Nonsense Lyrics: Meaning in the Madness Quiz

Answer: Aerosmith - "Janie's Got a Gun"

The song tells the story of a girl named Janie who kills her sexually abusive father. The phrase "Dum, dum, dum" clearly refers to the gun, as emphasized in the lyric: "Dum, dum, dum, it's the sound of my gun." In English, "dumdum" is also a type of bullet. While "dum" can also be a slang term for a foolish person, this is likely coincidental - my research did not reveal any intended double meaning in the lyrics.

The single appeared on the album "Pump" (1989). The song topped the Australian charts and peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Answer: The Band - "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down"

As has often happened during the preparation of the quiz, I had to decide which version of the lyrics was correct. In this case, I was torn between 'Na, na, la, na, na, la' and 'La, la, la, la, la, la.' Ultimately, I went with the version found on the official website of Robbie Robertson, the gifted songwriter of The Band who wrote the song. The song makes it clear that "Na, na, la, na, na, la" expresses the collective grief of a community mourning the collapse of the Confederacy at the end of the American Civil War.

The single appeared on the album "The Band" (1969), The song portrays the final days of the American Civil War through the eyes of a Southern civilian, capturing the sorrow experienced by the people of the Confederacy.

Answer: Mariah Carey - "Always Be My Baby"

Mariah Carey, with her incredible vocal range, is the perfect singer for vocalizations - she incorporates them into many of her songs. "Always Be My Baby" is a song about the hope of reconciliation between two people who were once in love. It expresses the belief that love doesn't die, and that cherished memories may eventually lead to their reunion. The melodic phrase "do do doop do," in this case, is meant to evoke a sense of nostalgia in the listener.

The single appeared on the album "Daydream" (1995), reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100, and was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1997.

Answer: Billy Joel - "Piano Man"

Billy Joel, as the Piano Man, serves as a source of solace in the midst of the hardships, broken dreams, and everyday struggles of the people in a fictional American town. More broadly, the song reflects how music can offer us an escape - and, at times, understand us better than anyone else.

Billy Joel improvises the old man's fading melody with the refrain "La la la, di-dee-da / La la, di-dee-da, da-dum," offering a melodic placeholder when words and memory fail. It may also be read as the old man's half-remembered effort - a plaintive hum rising as he struggles to articulate the tune he once knew so well. Finally, these simple, wordless syllables serve as a musical breath - a deliberate pause that invites listeners to reflect on the bittersweet scene, where dreams have dimmed and yet hope lingers in the space between notes.

The single appeared on the album "Piano Man" (1973). The song is based on Billy Joel's experiences as a piano player in the early 1970s.

Answer: The Ronettes - "Be My Baby"

The words "Whoa, oh, oh, oh" aren't meant to be taken literally or symbolically-they're purely vocal expressions. Ronnie Spector recalled that inside the women's restroom at Gold Star Studios, "all the little 'whoa-ohs' and 'oh-oh-oh-ohs' were born." These signature vocalizations also appear in another of the Ronettes' hits, "Baby, I Love You," from the same album.

The single appeared on the album "Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes" (1963). According to one account, Phil Spector wrote the song - along with Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich - as a declaration of love for Ronnie, who fronted the girl group. The two eventually married in 1968 and divorced six years later.

Answer: Christina Aguilera - "Candyman"

"Candyman" is a 2006 song from Christina Aguilera's album "Back to Basics". Blending jazz and blues influences, the track features playful, retro-inspired lyrics with clear sexual undertones. Aguilera received a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for this single. The lyrics are a bit similar to Stevie Wonder's 1968 song "Shoo‑Be‑Doo‑Be‑Doo‑Da‑Day," which also uses playful, nonsense syllables like 'shoo‑be‑doo' for musical effect.

The song is widely regarded as a tribute to the 1941 hit "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" by the Andrews Sisters, who became icons during World War II for their swing-era harmonies and performances for Allied troops. The colorful music video for "Candyman" draws inspiration from a 1940s World War II theme.

Answer: Mariah Carey - "Fantasy"

"Fantasy" captures the joy of escaping into romantic daydreams. The playful "Sha-do-do-do-do" refrain enhances the song's lighthearted and carefree spirit without conveying a specific meaning. The single appeared on the album "Daydream" (1995). The song became on the top of Billboard Hot 100 for eight consecutive weeks - the first song from a female artist to do so.

Answer: Little Richard - "Tutti Frutti"

Little Richard wrote and composed the song at the Dew Drop Inn in New Orleans in September 1955, banging it out on the piano in the bar. The iconic phrase "A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-lop-bam-boom" is an onomatopoeic imitation of a piano intro, capturing the explosive rhythm and energy that defined early rock and roll. The phrase has remained iconic to this day.

The single appeared on the album "Here's Little Richard" (1995). The song became an instant hit and was even ranked 43rd on "Rolling Stone"'s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Answer: Las Ketchup - "The Ketchup Song"

The song is unique in that it is almost entirely gibberish, and yet they managed to produce a very catchy chorus. The reason for that is Las Ketchup's phonetic interpretation of the opening lines of "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang, reimagined through Spanish sounds. This playful transformation captures the rhythm and feel of the original while turning it into something delightfully joyful and infectious. In other words, the chorus playfully imitates the rhythm and flow of the English version, allowing the song to transcend language and become a universal hit.

The song is told from the perspective of Diego, a fun-loving young man who spends his nights at the club, joyfully dancing and singing along to the chorus. He embodies the carefree joy and passion for music and dancing that the song celebrates.

The single appeared on the album "Hijas del Tomate" (2002). The song became a global sensation, topping the charts in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and more than 20 European nations.

Answer: Shakira - "Whenever, Wherever"

Some sources write the phrase as "do" instead of "ro," and I admit I wasn't able to reach a definitive conclusion. From everything I've checked, the line carries no actual meaning - it's simply a melodic device designed to complement the rhythm and energy of the song. In "Whenever, Wherever", Shakira declares her love for some lucky man using playful and slightly suggestive wordplay. As David Browne of Entertainment Weekly put it, it's a "shameless Latin-pop hook." Personally, I think the Spanish version is even better than the English one. Both are a great duo.

The single appeared on the 2001 album "Laundry Service" and became a massive global hit, reaching number one in dozens of countries-especially across Latin America.