Popular Personalities Of The Past Memorized In Pop Quiz / Test | Music

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What song and artist are these lines from? " ...her dreams to give a heart away Like an orphan on a wave She cared so much She offered up Her body to the grave" (1982) Female. French. She became a saint in latter days. Strangely enough, the performers of the song would have been from the enemy's side at her time. Can you tell me in which song the lines above can be heard?

Answer: "Maid of Orleans (The waltz Joan of Arc)"/O.M.D.

Jeanne D'Arc lived from 1412 to 1431, at the time of the Hundred Years War (France vs. England). She had visions which she thought to be from God Himself. The Dauphin--later Charles VII- -believed in them; they gave him and his troops new hope to end the Siege of Orleans. Later Jeanne was arrested by the enemy, a church trial was held in Rouen, and she died on a stake. She was canonized as a saint in 1920.

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (O.M.D.) from Liverpool released "Maid of Orleans" on their "Architecture & Morality" album in 1982. On this album, there is also the song "Joan of Arc", which was a single, too.
Maid of Orleans was Number one in a lot of European countries- including the Netherlands and Germany- and reached a Number four in O.M.D.'s native U.K.
In the USA O.M.D. is better known for their 1986 Single "If You Leave", taken from the film "Pretty in Pink".

The other solutions are also songs from the eighties, but- as to my knowledge- not about any particular prominent person.

2. What song do these lines come from? "Taking on water, sailing a restless sea from a memory, a fantasy. The wind carries, into white water, far from the islands. Don't you know you never going to get _______, Mary Queen of Chance, will they find you?" (1984) Female. Scottish. Queen. She was arrested by her own cousin and was later beheaded. The song I cited above mentions the country she's supposed to fled to. Thinking of her life's story she would possibly run to which country?

Answer: To France

Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland lived from 1542-1567. She was made a queen, being just six days old and was educated at the French court. Her third wedding caused some trouble in Scotland (Husband Number Three was said to have killed Husband Number Two) and she fled to England. There she was arrested. Nineteen years later she was beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle.
Mike Oldfield, known mostly for his instrumental titles like "Wonderful World" recorded this song with the voice of singer Maggie Reilly. Its highest position in the U.K. charts was a Number 48.

3. What song do these lines come from? "Starry, starry night. Paint your palette blue and gray, Look out on a summer's day With eyes that know the darkness in my soul. Shadows on the hills, Sketch the trees and the daffodils Catch the breeze and the winter chills In colors on the snowy linen land." (1972) Male. Dutch. Painter. In the lines above some of his most famous pictures are described. The song only gives his Christian name. Do you know in which song this beautiful lyric appears?

Answer: Vincent

Vincent van Gogh was born in the Netherlands in 1853 and died in France in 1890. In his lifetime he was not lucky in hitting the public taste with his paintings; he had to live from his brother's money and was an alcoholic. It is not quite cleared by historians why he cut his ear off at one time. In 1890 he killed himself with a pistol shot. His pictures like the "Sunflowers" brought huge prices after his death.

American Don McLean had his frist British Number one with this song. Together with "American Pie", released in the same year, before "Vincent", it made 1972 his most successfull year.

The other three gentlemen are Queen Beatrix of the Netherland's sons and are -at least until 2006- alive and kicking (but I haven't heard that they do paint!)

4. What famouse historical figure are these lines about? "There lived a certain man in Russia long ago He was big and strong, in his eyes a flaming glow Most people looked at him with with terror and with fear But to Moscow chicks he was such a lovely dear He could preach the bible like a preacher Full of extasy and fire "But he was also the kind of teacher woman would desire" (1978) Male. Russian. Monk. Hard to kill. In which song can you find these lines, written down above?

Answer: Rasputin

Grigorij Rasputin was born as the son of a farmer in 1869. He became a monk and due to his reputation as a miracle healer the Tsarina sought his help. Her son was a hemophiliac. Rasputin gained more power than a lot of other important people wanted him to have. In 1916 his enemies set a trap and tried to poison him, but the poison failed. Then they shot at him and missed. Only close range shots reached their goal.

Boney M started its career in Germany in 1976 with "Daddy Cool". Their greatest hit was "Rivers of Babylon" and "Mary's Boy Child", both Number one in Britain in 1978. The group members were all from the West Indies. But later it was found out that the "singer" Bobby Farrell was nothing more than a dancer. And if you are thinking of Milli Vanilli now, they both had the same producer: Frank Farian...

Lenin, Stalin and Molotov were USSR politicians and died in their beds.

5. What song and artist are these lines connected with? "Goodbye Norma Jean Though I never knew you at all You had the grace to hold yourself While those around you crawled They crawled out of the woodwork And they whispered into your brain They set you on the treadmill And they made you change your name" (1974) Female. U.S. American. Actress. She died young. The song was recycled for someone else in 1997. Can you name the song from which I've taken the first lines?

Answer: "Candle In The Wind"/Elton John

Born 1926 as Norma Jean Baker, Marilyn Monroe started her career as a pin-up girl. In 1948 she signed her first movie-contract. She played in films like "Some Like it Hot", was married several times, and died in 1962. But I suppose you knew this all before, am I right?

Elton John's homage got to a Number 11, in 1997 he changed part of his text and it was now used in remembrance of the late Princess Diana, a friend of Elton John. Then it topped the U.K. charts.

Betty Grable was also an ex pin-up girl and an actress, she died in 1973.
"Some Like it Hot" and "Movie Star" don't mention any special person.

6. What song and artist is associated with these lines? "Early morning, April fourth A shot rings out in the Memphis sky Free at last they took your life They could not take..." (1984) Male. U.S.American. Preacher and political activist. Assassinated. This song is in remembrance of him. Again these are the first lines. Can you pick the right song?

Answer: "Pride (In The Name Of Love)"/U 2

Martin Luther King, Jr.-born 1928- was a Baptist minister, and the leader of the American civil rights movement. He demanded non-violent action and organized marches which lead to the changing of discriminating laws. He received the Nobel Prize for Peace. In 1968 he was shot on a hotel balcony in Memphis, Tennessee.

Irish rock band U2 reached a British Nubmer three position, their second top-ten position - with a lot to follow in the future.

7. "Are we believing The heavenly survive Faith the future Big life on their side And we the people who can but try Forever learn As time goes by" (1985) Male. U.S.American. Artistic photographer. Started by photographing his own paintings. From which tune and singer/group is the above mentioned text?

Answer: "Black Man Ray"/China Crisis

Emmanuel Radnitzky, born 1890 in Pennsylvania, worked under the name of Man Ray. He was one of the people who formed the American branch of the art-style Dada in the 1920's. He was represented in the first Surrealist Expedition in 1925 in Paris, France. He modernized artistic photography. He died in 1976.

China Crisis from Liverpool started their career in 1982 and had until 1987 11 singles in the charts. Their greatest hit was "Wishful Thinking" in 1984, being a UK Number nine. "Black Man Ray" reached Number 14 in 1985. It was produced by Steely Dan's Walter Becker. Despite releasing records after their last single in 1987 they remain what that last single's title was: a "Best Kept Secret"!

8. What song and artist is associated with these lines? "September '77 Port Elisabeth, weather fine It was business as usual In police room 619 ... Yihla Moja, Yihla Moja The Man is dead" (1980) Male. South-Africa. Fighter against and victim of Apartheid. Hint: The song was also performed by the Simple Minds. Who wrote and sang these original words?

Answer: "Biko"/Peter Gabriel

Stephen Bantu Biko, born 1946 in South Africa, was one of the most important non-violent Anti-apartheid leaders. After the Soweto riots in 1976 he became a main target of the police forces. In custody, he suffered major head injuries. Despite his injuries they transported him a long way to the next prison. He didn't survive this.

Peter Gabriel, former singer of Genesis (greatest solo hit: "Sledgehammer") released Biko two times: First in 1980, reaching a U.K Number 38, second time in 1987 as a live recording, being a Number 49. Peter Gabriel showed always great interest in Africa and helped to organize the African part of the Live 8 concert at the Eden project in 2005.

"Sun City" and "Gimme Hope Jo'anna" are both about South-African Apartheid, "Africa" is simply a melodic song.

9. What song do these lines come from? "Living with good and bad I always looked up to you Now we're left cold and sad By someone, the devil's best friend Someone who offended all" (1981) Male. Singer and composer. Shot. Can you name the song in which the lyrics above appear, performed by someone knowing him well?

Answer: All Those Years Ago

John Winston Lennon, born 1940 in Liverpool was shot in 1980 by a mad fan in New York. Being a member of the Beatles, mostly together with Paul McCartney, he composed many of their songs. He was just recording a new record at the time of his death. Three of his singles reached the Number one spot in U.K. after his death, including "Woman".

George Harrison, his fellow member of the Beatles had his greatest hit with "My Sweet Lord, a Number one in 1971 and in 2002- re-issued after his death in 2001. "All those years ago" was out only some months after Lennon's death and got to Number 13.

The other answers are a nice collection of Beatles songs.

10. Who sang these lines? "I remember that night Of the year when the tears wouldn't clear my eyes I'd seen it before Like a dream I'd ignore It was no suprise I tried to pretend that the madness would end and you'd realise That all that was left Was the whisper of death And your children's cries" (1988) Male, Irish, Rockstar. Died through the abuse of drugs. The song above is called "Homeland" and was written and performed by Midge Ure, who toured with his group once. Who was the one he memorialized in the lyrics I copied?

Answer: Phil Lynott

Irish-born Phil Lynott lived a short life: from 1949-1986. The band Thin Lizzy with Lynott as singer, bassist and songwriter started in 1969 in Dublin. Their greatest hit was "The Boys Are Back In Town". In 1983, Thin Lizzy broke up and Lynnot tried some solo work. He died in 1986 due to his long-standing drug abuse.

Midge Ure had a first chart appearance with Slik in the 70's, starting with a Number one. After this he played in the group Rich Kids and filled in on very short notice at Thin Lizzy's 1979 USA tour, their guitarist having quit they day before. After this he worked in Visage, was the frontman of Ultravox and co-wrote with Bob Geldof Band Aid's "Do They Know it's Christmas?". "Answers to nothing" was his second solo album, released in 1988. The title track went up in the US Modern Rock charts to Number 26. Also working for a lot of charity projects like the Prince's Trust, he was heavily involved in the 2005 Live 8 concerts again.

Moore, White and Gorham were at one time or are still Thin Lizzy members. In 2006 they are all still alive and Thin Lizzy is touring again.

Source: Author Heidi66

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gretas before going online.
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Popular Personalities Of The Past Memorized In Pop Quiz

Who said Pop Stars are not interested in history? Here are some songs about V.I.P's who already rest in peace. The songs were released between 1971 and 1988. I'll give you some text and a hint about the person. Good fun!

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