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Quiz about Songs from The Singing Detective BBC

Songs from 'The Singing Detective' (BBC) Quiz

I grew up on the jazz soundtrack from this scintillating Dennis Potter series, long before I was allowed to watch it. How well do you remember these war-time songs?

A multiple-choice quiz by alkmene. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
alkmene

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
171,554

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
185

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. 'Dry Bones': Who, exactly, connected dem dry bones? Hint

Dr Gray

De Lord

Ezekiel

Charles Darwin

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Question 2 of 10

2. This Cole Porter classic, sung at times by such illustrious voices as those of Ella Fitzgerald and Roy Rogers, had its verses cut before being crooned by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters (the version used in the series). What is the song? Hint

Don't Fence Me In

Anything Goes

It's De-Lovely

Get Out of Town

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Question 3 of 10

3. This Henry Creamer ballad, sung by Al Jolson et al. on the soundtrack, has also more recently appeared in Peter Bogdanovich's 'The Cat's Meow' (sung by Kirsten Dunst) and in Woody Allen's 'Sweet and Lowdown'. What is it? Hint

Way Down Yonder in New Orleans

My Little Bluebird was Caught in the Rain

Sweet Emmelina My Gal

After You've Gone

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Question 4 of 10

4. Two of the great wartime 'torch-songs', 'Lili Marlene' and 'We'll Meet Again' appear on the soundtrack. Any idea who sings them? Hint

Anne Shelton and Priscilla Lane

Marlene Dietrich and Vera Lynn

Lale Andersen and Vera Lynn

Lale Andersen and Billie Holliday

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Question 5 of 10

5. This song, for some reason once covered a capella by Bugs Bunny, features the lyric 'My momma once told me, "Hon, a man's gonna sweet-talk and give ya the big-eye, but when the sweet talk is done..."'. According to Momma, a man will leave a girl with what (the title of the song)? Hint

A Bun in the Oven

The Blues in the Night

Rum and Coca-Cola

Nothing But a Broken Heart

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Question 6 of 10

6. One popular children's song appears on the soundtrack, as well. It's an odd choice, and one has to wonder whether it has some significance beyond the cutesy tale it tells. Which is it? Hint

The Three Little Fishes

Cruella De Vil

For I'm a Little Noddy Man

The Teddy Bears' Picnic

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Question 7 of 10

7. Both 'Do I Worry' and 'Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall' are performed by The Ink Spots, but on the latter they feature a guest vocalist. Who might this be? Hint

Marni Nixon

Billie Holliday

Ella Fitzgerald

Dean Martin

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Question 8 of 10

8. In 'Ac-cent-chu-ate the Positive', also rendered by Crosby and the Andrews Sisters, two Biblical figures are mentioned. Who are they? Hint

Jonah and Noah

Job and Noah

Job and Moses

Jacob and Abraham

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Question 9 of 10

9. The only instrumental piece on the soundtrack, 'Rockin' in Rhythm', is performed by The Jungle Band. By what other name is this band better known? Hint

Duke Ellington and his Orchestra

Glenn Miller and his Orchestra

Count Basie and his Orchestra

Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra

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Question 10 of 10

10. An easy one to finish off. Dick Haymes's contribution to the soundtrack is a love song. He tells us that 'It Might as Well Be____'? Hint

Summer

Spring

Autumn/Fall

Winter

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. 'Dry Bones': Who, exactly, connected dem dry bones?

Answer: Ezekiel

'Ezekiel connected dem dry bones, now hear de word of de Lord. Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around..'. This song is performed with gusto by Fred Waring & the Pennsylvanians.

Answer: Don't Fence Me In

Without its references to Wildcat Kelly and his reluctance either to go to jail or to enter into holy matrimony, this song somewhat loses its context. However, it does remain a sweet and corny little cowboy ballad. 'On my cayoose let me wander over yonder till I see the mountains rise...'

Answer: After You've Gone

Sadly, Creamer's compositions have had more use made of them since his death in 1930 than during his lifetime. Jolson's co-stars on this number are Matty Malneck's Orchestra & The Four Hits and a Miss.

4. Two of the great wartime 'torch-songs', 'Lili Marlene' and 'We'll Meet Again' appear on the soundtrack. Any idea who sings them?

Answer: Lale Andersen and Vera Lynn

Although Anne Shelton was the first artist to sing 'Lili Marlene' in Britain, it is German singer Lale Andersen's version that appears on the soundtrack.

Answer: The Blues in the Night

Yup. Apparently, 'a man is a two-face, a worrisome thing who'll leave ya to sing the blues in the night.' This one was sung by Anne Shelton, a sometime musical comedy actress from the U.K. Very sad ditty. I made up the 'Bun in the Oven' and 'Nothing But a Broken Heart'.

The Andrews Sisters' hit 'Rum and Coca-Cola' was banned for some years, since its subject matter dealt with prostitutes in the West Indies who entertained G.I.s stationed there. 'Both mother and daughter workin' for the Yankee dollar.' Great song!

6. One popular children's song appears on the soundtrack, as well. It's an odd choice, and one has to wonder whether it has some significance beyond the cutesy tale it tells. Which is it?

Answer: The Teddy Bears' Picnic

While 'Cruella De Vil''s jazzy style would probably have lent itself better to the general tone of the album, 'The Teddy Bears' Picnic' sticks out like a sore thumb (and I don't think 'Cruella' was written until a good twenty-odd years after the war). I suppose the beginning of the song's a little sinister, since 'you'd better go in disguise' (some veiled reference to spycraft, perhaps?), but I can't say I get it.

This one was performed by Henry Hall & His Orchestra.

7. Both 'Do I Worry' and 'Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall' are performed by The Ink Spots, but on the latter they feature a guest vocalist. Who might this be?

Answer: Ella Fitzgerald

The First Lady of Jazz delivers a beautiful rendition of this number. Marni Nixon, for those of you who are interested, is the voice you hear singing for Natalie Wood in 'West Side Story', for Deborah Kerr in 'The King and I' and 'An Affair to Remember', for Audrey Hepburn in 'My Fair Lady' and for Margaret O'Brien in 'The Secret Garden'.

Her only notable appearance was as Sister Sophia in 'The Sound of Music'. Most recently she provided the singing voice of Grandmother Fa in 'Mulan'.

8. In 'Ac-cent-chu-ate the Positive', also rendered by Crosby and the Andrews Sisters, two Biblical figures are mentioned. Who are they?

Answer: Jonah and Noah

'To illustrate my last remark, Jonah in the whale; Noah in the Ark. What did they do, just when everything looked so down? Man, they said we'd better ac-cent-chu-ate the positive, eliminate the negative...'. One of my favourite songs, though Ella does it better (but doesn't she always?). The Andrews Sisters, the voices of wartime ragtime, were (in order of age) Laverne, Maxene amd Patti.

9. The only instrumental piece on the soundtrack, 'Rockin' in Rhythm', is performed by The Jungle Band. By what other name is this band better known?

Answer: Duke Ellington and his Orchestra

It has often been noted that the music of the first half of the 20th century was far from politically correct. From Mammy's Boy Jolson and his burnt cork blackface to the lyrics of 'Yes, We Have No Bananas', barely-veiled racism leaps out at the more enlightened eye. Anyone spotting a pattern in the names of bands - The Ink Spots, The Jungle Band...?

10. An easy one to finish off. Dick Haymes's contribution to the soundtrack is a love song. He tells us that 'It Might as Well Be____'?

Answer: Spring

'I haven't seen a crocus or a rosebud or a robin on the wing... I'd say that I had spring fever, but it isn't even spring.' Awwww. They don't write 'em like that any more, do they? The lyrics to this song are somewhat reminiscent of Cole Porter's 'I'm In Love Again' - check it out!

Source: Author alkmene

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