How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Siouxsie and the Banshees, Massive Attack, Jamiroquai, PJ Harvey, Ocean Colour Scene, Youssou N’Dour, Megadeth, The Boomtown Rats, The Cranberries, Green Day, Placebo, Counting Crows
They are the performers of twelve vintage amusing, puzzling and sometimes shocking videos of songs that were ranked in various charts, this week (28/52) BUT… in the Nineties 90s.
1. What musical element distinguishes Siouxsie and the Banshees’ “Shadowtime” single version from the album version?
- A Additional guitar solo
- B Added synthesizers and vocals
- C Extended outro
2. Which song heavily samples Billy Cobham’s “Stratus” for its bass line?
- A Massive Attack’s “Safe From Harm”
- B Jamiroquai’s “Stillness in Time”
- C Ocean Colour Scene’s “Hundred Mile High City”
3. On which chart did Jamiroquai’s “Stillness in Time” reach number one?
- A UK Singles Chart
- B US Billboard Hot 100
- C UK Dance Chart
4. Which PJ Harvey song appears in both a punk version and a somber sextet version?
- A “50ft Queenie”
- B “Man-Size”
- C “Dry”
5. Which song served as the soundtrack theme for *Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels*?
- A “Bruise Pristine” by Placebo
- B “Hundred Mile High City” by Ocean Colour Scene
- C “Safe From Harm” by Massive Attack
6. In Youssou N’Dour’s “7 Seconds”, what languages are sung?
- A Wolof, French, and English
- B Spanish, French, and Italian
- C Wolof, Arabic, and Swahili
7. Which controversial theme is depicted in Megadeth’s “Symphony of Destruction” music video?
- A Environmental disaster
- B Political assassination
- C Religious extremism
8. The Boomtown Rats’ “I Don’t Like Mondays” was inspired by which incident?
- A A natural disaster
- B A school shooting
- C A political protest
9. Which band’s music video for “Free To Decide” features lead singer Dolores O’Riordan inside a birdcage?
- A The Cranberries
- B Counting Crows
- C Placebo
10. What distinguishes Green Day’s “Brain Stew/Jaded” single release?
- A It features an unreleased track
- B It was a two-song seamless transition
- C It came out with a limited-edition DVD
11. Which tuning does Placebo use in “Bruise Pristine”?
- A Standard E
- B Drop D
- C F-A-D-G-C-C
12. The song “Round Here” by Counting Crows explores which central theme?
- A Childhood innocence
- B Alienation from one’s roots
- C Urban decay
For TWENTY FOUR more ‘Vous Avez Dit Bizarre’ – Vintage 90s Music Videos – week 28/52 – click here and here
Tracklist
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1 . Siouxsie and the Banshees – ShadowtimeFeatured on the 1991 album “Superstition”.
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2 . Massive Attack – Safe From HarmFeatured on the 1991 album “Blue Lines“.
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3 . Jamiroquai – Stillness in TimeFeatured on the 1994 album “The Return of the Space Cowboy“.
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4 . PJ Harvey – Man~SizeFeatured on the 1993 album “Rid of Me“.
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5 . Ocean Colour Scene – Hundred Mile High CityFeatured on the 1997 album “Marchin’ Already”.
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6 . Youssou N’Dour – 7 Seconds (w/ Neneh Cherry)Featured on the 1994 album “The Guide (Wommat)”.
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7 . Megadeth – Symphony of DestructionFeatured on the 1992 album “Countdown to Extinction”.
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8 . The Boomtown Rats – I Don’t Like MondaysFeatured on the 1979 album “The Fine Art of Surfacing”.
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9 . The Cranberries – Free To DecideFeatured on the 1996 album “To the Faithful Departed”.
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10 . Green Day – Brain Stew/JadedFeatured on the 1995 album “Insomniac”.
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11 . Placebo – Bruise PristineFeatured on the 1996 album “Placebo”. |
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12 . Counting Crows – Round HereFeatured on the 1993 album “August And Everything After“.
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. The single version of “Shadowtime” stands out with additional synthesized sound and extra background vocals, adding depth to the track. These elements contribute to a fuller listening experience compared to the album version.
2. “Safe From Harm” by Massive Attack leans heavily on its sample of Billy Cobham’s “Stratus” for the bass line. This use of sampling is a defining feature of the song’s production and texture.
3. In its climb to recognition, “Stillness in Time” reached number one on the UK Dance Chart. Its danceability and groove secured its top spot on this chart.
4. PJ Harvey’s song “Man-Size” is available in its original punk and “Man-Size Sextet” renditions. The former is raw, while the latter showcases a soft string arrangement.
5. Ocean Colour Scene’s track “Hundred Mile High City” was chosen as part of the soundtrack for the film *Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels*. It perfectly complements the film’s energetic atmosphere.
6. “7 Seconds” by Youssou N’Dour features lyrics sung in Wolof, French, and English. These trilingual elements enrich the song’s global appeal.
7. The music video for “Symphony of Destruction” illustrates political degeneration with an assassination theme. This controversial depiction required edits upon its initial release.
8. The Boomtown Rats’ “I Don’t Like Mondays” takes its origins from a school shooting story. The shooter’s disconcerting explanation to a journalist inspired the song’s title.
9. In The Cranberries’ music video for “Free To Decide,” O’Riordan’s performance in a birdcage symbolizes entrapment and scrutiny. This imagery complements the song’s themes.
10. “Brain Stew” and “Jaded” by Green Day form a continuous two-song experience. The seamless transition links the tracks on the album and live performances.
11. In “Bruise Pristine,” Placebo employs F-A-D-G-C-C tuning. This choice contributes to the song’s distinct heavy riff and tonal impact.
12. “Round Here” by Counting Crows surveys the protagonist’s alienation as he leaves home. The song reflects on the loss of connections and identity.