Music Fit For a Divine Trivia Quiz

Answer: Venus

"Venus" rose to Number One on the charts in several countries including Australia, Belgium, Italy, and the United States although it only reached Number Three on the Dutch charts. In 1986, the British group Bananarama released a cover version that also went to the top of the charts in several nations.

The lyrics of the song refer to Venus as "the goddess of beauty and love". The image shows Venus covered by the thick clouds that make Venus the hottest--temperature wise--planet in our solar system.

Answer: Mars

"(Is There) Life on Mars?" appeared on David Bowie's 1971 album "Hunky Dory". The rather surreal song is described as being about a love affair. Released as a single, "Life on Mars?" was most successful on the UK Singles and French charts where it rose to Number Three. David Bowie (1947-2016) is known for many songs such as "Space Oddity", "Changes", and "Under Pressure" and was also a noted actor. Mars the planet is reddish when observed through a telescope as suggested here in this image. Mars the Roman god was the god of war.

Answer: The Neptunes

Jabberjaw was voiced by Frank Welker through the 16 episodes of the cartoon set in an underwater civilization in the year 2076. Like many other Hanna-Barbera cartoons of the period, the main characters often solved mysteries. Jabberjaw (drums) was joined in the Neptunes by humans Biff (guitar), Shelly (tambourine), Bubbles (keyboards), and Clamhead (bass).

The Neptunes appeared in the 1999 music video for Pain's "Jabberjaw (Running Underwater)" where they were dressed as a ska band.

Answer: Saturn

Born as Stevland Hardaway Judkins, Stevie Wonder (born 1950) has been performing since he was signed with Motown records at the age of 11. "Saturn", by Stevie Wonder and Michael Sembello appeared on an EP that was included with the original double LP. "Saturn" was not released as a single. Stevie Wonder is also known for many other songs including "Superstition" and "I Just Called to Say I Love You".

Answer: Jupiter

"Out of This World" (1950) featured songs by Cole Porte!r and a book by Reginald Lawrence. Relatively unsuccessful, the show closed after 157 performance. In his song, Jupiter announces, "I, Jupiter! I, Rex! I, Jupiter Rex, am positively teeming with sex!" The part was played and song by George Gaynes (then using his birth name of George Jongejans) (1917-2016) who would later play Henry on the television show "Punky Brewster" and Commandant Lassard in the "Police Academy" movies.

Answer: Cupid

"Cupid" rose to Number 7 on the UK Singles chart and Number 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the song, Cooke refers to an arrow headed "straight to my lover's heart", referring to Cupid's role in mythology as the god of love (and son of Venus). Cupid the moon was discovered in 2003 and orbits Uranus. Sam Cooke (1931-1964) was also known for other songs like "Chain Gang" and "Twistin' the Night Away".

The heart suggests Cupid's role as god of love.

Answer: Pluto

Pluto appeared on Bjork's 1997 studio album "Homogenic" and was written when Pluto was still considered a full planet. Bjork (born 1965) co-wrote the song with Mark Bell. In Roman mythology, Pluto was the god of the underworld and Bjork described the song "Pluto" as being about "death and birth".

The image shows a dog. It is popularly thought that the Disney character Pluto the dog was named for the newly discovered (in 1930) planet.

Answer: Minerva

"Minerva" rose to Number 9 on the US Billboard Modern Rock chart and Number 15 on the UK Singles chart. The song's music video is set in a desert-like location during a sand storm. The Deftones were formed in Sacramento, CA in 1988. In mythology, Minerva was the goddess of crafts and wisdom--suggested by the needle and thread and hammer. 93 Minerva is an asteroid discovered in 1867 and named for the goddess.

Answer: Uranus

Shellac formed in 1992 and consists of Steve Albini (guitar and vocals), Bob Weston (bass guitar and vocals), and Todd Trainer (drums and vocals). Information I have seen has described "Uranus" as both an Extended Play album and a 7" record. In either case, the album has two tracks, "Doris" and "Wingwalker".

In astronomy, Uranus is well known for having an axial tilt of nearly 98 degrees--which the image shows. (By comparison, Earth's axial tilt is about 23 degrees.)

Answer: Freddy Mercury

Freddie" Mercury (1946-1991) was born Farrokh Bulsara. He formed Queen along with Brian May and Roger Taylor in 1970. The image shows as speeding planet since Mercury the planet makes the quickest orbit around the Sun of any planet of the solar system in just 88 days. Mercury the god was the messenger of the gods.

The image could even apply to Freddy Mercury who was known for a great deal of movement and theatricality in his live performances.