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Who's That Singing Backup? Trivia Quiz

Have you ever listened to a song and thought you heard a familiar voice in the background? Sometimes artists get their famous friends to join them in the recording studio. See how many of these backing vocal guest appearances you can identify.

A multiple-choice quiz by ltc717. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
ltc717

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
83,575

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
1543

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which of these one-name artists sang on the song "Money For Nothing" by Dire Straits? Hint

Madonna

Sting

Bono

Prince

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which songstress contributed her vocal talents to Neil Young's "Heart of Gold"? Hint

Linda Ronstadt

Joan Baez

Joni Mitchell

Carole King

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Question 3 of 10

3. The group Glass Tiger had the vocal help of which fellow Canadian artist on their hit "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)"? Hint

Robbie Robertson

Anne Murray

Gordon Lightfoot

Bryan Adams

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Question 4 of 10

4. The distinctive vocals of which artist can be heard on the Steve Winwood song "Higher Love"? Hint

Stevie Nicks

Chaka Khan

Tom Petty

Tom Waits

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which of the following artists can be heard on the song "The Only Flame In Town" by Elvis Costello and The Attractions? Hint

John Oates

Daryl Hall

Kenny Loggins

Jim Messina

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which member of the B-52's sang on the R.E.M. song "Shiny Happy People"? Hint

Cindy Wilson

Kate Pierson

Fred Schneider

Keith Strickland

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Question 7 of 10

7. Rockwell had a hit in 1984 with the song "Somebody's Watching Me." Which of the following artists can be heard in the background of this song? Hint

Stevie Wonder

Aretha Franklin

Diana Ross

Michael Jackson

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which of the following artists contributes backup vocals to four songs on the Indigo Girls' album "Come On Now Social"? Hint

Kate Schellenbach

Sheryl Crow

Joan Osborne

Me'Shell Ndegocello

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which all-girl group provides support to Cyndi Lauper on her song "Change of Heart"? Hint

The Bangles

Bananarama

The Go-Go's

Vixen

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which of the following women can not be heard singing backup on Paul Simon's "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover"? Hint

Patti Austin

Janis Ian

Phoebe Snow

Valerie Simpson

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which of these one-name artists sang on the song "Money For Nothing" by Dire Straits?

Answer: Sting

Sting is credited with co-writing "Money For Nothing" with Mark Knopfler. In September 1985, Sting was connected with three albums in the top ten of the U.S. album charts -- "Brothers In Arms" by Dire Straits, which included "Money for Nothing"; "No Jacket Required" by Phil Collins, which featured Sting singing backup vocals on "Long Long Way To Go" and "Take Me Home"; and Sting's own album "The Dream of the Blue Turtles."

2. Which songstress contributed her vocal talents to Neil Young's "Heart of Gold"?

Answer: Linda Ronstadt

James Taylor also sings backup on "Heart of Gold."

3. The group Glass Tiger had the vocal help of which fellow Canadian artist on their hit "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)"?

Answer: Bryan Adams

Bryan Adams's songwriting partner, Jim Vallance, co-wrote several songs for Glass Tiger, including "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)."

4. The distinctive vocals of which artist can be heard on the Steve Winwood song "Higher Love"?

Answer: Chaka Khan

Steve Winwood won Grammy awards for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and Record of the Year in 1986 for "Higher Love."

5. Which of the following artists can be heard on the song "The Only Flame In Town" by Elvis Costello and The Attractions?

Answer: Daryl Hall

"The Only Flame In Town" appears on the album "Goodbye Cruel World," which Elvis Costello has been quoted as saying is his "worst album."

6. Which member of the B-52's sang on the R.E.M. song "Shiny Happy People"?

Answer: Kate Pierson

In addition to "Shiny Happy People," Kate sings on two other songs on R.E.M.'s "Out Of Time" -- "Country Feedback" and "Me In Honey."

7. Rockwell had a hit in 1984 with the song "Somebody's Watching Me." Which of the following artists can be heard in the background of this song?

Answer: Michael Jackson

Actually, both Michael and Jermaine Jackson contribute vocals to "Somebody's Watching Me." Stevie Wonder appeared on Rockwell's song "He's A Cobra," but that tune didn't make it on to the U.S. charts. Rockwell's real name is Kenneth Gordy. He is the son of Berry Gordy, but his father allegedly had no involvement in his son's signing to Motown Records.

8. Which of the following artists contributes backup vocals to four songs on the Indigo Girls' album "Come On Now Social"?

Answer: Joan Osborne

Crow, Ndegocello, and Schellenbach (of Luscious Jackson) all provide backing vocals on this Indigo Girls album, but only Osborne shows up on four songs. Osborne can be heard singing on "Go," "Trouble," "Peace Tonight," and "We Are Together."

9. Which all-girl group provides support to Cyndi Lauper on her song "Change of Heart"?

Answer: The Bangles

In addition to the Bangles, Cyndi's album "True Colors" features many of her famous friends. Some of the other artists joining Cyndi include Billy Joel, Aimee Mann, Nile Rodgers, Adrian Belew, and even Pee Wee Herman.

10. Which of the following women can not be heard singing backup on Paul Simon's "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover"?

Answer: Janis Ian

"50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" is from the album "Still Crazy After All These Years," which was released in December 1975. Phoebe Snow sings with Simon on another track on that album, "Gone At Last." Simon and Snow performed "Gone At Last" on the second episode of "Saturday Night Live" on October 18, 1975.

They appeared with The Jessy Dixon Singers, who also appear on the recorded version of the song. Simon performed "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" on the November 20, 1976 episode of "Saturday Night Live."

Source: Author ltc717

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