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Quiz about Talking Heads Trivia
Quiz about Talking Heads Trivia

Talking Heads Trivia Trivia Quiz


Often described as an 'intelligent new wave' band, Talking Heads was difficult to categorize. Their music varied from punk to new wave and from African rhythms to contemporary country music. Test your knowledge of Talking Heads trivia in this quiz.

A multiple-choice quiz by francey. Estimated time: 7 mins.
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Author
francey
Time
7 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
231,506
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
20
Difficulty
Difficult
Avg Score
9 / 20
Plays
773
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: rocklady72 (13/20), Guest 137 (14/20), Guest 77 (16/20).
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Question 1 of 20
1. What is the name of the band drummer Chris Frantz and singer David Byrne formed before Talking Heads? Hint


Question 2 of 20
2. Chris and David convinced Tina Weymouth, Chris' girlfriend, to join them in the band in 1975 and become the bassplayer. She wasn't a musician at that time - but what did she do for a living? Hint


Question 3 of 20
3. What was Talking Heads' first released single? Hint


Question 4 of 20
4. Which Talking Heads song can be found on the compilation album "Attack of the Killer Bees" (1978), which contains a collection of B-sides by many new wave/punk artists? Hint


Question 5 of 20
5. For their second album, Talking Heads teamed up with producer Brian Eno. Where was it recorded and mixed? Hint


Question 6 of 20
6. The album "Fear of Music" opens with the song "I Zimbra". Where do the lyrics come from? Hint


Question 7 of 20
7. What Talking Heads lyric has a reference to CBGB's, the New York venue where the band first started? Hint


Question 8 of 20
8. Who directed the video for the song "Once in a Lifetime"? Hint


Question 9 of 20
9. In 1982, after four studio albums and a lot of touring, Talking Heads released a double live album while all bandmembers were working on their solo projects. What's the title of this album? Hint


Question 10 of 20
10. 1983 marked the release of "Speaking in Tongues", which was released with two different covers. The original one, a special package designed by a german artist, was too expensive to produce, so David Byrne made an alternative cover. The special package was released as a limited edition - who designed this package? Hint


Question 11 of 20
11. What's the main difference between the vinyl and cassette releases of the "Speaking in Tongues" album? Hint


Question 12 of 20
12. "Stop Making Sense" (1984) is both a concert movie and a live album. Both open with "Psycho Killer" in a special arrangement - what's special about the "Stop Making Sense" version of "Psycho Killer"? Hint


Question 13 of 20
13. Who sung "People Like Us" in the movie "True Stories"? Hint


Question 14 of 20
14. What two animals are featured on the artwork of the 1988 album "Naked"? Hint


Question 15 of 20
15. In 2005, Rhino released a boxset with remastered versions of all Talking Heads albums. What's the name of this boxset? Hint


Question 16 of 20
16. Brian Eno produced three albums for Talking Heads. On his own album "Before and After Science", he included a secret tribute song to Talking Heads. What's the title of this song? Hint


Question 17 of 20
17. The song "Stay up Late" on the album "Little Creatures" is about a little baby. Which baby? Hint


Question 18 of 20
18. The Muppet show did a spoof of a famous Talking Heads song once - which one? Hint


Question 19 of 20
19. Who directed the 1984 Talking Heads concertfilm "Stop Making Sense" ? Hint


Question 20 of 20
20. Which band opened as support act for Talking Heads during the UK tour in 1980? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 18 2024 : rocklady72: 13/20
Mar 14 2024 : Guest 137: 14/20
Mar 02 2024 : Guest 77: 16/20
Mar 01 2024 : Guest 178: 16/20
Feb 29 2024 : Guest 104: 1/20
Feb 27 2024 : Guest 99: 17/20
Feb 26 2024 : Guest 67: 9/20
Feb 24 2024 : Guest 82: 8/20
Feb 21 2024 : Guest 90: 10/20

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. What is the name of the band drummer Chris Frantz and singer David Byrne formed before Talking Heads?

Answer: The Artistics

The Artistics mostly performied cover songs. One of the first original songs they did was "Psycho Killer", which become Talking Heads' first hit a couple of years later.
2. Chris and David convinced Tina Weymouth, Chris' girlfriend, to join them in the band in 1975 and become the bassplayer. She wasn't a musician at that time - but what did she do for a living?

Answer: Salesperson at a shoestore

While working at the shoestore, Tina studied at Rhode Island School of Design, just like Chris and David.
3. What was Talking Heads' first released single?

Answer: Love -> Building on Fire

Although "Love -> Building on Fire" was the bands first single, the track was not included on their debut album "Talking Heads 77". In fact, it was never released on any of the bands studio albums. The song is available on Talking Heads compilations only.
4. Which Talking Heads song can be found on the compilation album "Attack of the Killer Bees" (1978), which contains a collection of B-sides by many new wave/punk artists?

Answer: I Wish You Wouldn't Say That

The song was the B-side of the British "Psycho Killer" single. The American single had an acoustic version of "Psycho Killer" on the flipside.
5. For their second album, Talking Heads teamed up with producer Brian Eno. Where was it recorded and mixed?

Answer: Compass Point Studio, Bahamas

The band went to the Bahama's in February 1978 to record the album, which was released later that same year.
6. The album "Fear of Music" opens with the song "I Zimbra". Where do the lyrics come from?

Answer: Based on a nonsense poem

Musically, Talking Heads experimented with African rhythms for the first time in this song. The lyrics make no sense at all; they are an extract from a dadaistic poem by Hugo Ball.
7. What Talking Heads lyric has a reference to CBGB's, the New York venue where the band first started?

Answer: Life During Wartime

"This ain't no party, this ain't no disco,
this ain't no fooling around
This ain't no mudd club, or C.B.G.B.,
I ain't got time for that now"

This is the lyrics where C.B.G.B. is mentioned.
8. Who directed the video for the song "Once in a Lifetime"?

Answer: Toni Basil

Toni Basil directed both the videos for "Once in a Lifetime" and "Crosseyed and Painless". She's also well-known for the one hit wonder "Hey Mickey" with the cheerleader video.
Jim Jarmusch directed the video for "The Lady Don't Mind", Karen Murphy the one for "Wild Wild Life". Brian Eno produced "Remain in Light", the album "Once in a Lifetime" is on.
9. In 1982, after four studio albums and a lot of touring, Talking Heads released a double live album while all bandmembers were working on their solo projects. What's the title of this album?

Answer: The Name of this Band is Talking Heads

An expanded and remastered version of "The Name of This Band is Talking Heads" was released on CD 22 years after the original vinyl release. "Stop Making Sense" was the bands 1984 live album, "Live on Tour" is a promo only live album, put out by Sire reocrds in 1979. "Electricity" is the title of one of the bands most well-known bootlegs.
10. 1983 marked the release of "Speaking in Tongues", which was released with two different covers. The original one, a special package designed by a german artist, was too expensive to produce, so David Byrne made an alternative cover. The special package was released as a limited edition - who designed this package?

Answer: Robert Rauschenberg

Rauschenberg designed a plastic envelope package with clear discs that could spin around. The record inself was pressed on clear vinyl.
11. What's the main difference between the vinyl and cassette releases of the "Speaking in Tongues" album?

Answer: The cassette contains extended versions of 5 tracks

The cassette contains extended versions of the songs "Making Flippy-Floppy" (which even contains an extra verse!), "Girlfriend Is Better", "Slippery People", "I Get Wild/Wild Gravity" and "Moon Rocks". These versions wouldn't fit on the vinyl record.
12. "Stop Making Sense" (1984) is both a concert movie and a live album. Both open with "Psycho Killer" in a special arrangement - what's special about the "Stop Making Sense" version of "Psycho Killer"?

Answer: David plays guitar over a the drumtrack playing on a ghetto blaster

David enters the stage, puts down his ghettoo blaster and says "Hi - I got a tape I wanna play". He presses the play button, a drumbeat starts and he starts playing his guitar. With every next song in the movie an extra bandmember comes on stage.
13. Who sung "People Like Us" in the movie "True Stories"?

Answer: John Goodman

Actor John 'Fred Flintstone' Goodman sung the movie version of "True Stories", which is available as B-side of the "Wild Wild Life" seven inch single only. David Byrne sings the original album version.
14. What two animals are featured on the artwork of the 1988 album "Naked"?

Answer: A monkey and a fly

The monkey is pretty obvious, the fly can be found on the wooden frame. The fly is actually the logo for Fly, the production company of "Naked".
15. In 2005, Rhino released a boxset with remastered versions of all Talking Heads albums. What's the name of this boxset?

Answer: Brick

Brick contains all Talking Heads albums remastered by Eric ET Thorngren and Jerry Harrison, in both surround 5.1 and stereo 2.0 audio.
16. Brian Eno produced three albums for Talking Heads. On his own album "Before and After Science", he included a secret tribute song to Talking Heads. What's the title of this song?

Answer: King's Lead Hat

"King's Lead Hat" is an anagram for "Talking Heads".
17. The song "Stay up Late" on the album "Little Creatures" is about a little baby. Which baby?

Answer: Tina Weymouth's firstborn son

Robin Weymouth became a pioneer electronic artists himself, using the alias Kid Ginseng
18. The Muppet show did a spoof of a famous Talking Heads song once - which one?

Answer: Once in a Lifetime

Kermit the Frog sung "Once in a Lifetime", wearing the big suit from "Stop Making Sense".
19. Who directed the 1984 Talking Heads concertfilm "Stop Making Sense" ?

Answer: Jonathan Demme

Demme's next film projects included "Silence of the Lambs" and "Philadephia" (which featured a cover of the Talking Heads song ""Heaven").
20. Which band opened as support act for Talking Heads during the UK tour in 1980?

Answer: U2

Besides U2, a little band called Dire Straits were opening act for Talking Heads once as well.
Source: Author francey

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ralzzz before going online.
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