How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Go West, Michael Jackson, Propaganda, Milltown Brothers, The Bluetones, The Cardigans, Ace of Base, Erasure, Garbage, Goo Goo Dolls, Paula Cole, Metallica
They are the performers of twelve vintage amusing, puzzling and sometimes shocking videos of songs that were ranked in various charts, this week (30/52) BUT… in the Nineties 90s.
1. What is the primary musical style of The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights”?
- A Reggae
- B Synth-pop
- C Country
2. In how many countries did “Blinding Lights” reach number one?
- A Over 40
- B 15
- C 10
3. Which album features “Blinding Lights”?
- A *Trilogy*
- B *After Hours*
- C *Starboy*
4. Who was a co-writer of “Blinding Lights” besides The Weeknd?
- A Oscar Holter
- B Bob Dylan
- C Taylor Swift
5. What historical chart achievement does “Blinding Lights” hold as of November 2021?
- A Most weeks in the top 100
- B Best-performing song on the Billboard Hot 100
- C Most MV views in 24 hours
6. When was “Blinding Lights” released as a single?
- A November 29, 2019
- B December 31, 2018
- C January 1, 2020
7. Which certification did “Blinding Lights” receive from the RIAA?
- A Gold
- B Diamond
- C Silver
8. What notable influence is found in the music style of “Blinding Lights”?
- A 1990s grunge
- B 1980s pop
- C 1970s disco
9. Who directed the official music video for “Blinding Lights”?
- A David Fincher
- B Anton Tammi
- C Christopher Nolan
10. Which song element is emphasized in “Blinding Lights”?
- A The Weeknd’s longing for nightlife excitement
- B The Weeknd’s longing for a partner
- C The Weeknd’s longing for a new car
11. Which producers were involved in creating “Blinding Lights”?
- A The Weeknd, Max Martin, Oscar Holter
- B Quincy Jones, Timbaland, Dr. Dre
- C Rick Rubin, Nile Rodgers, Brian Eno
12. What was unique about the promotional strategy for “Blinding Lights”?
- A It was promoted with the 2020 Summer Olympics
- B It was used in a NASA campaign
- C It launched with a secret concert on a remote island
1. In which film did Go West’s “King of Wishful Thinking” gain notable prominence?
- A Pretty Woman
- B The Breakfast Club
- C Dirty Dancing
2. What is a unique characteristic of Michael Jackson’s “Ghosts” music video?
- A Shortest music video on record
- B Longest music video ever made
- C First music video in 3D
3. Which artist contributed to the opening melody of Propaganda’s “p: Machinery”?
- A David Sylvian
- B Brian Eno
- C Vangelis
4. Which album features Milltown Brothers’ song “Apple Green”?
- A Slinky
- B Revolver
- C Definitely Maybe
5. The Bluetones’ “Cut Some Rug” was released as a double A-side single with which other track?
- A Castle Rock
- B Bluetonic
- C Solomon Bites the Worm
6. From which classic movie does The Cardigans’ “Hanging Around” music video draw inspiration?
- A Repulsion
- B Psycho
- C Rosemary’s Baby
7. In which country did Ace of Base’s “Life Is a Flower” reach number one?
- A Sweden
- B Hungary
- C UK
8. What city served as the filming location for Erasure’s “Run to the Sun” music video?
- A Los Angeles
- B Berlin
- C Paris
9. Where did Garbage record “I Think I’m Paranoid”?
- A Seattle, Washington
- B Madison, Wisconsin
- C Chicago, Illinois
10. Which musician’s name inspired the title of Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris”?
- A Iris DeMent
- B Iris Apfel
- C Iris Murdoch
11. What TV series used Paula Cole’s song “I Don’t Want to Wait” as its theme?
- A Felicity
- B Dawson’s Creek
- C Gilmore Girls
12. Which unique feature characterizes the music structure of Metallica’s “The Unforgiven”?
- A It has no chorus
- B Reversed ballad structure
- C Entire track is instrumental
For TWENTY FOUR more ‘Vous Avez Dit Bizarre’ – Vintage 90s Music Videos – week 30/52 – click here and here
Tracklist
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1 . Go West – King Of Wishful ThinkingFeatured on the 1990 album “Indian Summer”.
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2 . Michael Jackson – GhostsFeatured on the 1997 album “Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix”.
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3 . Propaganda – p: MachineryFeatured on the 1985 album “A Secret Wish”.
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4 . Milltown Brothers – Apple GreenFeatured on the 1991 album “Slinky”.
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5 . The Bluetones – Cut Some RugFeatured on the 1996 album “Expecting to Fly”.
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6 . The Cardigans – Hanging AroundFeatured on the 1998 album “Gran Turismo”.
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7 . Ace of Base – Life Is a FlowerFeatured on the 1998 album “Flowers”.
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8 . Erasure – Run to the SunFeatured on the 1994 album “I Say I Say I Say”.
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9 . Garbage – I Think I’m ParanoidFeatured on the 1998 album “Version 2.0”.
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10 . Goo Goo Dolls – IrisFeatured on the 1998 album “Dizzy Up the Girl”.
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11 . Paula Cole – I Don’t Want to WaitFeatured on the 1996 album “This Fire”. |
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12 . Metallica – The UnforgivenFeatured on the 1991 album “Metallica“.
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. “King of Wishful Thinking” gained fame from its inclusion in the film “Pretty Woman.” The song contributed to the success of both the movie’s soundtrack and Go West’s career.
2. “Ghosts” by Michael Jackson holds the Guinness World Record for the longest music video. It supported the 1997 album and included intricate choreography.
3. David Sylvian offered his musical touch to the opening melody of “p: Machinery” by Propaganda. His collaboration added a nuanced layer to the synth-pop track.
4. “Apple Green” is part of Milltown Brothers’ debut album “Slinky.” The album helped the band gain traction in the indie scene of the early 1990s.
5. “Cut Some Rug” was released as a double A-side with “Castle Rock.” This pairing supported the Bluetones’ success during their “Expecting to Fly” era.
6. The music video for “Hanging Around” by The Cardigans takes cues from Roman Polanski’s “Repulsion.” Its visual storytelling complements the alternative rock vibe.
7. Ace of Base reached the number one spot in Hungary with “Life Is a Flower.” The track exemplified the Europop and reggae-pop genre blend characteristic of the band.
8. Erasure’s “Run to the Sun” music video was shot in Berlin’s Alexanderplatz. It features a notable appearance by a pre-filming career Jason Statham.
9. “I Think I’m Paranoid” by Garbage was recorded in Madison, Wisconsin. The track became a significant component of their successful “Version 2.0” album.
10. “Iris” by Goo Goo Dolls derives its name from Iris DeMent, seen in a newspaper. The song, crafted for “City of Angels,” became an enduring classic.
11. “I Don’t Want to Wait” became widely recognized as the theme for “Dawson’s Creek.” Paula Cole’s contemplative lyrics resonated with the show’s themes.
12. “The Unforgiven” features a reversed ballad structure, contrasting heavy verses with a softer chorus. This unusual form marked a departure in Metallica’s ballad style.
And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. “Blinding Lights” primarily embodies the synth-pop style. Its use of retro synthesizers and electronic arrangements give it a quintessential 1980s feel.
2. “Blinding Lights” topped the charts in over 40 countries, solidifying its global success and appeal.
3. The track is a significant part of The Weeknd’s fourth studio album, *After Hours*, released in 2020.
4. Among the co-writers of “Blinding Lights,” Oscar Holter contributed alongside The Weeknd, Max Martin, Belly, and DaHeala.
5. As of November 2021, “Blinding Lights” was ranked as the best-performing song in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
6. The official single release date for “Blinding Lights” was November 29, 2019.
7. The RIAA awarded “Blinding Lights” with diamond certification, acknowledging its exceptional sales and streaming figures.
8. The song’s style is heavily influenced by the sound of 1980s pop, noticeable through its vibrant synths and dynamic beats.
9. The music video for “Blinding Lights” was directed by Anton Tammi, capturing the song’s neon-lit, retro-futuristic aesthetic.
10. Lyrically, “Blinding Lights” focuses on The Weeknd’s longing for a partner and the emotional narrative that follows.
11. Production duties were shared by The Weeknd, Max Martin, and Oscar Holter, a team that helped craft the track’s polished sound.
12. A unique angle in the song’s promotion was its feature in the 2020 Summer Olympics campaign, a nod to its energetic and universal vibe.