How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Billie Eilish, Aurora, Ellie Goulding, Rita Ora, Anne-Marie, Robbie Williams, Stooshe, Starley, Ariana Grande, Two Door Cinema Club, One Direction, Frankie Cocozza
They are the performers of twelve “live” music videos that ranked in various charts, this week (48/52) BUT … in the Tens 2010s.
1. What was one of the reasons Billie Eilish’s “Ocean Eyes” gained initial attention?
- A A famous fashion brand endorsement
- B A viral SoundCloud upload
- C A live performance on a TV talent show
2. Why is Aurora’s cover of “Half the World Away” notable within the John Lewis 2015 Christmas advert?
- A It was a complete genre transformation
- B It maintained the original’s melody
- C It included new original lyrics
3. How did Ellie Goulding’s cover of “River” achieve a unique milestone in the UK in 2019?
- A It reached number one as the year’s final chart-topper
- B It held onto the top spot for 15 weeks
- C It debuted in the top 5 on its release day
4. What is a distinctive feature of Rita Ora’s “R.I.P.”?
- A It was entirely produced in Los Angeles
- B It samples “Heartbeat” by Nneka
- C It features a live string section
5. What distinguishes Anne-Marie’s track “Perfect to Me” from her album version?
- A It includes a guest rap verse
- B It features reggae-inspired beats
- C It is a remixed version
6. How did Robbie Williams intend for the message of “Love My Life” to resonate?
- A A critique of traditional love songs
- B An anthem of self-empowerment
- C A narrative of political near-future
7. Why did Stooshe eventually distance themselves from their cover of “Waterfalls”?
- A They believed it strayed from their artistic style
- B It was never approved for album release
- C It was poorly received by critics
8. What was significant about Starley’s “Call on Me”?
- A It remained an underground hit
- B It became a streaming giant with over a billion listens
- C It was released exclusively online
9. What notable achievement did Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me” reach in 2024?
- A It was the first 21st-century holiday song in the top five of US charts
- B It outsold all previous holiday singles
- C It was adapted into a Christmas movie
10. What is unique about the song “Sun” by Two Door Cinema Club?
- A Its unexpected appearance in a foreign film
- B Oral sounds replacing instruments
- C Release by the Kitsuné label featuring multiple remixes
11. Which aspect of “History” by One Direction helps it stand out in their discography?
- A Its last single status before hiatus
- B Being their only acoustic track
- C Inclusion of a full orchestra
12. What was an unusual promotional element for Frankie Cocozza’s “She’s Got a Motorcycle”?
- A Its exclusive release on reality TV
- B Promotion tied to Cocozza’s reality TV fame
- C A collaboration with automotive brands
For TWELVE more ‘Look Ma, No Mike!’ – 2010s Music Videos – week 48/52 – click here
Tracklist
1 . Billie Eilish – Ocean Eyes |
‘You really know how to make me cry’
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| Crafted by Billie Eilish and her main collaborator and brother, Finneas O’Connell, “Ocean Eyes” is a delicate pop ballad that seamlessly intertwines dreamy synths with Billie’s ethereal vocals. Initially penned for Finneas’ band and shared on SoundCloud for a dance routine, the song’s viral success paved the way for Eilish’s pivot from dance to music. The music video directed by Megan Thompson, captures a stained-fingers Eilish amidst evocative lilac smoke. |
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Featured on the 2017 album “Don’t Smile at Me”. |
2 . Aurora – Half The World Away |
‘And when I leave this island I’ll book myself into a soul asylum’
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| Norwegian singer Aurora’s cover of Oasis “Half The World Away,” a poignant serenade, was chosen for the 2015 John Lewis Christmas advert that portrays an elderly man living on the moon. Directed by Kenny McCracken, the accompanying music video showcases Aurora’s origami talents. |
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Featured on the 2016 album “All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend (Deluxe)”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
3 . Ellie Goulding – River [It’S Coming On Christmas] |
| Ellie Goulding’s rendition of Joni Mitchell’s classic, “River,” reimagined with a minimalist piano-and-vocal arrangement, is produced by Joe Kearns & Max Cooke, and recorded at Angelic Studios. The music video is directed by David Soutar. |
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4 . Rita Ora – R.I.P. (w/ Tinie Tempah) |
‘Slow and steady for me go on like a jezzy for me’
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| Penned by a cadre including Drake and produced by the duo Chase & Status and Stargate, Rita Ora’s “R.I.P.,” featuring Tinie Tempah, is an empowering anthem and a dynamic fusion of dubstep and pop, with nods to R&B, rave, and rock. The music video was shot in East London by director Emil Nava, presenting Ora and Tempah in a raw warehouse aesthetic. |
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Featured on the 2012 album “Ora”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
5 . Anne-Marie – Perfect To Me |
‘Not into fancy clothes, I’m rocking baggy jeans’
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| Anne-Marie’s “Perfect to Me,” a rework of her album track “Perfect,” is a self-love anthem, celebrating individuality and acceptance and resonating with fans for its empowering message. The music video, directed by Hannah Lux Davis, features different people associated with their own definition of perfection. |
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6 . Robbie Williams – Love My Life |
‘I cannot promise there won’t be sadness’
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| Penned by Williams, Johnny McDaid, and Gary Go, and produced by McDaid with contributions from Go and Jonny Coffer,” Love My Life,” a single by Robbie Williams is an uplifting message to his children, Teddy and Charlie, resonating with themes of positivity and self-acceptance. The music video, directed by Vaughan Arnell, shows Williams strolling on beach through a swarm of sophisticated camera-women. |
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Featured on the 2016 album “The Heavy Entertainment Show”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
7 . Stooshe – Waterfalls |
‘I pray all ten fade away, seldom praise him for the seven days’
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| British trio Alexandra Buggs, Karis Anderson and Courtney Rumbold, known as Stooshe’s rendition of “Waterfalls,” graced with the cameo of TLC’s own T-Boz and Chilli, is a heartfelt homage to the 1995 R&B classic. The music video is directed by Matt Stawski. |
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8 . Starley – Call On Me |
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| Starley’s “Call on Me,” is an electropop debut single that captures the Australian singer-songwriter’s poignant lyricism about perseverance. “Some people would say to accept defeat / Well, if this is fate, then we’ll find a way to cheat” says the song. The music video is directed by Joseph Toman. |
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9 . Ariana Grande – Santa Tell Me |
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| Ariana Grande’s festive track “Santa Tell Me,” co-written with Ilya Salmanzadeh and Savan Kotecha, embraces the almost obligatory passage for artists to create their own Christmas standards. The music video, directed by Alfredo Flores and Jones Crow, features a cheerful Grande celebrating the holidays with friends. |
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10 . Two Door Cinema Club – Sun |
| Crafted by members Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson, alongside Wayne Hector, Ed Drewett, Julian Bunetta, and John Ryan, One Direction’s “History” stands as a musical memoir and a fan-favorite singalong, marking the final single before the band’s hiatus. The accompanying music video, directed by Ben Winston, nostalgically weaves together moments from the band’s journey, culminating in a poignant farewell that hints at a reunion. |
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Featured on the 2012 album “Beacon”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
11 . One Direction – History |
‘We could be the greatest team That the world has ever seen’
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| Frankie Cocozza’s daring track “She’s Got A Motorcycle” showcases the artist’s rebellious spirit through – he was kicked off the 2011 series of The X Factor for illicit consumption – The music video, directed by Nathan Carey, features Cocozza himself in a fiery ride, a symbol of his undaunted persona. |
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Featured on the 2015 album “Made In The A.M. “. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
12 . Frankie Cocozza – She’s Got A Motorcycle |
| The music video is directed by Nathan Carey. |
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. The track’s upload to SoundCloud by Billie Eilish led to viral success. Initial attention was driven by its unexpected popularity online, not any live TV appearance.
2. Aurora kept the melody and structure of the Oasis original. This faithfulness enabled it to effectively accompany the Christmas advert’s themes of reaching out.
3. In 2019, Goulding’s cover became the UK’s final chart-topper of the decade. This capped a significant musical decade for Goulding and the chart alike.
4. “R.I.P.” is known for its sample of Nneka’s “Heartbeat”. This integration showcases an interesting blend of musical influences, distinguishing the track.
5. “Perfect to Me” is a remixed version of Anne-Marie’s album track “Perfect”. This adaptation differs in arrangement and length from its album counterpart.
6. Williams’ intent was for “Love My Life” to promote self-empowerment. The track captures personal growth themes, inspired by his own journey in therapy.
7. Stooshe disowned their “Waterfalls” cover due to artistic direction concerns. Despite its release success, the group felt it misrepresented their musical identity.
8. “Call on Me” reached over a billion streams, achieving phenomenal success. Its remix helped propel it to mainstream success across multiple countries.
9. Grande’s “Santa Tell Me” reached the top five of the US charts in 2024. It highlighted the track’s enduring appeal and modern holiday influence.
10. “Sun” by Two Door Cinema Club was released by Kitsuné and featured multiple remixes. These collaborative versions contributed to its enduring popularity.
11. “History” stands as One Direction’s final single before their hiatus. It reflects a bittersweet moment in their career, marking the end of an era.
12. “She’s Got a Motorcycle” gained traction due to Cocozza’s TV fame. His reality TV presence bolstered its promotion and public interest.
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 • You really know how to make me cry (Billie Eilish) • And when I leave this island I’ll book myself into a soul asylum (Aurora) • Slow and steady for me go on like a jezzy for me (Rita Ora) • Not into fancy clothes, I’m rocking baggy jeans (Anne-Marie) • I cannot promise there won’t be sadness (Robbie Williams) • I pray all ten fade away, seldom praise him for the seven days (Stooshe) • We could be the greatest team That the world has ever seen (One Direction) •
Music-wise : Pop, Dance Pop, Rock, R&B
