How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : One Direction, Years & Years, Olly Murs, The Chainsmokers, Jonas Blue, Liam Payne, Lennon Stella, Jess Glynne, Robbie Williams, Emeli Sandé, Walk The Moon, Post Malone, James Bay, Ed Sheeran
They are the performers of twelve “live” music videos that ranked in various charts, this week (42/52) BUT … in the Tens 2010s.
1. What achievement did One Direction’s single from “Take Me Home” secure upon its release in the US?
- A It was the highest debut for a British solo artist
- B It topped the Billboard 200
- C It was the highest debut for a British group
2. “Meteorite” by Years & Years was released as part of which film’s soundtrack?
- A Notting Hill
- B Bridget Jones’s Baby
- C Love Actually
3. With which reality TV show’s performance did Olly Murs’s “Grow Up” climb the UK Singles Chart?
- A The X Factor UK
- B Britain’s Got Talent
- C The Voice UK
4. Which album includes both The Chainsmokers’ track with Kelsea Ballerini and its original album feature?
- A *Sick Boy*
- B *Unapologetically*
- C *Memories…Do Not Open*
5. What tag best describes the genre of Jonas Blue, Liam Payne, and Lennon Stella’s collaboration?
- A Synth-pop
- B R&B pop
- C Indie rock
6. What renowned composition is sampled in Robbie Williams’s “Party Like a Russian”?
- A Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture”
- B Rachmaninoff’s “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini”
- C Prokofiev’s “Montagues and Capulets”
7. Which country’s chart did Emeli Sandé’s single *not* top upon its release?
- A Ireland
- B Scotland
- C United States
8. The lyric title “Anna Sun” by Walk the Moon names what type of person?
- A A school teacher
- B A professor
- C A physicist
9. What format was Post Malone’s “Saint-Tropez” released on for Record Store Day?
- A Cassette tape
- B 3-inch vinyl
- C Compact disc single
10. James Bay’s “Let It Go” was associated with which EP title?
- A *Hold Back the River*
- B *The Dark of the Morning*
- C *Let It Go*
11. Who contributed to the initial musical idea for Ed Sheeran’s track on *x*?
- A Johnny McDaid
- B Ryan Tedder
- C Amy Wadge
12. Jess Glynne’s single released in March 2015 shares a title with which emotional response?
- A *Love Me So*
- B *I Laugh When I Cry*
- C *I Cry When I Laugh*
For TWELVE more ‘Look Ma, No Mike!’ – 2010s Music Videos – week 42/52 – click here
Tracklist
1 . One Direction – Live While We’re Young |
‘Just pretending that we’re cool,’
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| Inspired by Clash’s “Should I Stay or Should I Go” and “Summer Nights” from “Grease,” according to Harry Styles, and produced by Rami Yacoub, Carl Falk, and Savan Kotecha, “Live While We’re Young” by One Direction maintains the pop/rock essence of their “Up All Night” album. The music video, directed by Vaughan Arnell, sums up a carefree summer with band members, including Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Zayn Malik, and Styles, enjoying a luxurious camping adventure akin to a lively scene from “The Inbetweeners.” |
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Featured on the 2012 album “Take Me Home”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
2 . Years & Years – Meteorite |
| Years & Years’ song “Meteorite” is featured on the “Bridget Jones’s Baby” soundtrack. In the accompanying music video, directed by Ollie Wolf, Olly Alexander, Y&Y’s lead singer, dons a bespoke outfit by Lara Jensen, adorned with 86,000 Swarovski crystals. |
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Featured on the 2016 album “Bridget Jones’s Baby: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
3 . Olly Murs – Grow Up |
‘Ain’t you sick of being immature?’
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| In “Grow Up,” Olly Murs addresses an ex’s immaturity but also delivers a broader message about maturing for better relationships and growing for reconciliation. The music video, directed by Jim Canty, features kids managing the shoot, making the process challenging for Olly. |
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Featured on the 2016 album “24 Hrs”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
4 . The Chainsmokers – This Feeling (w/ Kelsea Ballerini) |
| The Chainsmokers collaborate with country singer Kelsea Ballerini on “This Feeling,” a song, penned by Emily Warren, Andrew Taggart, and Alex Pall. The music video, directed by Similar But Different, the directing duo comprising Charlotte Fassler and Dani Girdwood, showcases a playful bike race. |
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Featured on the 2018 album “Sick Boy”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
5 . Jonas Blue, Liam Payne, Lennon Stella – Polaroid |
‘It’s only a matter of time Before it starts fading’
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| Produced by Blue and co-written with JP Cooper, Sam Romans, and Ed Drewett, “Polaroid” is a collaboration between Jonas Blue, One Direction’s Liam Payne, and Canadian singer Lennon Stella, known for her role in “Nashville.” Directed by Jay Martin, the music video takes place in an autumnal New York, as a young man searches for the girl whose Polaroid he keeps in his wallet. Think Cinderella where a snapshot replaces the slipper. |
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Featured on the 2018 album “Blue”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
6 . Jess Glynne – Hold My Hand |
| Embodying themes of self-acceptance, acknowledging weaknesses and predicted to be a hit, especially in college night gay club scenes, Jess Glynne’s “Hold My Hand” ended up as featured in Jet2holidays’ TV and in-flight ads. The music video, directed by Emil Nava, is set in the Los Angeles desert and follows a night of celebration with close friends. |
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Featured on the 2015 album “I Cry When I Laugh”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
7 . Robbie Williams – Party Like A Russian |
‘And I never ever smile unless I’ve something to promote’
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| Aimed at Russian leadership, despite toning down original lyrics, Robbie Williams’ “Party Like A Russian” incorporates Sergei Prokofiev’s “Dance of the Knights” from “Romeo and Juliet,” and features the Riga Technical University men’s choir Gaudeamus recorded at Latvian Radio’s studio. The accompanying music video , directed by Vaughan Arnell, depicts Williams as a Russian oligarch in a grand mansion, embodying satire and extravagance. |
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Featured on the 2016 album “The Heavy Entertainment Show”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
8 . Emeli Sandé – Next To Me |
‘I know there’s no need for me to panic’
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| Emeli Sandé’s song “Next to Me” is a refreshing and optimistic take on love, promoting a healthy, balanced relationship, and pushing a positive male stereotype. Obviously, Sandé draws from her personal experiences with husband Adam Gouraguine (whom she will, ironically, divorce a few years later). The music video is directed by Charles Mehling. |
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Featured on the 2012 album “Our Version of Events”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
9 . Walk The Moon – Anna Sun |
‘We rattle this town, we rattle this scene’
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| Ohio-based band Walk the Moon reminisces about collegiate life in their indie anthem “Anna Sun,” narrating through Nicholas Petricca’s compelling vocals, the transitional phase from college to adulthood and maturity, celebrating youthful adventures with a character named Anna Sun. Directed by Patrick Meier, the music video, filmed in Cincinnati, showcases a group of youngsters choreographed by Kim Popa. |
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Featured on the 2012 album “Walk the Moon”. Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site |
10 . Post Malone – Saint-Tropez |
| Despite its glamorous French Riviera title, the music video for “Saint-Tropez” by Post Malone is mostly filmed in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, under Chris Villa’s direction. Adorning a three-piece suit and a custom Louis Vuitton vest, Post flaunts his collection of hypercars, including a newly-acquired Bugatti.. |
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Featured on the 2019 album “Hollywood’s Bleeding”. |
11 . James Bay – Let It Go |
| In “Let It Go,” James Bay explores the brave acknowledgment of a failing relationship and guides listeners towards finding solace in their choice to move on. The music video is directed by Daniel Kragh-Jacobsen. |
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Featured on the 2015 album “Chaos and the Calm”. Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site |
12 . Ed Sheeran – Photograph |
| Witten by Ed Sheeran, alongside Snow Patrol’s Johnny McDaid, “Photograph” reflects on a long-distance relationship. The uncertainty stays on who is Sheeran’s distant lover of the song: Scottish singer Nina Nesbitt or Ed’s present wife Cherry Seaborn? The music video for “Photograph,” directed by Emil Nava, uniquely features clips and photographs from Sheeran’s childhood. |
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Featured on the 2014 album “x”. |
And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. “Live While We’re Young” set the record for the highest debut for a British group on the Billboard Hot 100, debuting at number three and ultimately marking a significant launch for One Direction in the US.
2. “Meteorite” was specially crafted for the soundtrack of *Bridget Jones’s Baby*. This dance-pop number added a cosmic touch to the film’s musical landscape.
3. After performing “Grow Up” on The X Factor UK, Olly Murs saw his song climb to number 25 on the UK Singles Chart, further boosting its popularity.
4. The song appears both on The Chainsmokers’ album *Sick Boy* and Kelsea Ballerini’s *Unapologetically*, providing a crossover appeal in both their respective discographies.
5. The collaboration resulted in a R&B pop track, combining the talents of Jonas Blue, Liam Payne, and Lennon Stella, delivering catchy and memorable lyrics.
6. “Party Like a Russian” features a chorus sampling from Prokofiev’s “Montagues and Capulets”, giving it a classical edge amidst its critique of lavish lifestyles.
7. Despite its success elsewhere, Emeli Sandé’s single did not top the United States charts, peaking at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100.
8. Named after Anna Sun, a professor at Kenyon College, the track by Walk the Moon layers personal connections with nostalgic overtones.
9. For Record Store Day 2020, Post Malone’s “Saint-Tropez” was released as a limited edition on a 3-inch vinyl, a nod to collectors and enthusiasts.
10. The track “Let It Go” was the lead single from James Bay’s EP also titled *Let It Go*, allowing the song to reach a wide audience ahead of his debut album release.
11. Johnny McDaid’s three-note piano loop served as the foundational idea that sparked the creation of Ed Sheeran’s song on his album *x*.
12. Jess Glynne’s song “Hold My Hand” hails from her album *I Cry When I Laugh*, balancing upbeat tempos with emotional resonance.
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 take a still from the video on one side and select a lyric from the song on the other. We then merge the two. Et voilà!
Live Quotes • Just pretending that we’re cool, (One Direction) • I don’t know how it led to this (Years & Years) • Ain’t you sick of being immature? (Olly Murs) • It’s only a matter of time Before it starts fading (Jonas Blue, Liam Payne, Lennon Stella) • And I never ever smile unless I’ve something to promote (Robbie Williams) • I know there’s no need for me to panic (Emeli Sandé) • We rattle this town, we rattle this scene (Walk The Moon) •
Music-wise : Contemporary Country, Dance Pop, Electronic, Modern Rock, Pop, R&B, Rock, Uk Pop
