Poldo's Music Trivia II

OK, girls and boys, more 80s one-hit wonders: This Karges/Fahrenkog-Petersen 1982 Cold War era protest song peaked at #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 in '84 in its original language. It was later "loosely" translated into English by Kevin McAlea and re-recorded by the same artist, but it was never as well-received as the original. Artist? Song? Answer: "99 Luftballons (99 Red Balloons)" by Nena. Ah, Nena, she of the hairy armpits on the German video! German bubblegum at its best. Those were the days when MTV and VH1 actually showed music videos. At 25+ million records, Nena remains the most successful German pop singer in chart history. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpu5a0Bl8eY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiwgOWo7mDc

OK, girls and boys, back to the 80s: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb penned this 1983 classic as an R&B tune for Marvin Gaye, who never recorded it. Inspired by a 1950 Hemingway "sea chase" story published posthumously in '70. An '83 duet became the Song Of The Year, went Platinum, won the '85 AMA for Favorite Country Single and, in '05, was named by CMT "The Best Country Duet Of All Time". Included in The Bee Gees' '98 "One Night Only" live video and album. The brothers Gibb have had at least one #1 hit in EVERY decade from the 60s to the 00s (!). Duo? Song? Answer: "Islands in the Stream" by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. I actually like The Bee Gees' version better. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQW7I62TNOw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usezH_d3HV8

OK, girls and boys, one about the birthday boy (he would have been 97 today): This New Orleans native is considered to be the first million-seller of the Rock & Roll era. His best-selling song was a 1956 Rose/Lewis/Stock composition (#2 Top 40, #1 R&B for 11 weeks - 5 million copies '56-'57). In the 80s and until Katrina, he refused to leave New Orleans, saying that he couldn't get the food he liked anywhere else. Richie Cunningham's favorite tune on "Happy Days". Artist? Best-selling song? Answer: "Blueberry Hill" by Antoine "Fats" Domino. Chubby Checker did a "twisty" version in '58. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQQCPrwKzdo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ayBOyT406U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Zx-1foCtu4

OK, girls and boys, back to the 20s (the 2020s, that is!): It was 2018 and Swedish megagroup ABBA went into the studio and, after quite a bit of coaxing, recorded two Benny/Bjorn compositions that would eventually become the backbone of their 2021 album "Voyage". By far the most popular of the two is about a woman hoping for a second chance at love after a painful breakup. They were released as a dual single, a rarity in the business. It became their first charting single since 1978. Their ninth studio album and their first in 40 years, "Voyage" became an overnight global sensation reaching #2 on Billboard's Hot 200. The video had 1.4 million views in the first 24 hours. Angelic lead vocals by Agnetha Faltskog. Song? Dual single? Answer: "Don't Shut Me Down". Dual single: "I Still Have Faith in You". As I've said before, there are only two kinds of people in the world - those who love ABBA and those who don't. I hap...

OK, boys and girls, back to the 60s: The Grass Roots changed their name to The Grassroots in '68. What was their first release under their new name (peaked at #123)? Answer: "Melody for You". It just happens to be my favorite Grassroots song. In '69 they changed their name back to The Grass Roots. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiKKx8jmtNU

OK, girls and boys, back to the 50s: This classic 1954 Erroll Garner/Johnny Burke jazz ballad became Johnny Mathis' signature tune after peaking at #12 in '59. BOTH Garner's instrumental version and Mathis' sublime vocal rendition have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Ray Stevens' '75 Country cover won a Grammy for Best Musical Arrangement. It figures prominently in a '71 Clint Eastwood movie. An overwhelming feeling of wanting to cry happy tears (you know Johnny, he's a sensitive guy!). Song? Answer: "Misty". As a guitar "picker", I love Ray Stevens' version the best. "Play Misty for Me". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_tAU3GM9XI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkC9bCuahC8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko56rc30qdk

OK, girls and boys, a little more 60s bubble gum: This Atlanta native is widely considered to be "The Father of Bubble Gum". His first big break was filling in for Buddy Holly on tour dates after Buddy's untimely death in '59. In the early 60s he and Chris Montez toured in England with The Beatles (the Mop Tops were the opening act!) and, as expected, the four blokes "stole the show". Artist? His two #1 hits? Answer: Tommy Roe. #1 Hits: "Dizzy" and "Sheila". Other hits: "Sweet Pea", "Hooray for Hazel" and "Jam Up and Jelly Tight". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arpidGq8SlA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i-wfec5HGY