Music Up; Music Down Quiz / Test | Something in Common

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This song was a huge hit for The Fifth Dimension in 1967. Written by Jimmy Webb, it won Grammys in 1968 including Song of the Year and Record of the Year. What is the title of this "uplifting" song?

Answer: Up, Up and Away

"Wouldn't you like to ride in my beautiful balloon?" The song "Up, Up and Away" was a huge hit for the Fifth Dimension in 1967. It reached number seven on the charts in the US, number one in Australia, and number 18 in Canada.

2. Credence Clearwater Revival recorded this song on the "Willy and the Poor Boys" album in 1969. The song tells you where Willy and the poor boys are playing. Where are they? (out in the street?)

Answer: Down on the Corner

"Down on the corner, out in the street,
Willy and the poor boys are playin'
Bring a nickel, tap your feet"

The song "Down on the Corner" was released as a single and reached number three in December, 1969 on the US charts. The B side of that single was "Fortunate Son" which became a hit also and reached number 14 in November, 1969.

3. This song from the soundtrack of the film, "An Officer and a Gentleman" was a monster hit for Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes in 1982. What "up" song was it?

Answer: Up Where We Belong

Another Grammy Award winner, "Up Where We Belong" was a certified platinum hit for Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes, selling over two million copies in the US alone. It reached number one on the US charts in 1982 and held the number one spot for three consecutive weeks. It reached number seven in the UK. It was written by Jack Nitzsche, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and Will Jennings.

4. Released from the 1977 album, "Slowhand", this Eric Clapton song reached number three on the US Hot 100 and was a crossover hit on the country music charts as well. What 'down' song is it? (You must be tired).

Answer: Lay Down Sally

"Lay Down Sally" was written by Eric Clapton, Marcy Levy and George Terry. It was released as a single off of the "Slowhand" album in November 1977. The song has been very popular both as a rock tune and a country song as well. Recorded by many artists of all types since, it remains a Clapton favorite.

5. Recorded in 1969 by The Band and still one of their most popular songs, this song has them up the creek. What creek is it? The title will tell you.

Answer: Up on Cripple Creek

From The Band's second album, titled simply, "The Band", "Up On Cripple Creek" has become one of the most requested songs by the group. Released as a single in November, 1969, it reached number twenty-five in the US. Incidentally, the B side of that single was "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", another song that has become synonymous with the group. Both songs have appeared on live albums and compilations (Best Of) by the Band and both songs have been recorded by a number of other artists over the years. "Up on Cripple Creek" was written by Robbie Robertson, the Band's guitarist.

6. The only US top ten single by the Talking Heads was this 1983 song from their album, "Speaking in Tongues". What 'down' song is it? (Is this about arson?)

Answer: Burning Down the House

"Burning Down the House" reached number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached number eight in Canada. Oddly, it did not chart at all in the UK. A cover version of the song by Tom Jones and the Cardigans did reach number ten in the UK in 1999. "Burning Down the House" has been covered by a wide variety of artists, including Bonnie Raitt, Dave Mathews Band, and The Vienna Boys Choir.

7. This huge hit for the Rolling Stones in 1981 was a single released from the album "Tattoo You." This 'up' song went to number one in Australia, number two in the US and number seven in the UK. Can you name it? (It could get you going).

Answer: Start Me Up

"Start Me Up" was a song that the Stones had recorded over and over for a number of years (beginning in 1975), sometimes with a reggae musical style, sometimes more straight forward rock. They were never quite satisfied with it and had never released it. Finally in 1981, as they were preparing to tour, they revived the song and recorded it for the "Tattoo You" album.

It has been a fan favorite ever since and is often used to open a Rolling Stones concert.

8. Mary Chapin Carpenter is headed somewhere because it's "Saturday night and the moon is out.." This huge hit from 1991 tells where she is going. What 'down' song gives us this information?

Answer: Down at the Twist and Shout

"Saturday night and the moon is out
I wanna head on over to the Twist and Shout
Find a two-step partner and a Cajun beat
When it lifts me up I'm gonna find my feet"

Mary Chapin Carpenter wrote and recorded "Down at the Twist and Shout". From her album, "Shooting Straight in the Dark", it was released as a single in June, 1991. The song reached number two on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and won her a Grammy in 1992.

9. During the opening credits of the film "Woodstock", about the legendary 1969 music festival, this song is played. It was performed by Canned Heat at Woodstock, and has sometimes been called the unofficial anthem of the festival. What 'up' song is it? (they were not going down to the city).

Answer: Going Up the Country

"Going Up the Country" was a hit song by Canned Heat in 1968. It was released as a single from the album "Living the Blues" in September 1968 and went to number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 19 on the UK Singles chart. Canned Heat singer Alan Wilson is credited with writing the song, although the melody can certainly be traced back to the 1920s and a blues artist named Henry Thomas who performed the song as "Bull Doze Blues".

10. This is a very old song, and the exact origin is unknown. It became very popular in 2000, however, when Alison Krauss recorded it for the film, "O Brother, Where Art Thou?". In this "down" song where are we going, brothers? (you may get wet).

Answer: Down to the River to Pray

This song is sometimes called "Down in the River to Pray", "Come, Let Us All Go Down", "The Good Old Way", and other titles as well. A very old song, it is thought to possibly have been written by an African-American slave. In fact, the earliest known published copy of this song was in "Slave Songs of the United States" in 1867.

The Alison Krauss version in the very popular film "O Brother, Where Art Thou" has given this very old tune some well-deserved new life.

Source: Author sanremo

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

Music Up; Music Down Trivia Quiz

A quiz of songs with the words Up or Down in the title. Showing no bias, there are five of each! Good Luck!

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