The Name Game Trivia Quiz

Answer: "Daniel" by Elton John

The lyrics were written by Bernie Taupin and the music by Sir Elton John. John cut out the last verse which changed the meaning of the song and did not make it clear that the song was about a Vietnam Vet returning home from the war, blind, and then heading to Spain.

Answer: Veronique Sanson

I loved this song in the 1970s but thought Mariavah was a woman's name - my French was not good enough to pick up on what the meaning was. Now, reading the words online, I have discovered that Mariavah is a place, a town, "une ville qu'on appelle Mariavah."

Answer: Jesse Colin Young

From searching on the web, it seems that Jesse is still touring and performing, though looking a little different (aren't we all?). The fall of 2005 saw the release of a "best of" album. He was the lead singer of The Youngbloods in the 60's & 70's (their big hit "Get Together" was heard on the "Forrest Gump" soundtrack); after 7 group albums with them, he went on to make 15 single albums, touring with his live band "On the Road." He now grows organic coffee in Hawaii and is still recording music, including an album of Christmas songs in 2004.

Answer: "Alison" by Elvis Costello

Elvis was born Declan Patrick MacManus. If you read his lengthy bio on the web you will find quite a story of relationships (several marriages, the most recent being to Canadian jazz songstress Diana Krall in 2003 and tussles with the law (political activism).

Answer: Van Morrison from Them

Fans might like to know that there is an unofficial magazine devoted to Van Morrison, the Man and his Music, entitled "Wavelength". Van is still touring. Morrison, originally from Belfast, left them after a few year to pursue a solo career.

Answer: Laura Branigan

Apparently this was first recorded by an Italian pop singer, Umberto Tozzi, in 1974. Laura Branigan made it a hit in 1982 and it earned her a Grammy nomination. Sadly, Branigan passed away in 2004, at the age of 47, from a brain aneurysm.

Answer: "Lola" by The Kinks

According to the website for the Kinks, they are another of the old bands still touring albeit solo style (Ray and Dave). The band hasn't performed together since 1996.

Answer: Billy Joel

"Piano Man" was Billy's first top 20 single and it was based on his own experiences playing in a piano bar, when he had changed his name, trying to escape some legal & financial difficulties.Unfortunately, in recent years Billy has had a few driving accidents allegedly with alcohol involved. (And the model, of course, was Christie Brinkley - they have a daughter together but haven't been married to each other for quite some time).

Answer: "Suzanne" by Leonard Cohen

Suzanne Verdal, a dancer, is the Suzanne of the song. My husband saw a show on TV that indicated she is living in poverty now in the U.S., living out of her car. Cohen became a Zen monk in 1996. He is still recording.

Answer: Barenaked Ladies

Here is a bit of trivia about the band: they wrote and recorded all of the music for Shakespeare's romantic comedy "As You Like It" directed by Antoni Cimolino for the Stratford Festival in Ontario.