How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Marcus Collins, Ella Henderson, Paloma Faith, Little Mix, Ava Max, Amy Macdonald, Alexis Jordan, Lea Michele, Meghan Trainor, The Script, Ariana Grande, Lorde
They are the performers of twelve “live” music videos that ranked in various charts, this week (12/52) BUT … in the Tens 2010s.
1. What chart-topping feat did “Good Girl” achieve for Alexis Jordan?
- A First number-one hit in the US
- B Second top-10 hit in the UK
- C Only top-5 album placement
2. Lea Michele’s debut single “Cannonball” was deeply personal for what reason?
- A Written as a graduation theme
- B Dedicated to her mother
- C Helped cope with a personal loss
3. What genre fusion can be heard in Meghan Trainor’s “No Excuses”?
- A Pop and Jazz
- B Pop and Country
- C Pop and Reggae
4. What characterizes the music video for “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved” by The Script?
- A A high-speed car chase
- B Waiting by a street corner
- C A concert scene
5. Who can be heard beatboxing in “Dangerous Woman”?
- A Justin Timberlake
- B Charlie Puth
- C Pharrell Williams
6. What metaphor is central to Lorde’s “Green Light” lyrics?
- A Stop sign
- B Red light
- C Green light
7. What distinct choice did the Jonas Brothers make in their “Sucker” video?
- A Filmed in a desert
- B Featured their wives
- C Shot in black and white
8. How does James Bay address themes in “Best Fake Smile”?
- A Through a beach party
- B Via various concert scenes
- C By juxtaposing fake smiles with authentic emotions
9. Which event complicated the promotion of “That’s the Truth” by McFly?
- A Lead singer’s illness
- B Member entering rehab
- C Studio flooding
10. Sharleen Spiteri covered which track for her 2010 album “The Movie Songbook”?
- A Footloose
- B Xanadu
- C Eye of the Tiger
11. What feature distinguishes Noel Gallagher’s song “It’s A Beautiful World”?
- A Sitar solo
- B Spoken word in French
- C Live audience recording
12. What format was used for the “Rope” music video by Foo Fighters?
- A Recorded live
- B Shot entirely on VHS
- C Animated sequences
Tracklist
1 . Marcus Collins – Seven Nation Army |
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Featured on the 2011 album “Marcus Collins”. |
2 . Ella Henderson – Mirror Man |
| The music video is directed by Colin Tilley. |
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3 . Paloma Faith – Upside Down |
| The music video is directed by Chris Sweeney. |
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Featured on the 2016 album “Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?”. Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site |
4 . Little Mix – No More Sad Songs (w/ Machine Gun Kelly) |
| The music video is directed by Marc Klasfeld. |
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Featured on the 2012 album “Glory Days”. Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site |
5 . Ava Max – So Am I |
| The music video is directed by Isaac Rentz. |
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Featured on the album “Heaven & Hell”. Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site |
6 . Amy Macdonald – Don’t Tell Me That It’s Over |
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Featured on the 2009 album “A Curious Thing”. Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site |
7 . Alexis Jordan – Good Girl |
| The music video is directed by Erik White. |
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Featured on the 2021 album “Alexis Jordan”. |
8 . Lea Michele – Cannonball |
| The music video is directed by Robert Hales. |
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Featured on the 2020 album “Louder”. Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site |
9 . Meghan Trainor – No Excuses |
| The music video is directed by Tim Milgram. |
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Featured on the 2018 album “Treat Myself”. Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site |
10 . The Script – The Man Who Can’t Be Moved |
| The music video is directed by Marc Klasfeld. |
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Featured on the 2011 album “The Script”. Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site |
11 . Ariana Grande – Dangerous Woman |
| The music video is directed by The Young Astronauts. |
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Featured on the 2014 album “Dangerous Woman”. Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site |
12 . Lorde – Green Light |
| The music video is directed by Grant Singer. |
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Featured on the 2018 album “Melodrama“. Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site |
And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. Alexis Jordan scored her second top-10 hit in the UK with “Good Girl.” It reached number six on the UK Singles Chart, signaling her growing popularity internationally.
2. “Cannonball” served as an emotional outlet for Lea Michele after the passing of her boyfriend Cory Monteith. She credited the song with aiding her healing process.
3. Meghan Trainor’s “No Excuses” creatively blends pop with country influences. This fusion style contributes to the song’s catchy and empowering theme.
4. The Script’s music video for “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved” showcases a man waiting by a street corner, embodying themes of longing and perseverance.
5. Charlie Puth provided beatboxing for Ariana Grande’s “Dangerous Woman,” adding a subtle rhythmic layer to the track, though uncredited as a composer.
6. The central metaphor in Lorde’s “Green Light” focuses on moving forward, with the green light symbolizing permission to progress after a breakup.
7. The Jonas Brothers featured their wives prominently in the “Sucker” video, adding a personal touch and celebrating their relationships alongside their musical return.
8. In “Best Fake Smile,” James Bay contrasts fake expressions with genuine emotions, addressing the societal pressures to conform to superficial happiness.
9. Promotion for McFly’s single “That’s the Truth” was affected by Dougie Poynter’s entry into rehab, which followed personal challenges and health issues faced by the band member.
10. Sharleen Spiteri covered “Xanadu” for “The Movie Songbook,” originally made famous by Olivia Newton-John and ELO, marking a nostalgic nod to classic film soundtracks.
11. “It’s A Beautiful World” by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds features French spoken word, adding an international and artistic dimension to the song.
12. Foo Fighters opted for a retro aesthetic by shooting the “Rope” video entirely on VHS, reviving the analog feel amid modern music video trends.
For THE FULL ‘ARE WE LIVE?’ COLLECTION click here
