This week In Male Balladeers 49/52

How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.

The subjects du jour are : Jackson Browne, Roy Orbison, Marcus Mumford, Frank Sinatra, Tom Waits, Tom Jobim, Eddie Vedder, Bob Dylan, Jake Bugg, James Blake, Bruce Springsteen, Thom Yorke

They are the Male Balladeers selected among the 326 Posts we publish this week.

QUIZ QUESTIONS
QUIZ QUESTIONS

1. Where was Jackson Browne's live track "Running on Empty" recorded?

  • A Red Rocks Amphitheatre
  • B Merriweather Post Pavilion
  • C The Hollywood Bowl

2. What accessory did Roy Orbison famously wear during his 1988 live performance of "You Got It"?

  • A A fedora
  • B Dark prescription glasses
  • C A leather jacket

3. Which legendary songwriter wrote the lyrics for "When I Get My Hands on You," performed by Marcus Mumford?

  • A Bob Dylan
  • B Paul McCartney
  • C Leonard Cohen

4. Which former Rat Pack member originally performed "My Kind of Town" in a musical film?

  • A Dean Martin
  • B Sammy Davis Jr.
  • C Frank Sinatra

5. Which 1974 Tom Waits song paints a picture of a revitalized town?

  • A New Coat of Paint
  • B Small Change
  • C Ol' 55

6. "Insensatez" by Antônio Carlos Jobim shares a musical resemblance with a piece by which classical composer?

  • A Beethoven
  • B Chopin
  • C Bach

7. Who performed "My City of Ruins" during the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors?

  • A Bruce Springsteen
  • B Eddie Vedder
  • C James Taylor

8. Which protest song did Bob Dylan perform acoustically at the 1988 Bridge School Benefit Concert?

  • A Blowin' in the Wind
  • B The Times They Are a-Changin'
  • C With God On Our Side

9. Which album features Jake Bugg's "The Love We're Hoping For"?

  • A On My One
  • B Shangri La
  • C Hearts That Strain

10. Who originally performed the song "Godspeed" that James Blake covered live?

  • A Kanye West
  • B Frank Ocean
  • C Sam Smith

11. What was the special occasion for the 1987 tribute concert at Carnegie Hall featuring Bruce Springsteen?

  • A Harry Chapin's birthday
  • B A Christmas celebration
  • C A Grammy Awards pre-show

12. Which environmental book influenced the title of Thom Yorke's song "The Numbers" during its debut performance?

  • A The Silent World
  • B Silent Spring
  • C Earth in the Balance

WATCH IN FULL
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AUDIO ONLY

Tracklist

1 . Jackson Browne . Running On Empty

Lifted from : Asylum publish Jackson Browne's fifth album . 'Running on Empty' (1977)

2 . Roy Orbison . You Got It

Lifted from : We Remember Roy Orbison

3 . Marcus Mumford . When I Get My Hands on You (w/ Chris Thile)

Lifted from : On radio today, Marcus Mumford meets Chris Thile et al (2016)

4 . Frank Sinatra . My Kind Of Town

Lifted from : Frank Sinatra records the album 'A Man and His Music' for Reprise (1965)

5 . Tom Waits . New Coat of Paint

Lifted from : Happy Birthday Tom Waits. 'Major Tom'

6 . Tom Jobim . Insensatez

Lifted from : We remember Antônio Carlos Jobim. 'Quiet Star'

7 . Eddie Vedder . My City of Ruins

Lifted from : Eddie, Melissa, Barack et al honor Bruce Springsteen (2009)

8 . Bob Dylan . With God On Our Side

Lifted from : Bob Dylan plays for . school (1988)

9 . Jake Bugg . The Love We're Hoping For

Lifted from : Jack Bugg supports 'Toys For Tots' (2014)

10 . James Blake . Godspeed

Lifted from : James Blake sings at . LA church (2017)

11 . Bruce Springsteen . Remember When the Music

Lifted from : Bruce, Richie, Pat Benatar et al celebrate Harry Chapin (1987)

12 . Thom Yorke . The Numbers

Lifted from : Thom Yorke sings against 'Climate Change' (2015)

And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:

1. Jackson Browne recorded "Running on Empty" at the Merriweather Post Pavilion. This song became a classic, capturing both the energy and exhaustion of tour life.

2. During his 1988 performance of "You Got It," Roy Orbison wore his iconic dark prescription glasses. They were a necessity for his vision, rather than a fashion statement.

3. The lyrics to "When I Get My Hands on You" were penned by Bob Dylan. Marcus Mumford's performance linked modern artists with the legendary songwriter.

4. Frank Sinatra originally sang "My Kind of Town" in the film Robin and the 7 Hoods. The tune has since become synonymous with Chicago pride.

5. Among Tom Waits's works, "New Coat of Paint" speaks to transforming a tired town. This track captures his signature gritty, atmospheric style.

6. "Insensatez" by Jobim is harmonically similar to Chopin's work. Nevertheless, Jobim's bossa nova flair ensures the song stands apart.

7. Eddie Vedder performed "My City of Ruins" at the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors. He paid tribute to Bruce Springsteen at this prestigious event.

8. At the 1988 concert, Bob Dylan performed "With God On Our Side" acoustically. This rendition emphasized the song's continuous relevance.

9. Jake Bugg's "The Love We're Hoping For" is on his album "On My One". Its introspective tone explores themes of isolation and melancholy.

10. Frank Ocean originally performed "Godspeed". James Blake's live versions extend their longstanding musical collaboration and friendship.

11. Bruce Springsteen performed at Carnegie Hall for a tribute concert honoring Harry Chapin's birthday. The event emphasized Chapin’s legacy.

12. "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson influenced the title of Thom Yorke's "The Numbers". The debut linked environmental issues with musical expression.

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(*) According to our own statistics, updated on February 22, 2026