How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Gomez, Gossip, Madonna, Mika, Jamiroquai, Gitta, The Supermen Lovers, RJD2, Nikki Webster, Flobots, Dimitri From Paris, Red Hot Chili Peppers
They are the performers of twelve (animated only) music videos that reached the charts from the eighties to the noughties.
1. What is notable about the music video for Gomez’s “Ping One Down”?
- A It features live footage from a concert.
- B It’s animated entirely in claymation.
- C It accompanies a double A-side single release.
2. Which member of Sonic Youth created the cover art for Gossip’s “Standing In The Way Of Control”?
- A Kim Gordon
- B Thurston Moore
- C Lee Ranaldo
3. To whom is Madonna’s song “Dear Jessie” dedicated?
- A Madonna’s mother
- B Jessie, the daughter of collaborator Patrick Leonard
- C A fictional character from a children’s story
4. Mika’s song “Lollipop” was intended as a message for whom?
- A The artist’s younger sister
- B A close friend
- C His future self
5. What distinguishes the music video for Jamiroquai’s “(Don’t) Give Hate a Chance”?
- A It’s a live performance video
- B It’s the only computer-animated video by the band
- C It mocks popular cartoons of the 90s
6. What type of media format saw the release of Gitta’s “No More Turning Back”?
- A Digital streaming only
- B 12″ vinyl and CD single
- C Cassette and minidisc
7. Which theme is represented in the music video for The Supermen Lovers’ “Starlight”?
- A A journey to a desert island
- B A potato character’s rise and fall in the music industry
- C A road trip across Europe
8. What genre influences are present in RJD2’s “Exotic Talk”?
- A Jazz and classical
- B 1970s rock and hip-hop
- C Blues and bossa nova
9. What is unique about Nikki Webster’s music video for “Strawberry Kisses”?
- A It features the most expensive Australian music video production at the time
- B It was filmed entirely underwater
- C It was shot using a single take
10. What legal action did Flobots take about their track “Handlebars”?
- A They trademarked the song’s title
- B They filed a copyright lawsuit over a melodic similarity
- C They patented a dance move from the video
11. Which institution was involved in rights management for Dimitri From Paris’s “Sacré Français”?
- A PRS for Music
- B SACEM
- C ASCAP
12. What differentiation does the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ cover of “Love Rollercoaster” hold compared to the original?
- A It features a rap verse
- B It omits the infamous scream
- C It’s performed as an acoustic version
Tracklist
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1 . Gomez – Ping One DownFeatured on the 2002 album “In Our Gun”.
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2 . Gossip – Standing In The Way Of ControlFeatured on the 2006 album “Standing in the Way of Control”.
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3 . Madonna – Dear JessieFeatured on the 1989 album “Like a Prayer“.
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4 . Mika – LollipopFeatured on the 2007 album “Life in Cartoon Motion”.
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5 . Jamiroquai – [Don’t] Give Hate A ChanceFeatured on the 2005 album “Dynamite“.
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6 . Gitta – No More Turning Back!!
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7 . The Supermen Lovers – StarlightFeatured on the 2001 album “The Player”.
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8 . RJD2 – Exotic TalkFeatured on the 2004 album “Since We Last Spoke”.
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9 . Nikki Webster – Strawberry KissesFeatured on the 2001 album “Follow Your Heart”.
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10 . Flobots – HandlebarsFeatured on the 2007 album “Fight with Tools”.
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11 . Dimitri From Paris – Sacré FrançaisFeatured on the 1996 album “Sacrebleu”. |
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12 . Red Hot Chili Peppers – Love RollercoasterFeatured on the 1996 album “Beavis and Butt-Head Do America”.
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. The music video for “Ping One Down” supports its release as a double A-side single with “Sound of Sounds.” Its presence in a Brit funk style positions it uniquely after “Miles End” on the album.
2. The cover art for “Standing In The Way Of Control” was designed by Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth. The single achieved success on the UK charts, topping the UK Indie Chart for a week.
3. “Dear Jessie” is dedicated to Jessie, Patrick Leonard’s daughter. The song melds children’s motifs with a blend of baroque and pop, showcasing a shift in time signature.
4. Mika’s “Lollipop” was a cautionary tale for his younger sister. It stressed the importance of understanding consequences in early romantic relationships with a catchy pop and dance tune.
5. Jamiroquai’s “(Don’t) Give Hate a Chance” video is unique for its computer animation. Paying tribute to “La Linea,” it features animated conflicts mirrored by the song’s themes of peace.
6. “No More Turning Back” saw release on both 12″ vinyl and CD single. These formats included various remixes that contributed to its presence on multiple charts.
7. “Starlight” illustrates a potato-like character’s fleeting music career. This story, set to a funk and house mix, achieved commercial success and remained an electronic staple.
8. “Exotic Talk” by RJD2 blends postmodern hip-hop with rock influences from the 1970s. The track features creative sampling, maintaining the artist’s signature innovative style.
9. Nikki Webster’s “Strawberry Kisses” video was the costliest Australian music video of its time. It combined high production values with an animated character set in space.
10. Flobots pursued a copyright lawsuit concerning their track “Handlebars” when another artist allegedly appropriated its melody. This legal action followed the song’s chart success.
11. SACEM was involved in managing rights for “Sacré Français” by Dimitri From Paris. This dance track was released by Yellow Productions featuring electronic influences.
12. The Red Hot Chili Peppers covered “Love Rollercoaster,” excluding the notorious scream of the original. This rendition complemented the 1996 film *Beavis and Butt-Head Do America* soundtrack.