Who Sings That Song Buzzing In My Head? Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The band in question here have reinvented their sound several times, most notably with their album "Achtung Baby". The single, "The Fly", came from this album; can you name the group in question?

Answer: U2

U2 had several songs released from this album, others include "Even Better Than the Real Thing", "One", and "Mysterious Ways". "The Fly" was not one of their more successful singles, but it helped set in motion the hugely successful "ZOOTV" tour.

2. A one-hit wonder from 2000, this band released the Billboard Number One single "Butterfly". A mishmash of hip-hop and rock, it opened with the lyric "Come my lady, come-come my lady, you're my butterfly sugar, baby". Also featured were samples taken from a song by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Who was this band?

Answer: Crazy Town

Crazy Town never came close to the level they reached from "Butterfly". Members of Crazy Town continued make news after the song and the fame faded. Two of the members died due to drug problems, and lead singer Seth Binzer had similar drug problems that led to the rehab reality show "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" documenting his attempts at recovery, which were numerous.

3. Minnesota native Adam Young had a single hit from his 2009 album "Ocean Eyes". The Billboard Number One song "Fireflies" propelled him from relative obscurity to the top of the music scene. A solo artist, he chooses not to perform under his real name, instead opting for a stage name that resembles the name of a band. What is it?

Answer: Owl City

The electro-poppy "Fireflies" was destined to be a hit, crossing over into many genres from alternative to adult contemporary. He never reached similar success with any other song from the album. Indietronica and synthpop are labels that have been used to describe his music, but there are signs his next album will be more acoustic.

4. "Under the Table and Dreaming" was the major label debut album for a grass roots rock band in 1994. The title of the album was taken from lyrics of the hit single "Ants Marching". Who is this band who gave us the myrmecological "Ants Marching"?

Answer: Dave Matthews Band

Dave Matthews has continued his formula of avoiding an abundance of electronics in his music and leaning toward a more natural sound, both on his albums and his live show. Other hits from the album were "What Would You Say?" and "Satellite". All four bands listed came from the grass roots rock movement that showed off fantastic live shows and true virtuosity on their respective instruments. Members of each band crossed over to other band's projects in a mutual attempt to garner success for everyone.

5. The classical music scene wasn't immune to insects either. In 1899, the opera "The Tale of Tsar Saltan" gave us an interlude titled "Flight of the Bumblebee", an instrumentalist's nightmare. Who was the Russian composer of this ubiquitous piece of music?

Answer: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Contrary to what people may think, including me at one time, this piece of instrumental music was not written to stand on its own, but rather part of an entire opera. But the likable style combined with its ability to show off the instrumentalist's ability has given it a place to be played as a stand alone song.

It has been performed and redone countless times by numerous musicians on numerous instruments. Highlights include Al Hirt's version used as the theme to the television show "The Green Hornet", and Yo-Yo Ma's and Bobby McFerrin's duet with cello and vocal.

It was also used as the demonstration piece for the Guinness world record of fastest guitarist.

6. Coming from the alternative scene in 1990s, this band in question released the anti-establishment theme "Bullet With Butterfly Wings" in 1995, and would win a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance for the song. Bringing us the immortal lyric, "Despite all my rage, I'm still just just a rat in a cage", what band enters this entomological quiz with "Bullet With Butterfly Wings"?

Answer: Smashing Pumpkins

Taken from the double album "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness", Smashing Pumpkins achieved their greatest commercial success in 1995 and 1996 from this album. The backlash was inevitable from alternative music purists who considered nine times platinum albums no longer alternative, but 'selling-out' mainstream.

The band would soon break up amid gossip of the difficulties experienced working with group leader Billy Corgan.

7. Far from a politically charged band, this group had a single from their self-titled debut album in 1996. The single was called "Ladybug". Also included in the album was the song "Lump". Who was this band?

Answer: Presidents of the United States of America

"PotUSA", as their fans acronymically call them, didn't have a long career, as their style and humorous songs were rather novel and had run their course by their second album, much like a comedy sequel will often feel rehashed and bring a "been there, done that" feel.

They will maintain some status in American television syndication as they were one of the artists to record a version of the theme song for "The Drew Carey Show", the one entitled "Cleveland Rocks".

8. One of two instrumentals in the quiz, the song "Spanish Flea" achieved success in two decades, first garnering Top 40 status in 1965, then gaining immortality as the theme song to the campy game show "The Dating Game" in the 1970s. Accompanied by the Tijuana Brass, who is this instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer that brought us "Spanish Flea"?

Answer: Herb Alpert

All four choices had instrumental success in the 1960s but Alpert is the one delivering the insect reference. Herb Alpert would continue a long career in the music industry, writing, performing, and producing. He is also the "A" in A&M Records, the "M" standing for Jerry Moss. Both are now in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

9. Owning one of the most famous last names in music, his highest measure of success was achieved in 1988 with the song "Tomorrow People". He continued to record for two decades, gaining a mild hit single in 2003 with a composition applicable to this quiz titled "Dragonfly". Who is this son of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame royalty?

Answer: Ziggy Marley

Ziggy Marley first came on to the scene in the 1980s as Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers. Son of Bob Marley, he was destined to remain in his father's field of reggae music. "Dragonfly" came from Ziggy's first legitimate solo album in 2003, also titled "Dragonfly".

10. Taking a step back from their usual hard rock roots, this band calmed it down on the single "Dog and Butterfly", from the album of the same name. Led by the sisters Wilson, who gave us this musical association between canine and lepidoptera?

Answer: Heart

"Dog and Butterfly" was a Billboard Top 40 hit for Heart in 1979. Ann and Nancy Wilson and Co. would go on to have two Billboard Number One songs in the 1980s, "These Dreams" and "Alone", each with a different sister singing lead.

Source: Author Spaudrey

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Surprisingly, insects have been the topic of many a song over the history of music. This quiz spans over three different centuries of insect-infested songs, we just need you to pick the performer or the composer.

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