From Croydon to FunTrivia: Kirsty MacColl Quiz

Answer: Tracey Ullman

This song "They Don't Know" introduced the multi-talented English actress/singer Tracey Ullman to the U.S. and much of the rest of the world, and then her quirky humor and acting skills took over. Ullman later brought us "The Simpsons" as a segment on her variety show, and then took on several characters, male and female, in "Tracey Takes On". During that show's credits, each of Ullman's characters sings a line from the song.

Incidentally, in Ullman's version, when you hear "Baby" sung loudly just before the last verse, that is MacColl's voice, not Ullman's. She sampled the recording rather than sing the note herself. MacColl wrote many songs for Ullman--"You Broke My Heart in 17 Places" and "Terry" were a couple others. This worked well, as MacColl, dogged by stage fright, was as uncomfortable under the spotlight as Ullman was at home with it.

Answer: "I was 21 years when I wrote this song. I'm 22 now, but I won't be for long"

This line opens both Kirsty's "A New England" and Simon and Garfunkel's "Leaves That Are Green". "A New England" was originally written and recorded by Billy Bragg, who then added extra verses before giving it to Kirsty. At her funeral, he sung it with the extra verses, and now continues to perform that version.

Answer: She's been killed by a lynch mob

Kirsty MacColl was known for her very quirky sense of humor, but she can't take credit for this one. Cole Porter wrote the song about Miss Otis having to cancel a lunch date because of the following:

1. She went to Lover's Lane with a man who ended up leaving her alone
2. She hunted him down and shot him and
3. A lynch mob dragged her from jail and hung her from a willow tree.

"Miss Otis regrets she's unable to lunch today."

Answer: I'm not sure about you

Another example of Kirsty MacColl's sense of humor, and this one she did write. It is the tale of her nearly falling for a man who she realizes is becoming more arrogant. To him, he's The King, to her, he's a hick.

Answer: Drunk Tank

Shane MacGowan sings/slurs those lines in his drunken duet with Kirsty about a very dysfunctional couple's hopefully last Christmas together. A riotously funny song that is definitely not safe for work!

Answer: Free World

MacColl's interpretation of life in Great Britain in the Margaret Thatcher-era 1980s is perhaps her fastest work, as she flies through the lyrics scarcely taking a breath.

Answer: Titanic

"Titanic Days" was the title track off her 1994 album. A rare look at a definite dark side of Kirsty. Those who always looked for quirky and upbeat would sometimes be taken aback by a suddenly serious or deep side of her.

"A violent frenzy in a none too cheap hotel
He says it's hazy but I remember it so well
His arms, his face, the way my words got twisted out of place
'Dream on' he says, 'Dream on' he always says
It's sink or swim in these titanic days".

Answer: Jimi Hendrix

The title is a play on Jimi Hendrix's "Electric Ladyland". It includes the track "Walking Down Madison", an R&B-inspired dance track about homelessness and poverty that was a definite departure from her usual style and showed her outstanding stylistic range.

Answer: England 2, Colombia, 0

Again, Kirsty's interesting spin on things, writing the tale of a jilted lover who finds out her Colombian boyfriend is married and claiming victory over the breakup:

"You lied about your status
You lied about your life
You never mentioned your three children
And the fact you have a wife
Now it's England 2 and Colombia nil"
And I know just how those Colombians feel".

Answer: Run over by a speedboat while scuba diving at a beach in Mexico

The more you read about Kirsty MacColl's death and the local legal system's handling of it, the angrier you are likely to become.

She was killed when a speedboat entered into a roped off scuba diving area at a public beach in Cozumel, Mexico. Her last action was to push her son out of the way. The boat was owned by a local millionaire. However, he claimed the driver was one of his employees, and that person was released with a small fine and restitution payment (approximately $2250, based on a percentage of his wages). It has been reported that he may have been paid to take the blame for the accident.

MacColl's family maintains a "Justice for Kirsty" website (www.justiceforkirsty.org) and there is a drive to have the case reopened.