Mapping The Melodies Trivia Quiz

A staple of classic rock radio, "Sweet Home Alabama" was released by Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1974 on their second album, "Second Helping". It was famously written as a response to Neil Young's songs "Southern Man" and "Alabama," which the band felt unfairly stereotyped the entire South. The song has a catchy tune and a recognizable opening guitar riff.

The lyrics contain political and social references such as Watergate and Alabama Governor George Wallace. Regardless of that fact, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2009 and in 2006 CMT (Country Music Television) ranked it as the number one Southern Rock Song of all time.

"Blue Moon of Kentucky" was originally written in 1946 by Bill Monroe, the "Father of Bluegrass", and was a slow country ballad. In 1954, a 19-year-old Elvis Presley recorded a song called "That's All Right" but needed something for the B-side. Elvis began singing Monroe's song high and fast and the bassist started slapping his bass like a percussion instrument. This would be termed rockabilly, which was a mashup of white Appalachian bluegrass and black rhythm and blues.

The record was released in July 1954. Interestingly, while "That's All Right" took off in Memphis, "Blue Moon of Kentucky" was actually the bigger hit in other parts of the South. Bill Monroe loved Elvis's version. Even though it was a total departure from his original, he reportedly thanked Elvis for the massive royalty checks.

"Hotel California" was released in December 1976 as the title track of the Eagles' fifth studio album. Written by Don Felder, Don Henley, and Glenn Frey, the song has a haunting melody and vivid, surrealist lyrics that describe a traveler trapped in a luxury hotel that feels more like a prison. Don Henley famously described the track as a journey from innocence to experience and how the song depicts the decadence of the recording industry at the time.

"Hotel California" won one of the most prestigious honors in the music industry: the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1978. It was also listed by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll."

"All My Ex's Live in Texas" was released in April 1987 as the second single from George Strait's album "Ocean Front Property". The lyrics tell the story of a man who has fled his home state of Texas and settled in Tennessee, because he has left a trail of "ex's" across the Lone Star State. Despite being a song about avoiding responsibility, its catchy rhythm and Strait's singing turned it into a huge hit.

The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Male Country Vocal Performance.

"North to Alaska", from Johnny Horton, was released in August 1960 as a tie-in for the 20th Century Fox film of the same name starring John Wayne. The lyrics tell the story of two men named Sam and George during the Klondike Gold Rush of 1892. They travel to Alaska to find a fortune in gold. However, they discover that gold is no replacement for love.

Written by Tillman Franks and sung by Horton, the song became a massive crossover hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Country chart and breaking into the top five on the Pop charts. Sadly, Horton was killed in an auto accident in November of 1960 just as the song was hitting its peak of popularity.

"Especially in Michigan" was released on May 9, 2006, as the tenth track of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' double album, "Stadium Arcadium". The song serves as a tribute to lead singer Anthony Kiedis' childhood roots, as he was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The lyrics are packed with local references from the "mitten full of fishermen" (referring to the state's shape) to the "Lions and Tigers" running to steal your luck (Detroit's professional sports teams).

The track features a notable guest appearance by Omar Rodríguez-López (of The Mars Volta), who plays a guitar solo. That, along with the band's signature funk-rock sound, has made this a popular hidden gem among fans.

"New York State of Mind" was released in May 1976 on Billy Joel's fourth studio album, "Turnstiles". Joel wrote the song on a bus as a sort of homecoming tribute after having recently moved back to his native New York after a period of time living in California. He scribbled it out while capturing the immediate rush of inspiration he felt upon returning to the East Coast.

Over the decades, it has evolved into one of the unofficial anthems of New York City, reaching its peak emotional climax following the events of September 11, 2001, when Joel's televised performances of the song became a symbol of the city's regrowth and outlook. The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and is widely considered as one of the greatest "tribute" songs to a city ever written.

"South Dakota" was released on November 10, 2023, as a track on Chris Stapleton's fifth studio album, "Higher". Instead of the clean, acoustic-driven sound of most of Stapleton's ballads, this track is built on a heavy electric guitar riff. It leans much closer to Led Zeppelin or ZZ Top than it does to modern country radio.

The song, about being stuck in South Dakota while dealing with a metaphorical (or literal) hangover, showcases the feeling of being unable to escape one's own troubles. The song is a popular hit on the album that won Album of the Year at the 2024 Academy of Country Music Awards.

"Wild Montana Skies" was released in November 1983 as the lead single from John Denver's seventeenth studio album, "It's About Time". The song is a vocal duet featuring Emmylou Harris. The lyrics tell a story of a boy born in the Montana wilderness who faces early tragedy when his mother dies. He leaves at the age of twenty-one only to return later after realizing his true home will always be under the skies of Montana.

The tune was a critical success, eventually being named one of the "Top 100 Western Songs of All Time" by the Western Writers of America. It also won a 2013 poll by the "Great Falls Tribune" as the "Best Song About Montana."

"Midnight Train to Georgia" was released in August 1973 as a single from the album "Imagination" by Gladys Knight & the Pips. Originally written and performed by Jim Weatherly as a country song titled "Midnight Plane to Houston," it was reimagined by Gladys Knight & the Pips into a famous soul song. The song is about a woman whose partner is leaving California behind after failing to make it in the music business. He decides to return to a simpler life in Georgia, and the singer chooses to follow him, famously declaring she'd rather live in his world than live without him in hers.

The song was a massive commercial success, reaching number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the R&B charts, and it won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group in 1974.