly Hills (U know the one.) What's the name of this shrink?

Bonus Question: The B-side to the original single release of "Let's Go Crazy" was the Prince classic "Erotic City." What was the name of the female vocalist who sang along with Prince on "Erotic City?"

Rumor has it that the upcoming 49th Grammy Awards ceremony being broadcast on February 11th will open with a performance by The Police. The Police were one of the most important bands to emerge from the late 70's punk/new wave scene, and went on to become one of the most successful rock acts of all time. They only released five studio albums during their time together, but they were all great. An incredible achievement, considering that even the Stones had some clunkers.

Of course, tensions in the band drove them apart after the release of "Synchronicity," so maybe they split up before they could pull a 'Tin Machine.' The band had an impromtu reunion at Sting's wedding in 1992, and they got together a few years ago for their induction to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. But reuniting for the Grammies in 2007 roughly coincides with the 30 year anniversary of the band's inception.

Looking back at their history, it's notable that their only number one hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 was "Every Breath You Take." Granted, the song stayed there for eight weeks, making it one of the biggest hits of all time. But this was from their fifth album in 1983. In the U.K., they had five number one singles, and the first of these topped the charts back in 1979. So, what was the name of the first Police single to hit number one on the U.K. charts?

Bonus Question: U.S. recognition for The Police wasn't entirely lacking. The band won their first Grammy Award back in 1980. What was the name of the song AND the category in which they won?