music trivia

Daily Music Quiz: Jonas Birthday, Jacksons and Brothers in Bands

Published September 16th, 2009 by Karen
nick jonas.
Creative Commons License photo credit: samborowski

Today is the 17th birthday of Disney pop star Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers (cue the screaming tweens).

In honor of the teen idol’s big day, the theme of today’s music quiz is brothers (and sisters) in bands.

Are you a music expert? Take today’s quiz and find out!

1. Everyone knows Michael, but can you name the other four members of the Jackson 5?
BONUS: Michael was the youngest member of the Jackson 5, but who was the oldest?

2. Which band of brothers included Barry, Maurice, Robin and Andy?

3. Which ’90s singing group featured the daughters of music stars Brian Wilson (Beach Boys) and John & Michelle Phillips (Mamas and the Papas)?
BONUS: Can you name all three girls in the band?

ANSWERS (and videos): Continue reading »

Daily Music Quiz: Motown, Rolling Stones and a Reggae Icon

Published September 11th, 2009 by Karen
Jamaican Coffee Table
Creative Commons License photo credit: RyAwesome

Today marks the anniversary of the untimely death of a legend of reggae music. Check the clues below and see if you can guess this star’s identity (Answer and video, below).

Born in Jamaica in 1944, this musician was a well known champion the Rastafari movement.

HINT: One of this performer’s earliest hits was the 1964 song “Simmer Down,” recorded with the Wailers.

Can you name this reggae legend?

ANSWER: Continue reading »

Music Trivia: This Day in Music History June 23. Muppets, Blondie and More.

Published June 23rd, 2009 by Karen

ABOVE: Which singer calls “Rainbow Connection” one of his favorite songs? Made famous by the Muppet Movie, the unusual version above is a duet between Kermit the Frog and Debbie Harry of Blondie.

Think you’re a music expert? Time to test your music trivia knowledge!

Today’s music trivia quiz is all about an unusual singer-songwriter known for tongue-twisting lyrics and a positive attitude.

Take a look at the clues, then check out the answer below. Good luck!

1. When not making music, this Grammy-winning star runs an avocado farm.

2. This singer calls “Rainbow Connection” one of his favorite songs, because it proves that playing the banjo is easy.

3. Although recognized as a songwriter, this singer’s 2002 breakthrough hit was actually co-written with the Matrix, the professional songwriters responsible for hits by Korn, Avril Lavigne, Liz Phair and Ashley Tisdale, among others.

4. In 2009, after releasing only three albums, this young singer-songwriter was honored by the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame.

ANSWER: Continue reading »

"I Still Love You, Paul!"
  Tammy Michael

Music Trivia: This Day in Music History, June 18, 1942

Published June 18th, 2009 by Karen
Happy Birthday Cake!
Creative Commons License photo credit: CJ Sorg

Today is an important day in rock’n'roll history, because it marks the birthday of one of the genre’s most celebrated stars.

Can you guess who it is? Here are a few clues:

1. His first name is James, but millions of screaming fans know him better by his middle name.

2. He owns the publishing rights to every song ever written by Buddy Holly. However, he does not own the rights to his own classic hits.

3. He’s known for his haircut, but his daughter is a popular fashion designer.

4. The Guinness Book of Records declared him the most successful musician/composer in the history of pop music.

Do you know the answer? Check out the Video below for the Answer: Continue reading »

Top 10 Phil Spector Hits: Beatles, Ramones and More!

Published April 17th, 2009 by Karen

Ok, so by now everyone has probably read that record producer Phil Spector has been found guilty of killing Lana Clarkson by shooting her in the face.

Obviously, we can’t defend that action.

But, we can take a look back at Spector’s pre-murder career-and an impressive career it was. Spector hit the big time producing everyone from the Ronettes and Righteous Brothers to the Beatles and the Ramones.

Do you know what the last song Phil produced was? Or which song was covered by a ’90s indie rock icon? Keep reading for the answers!

The following songs and videos are just a few highlights from Spector’s back pages, mostly songs he produced, but some he actually played on-maybe you have some Spector in your record collection right now :)

Check out our Top Phil Spector tunes and tell us which is your favorite.

Kicking things off is a video from Spector’s own band, the Teddy Bears.

1950s:
Teddy Bears-To Know Him is to Love Him

 

Continue reading »

5 Things You Didn’t Know About ABBA Plus Free ABBA Music

Published July 23rd, 2008 by Karen

This group should’ve faded away in the ‘70s, but for some reason ABBA has endured. Last week Mamma Mia hit theatres. Starring Meryl Streep, the movie musical is based on the successful Broadway play inspired by the music of ABBA.

ABBA fans are wild about it and can’t seem to get enough of this Swedish pop sensation, so today we’re offering something special for all the ABBA fans:

Five Things You Probably Didn’t Know About ABBA

1. In addition to being a palindrome, ABBA is an acronym for the band members’ names (Agnetha, Benny, Bjorn, Anni-Frid)

2. Former ABBA drummer Ola Brunkert died in his garden in 2008. While it was tragic, we can’t help but be reminded of Spinal Tap (one of the band’s drummer’s died in, “a bizarre gardening accident.”).

3. After ABBA, Bjorn and Benny teamed up with Tim Rice for a musical called Chess. The group released a concept album/play soundtrack featured the unlikely hit song, “One Night in Bangkok.” (See the weird video, here.)

4. ABBA is Swedish, but the band scored a hit with 1980’s Gracia Por La Musica, a compilation of ABBA songs performed in Spanish.

5. Mamma Mia! isn’t the only ABBA-themed musical. In 1983 the musical Abbacadabra debuted on French television.

Free ABBA mp3 music downloads

Abba—Mamma Mia mp3
Abba—Dancing Queen mp3
Abba—Fernando mp3

70s Music Trivia

Published January 18th, 2008 by Karen

Like it or not, the 70s just won’t go away. Decades later, 70s music and 70s fashion are still remarkably popular (and sometimes awful).

 

The recent reunion of 70s rock icons Led Zeppelin only heightened interest in the era. And it’s impossible to turn on the radio without passing several stations devoted to classic 70s rock. Heck, you can’t even turn on the TV without running across a rerun of That 70s Show!

 

Since it seems pretty useless to fight against the 70s, we’ve decided to embrace it by making it the subject of today’s edition of Pop Quiz.

 

Squeeze into those old bell-bottoms and plug in the lava lamp, as we test your knowledge of the golden oldies.

 

Answers follow at the end of the quiz—no peeking! Complete the quiz, and there’s a prize at the end. Leave a comment and let us know how you scored.

 

Pop Quiz: 7 Questions about 70s Music

1. Where did the British psychedelic band Pink Floyd get its name?

A) It refers to the blues musicians Pink Anderson and Floyd Council

B) Bassist Roger Floyd was nicknamed “Pink”

C) “Floyd” is British slang for drugs and pink just sounded good with it

 

2. What band recorded the 1977 hit song, “Godzilla.”

A) Bachman Turner Overdrive

B) Blue Oyster Cult

C) Creedence Clearwater Revival

 

3. Famous for songs like “School’s Out,” what is shock rocker Alice Cooper’s real name?

A) Alan Cooper

B) Vincent Price

C) Vincent Furnier

 

4. What band did guitarist Jimmy Page play in before joining Led Zeppelin?

A) The Yardbirds

B) The Birds

C) The Black Crowes

 

5. Before becoming a rockstar with the Rolling Stones, what did Mick Jagger study at University?

A) Art History

B) Business and Economics

C) He didn’t attend college

 

6. Known for songs like “Rock and Roll All Nite (and Party Every Day),” the band KISS had a huge fanclub—what was it called?

A) KISS Nation

B) KISS Army

C) KISS and Tell

 

7. The theme song for That 70s Show is called “In the Street.” It was originally performed by ________ in 1972, but the TV show’s version is performed by another 70s band, ________. Name both bands.

A) Big Star and Cheap Trick

B) Cheap Trick and Journey

C) The Monkees and Big Star

 

Answers:

1. A

2. B

3. C

4. A

5. B

6. B

7. A

 

How’d you Score? Leave a comment and let us know!

6-7 Correct Answers—You’ve got Saturday Night Fever

3-5 Correct—You’re funky. But not too funky.

1-2 Correct—Maybe you should stick with the 80s

 

Ready for your prize of silly 70s fun? Check it out here! Enjoy :)

 


Fall Out Boy Lyrics Quiz

Published January 16th, 2008 by Karen

Wednesdays are a drag, so let’s play a little game to make it more fun!

It’s time to see how much you know about music lyrics in today’s edition of Pop Quiz! Today’s topic is Fall Out Boy lyrics—with a twist…keep reading.

Yes, eyeliner obsessed bassist Pete Wentz is currently dating pop tart Ashlee Simpson, but we’re not here to make fun of him for that, it would be too easy. This is about the music,ha,ha.

While the band is extremely popular with fans of pop-punk, it’s also true that Fall Out Boy lyrics (and song titles) are pretty silly.

So, join us as we take a look at some of the band’s funnier moments with our Pop Quiz: Fall Out Boy Lyrics. (Yeah, Panic at the Disco lyrics are pretty amusing, too, so tune in later and we’ll look at those, as well as rap lyrics, country lyrics and some other funny song lyrics, too.)

Here’s how it works:

—Decide whether each of the following lines is:
A.) Fall Out Boy song title
B.) A quote from President George W. Bush
C.) Other

Good luck!

Answers follow at the end of the quiz—no peeking! Complete the quiz, and there’s a prize at the end. Leave a comment and let us know how you scored.

Fall Out Boy Lyrics Pop Quiz: Who Said It?

1.) Champagne for my real friends, real pain for my sham friends.
A.) Fall Out Boy song title
B.) President Bush quote
C.) Sean “Puffy” Combs

2.) When somebody builds a new building somebody has got to come and build the building.
A.) Fall Out Boy song title
B.) President Bush quote
C.) Donald Trump

3.) Nobody puts baby in the corner
A.) Fall Out Boy song title
B.) President Bush quote
C.) Clint Eastwood

4.) I’m like a lawyer with the way I’m always trying to get you off
A.) Fall Out Boy song title
B.) President Bush quote
C.) Made it up

5.) Of all the gin joints in all the world…
A.) Fall Out Boy song title
B.) President Bush quote
C.) Humphrey Bogart

6.) Reinventing the wheel to run myself over
A.) Fall Out Boy song title
B.) President Bush quote
C.) Made it up

7.) I slept with someone in Fall Out Boy and all I got was his eyeliner on my new dress
A.) Fall Out Boy song title
B.) President Bush quote
C.) Made it up

8.) I slept with someone in Fall Out Boy and all I got was this stupid song written about me
A.) Fall Out Boy song title
B.) President Bush quote
C.) Ashlee Simpson

9.) I can press when there needs to be pressed; I can hold hands when there needs to be — hold hands.
A.) Fall Out Boy song title
B.) President Bush quote
C.) Made it up

10.) If music is a weapon, we’ll win the war for sure
A.) Fall Out Boy song title
B.) President Bush quote
C.) Made it up

Answers:
1. A
2. B
3. A
4. A
5. Ah, this one’s a trick question—A and C are BOTH correct answers!
6. A
7. C
8. A
9. B
10.C

10 Correct answers=Wow, you must watch a lot of MTV
5-9 Correct=You’re an FOB expert, Ashlee better watch out
1-4 Correct=So, you prefer Panic at the Disco?
Correct=Let’s just be friends

So how did you do? Leave a comment and let us know!

And, as a special reward for playing along, enjoy some Fall Out Boy mp3 music downloads.

Song Lyrics Pop Quiz

Published January 11th, 2008 by Karen

It’s Friday! That means you made it through another week of work/school, time to celebrate—with a super-fun music trivia Pop Quiz!

Pop Quiz is a totally free online game. It’s a fun way to test your music knowledge, listen to free mp3 music downloads and let the world know that you’re a music superstar.

In today’s Pop Quiz see how well you know the words to songs from all your favorites with a fun quiz about Rihanna lyrics, High School Musical lyrics, Daughtry lyrics and more!

There just might be a prize at the end…

Pop Quiz: Song Lyrics

Fill in the blank: We’ll give you the lyric, and you pick the word(s) that complete the line (Answers at the bottom of the page—no peeking!)

1.) In her hit song “Shut Up and Drive,” Rihanna sings, “I got class like a _______.”
A.) University B.) ’57 Cadillac C.) Champagne glass

2.) Complete the line from these High School Musical lyrics for “Start of Something New”:
“Didn’t understand that anything can happen when you _____________.”
A.) Believe in yourself B.) Date Zac Efron C.) Take a chance

3.) American Idol Chris Daughtry’s hit song “Home” lyrics feature the line:
“I’m going home to the place where ___________.”
A.) Everybody knows my name B.) I belong C.) I get mail

4.) Finish the Fergie lyrics for “Fergalicious”:
“I’m Fergalicious, my body’s staying vicious, I be up in the gym just _______.”
A.) Working on my fitness B.) Eatin’ chicken and biscuits C.) Looking in the mirror

5.) In the Taylor Swift “Tim McGraw” lyrics, the country teen sings:
“When you think Tim McGraw, I hope you think____________.”
A.) His wife Faith Hill B.) Blue jeans and cowboy hats C.) My favorite song

6.) Do you know the next line to this Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus song?
“You get the best of both worlds______________”
A.) Mix it all together B.) Use a body double C.) It’s twice as much fun

So how did you do?
Answers:
1.) B
2.) C
3.) B
4.) A
5.) C
6.) A

5-6 Correct Answers: You’re an iPod expert!
3-4 Correct Answers: Great job, rockstar.
1-2 Correct Answers: Turn off the TV and turn on the radio.

PRIZE: No matter how you scored, you deserve a reward! So sit back and enjoy some free music downloads and songs from Daughtry, High School Musical and more!

Leave a comment and let us know how you scored!
And check back for upcoming editions of POP QUIZ
(There might be BIGGER prizes next time…)

Rock’n’roll Dictionary Pt. 2: Beatles, Ramones & More

Published December 5th, 2007 by Karen

Inspired by the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ recent lawsuit against Showtime tv series, “Californication” over claims that the band made up the word “Californication” and the show is using it without permission, we were inspired to create the Rock’n’Roll Dictionary to track down other words that were invented by songwriters and bands. 

This time around, we’re taking a look at the wordsmith skills of the Ramones, the Beatles, Pink Floyd and more in Rock’n’Roll Dictionary Pt.2. 

There are probably tons of other nonsense lyrics we’ve missed, so stay tuned for future installments of Rock’n’roll Dictionary!  Did we forget your favorite? Leave a comment and let us know what’s on your list! 

Rock’n’roll Dictionary Pt. 2 

Badonkadonk—A word describing a woman’s backside, it was apparently first used on a recording by Keith Murray, but made more popular by Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott’s song “Work It,” and Trace Adkins country hit, “Honkey Tonk Bandonkadonk.”  

Ob-la-di ob-la-da—Used by the Beatles in 1968’s “Ob-la-di, ob-la-da.” The phrase was reportedly picked up by Paul McCartney from Nigerian drummer, Jimmy Scott. 

Gabba Gabba Hey—Catchphrase made popular byNew York punk legends the Ramones in the song, “Pinhead.”  Inspired by a scene in the classic horror flick, Freaks.

Ummagumma—Used by Pink Floyd in “The Nile Song,” it’s a nonsensical word that is slang for sex in theUK. 

Wooly Bully—Used by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs in 1965’s “Wooly Bully.” Like most of these phrases: it doesn’t mean a thing, but it sure is fun to sing! 

 

Did we forget your favorite? Leave a comment and let us know who’s on your list!