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Song by Song: "Kodachrome" Trivia Quiz

Take a dive into Paul Simon's song "Kodachrome."

A multiple-choice quiz by skylarb. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
skylarb

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
416,196

Updated
Apr 13 24

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
165

Last 3 plays: DeepHistory (10/10), batkp (9/10), comark2000 (10/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The song "Kodachrome" takes its name from a reversal film introduced in 1935 by what company? Hint

Eastman Kodak

Nikon

Turner Broadcast

Fuji Film

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Question 2 of 10

2. "Kodachrome" first appeared on what Paul Simon album released in 1973? Hint

Sounds of Silence

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme

Bridge Over Troubled Water

There Goes Rhymin' Simon

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Question 3 of 10

3. What two words did Billboard use to describe the lyrics of Paul Simon's "Kodachrome" in its May 12, 1973 issue? Hint

Strangely saccharine

Bitterly angry

Cheerfully antisocial

Dully conformist

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Question 4 of 10

4. Did the first version of "Kodachrome" to be released say everything looks better or worse in black and white?

Worse

Better

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Question 5 of 10

5. Six weeks after its release, "Kodachrome" had peaked at what number on the Billboard Hot 100 charts? Hint

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Question 6 of 10

6. What group of session musicians played on this song? Hint

The C Street Band

The Funk Brothers

The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section

Booker T. and the M.G.'s

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Question 7 of 10

7. In "Kodachrome," the singer says he has not been hurt by his lack of what? Hint

Education

Money

Love

Morals

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Question 8 of 10

8. "Kodachrome / They give us those nice bright colors / They give us the ___ of summer." What color is missing from these lyrics? Hint

blues

reds

yellows

greens

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Question 9 of 10

9. What, even if you took them all "and brought them all together for one night," would never match the singer's "sweet imagination"? Hint

All the girls he knew when he was single

All the dreams he had when he was little

All the books he read in high school

All the dollar bills he earned when he was bussing

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Question 10 of 10

10. In "Kodachrome," the singer says he loves "to take a photograph" with what brand of camera? Hint

Polariod

Casio

Fuji

Nikon

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The song "Kodachrome" takes its name from a reversal film introduced in 1935 by what company?

Answer: Eastman Kodak

Kodachrome was the brandname for the reversal film introduced by Eastman Kodak in 1935. It used a subtractive color method instead of an additive screenplay method, and it was the first film of its kind to be mass-marketed successfully. In the 1970s and 80s, Kodachrome was commonly used for professional photography, but it was discontinued in 2002.

2. "Kodachrome" first appeared on what Paul Simon album released in 1973?

Answer: There Goes Rhymin' Simon

The other three albums are titles of Simon & Garfunkel albums. "There Goes Rhymin' Simon" was Paul Simon's third solo studio album. "Kodachrome" was released as its lead single.

3. What two words did Billboard use to describe the lyrics of Paul Simon's "Kodachrome" in its May 12, 1973 issue?

Answer: Cheerfully antisocial

In its May 12, 1973 "Top Single Picks" column, Billboard described "Kodachrome" as "Another hard-driving Simon rock with cheerfully antisocial lyrics." Billboard went on to say, "Catchy cymbal ups and thumping bass drum emphasis lend an arresting quality to the sound."

4. Did the first version of "Kodachrome" to be released say everything looks better or worse in black and white?

Answer: Worse

The lyric in the song's initial release on "There Goes Rhymin' Simon" was "everything looks worse in black and white." However, on both live Central Park concert albums (1982 and 1991), Paul Simon sang that everything looks "better" in black and white. In an interview with Daniel J. Levintin for "Grammy" magazine in 1997, Simon said, "I can't remember which way I originally wrote it."

5. Six weeks after its release, "Kodachrome" had peaked at what number on the Billboard Hot 100 charts?

Answer: 2

"Kodachrome" was beat out for the number one spot by Billy Preston's "Will It Go Round in Circles."

The song also reached the top two spot on the US Easy Listening and Billboard Adult Contemporary charts.

6. What group of session musicians played on this song?

Answer: The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section

Based in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, this group of session musicians was one of the most influential studio house bands in the 1970s. Known for the "Muscle Shoal sound," which combines R&B, soul, and country, the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section has appeared on hundreds of recordings and dozens of gold and platinum hits.

7. In "Kodachrome," the singer says he has not been hurt by his lack of what?

Answer: Education

When he thinks back on all the unnecessary things he learned in high school, Paul Simon sings:

"It's a wonder
I can think at all.
And though my lack of education
Hasn't hurt me none
I can read the writing on the wall."

"Kodachorme" was released as a single on May 19, 1973 with "Tenderness" on the B-side.

8. "Kodachrome / They give us those nice bright colors / They give us the ___ of summer." What color is missing from these lyrics?

Answer: greens

"They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world's
A sunny day, oh yeah."

"Kodachrome" peaked at number two on the Canada RPM Top Singles Chart.

9. What, even if you took them all "and brought them all together for one night," would never match the singer's "sweet imagination"?

Answer: All the girls he knew when he was single

"If you took all the girls I knew
When I was single
And brought them all together
For one night
I know they'd never match
My sweet imagination
Everything looks worse
In black and white."

Paul Simon wrote "Kodachrome" and produced the record, along with Phil Ramone. It was released by Columbia Records and weighed in at number 64 on the Year-End US Cash Box Charts.

10. In "Kodachrome," the singer says he loves "to take a photograph" with what brand of camera?

Answer: Nikon

"I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama, don't take my Kodachrome away."

The BBC banned "Kodachrome" from BBC Radio for what it viewed as the song's "plugging" of two brand names: Kodachrome and Nikon.

Source: Author skylarb

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