Tragically Un-Hip Trivia Quiz

Answer: Put it Off

Procrastinate: To put something off; E.g., Wait until the night before to complete a project (something I certainly never, ever did, ever).

This song seems to have been inspired by the birth of Gord Downie's children. It also references a band called Eric's Trip. Specifically, he notes that he played the album "Love Tara."

Answer: Membership

This song is off of The Hip's album "Phantom Power," which was released in 1998. The album was a new turn for the band since it had many guest instruments, which not part of their musical palate as much until then. The album even features a flute solo as well as pedal steel on "Bobcaygeon" and "The Rules." The changes in studio sound were partially brought about by bringing a man named Steve Berlin on board for the project.

http://www.thehip.com/theBand-News.html?divnum=6&startAt=126

I've always viewed this song as being about conformity, or the sweeping progression of popular culture. Gord describes it as a river that pulls; People swim in it and are pulled by the current. They build by it an depend on it. They must approach it and find a place to cross. No matter how it is approached, it must be followed to some extent. Also, those who seek the river of belonging out of need, may be swept up and never again get their footing, thus being whisked away to god knows what. Don't quote me though. ;)

Answer: Chagrin Falls

Chagrin: Synonym for disappointment/humiliation (due to failure)
Travels Down: Falls

Chagrin Falls is an actual town in Ohio. There is a double meaning, as the term chagrin may be attributed to the feeling that took the residents there since they became home to a corporate radio station in big-business entertainment known as Clear Channel. They may be embarrassed of harbouring a station with anti-freedom of speech tendencies that fail to contribute to a healthy pop culture.* Several critics have claimed that Clear Channel has been using a tactic known as "negative synergy" to force record companies into buying advertising space by threatening to discontinue play of their artists. Independent artists have also claimed to have been "shut out" from the airwaves. **

**http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=4808 Some interesting info for those wishing further information from a site called Corp Watch. Check Wikipedia as well for a wealth of resources on Clear Channel (The corporation, not the AM radio term)

Answer: The Heart of the Melt

"Cuz as soon as Joni says 'blue'
You're somewhere else"

This lyric from the song is in reference to Canadian songstress Joni Mitchell. "Blue" was a newer album, that parted from the "hippie" scene to which she had up to then been associated. The album was released in 1971 and featured such songs as "Blue," "This Flight Tonight," and "California."

This particular quote, to me, represents a commentary on human nature. When the proverbial droppings hit the equally non-existent spinning blades, each person is out for themselves, no matter how much they claimed to be loyal. Maybe a vein of innate betrayal in these words. Couldn't find any explanations, really, for the song as a whole (as is the case for many Hip lyrics), so my interpretation will have to satisfy.

Answer: Titanic Terrarium

Greenhouse: Synonym for terrarium

Sinking ship: Titanic is a famous ship sinking; In the title of the song, Titanic could be interpreted as an adjective (hence, proportions)

This song makes mention of a famous ship called the Titanic, but did you know that the sinking of an often compared ship, the Lusitania (sunk May 7, 1915) was at least partially responsible for the United States entering World War I? On the ship were 128 American citizens. The neutrality towards the war in Europe shifted quickly in favour with the Allies. The Lusitania was sunk by a German U-Boat (U-20). The sinking of the Lusitania is considered by some to be the "second most famous passenger liner disaster after the sinking of the Titanic."

Aside from being one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard, this track has some very interesting lyrics:
"An accident's sometimes the only way to worm our way back to bad decisions.
My great grandfather was a welder
He helped build the Titanic
He certainly didn't think that it was unsinkable
Building up to the larger point with arrogance not rare or pretty."

This excerpt gives a sense of arrogance that is not shared by the lower units, such as the builders of the Titanic, as opposed to the White Star lines who claimed it as "unsinkable." He says that this pride, which is found everywhere, will lead to disaster ("larger point").

Wikipedia has many suggestions for reading on all these subjects.

Answer: I'm a Werewolf, Baby

It is believed that werewolves (along with vampires) may have been suggested as the perpetrators of serial killings in the days of old(e), in a time less prone to scientific explanations. The origins seem to have grounds in the days of ancient Greece.
In addition to werewolves, there are many geographical variations, such as weretigers, werepumas, werejaguars and so on. (werepoodle?)
That's all my source says. I think it means that we all have subsections of ourselves underneath our outer masks. Whether evil or good, these subsections may represent our "real" selves. Seems like this is turning into a philosophy class.

Answer: The Dire Wolf

Lupus: Wolf
Indicative of trouble: Dire

This song was inspired by Wallace Stevens' "Sea Surface Full of Clouds". The structure of the song is set the same as the original poem, and even some of the words are mirrored:

Stevens: "In that November off Tehuantepec..."
Downie: "In that September off Isle Aux Morts"
(Isle Aux Morts is French and translates to "Island of the Dead," a Newfoundland island known for its treacherous waters.)*

Dire wolves are actually ancient precursors to today's wolves*.

Answer: Opiated

This particular line refers to Canada during the times of the missionaries (17th century). Medicine men were Native American healers, who were looked down upon by the missionaries since they (the men of God) believed all healing was derivative of God, as opposed to the natural methods practised by natives. The missionaries, when they came to North America, brought with them many diseases such as smallpox, and the medicine men felt that the strange ceremonies of the white men were poisoning their people.

This angered them and they discouraged their people from participating in, or attending the missionaries' rituals.*

Answer: The Luxury

Four Leaf Clover: Symbolizes Luck
A Cosmonaut is a Russian/Soviet astronaut. First man in space (hence, pioneer) was a cosmonaut named Yuri Gagarin.
Multiplication is often denoted as an X.
Luck X Yuri = Luxury: The Luxury.

After going over the lyrics, since my source doesn't offer up any actual answers, I've got a loose translation of this song. It seems to be, as most shown by the chorus ("If I had loads...") that people feel they would be happier with wealth, and could buy love ("I could pay you to remind my baby by the hour"). My best guess, and once again: Don't quote me.

Answer: Eldorado

"Eldorado" is inspired by the South American, ancient city whose ruler surrounded himself with gold that has become a myth known to many cultures around the world. The word itself, in Spanish (coined by the conquistadors of the 16th century) is spelled El Dorado, and means "The Golden Man."*

This is my first quiz, go easy on me!

Please...?

I should also apologise to the editor known as agony for editing a quiz that must have been just that, pure intense agony, to sift through and correct.

*Look for some of this info at www.hipmuseum.com, a great site for explaining some of Gord Downie's enigmatic lyrics.