Simon Says...er...I mean...Sings Quiz

Answer: A brand of color film

Kodachrome was a brand of color film that began being sold in 1935. The technique used in Kodachrome led to sharper color images in both still pictures and in movie film. It became so popular the the US government, in 1954, called the product monopolistic, and forced the Eastman-Kodak Company to change the way the film was processed.

In the 1980s, better alternatives soon hit the market, and Kodachrome's dominance began to wane, with the last film being developed in 2010. Simon's song "Kodachrome" nostalgically looks at the importance of seeing life and our memories in a vibrant way. The song reached the second spot on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. The song, however, could not be marketed as a single in England due to a law that forbade the promotion of trademarked items.

Answer: Al

According to Simon, the name of the two characters in the song, Betty and Al, came from being introduced at a party by a host who didn't know Simon's and his wife's name. The host repeatedly introduced the couple as Al and Betty. The song features the lively sounds of South African genres of music.

While lighthearted, it has some serious messages regarding the fears and confusion that come from changes in life. The song charted in the top five songs on several different song ranking charts in seven different countries.

Answer: Get on your bike, Mike

"50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" reached the top spot on Billboard's Hot 100 Hits chart in 1976. The song was written shortly after his divorce to his first wife, Peggy Harper, and that possibly was part of the motivation for the song that takes a light-hearted look at how to end a romantic relationship.

It is reported by Simon's brother that the singer used the lyrics to help teach his young son how to rhyme.

Answer: Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard

The song tells the story of some unknown illegal activity that involved the narrator and his friend Julio. The setting of the story seems to be the Queens New York neighborhood where Simon grew up. The vagueness of the lyrics allows the listener to use his imagination in interpreting the song. Like several of Simon's songs, the playful melody contradicts the seriousness of the lyrics.

The song was written during the early 1970s, a time where youthful rebellion was prevalent in American society. The song reached the seventh spot in the US Cash Box Top 100 chart.

Answer: Still Crazy After All These Years

"Still Crazy After All These Years" was a single from his Grammy award winning album with the same name. The song, which tells of an unexpected meeting with an old lover, explores the themes of nostalgia, past relationships and getting older. Simon sang the song on "Saturday Night Live" in 1975 and 1976.

In his second appearance he dressed up as a turkey then stopped mid-song to complain about wearing the costume to the producer offstage. The comedy sketch is a piece of SNL lore partly because the skit went counter to Simon's serious persona.

The song peaked in the fifth spot on Billboard's Easy Listening chart.

Answer: A homeless man seeking shelter

Paul Simon wrote the song two years earlier but did not use it in his 1975 album, "Still Crazy After all These Years". It was a last-minute addition to his greatest hits album in 1977. Simon reportedly did not like the song because he felt the chorus was overused, but he did not know which verse to omit to remove one stanza of the chorus.

However, the song was released as a single and became a hit reaching the fifth spot on Billboard's US Hot 100 chart.

Answer: True

According to an interview with Simon, which appeared in a July 1972 edition of "Rolling Stone" magazine, the title of the song did come from a menu of a New York City Chinese restaurant. The item was a dish that included chicken and eggs, thus the name "Mother and Child Reunion".

The song combines the lively beats of reggae music with a poignant message about loss, separation, and grief. It was Simon's first released single as a solo performer. The song reached number four on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.

Answer: Johann Sebastian Bach

The words of this hymn were originally written in Latin in the twelfth century. Around 1600 the melody, written as part of a secular love song by Leo Hassler, became a part of the German translation of the hymn. The melody was rearranged and used by Bach in "St. Matthew's Passion" and was often used in Christian hymns.

"American Tune" was written during the time of the Vietnam War and Watergate scandal. It is a lament to the condition of America during that time, while at the same time providing hope for a better future. The song peaked in the eighth position on Billboard's Easy Listening Top 100 chart.

Answer: His mother

"Loves me Like a Rock" peaked at the second spot on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. The song featured the legendary African American gospel group, The Dixie Hummingbirds, providing the background vocals.

The song explores the unconditional love of a mother for her son, from childhood to adulthood, ending with the son becoming President. The song has a spiritual quality to it not only because of the gospel music style added by the Dixie Hummingbirds, but with the repeated use of the phrase "rock of ages" which has its roots in the Old Testament where it refers to God's eternal strength. Some music critics believe that the reference to the President was a reference to Richard Nixon who was ensnared in the Watergate Scandal when the song was released; implying that a mother's unconditional love will remain strong even when are scorned by society.

Answer: Graceland

"Graceland" is a song whose music combines American and South African music lyrics that reveal the heart of someone who is grieving loss. It was written around the time of his second divorce. Simon and his son visited Presley's mansion, and the song talks about the journey both literally and metaphorically.

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Simon said that the song was about a boy and his father seeking solace for a loss. Although the song did not break into the top ten in any music charts, it is still considered one of Simon's great songs.