How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : blink-182, Robbie Williams, OK Go, We Are Scientists, Jean Jacques Smoothie, Biffy Clyro, Lordi, The Chemical Brothers, Kaiser Chiefs, Juliette & The Licks, The All~American Rejects, Travis
1. Which Blink-182 song was written in response to a request for something catchy and upbeat?
- A The Rock Show
- B First Date
- C All the Small Things
2. Robbie Williams’ song “Radio” was partly influenced by which electronic track?
- A Daft Punk’s “Around the World”
- B Kraftwerk’s “The Robots”
- C Harold Faltermeyer’s “Axel F”
3. How was the iconic treadmill routine in OK Go’s music video for their fifth single conceptualized?
- A By the band’s manager
- B By Damian Kulash Jr.’
- C By Damian Kulash Jr.’s sister
4. What is a recurring theme in the lyrics of We Are Scientists’ “The Great Escape”?
- A Escaping one’s old life
- B Finding love in unexpected places
- C Lonely travels
5. The song “2 People” extensively samples vocals from which artist’s 1975 hit?
- A Minnie Riperton
- B Donna Summer
- C Gloria Gaynor
6. Biffy Clyro’s “Mountains” first appeared under what working title?
- A Teeth or Mountains
- B Towers
- C Peaks
7. Lordi’s heavy metal track “Who’s Your Daddy?” is part of which album?
- A Scare Force One
- B The Arockalypse
- C Deadache
8. Which vocal part did Wayne Coyne perform in the collaboration with The Chemical Brothers?
- A Bass vocals
- B Lead vocals
- C Harmonic vocals
9. Whose backing vocals feature in Kaiser Chiefs’ “Never Miss a Beat”?
- A Amy Winehouse
- B Lily Allen and members of New Young Pony Club
- C Florence Welch
10. What instrument did Dave Grohl play in Juliette and the Licks’ “Hot Kiss”?
- A Drums
- B Guitar
- C Bass
11. Which aspect of relationships does “It Ends Tonight” by The All-American Rejects explore?
- A Beginning a new love
- B Jealousy and betrayal
- C Emotional closure and moving on
12. What theme does “Re-Offender” by Travis address?
- A Political upheaval
- B Domestic abuse
- C Childhood nostalgia
For TWENTY FOUR more ‘Vous Avez Dit Bizarre’ – Vintage 2000s Music Videos – week 41/52 – click here and here
Tracklist
1 . blink-182 – First Date |
‘I’m just scared of what you think’
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| Mainly penned by guitarist Tom DeLonge with a little help from from bassist Mark Hoppus and drummer Travis Barker, “First Date” by blink-182 is a feel-good song that mirrors DeLonge’s own nervy first date with his future wife, Jennifer Jenkins, at SeaWorld in San Diego. The music video, directed by The Malloys humorously portrays the band members as 1970s hippies cruising around suburbs in a Volkswagen van. |
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Featured on the 2001 album “Take Off Your Pants and Jacket”. |
2 . Robbie Williams – Radio |
‘My performance is easy I am the god of romance’
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| When released, “Radio” by Robbie Williams marked a change towards a more electropop musical direction, alongside more mature, more self-reflective and somewhat schizophrenic lyrics. The music video, directed by Vaughan Arnell, showcases Robbie bouncing back into the public spotlight, projecting a new quirky image while exploring uneasy feelings. |
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Featured on the 2004 album “Greatest Hits”. |
3 . OK Go – Here It Goes Again |
| American rock band OK Go’s power pop song “Here It Goes Again” explores the idea of what happen after a one-night stand and the pain that comes with the departure of one participant. Co-directed by the band and Trish Sie, the music video puts the band at a gym, dancing on treadmills, an activity quite remote from the one time sleazy night evoked in the lyrics. |
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Featured on the 2005 album “Oh No”. |
4 . We Are Scientists – The Great Escape |
‘They’re telling me to take it like a man’
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| Produced by Ariel Rechtshaid, “The Great Escape” by We Are Scientists has a dance-punk revival taste. Lyrically, the song explores the possibility of making an escape without moving, a true oxymoron. The music video, directed by Akiva Schaffer, follows the dayly routine of an individual with triple personalities. And to be honest, this is not an easy life. |
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Featured on the 2005 album “With Love and Squalor”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
5 . Jean Jacques Smoothie – 2People |
| House music track by British DJ Jean Jacques Smoothie “2People” is built on 1975 “Inside My Love” by Minnie Riperton. The accompanying music video confirms that you should not wear white while playing tennis on a muddy grass court. |
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Featured on the 2001 album “2People”. |
6 . Biffy Clyro – Mountains |
| Marking a shift towards a more radio-friendly repertoire by incorporating a conventional song structure with a strong melodic emphasis, “Mountains” by Biffy Clyro digs into themes of enduring love, metaphorically exploring the feelings of strength akin to mountains and seas. The music video is directed by James Copeman and shot filmed in a Masonic temple, near Liverpool Street Station in London. |
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Featured on the 2008 album “Only Revolutions”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
7 . Lordi – Who’s Your Daddy |
‘All the vixens stand in line Waiting for my fright night’
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| Finnish rock/heavy metal band Lordi’s song “Who’s Your Daddy” carries a bold and provocative theme of domineering male authority and indulgence. The accompanying music video, directed by Pete Riski and shot at Gloria Cultural Arena in Helsinki, follows a young couple exploring abandoned roller disco, haunted by Lordi and dancers in full Kiss attire. Spoiler alert: it does not end well for the young guy. |
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Featured on the 2006 album “The Arockalypse”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
8 . The Chemical Brothers – The Golden Path |
‘I paused in cosmic reflection, confused and wondering’
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| Featuring the vocals of Wayne Coyne and Steven Drozd, both from The Flaming Lips, trip-hop track “The Golden Path” by The Chemical Brothers explores existential themes such as life, death, and self-discovery. The music video, directed by Chris Milk, follows a man escaping from a cubicle to join a hippy community. It sounds an easy trip but it’s not. |
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Featured on the 2003 album “Singles 93-03”. |
9 . Kaiser Chiefs – Never Miss A Beat |
‘What do you want for tea? I want crisps’
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| Produced by Mark Ronson, and featuring backing vocals from Lily Allen and members of New Young Pony, “Never Miss A Beat” by Kaiser Chiefs addresses the idea that some school children might not excel in a classroom setting but are street smart. The music video, directed by Goodtimes, depicts people running around wearing masks while the band’s frontman Ricky Wilson plays a weatherman. Is there a connection between the masks and the weather? We have no idea. |
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Featured on the 2008 album “Off with Their Heads”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
10 . Juliette & The Licks – Hot Kiss |
| Rock song “Hot Kiss” by Juliette & The Licks is an energetic track with lyrics portraying a playful and passionate narrative, where the singer expresses a yearning for affection and a desire to be thrown against a wall. |
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Featured on the 2006 album “Four on the Floor”. |
11 . The All~American Rejects – It Ends Tonight |
‘Maybe it’s best you leave me alone I give the final blow’
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| A piano-driven ballad written by Nick Wheeler and Tyson Ritter, “It Ends Tonight” discusses the theme of ending a relationship when one feels burdened by his/her partner’s desires and decides to call it quits. The accompanying music video, directed by Wayne Isham, tells a story of shopping for fireworks followed by a night concert in the desert. |
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Featured on the 2005 album “Move Along”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
12 . Travis – Re~Offender |
‘Cause you say you love me And then you do it again’
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| Travis’s song “Re~Offender” covers the emotional turmoil of a troubled relationship, where a couple maintains a facade of normalcy, though the male protagonist foresees the recurring pain inflicted by his cheating and/or abusive partner, a narrative inspired by the personal experiences of Travis’ frontman Fran Healy, who wrote the song reflecting on his mother’s abusive relationship with his father. The music video, directed by Anton Corbijn, depicts the band playing small venues in and around Glasgow, travelling in a caravan and exchanging blows. There is no peace in Travis. |
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Featured on the 2003 album “12 Memories”. |
And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. Blink-182’s album had room for a pop hit, so Tom DeLonge provided “First Date” while Mark Hoppus crafted “The Rock Show.” These tracks met the manager’s demand for upbeat singles.
2. “Radio” owes its synth-pop vibe to Harold Faltermeyer’s “Axel F,” a melody Williams tinkered with on a keyboard, culminating in yet another UK chart-topping hit for Williams.
3. The treadmill choreography in OK Go’s music video was the brainchild of Damian Kulash Jr.’s sister, an idea that landed in viral video history after precisely executed takes.
4. We Are Scientists’ “The Great Escape” illustrates the futility in running from one’s problems, a theme echoing through its verses and alive in their spirited live gigs.
5. Jean Jacques Smoothie creatively fused Minnie Riperton’s “Inside My Love” into “2 People,” transforming the classic vocals into an infectious house groove.
6. Biffy Clyro’s “Mountains” bore the initial title “Teeth or Mountains,” a staggering hit that later breached UK charts’ upper echelons in its definitive form.
7. Lordi’s album “The Arockalypse” houses “Who’s Your Daddy?”, a raucous anthem among the band’s hallmark heavy metal offerings.
8. Wayne Coyne provided the lead vocals for a Chemical Brothers collaboration, quickly recorded yet substantially enhancing their greatest hits collection.
9. Kaiser Chiefs enlisted Lily Allen and New Young Pony Club for vocal support on “Never Miss a Beat,” blending distinct voices into a top-charting single.
10. Dave Grohl wielded the drumsticks for Juliette’s “Hot Kiss,” adding his Foo Fighters seasoning to the rock ensemble’s dynamic soundcanvas.
11. “It Ends Tonight” contemplates emotional closures rather than romantic ones, with a nuanced string arrangement that helped The All-American Rejects reach chart glory.
12. Travis’s “Re-Offender” examines cycles of domestic abuse, a raw thematic core surrounded by reflections lifted from Fran Healy’s family memories.
For THE FULL ‘VOUS AVEZ DIT BIZARRE’ COLLECTION click here
NB . You may wonder what are these “Quotes” attached to certain photos above. Well! For a specific song, we select a still image from the video on one side and choose a lyric from the song on the other side. We ensure that the lyric has a connection to the image, although sometimes the connection may be far-fetched or based on a double entendre, creating a humorous or meme-like combination when the two are merged together. Et voilà!
Bizarre Quotes • I’m just scared of what you think (blink_182) • My performance is easy I am the god of romance (Robbie Williams) • They’re telling me to take it like a man (We Are Scientists) • All the vixens stand in line Waiting for my fright night (Lordi) • I paused in cosmic reflection, confused and wondering (The Chemical Brothers) • What do you want for tea? I want crisps (Kaiser Chiefs) • Maybe it’s best you leave me alone I give the final blow (The All~American Rejects) • Cause you say you love me And then you do it again (Travis)
Music-wise : Rock, Indie Rock, Electronic, Pop
