How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Freddie Mercury, Josh Groban, Yusuf / Cat Stevens, Arno, Tom Waits, Don Henley, Bruce Hornsby, Seu Jorge, Michael Hutchence, Enrique Iglesias, Mika, Boy George
They are the Male Balladeers selected among the 376 Posts we publish this week.
1. What was unique about Queen’s performance of “You Take My Breath Away” at Hyde Park in 1976?
- A It was played on a harpsichord
- B It was performed before its studio release
- C It was sung in Spanish
2. During which event did Josh Groban perform “She’s Always a Woman” as a tribute to Billy Joel?
- A Grammys
- B Super Bowl
- C Library of Congress Gershwin Prize concert
3. Which relationship partly inspired Cat Stevens’s song “Wild World”?
- A Romantic partners
- B Parent and child
- C Siblings
4. What is emphasized in Arno’s “Elle Adore Le Noir (Live)” performance?
- A Electronic beats
- B Guitar solos
- C Vocal style and performance energy
5. Who co-wrote “Trampled Rose” with Tom Waits, featured on his Orphans Tour?
- A Kathleen Brennan
- B Keith Richards
- C Bob Dylan
6. From which album is Don Henley’s “The Boys of Summer” the lead single?
- A *Building the Perfect Beast*
- B *Hotel California*
- C *End of the Innocence*
7. Which social issue is directly referenced in Bruce Hornsby’s “The Way It Is”?
- A Climate change
- B Economic inequality
- C Political corruption
8. What distinguishes Seu Jorge’s cover of “Changes” on *The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions*?
- A It’s sung in Portuguese
- B It has a reggae beat
- C It’s an instrumental
9. Which album includes INXS’s single “Everything”?
- A *Kick*
- B *Elegantly Wasted*
- C *Listen Like Thieves*
10. Where was Enrique Iglesias’s live, acoustic performance of “I Have Always Loved You” recorded?
- A Spain
- B Poland
- C Mexico
11. On which TV show did Mika perform “Grace Kelly” in a home-like studio setting?
- A *Stasera Casa Mika*
- B *Saturday Night Live*
- C *The Tonight Show*
12. What genre blend characterizes Culture Club’s “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” that Boy George performed at The Prince’s Trust Rock Gala 2011?
- A Reggae and new wave
- B Jazz and soul
- C Punk and rock
Tracklist
1 . Freddie Mercury . You Take My Breath Away (w/ Queen) |
2 . Josh Groban . She’s Always . Woman |
3 . Yusuf / Cat Stevens . Wild WorldCat Stevens releases his fourth album . ‘Tea for the Tillerman’ featuring ‘Wild World’ (1970) |
4 . Arno . Elle adore le noir |
5 . Tom Waits . Trampled RoseAnti publish Tom Waits’ live album . ‘Glitter and Doom’ (2009) |
6 . Don Henley . The Boys Of Summer |
7 . Bruce Hornsby . The Way It Is |
8 . Seu Jorge . Changes |
9 . Michael Hutchence . Everything (w/ INXS) |
10 . Enrique Iglesias . I Have Always Loved You |
11 . Mika . Grace KellyOn Italian TV today, Mika and guests at ‘Stasera Casa Mika’ (2017) |
12 . Boy George . Do You Really Want To Hurt MeJoss, Julian, Midge et al perform at ‘The Princes Trust Gala’ (2011) |
And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. At Hyde Park, Queen performed “You Take My Breath Away” live prior to its studio recording release, showcasing Freddie Mercury’s vocal range early in the song’s timeline.
2. Josh Groban performed “She’s Always a Woman” during the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize concert, honoring Billy Joel in a notable tribute setting.
3. “Wild World” was partly inspired by Cat Stevens’s relationship with Patti D’Arbanville, reflecting themes of departure and vulnerability.
4. Arno’s performance of “Elle Adore Le Noir (Live)” emphasized his unique vocal style and energy, typical of his live music presentations.
5. Tom Waits wrote “Trampled Rose” with his wife, Kathleen Brennan, adding to its distinctive blues and experimental feel.
6. Don Henley’s “The Boys of Summer” is the lead single from *Building the Perfect Beast*, marking a shift to a more synthesized sound.
7. “The Way It Is” by Bruce Hornsby directly references economic inequality, acknowledging progress alongside ongoing social issues.
8. Seu Jorge’s cover of “Changes” is unique for its Portuguese lyrics, framing Bowie’s work in a new cultural context while retaining its essence.
9. INXS’s single “Everything” appears on *Elegantly Wasted*, their final album with Michael Hutchence.
10. Enrique Iglesias’s live, acoustic performance of “I Have Always Loved You” was recorded in Poland, demonstrating his vocal skills.
11. Mika performed “Grace Kelly” on *Stasera Casa Mika*, featuring a relaxed, domestic stage setting with prominent guests.
12. “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” features a mix of reggae and new wave, defining its style and marking a landmark in Boy George’s career.
For THE FULL MALE BALLADEERS COLLECTION click here
