It's Still Rock & Roll To Me Trivia Quiz

Answer: Too wide

"What's the matter with the clothes I'm wearing?
Can't you tell that your tie's too wide?"

The origins of the necktie began in 1618 during the Thirty Years' War. The French frontier included Croatian mercenaries who wore their traditional knotted neckerchiefs. The French designers created a copy that they called a cravat and it became a fashionable garment for both sexes throughout Europe.

The modern necktie came into being in 1860 when the industrial revolution demanded neckwear that was easy to tie and comfortable enough to wear all day. These ties were long and thin.

The widths of the ties began to increase after World War I and, along with very flamboyant colours and designs, this continued until the 1950s. The largest of these wide ties was 4.5 inches across. They began to slim down again in 1953 and by the early 1960's the average width was down to 1 inch and they were made of very dark, conservative colours.

And just to add a pure piece of trivia: Striped ties in Britain use Regimental stripes that run from the left shoulder down to the right while the stripes on the original US ties ran from the right shoulder down to the left.

Answer: Cheap pair

"Don't waste your money on a new set of speakers,
You get more mileage from a cheap pair of sneakers."

Sneakers are what the Americans call athletic shoes. They are referred to by many different names in the English speaking world. Examples include:
* Sandshoes, joggers, gym boots - Australia
* Trainers, plimsolls - Britain
* Runners, gutties - Canada
* Gym shoes, sport shoes, tennies, takkies, sneaks - South Africa

There are conflicting views as to the exact date and company that produced the first sneaker but it is known that Spalding produced basketball shoes in 1907. These original shoes had soles of plain rubber, traction was added in the 1920's and they began to be marketed for different sports. They remained exclusive for athletics until the 1950s when they began to be widely used as leisure wear.

Answer: Pink

"How about a pair of pink sidewinders
And a bright orange pair of pants?"

After much research the only thing I can definitively say is that sidewinders are a pair of shoes - which one would naturally assume from the context of the lyrics. The majority of references refer to them as a 1960s dancing shoe.

When one enters the realm of the 'pink sidewinders' there are two opposing views and no definitive correct answer:

* One school of thought says they are a pair of wing tipped shoes but with pink instead of the usual white areas.

* The other group says that 'sidewinder' refers to the style of lacing the shoe rather than the shoe itself. Thus it would have been a regular pair of shoes with pink shoelaces tied in this style.

My assumption is that they are probably both right but maybe in different times or localities. Someone has actually posted the question on the Billy Joel web site but he hasn't answered yet!

Answer: New band

"There's a new band in town
But you can't get the sound from a story in a magazine...
Aimed at your average teen"

Billy joined his first band, the Echoes, in 1963 when he was 14 years old. He stayed with them through two name changes - the Emeralds and the Lost Souls - until 1967 when he left to join the Hassles. The Hassles were a commercial failure and disbanded in 1969. Billy then formed "Attila" with the bands drummer and remained with them until 1971 when he signed his first solo record contract.

The sounds that influenced his music were from a wide range of musical styles and genres. These included Beethoven, The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Frankie Valli, Paul Simon, Ray Charles and Elton John.

Answer: Old tab

"Maybe I should buy some old tab collars?
Welcome back to the age of jive."

A tab collar has a button and loop (or some other fastening device) that joins the collar behind the tie knot, pushing the tie knot up and out. These were a favourite of the Duke of Windsor/King Edward VIII so their popularity soared in the 1920's. There was also a resurgence of popularity in the 1960s and 1990s.

A similar style was the pinned or eyelet collars - the pin was placed under the tie which pulled the wings of the collar together which also served the purpose of raising the tie. These were very common in the late 1920s and early 1930s.

Answer: New fashion

"Don't you know about the new fashion honey?
All you need are looks and a whole lotta money."

Billy refers to money and fashion earlier in the song when he asks:

"Should I get a set of white wall tires?
Are you gonna cruise the miracle mile?"

The Miracle Mile is a high-end shopping district in Manhasset, Long Island. The Northern Boulevard contains an open air shopping centre that has branches of most of the well known New York stores. The name is synonymous with affluence and the wealthy people that live and shop in the area.

Many of Billy's songs contain references to New York and Long Island in particular. He was born in the Bronx but raised in Hicksville, a hamlet in Oyster Bay, Nassau County.

Answer: Trashy

"Where have you been hidin' out lately, honey?
You can't dress trashy till you spend a lot of money."

Billy went to Hicksville High School but didn't graduate. He was playing with the band in the night times and he slept in on the morning of an important exam and ended up being one English credit short of the requirements. He chose not to attend summer school so he could concentrate on his music. Upon making this decision he told the education board "I'm not going to Columbia University, I'm going to Columbia Records."

This English requirement was waived by the Hicksville School Board in 1992 and he finally received his diploma - 25 years after leaving school.

Answer: Bright orange

"And a bright orange pair of pants?
You could really be a Beau Brummel baby
If you just give it half a chance."

Beau Brummel was a fashion trend setter in Regency England and the original dandy. He was born in London in 1778 and was part of the circle that surrounded the Prince Regeant (the future King George VI).

He developed the expensive but understated style of dress that was the forerunner of the modern suit - superbly cut and fitted full length trousers and jackets with an elaborate cravat.

He was also fastidious about his personal hygiene and daily bathing, shaving and teeth cleaning became popular as others followed suit. He is infamous for taking five hours to get dressed and for having his boots polished with champagne.

Answer: Blue

"Nowadays you can't be too sentimental
Your best bet's a true baby blue Continental."

The Lincoln Continental was produced by Ford between 1939 and 2002 and was marketed as a luxury car. Edsel Ford commissioned a custom designed, one off personal car for his 1939 vacation and the result was the first Lincoln.

The 1956 Continental rivaled Roll Royce as one of the most expensive cars in the world. It sold for $10,000 - an astronomical sum in 1956 - but Ford still lost money on it. Owners of this model included the Shah of Iran, Elvis Presley, Henry Kissinger and Nelson Rockefeller.

In 1963 JFK was assassinated in a custom built 1961 Lincoln Convertible limousine.

Answer: Dance craze

"Hot funk, cool punk, even if it's old junk
It's still rock and roll to me"

"Next phase, new wave, dance craze, anyways
It's still rock and roll to me"

"It's Still Rock and Roll To Me" spent two weeks at Number One on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in July 1980 after it appeared on the "Glass Houses" album.

The song has a cynical Billy commentating on the music industry at the time as punk, new wave and funk genres made their way onto the music scene. A time when being cool and hip was becoming as, or maybe more, important than the music itself.

The song is a conversation between a publicist/manager and Billy as the former tries to get him to change his appearance and image to appeal to, and stay in touch with, the new younger crowd. Billy's response is a refusal to change and conform - the music is what is important and his music will always be relevant.