How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Simple Plan, Florida Georgia Line, 5 Seconds Of Summer, Troye Sivan, Dua Lipa, Katie Melua, Matoma & The Vamps, Klaxons, Izzy Bizu, Carly Rae Jepsen, Ronan Keating, The Neighbourhood
They are the performers of twelve “lip sync” music videos that ranked in various charts, this week (37/52) BUT … in the Tens 2010s.
1. Which artist collaborated with Livvi Franc on her 2009 single?
- A Sean Paul
- B Pitbull
- C Flo Rida
2. Cliff Richard’s 2001 single mashup was inspired by which artist’s arrangement?
- A Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
- B Bob Marley
- C Jimmy Cliff
3. Which song by Robbie Williams features an interpolation of a track by Sly and Robbie?
- A Millennium
- B Supreme
- C Rudebox
4. Who added a new verse to Troye Sivan’s “Wild” in 2016?
- A Alessia Cara
- B Ariana Grande
- C Halsey
5. Dua Lipa’s “Blow Your Mind (Mwah)” was recorded in which city?
- A New York
- B Los Angeles
- C London
6. Joe Cocker covered a Bob Marley song that blends what two musical styles?
- A Blues and Jazz
- B Reggae and Disco
- C Rock and Soul
7. “Staying Up” is a collaboration between The Vamps and which Norwegian DJ?
- A Alan Walker
- B Matoma
- C Kygo
8. What is the opening single from Klaxons’ album “Surfing the Void”?
- A Flashover
- B Echoes
- C Atlantis to Interzone
9. In which year did Izzy Bizu release “White Tiger” as a single?
- A 2014
- B 2015
- C 2016
10. “The Leaving Song Pt. II” by AFI was featured on which video game’s soundtrack?
- A Madden 2004
- B Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3
- C FIFA 05
11. What is the title of Ronan Keating’s single that shares the same name as his ninth solo album?
- A Life is a Rollercoaster
- B Fires
- C When You Say Nothing at All
12. Which song by Stormzy references “Mr. Skeng” from his debut album?
- A Crown
- B Vossi Bop
- C Wiley Flow
For TWENTY FOUR more ‘Look Ma, No Mike!’ – 2010s Music Videos – week 37/52 – click here and here
Tracklist
1 . Simple Plan – Summer Paradise (w/ Sean Paul) |
‘When I try to speak no words, lip-syncing’
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| Canadian rock band Simple Plan’s “Summer Paradise,” produced by Brian Howes, features Sean Paul and K’Naan as guests. Opening with frontman Pierre Bouvier playing his guitar at sunset, the accompanying music video was shot in Barbados between the eroded beaches of Bathsheba and a Rum Shack with domino games. |
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Featured on the 2011 album “Get Your Heart On!”. Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site |
2 . Florida Georgia Line – Cruise [Remix] (w/ Nelly) |
‘ “Oh, good Lord, she had them long tanned legs”‘
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| Directed by Brian Lazzaro, the “Cruise” remix music video features Nelly and FGL’s Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard driving fast cars with friends on country roads filled with pretty ladies and a female cop who “interacts” with Nelly. |
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Featured on the 2012 album “Here’s to the Good Times”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
3 . 5 Seconds Of Summer – Jet Black Heart |
| Celebrated for its depth, the 5 Seconds of Summer’s song “Jet Black Heart,” a reference to the band Joan Jet and the Black Hearts, addresses issues like depression and anxiety. Directed by Tom Van Schelven, the video showcases fans from diverse backgrounds lip-syncing to the song, interspersed with clips of the band members Luke Hemmings, Ashton Irwin, Calum Hood, and Michael Clifford performing. |
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Featured on the 2015 album “Sounds Good Feels Good”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
4 . Troye Sivan – Wild (w/ Alessia Cara) |
| The semi-home footage styled video for Troye Sivan’s “Wild” depicts a teen romance disrupted by homophobia. Directed by Malia James and featuring actor Kohl McCall, it captures the fleeting essence of young love, showcasing both straight and gay couples. The song itself features Canadian singer Alessia Cara. |
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Featured on the 2015 album “Blue Neighbourhood”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
5 . Dua Lipa – Blow Your Mind [Mwah] |
‘Guaranteed, I can blow your mind’
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| Directed by Kinga Burza at London’s Barbican Centre, Dua Lipa’s music video for “Blow Your Mind (Mwah)” champions self-acceptance, featuring a Pride parade and appearances by Tawan Kedkong and friends Sarah and Rosie. It pays homage to mod-era London fashion with vibrant outfits and retro hairdos. |
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Featured on the 2017 album “Dua Lipa”. |
6 . Katie Melua – Wonderful Life |
| Katie Melua covers Black’s “Wonderful Life” for the Premier Inn ad campaign. The sales profits of the song were donated to Sheffield Children’s Charity Hospital and London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital. |
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7 . Matoma & The Vamps – Staying Up |
‘And tell me, tell me you’re in the mood’
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| Directed by Dean Sherwood and shot in Norway, the music video for “Staying Up” by The Vamps and Matoma, showcases their adventures in a camper van and that includes meeting two girls, arm wrestling a Viking, skateboarding stunts, and fruit-smashing. |
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8 . Klaxons – Echoes |
| The Klaxons “Echoes” music video was shot in Egypt’s White Desert in Farafra. |
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Featured on the 2010 album “Surfing the Void”. |
9 . Izzy Bizu – White Tiger |
| The music video is shot in Morocco and directed by Georgia Hudson. |
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Featured on the 2016 album “A Moment of Madness”. Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site |
10 . Carly Rae Jepsen – Run Away With Me |
‘Up in the clouds, high as a kite Over the city, city’
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| With its iconic saxophone opening, Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Run Away With Me” marks her transition from her early pop phase to an electro pop sound while it captures the essence of youthful romance and the desire to break free. The accompanying music video, directed by David Kalani Larkins showcases footage from three continents during a Jepsen’s tour. |
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Featured on the 2015 album “Emotion”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
11 . Ronan Keating – Fires |
| The music video is directed by Phil Griffin. |
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Featured on the 2012 album “Fires”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
12 . The Neighbourhood – R.I.P. 2 My Youth |
‘Wrap me up in Chanel inside my coffin’
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| The Neighbourhood’s “R.I.P. 2 My Youth” is a nostalgic indie rock song reflecting thanks to Jesse Rutherford’s introspective vocals, on past mistakes and the fleeting nature of youth. Directed by Hype Williams, its music video, consistent with the band’s monochromatic style, features evocative imagery like band members in coffins and underground tunnels. |
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Featured on the 2015 album “Wiped Out!”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. Pitbull teamed up with Livvi Franc for her single released in 2009. It was directed by Sarah Chatfield and served as one of Franc’s earlier breakout songs.
2. Cliff Richard’s mashup was influenced by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s rendition, which blended two classic tunes with a reggae twist.
3. “Rudebox” by Robbie Williams includes an interpolation from Sly and Robbie’s “Boops (Here to Go)”. It was a hit in multiple European countries.
4. In 2016, Alessia Cara contributed a fresh verse to Troye Sivan’s track “Wild”. This version was a part of Sivan’s debut album *Blue Neighbourhood*.
5. “Blow Your Mind (Mwah)” was crafted in Los Angeles, exploring themes related to Dua Lipa’s modeling career experiences.
6. Joe Cocker’s rendition of “Could You Be Loved” maintained the original reggae-disco fusion that Bob Marley popularized.
7. Matoma collaborated with The Vamps on “Staying Up”. Known for its energetic vibe, it marks their second joint effort.
8. “Echoes” is the lead single from the Klaxons’ album *Surfing the Void*. It fits their indie rock and nu rave style.
9. Izzy Bizu’s “White Tiger” was unveiled as a single in 2016. It marked her rise in the music scene with a cross-border appeal.
10. “The Leaving Song Pt. II” by AFI was a part of the Madden 2004 soundtrack, complementing the game’s edgy theme.
11. “Fires”, both a single and album title, marked another point in Ronan Keating’s long-standing solo music path.
12. Stormzy’s song “Wiley Flow” pays homage to his past work, including “Mr. Skeng”, with clever lyrical nods woven throughout.
For THE FULL ‘ARE WE LIVE?’ COLLECTION click here
NB . You may wonder what are these “Quotes” attached to certain photos above. Well! For a specific song, we select a still image from the video on one side and choose a lyric from the song on the other side. We ensure that the lyric has a connection to the image, although sometimes the connection may be far-fetched or based on a double entendre, creating a humorous or meme-like combination when the two are merged together. Et voilà!
No Mike Quotes • When I try to speak no words, lip-syncing (Simple Plan) • “Oh, good Lord, she had them long tanned legs” (Florida Georgia Line) • Guaranteed, I can blow your mind (Dua Lipa) • And tell me, tell me you’re in the mood (Matoma & The Vamps) • Up in the clouds, high as a kite Over the city, city (Carly Rae Jepsen) • And I can only wait and miss you (Ronan Keating) • Wrap me up in Chanel inside my coffin (The Neighbourhood)
Musicwise : British Soul, Country, Dance Pop, Hip Hop, Modern Rock, Pop