Poldo's Music Trivia II

OK, girls and boys, back to the 70s": According to Freddie Mercury, "I was thinking about football (soccer) when I wrote it. I wanted a participation song, something that the fans could latch on to". This '77 Queen power ballad has become a staple in sports victories and has been extensively covered. The B-side was "We Will Rock You" and both are routinely played together. On numerous occasions Freddie had to defer to Roger Taylor to hit the high C during live performances. #4 US, #2 UK. Very respectable rendition by Adam Lambert and Kris Allen fronting for Queen during the Season 8 American Idol finale. Who knew then that Lambert would eventually become Queen's frontman?! Things happen for a reason - it was in the stars - might not had happened if he had won! Answer: "We Are The Champions" by Queen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04854XqcfCY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BiegN4-iT4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdEe68SR-uY

OK, girls and boys, back to the 60s: This New Orleans-based girl trio started out as Little Miss and The Muffets only to be soon renamed The Meltones. Their name was once again changed in '64 shortly before recording their first and biggest hit. A Barry/Greenwich/Spector composition previously recorded by The Ronettes and The Blossoms, it topped the charts for 3 weeks, sold over one million copies and was awarded a Gold Disc. The first recording ever under Leiber and Stoller's brand-new Red Bird label. Happiness and anticipation on a girl's wedding day. #279 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time. Covered by Bette Midler, The Beach Boys and Sir Elton John. Featured on the "Father Of The Bride" soundtrack. Trio? Song? (Para credito extra: Como se llamaba la version de Lucecita del '65?) Answer: "Chapel of Love" by The Dixie Cups. For some reason it just doesn't sound anywhere nearly as good when guys sing it - definitely a girls gr...

OK, boys and girls, back to the 70s: This '72 Elton John/Bernie Taupin collaboration was Sir Elton's 1st U.S. hit single - 3 wks. at #1 in early '73. A nostalgic look at early rock & roll and his relationship with a girl (!) whom he associated with the music. The unmistakable Farfisa Organ sound "makes" the song. Inspired by The Diamonds' '57 "Little Darlin", by Pat Boone's "Speedy Gonzalez" and by the Australian group Daddy Cool. Answer: Sir Elton John's "Crocodile Rock". As a non-keyboard player in the 60s, I was always fascinated by the great Farfisa sound (NOT to be confused with the Vox Continental!). Think "Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)", "Wooly Bully"... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75r0nQu-hMs

OK, girls and boys, back to the 50s: Paul Anka wrote this '59 teen classic about Annette Funicello, whom he dated during a tour. It peaked at #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 for 2 weeks in '60 and at #3 in the UK. Their romance was a media high spot; he referred to her as "glamorous...the kind of girl you want to marry". He also wrote "Talk to Me, Baby" for her. She, in turn, wrote and recorded "Tall Paul" for him - the first time a female artist reached the Top 10 with a rock-and-roll single. She married Paul's manager after the tour (!). Anka had 4 Top 10 hits in less than a year between '59 and '60 with "Lonely Boy", "Put Your Head On My Shoulder", "It's Time to Cry" and this one. Donny Osmond's '72 cover went to #3 in the US and topped the charts in the UK. Answer: "Puppy Love" by Paul Anka. He writes two songs for her and she one for him and then she goes and marries his manager - ...

OK, boys and girls, more 60s: This '65 Gene Clark composition was THE first tune by The Byrds written by one of its members to actually be profitable. Inspired by a girl he met at Ciro's in West Hollywood. A mordant view of breaking off their relationship. The guitar line takes after The Searchers' '64 "Needles And Pins". Trademark early Byrds sound with McGuinn's jingle-jangle Rickenbacker-12, Clark's tambourine and McGuinn's, Clark's and Crosby's angelic harmonies. Covered by Tom Petty in '89. Peaked at #103 and is ranked #234 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time. Answer: "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better" by The Byrds. I said it before and I say it again, I will forever be grateful to my dear childhood friend Lida Enid Muniz for introducing me to The Byrds in '65/'66. They quickly became, and still are, my all-time favorite band. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to-RVV_3anw

OK, girls and boys, back to the 80s: This '85 composition was on the artist's first solo album released during the Cold War. It opens with a radio broadcast by Igor Kirillov and a clock ticks throughout the song. Based upon the Romance Melody from Sergei Prokofiev's "Lieutenant Kije Suite". Masterful word play: "How can I save my little boy from Oppenheimer's deadly toy?" - "Little Boy" was the A-bomb dropped on Hiroshima on 8/6/45, masterminded by Oppenheimer. Song? Artist? Answer: "Russians" by Sting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHylQRVN2Qs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1scluzlPz0

OK, girls and boys, back to the 70s: This '71 Carole King composition was James Taylor's ONLY #1 hit. He won a Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and she for Song Of The Year. First recorded by The City and then by Dusty Springfield (unreleased). A beautiful tune about being there for those in need. Covered by, among many others, Roberta Flack/Donny Hathaway, Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson, Anne Murray and Tom Jones. Answer: "You've Got A Friend". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEFfzHiEKHY

OK, girls and boys, with the summer (hint, hint!) quickly aprroaching, more 70s one-hit wonders: Lead singer and guitarist Ray Dorset wrote this 1970 seasonal classic for his British pop-blues band - their first and only U.S. hit (#3). It sold over 16 million copies worldwide. One of the highest selling singles of all time and the world's top-selling summer song. Band? Song? Answer: "In The Summertime" by Mungo Jerry. Has anyone else ever noticed that the instrumental break in this song is interchangeable with the one from Canned Heat's "Going Up the Country"? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvUQcnfwUUM

OK, boys and girls, back to the 80s: This Orwellian '82 Eric Woolfson composition was The Alan Parsons Project's only Top 10 hit, peaking at #3. Woolfson was a gambler and was bothered by the "Big Brother" hidden closed-circuit cameras in casinos. Sound engineer Alan Parsons "hated" the song at first - took some convincing for him to record it. Preceded seamlessly in the album by the instrumental "Sirius". Answer: "Eye In The Sky" by The Alan Parsons Project. Always loved that song - came out around the time Lauren was born. Alan Parsons collaborated in engineering The Beatles' "Abbey Road". Hard to think of the Alan Parsons Project without thinking of Austin Powers! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMAGwMAXTpU Dr. Evil: The key to this project is the giant laser, which was invented by the noted Cambridge physicist, Dr. Parsons. So therefore, it is fitting to call it: "The Alan Parsons Project".[Scott snickers]Dr....

OK, girls and boys, back to the 70s: After splitting with Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon taught songwriting at NYU. Among his students were Maggie and Terre Roche as well as Melissa Manchester. It took him 2 1/2 years to release his first solo album "Paul Simon" in 1972. The 2nd cut is a poignant minor-chord coming-of-age ballad about a fisherman's son (hint, hint!). Between the verses we hear flute, charango and percussion interludes by Los Incas, an Andean group also featured in "El Condor Pasa". It peaked at #52 on the Pop charts in '72. Song? Answer: "Duncan" by Paul Simon. A testament to the songwriting genius that is Paul Simon. Can you imagine taking a songwriting class from him?! After "American Tune" this has to be my favorite Simon solo tune. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e-Quw2QGo8

OK, girls and boys, let's go WAY back: This 1772 symphony was written while the composer was at his patron's summer home with his court orchestra. The patron had made them stay much longer than originally intended while leaving their wives and families back home. As a "subtle" hint, during the final adagio, the musicians stop playing in turn after playing small soli and leave the stage. Only 2 violins remain at the end. Symphony? Composer? Answer: Symphony No. 94 in G major "Surprise Symphony" by Franz Joseph Haydn. Hadn't heard it in quite a while. It was a "clue" on "Jeopardy" last night. Can never go wrong with a little Papa Haydn! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9Umjnwvn4g

OK, boys and girls, more 70s: Harry Chapin debuted his first hit on the Tonight Show in '72. The response was such that Johnny brought him back the following night to reprise it - 1st and only time in the show's history this has ever happened. Peaked at #24 and stayed on the charts for 16 wks. Old lovers meet by coincidence after many years. "60% true", according to Harry. Based upon his college relationship with a Clare MacIntyre. In '80 he released "Sequel" - what happened afterwards... Masterfully covered by Mandy Patinkin in his "Experiment" album. Song? Answer: "Taxi" by Harry Chapin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qYU9b5OF8M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4tgLY4yYBQ

OK, girls and boys, more 60s two-hit wonders: Supermodel Twiggy happened to hear an 18-year-old natural troubadour Welsh folk singer in a talent contest on British TV and was mesmerized by her voice and her looks. She phoned her friend Sir Paul McCartney, who just happened to be looking for a singer for a song he had just heard in a coffehouse. She auditioned for him and was immediately signed to the newly-minted Apple Records in '68, becoming one of their first artists. A recreation of the Russian folk tune "Dorogoi Dlinnoyu" written by Boris Fomin with lyrics by Konstantin Podrevsky and English translation by Gene Raskin. Evokes the romantic ideals of youth as well as the vices of the tavern (hint, hint!). The recording was produced by Macca topping the charts in the UK and Canada and reaching #2 in the U.S. (behind "Hey Jude"). It has been translated into over 20 languages. Song? Singer? For extra credit, name her only other Top 10 hit. Answer: ...