How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Sugar Ray, John Otway, Manic Street Preachers, Paolo Nutini, The Streets, The Last Shadow Puppets, The Sleepy Jackson, Rammstein, Stereophonics, The Prodigy, Eminem, Slipknot
They are the performers of twelve vintage amusing, puzzling and sometimes shocking videos of songs that were ranked in the UK charts, this week (43/52) BUT… in the Noughties 2000s.
1. What notable achievement did Sugar Ray’s “When It’s Over” reach in New Zealand?
- A Number one on the chart
- B Stayed in the top ten for six weeks
- C Reached number six
2. How did John Otway’s fans influence the release of “Bunsen Burner”?
- A They voted for its release
- B They wrote its lyrics
- C They produced the music video
3. What unique detail is included in the lyrics of the Manic Street Preachers’ song about Nixon?
- A A direct quote from Nixon
- B A historical inaccuracy
- C A mention of Watergate only
4. Which musician plays the trumpet riff in Paolo Nutini’s “Pencil Full of Lead”?
- A Gavin Fitzjohn
- B Miles Davis
- C Herb Alpert
5. What theme is explored in The Streets’ “Prangin’ Out”?
- A Effects of mobile technology
- B Paranoia and anxiety from touring
- C Environmental pollution
6. Who directed the music video for The Last Shadow Puppets’ “My Mistakes Were Made for You”?
- A Richard Ayoade
- B Spike Jonze
- C David Fincher
7. What visual element was featured in one of the “Good Dancers” music videos?
- A A dancing robot
- B Angels in a forest
- C Fireworks show
8. What cultural themes are present in Rammstein’s “Amerika”?
- A The American Dream
- B Disney animation
- C Americanization and globalization
9. What historic event inspired the lyrics of a Stereophonics song released from *Pull the Pin*?
- A 7 July 2005 London bombings
- B The Berlin Wall fall
- C The financial crisis of 2008
10. What sample does “Voodoo People” by The Prodigy include in its composition?
- A A flute sample
- B A spoken word excerpt
- C A symphony orchestra
11. Who contributed to the instrumental production of Eminem’s “The Way I Am”?
- A Mike Elizondo and Tommy Coster
- B Dr. Dre and 50 Cent
- C Fred Durst and Wes Borland
12. What unique performance feature was associated with Slipknot’s “Vermilion”?
- A Pyrotechnics
- B Band members wore death masks
- C Onstage hologram
For TWENTY FOUR more ‘Vous Avez Dit Bizarre’ – Vintage 2000s Music Videos – week 43/52 – click here and here
Tracklist
1 . Sugar Ray – When It’s Over |
‘You never said you were pretending’
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| Mid-tempo rock ballad, “When It’s Over” by Sugar Ray expresses the lingering emotions post a break-up. With a retro scenario, humorously mimicking ’80s artists like Duran Duran, A Flock of Seagulls, and Gary Numan, the accompanying music video, directed by McG, reflects on the theme of making a video for the song itself. It features whimsical segments following each band member: Stan Frazier wreaks havoc on their set, Murphy Karges showcases them as an Irish punk band, DJ Homicide takes them to a strip club, while Rodney Sheppard displays his karate skills against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. |
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Featured on the 2001 album “Sugar Ray”. |
2 . John Otway – Bunsen Burner |
‘Check out what’s in the test tube baby You’re my little pipette’
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Featured on the 2002 album “Bunsen Burner”. Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site |
3 . Manic Street Preachers – The Love of Richard Nixon |
| Penned by James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, and Sean Moore, and taking an unexpected sympathetic stance towards the former Republican president, “The Love Of Richard Nixon” by the notably left-wing Manic Street Preachers sheds light on Nixon’s positive endeavors, like initiating relations with China and de-escalating the arms race with the Soviet Union but overshadowed by the Watergate scandal. According to Nicky Wire, the song highlights the core theme of being forever stained by certain life events, likening Nixon’s Watergate association to the band’s connections to member Richey Edwards’ disappearance and the “4 Real” incident. |
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Featured on the 2004 album “Lifeblood”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
4 . Paolo Nutini – Pencil Full Of Lead |
| Paolo Nutini’s “Pencil Full Of Lead” comes with a Corin Hardy-directed music video featuring a stop-animated clay figure of Nutini, animated by Mark Waring and Andy Gent from “Fantastic Mr. Fox.” Initially depicting the figurine’s outdated attitudes towards women, the narrative humorously evolves as he becomes metaphorically malleable in their presence. |
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Featured on the 2009 album “Sunny Side Up”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
5 . The Streets – Prangin’ Out |
‘I don’t want anyone to see me like this right now’
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| The track “Prangin’ Out” by The Streets (Mike Skinner) lays bare Skinner’s struggles with substance abuse and the associated mental turmoil, particularly portraying a psychotic mental state induced by cocaine and alcohol use. The accompanying music video, directed by Dawn Shadforth, explores the term “pranging out,” slang for drug-induced paranoia. |
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Featured on the 2006 album “The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
6 . The Last Shadow Puppets – My Mistakes Were Made For You |
| A groove-driven ballad exploring themes of innocence and arrogance, “My Mistakes Were Made for You” by The Last Shadow Puppets, a collaboration between Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys), Miles Kane (the Rascals), and James Ford (Simian Mobile Disco), is infused with queasy strings, provided by the London Metropolitan Orchestra, and spaghetti-western horns and evokes the style of late-60s Scott Walker or David Axelrod. The accompanying music video, directed by Richard Ayoade and shot at Pinewood Studios, opens with a dramatic scene of Alex Turner and his then girlfriend Alexa Chung in a crashed car, before following Turner and Kane as they traverse a nocturnal street and culminating in a lighted gazebo where they perform together. |
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Featured on the 2008 album “The Age of the Understatement“. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
7 . The Sleepy Jackson – Good Dancers |
‘But I love to watch good dancers talk’
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| Embracing a psychedelic essence reminiscent of John Lennon’s “Number Nine Dream,” “Good Dancers” by Australian ensemble Sleepy Jackson, steered by Luke Steele, departs from the band’s earlier rootsy vibe and delivers a melodious blend of strings, slide guitars, and dizzy vocals until it reaches a crescendo into a chaos of sitars. The music video, directed by Nash Edgerton, showcases a narrative with a janitor (Dan Wyllie) and a nurse engaging in a dance in a sparse hospital room. |
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Featured on the 2003 album “Lovers”. |
8 . Rammstein – Amerika |
‘To Africa comes Santa Claus’
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| With a catchy chorus that bears a coincidental resemblance to a line from The Sounds’ “Living In America, Rammstein’s song “Amerika” critiques the USA’s cultural imperialism and political propaganda with sarcastic wit. The music video, directed by Jörn Heitmann and filmed in a deserted chemical plant near Berlin, portrays the band as astronauts in a staged moon landing, nodding to the 70s conspiracy theory while highlighting American culture’s global penetration, with scenes of Nike shoes in the Middle East and fast-food in Asia. |
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Featured on the 2004 album “Reise, Reise”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
9 . Stereophonics – It Means Nothing |
| Likely inspired by the emotional aftermath Kelly Jones experienced post the July 7 London terrorist bombings, “It Means Nothing” by Stereophonics reflects on lost love. The accompanying music video is directed by Charles Mehling. |
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Featured on the 2008 album “Pull the Pin”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
10 . The Prodigy – Voodoo People |
| Striking with its bass-heavy rhythm, The Prodigy’s “Voodoo People” amalgamates diverse musical elements from the main riff, believed to be inspired by Nirvana’s “Very Ape” to the track’s vocal samples borrowed from “The Shalimar” by Gylan Kain of The Last Poets. The music video, directed by Walter Stern and Russell Curtis, captures eerie scenes from a voodoo ceremony in Saint Lucia and a haunting, horror-film ambiance. |
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Featured on the 1994 album “Music for the Jilted Generation“. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
11 . Eminem – The Way I Am |
‘You can call me an asshole, I’m glad’
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| Eminem’s song “The Way I Am” is a raw and personal narrative covering the stress induced by constant pressure from label executives and intrusive fans. Directed by Paul Hunter, the music video for Eminem’s “The Way I Am” begins with instrumental tones from the song “Kim” and a snippet of the “Steve Berman” skit, features a cameo by Marilyn Manson. It also mirrors the protagonist the Coen Brothers’ film “The Hudsucker Proxy,” with Eminem jumping through a window. Spoiler alert: upon landing, Eminem finds himself on a giant mattress. |
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Featured on the 2000 album “The Marshall Mathers LP“. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
12 . Slipknot – Vermilion |
‘Hard to say what caught my attention’
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| Displaying Paul Gray’s significant contributions to the band, “Vermilion” by Slipknot carries, with Corey Taylor’s vocals stressing the internal darkness amid horror movie-like atmospherics a dark theme of unattainable love and jealousy. Directed by Tony Petrossian and percussionist Shawn Crahan, the music video portrays a tormented girl navigating through an indifferent crowded city, her agony unnoticed as she moves in contorted twists. |
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Featured on the 2004 album “Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)”. |
And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. “When It’s Over” achieved notable success in New Zealand, reaching number six on the chart. It was part of Sugar Ray’s fourth album and conquered international singles lists too.
2. John Otway’s fans played a major role in the release of “Bunsen Burner.” They actively participated by purchasing the single en masse, propelling its chart success.
3. The Manic Street Preachers’ song scrutinizes Nixon’s legacy, closing with his statement “I have never been a quitter.” This juxtaposes his achievements with the infamous Watergate scandal.
4. The trumpet riff in “Pencil Full of Lead” is performed by musician Gavin Fitzjohn. It’s one of the notable features distinguishing this jazz pop track’s lively sound.
5. “Prangin’ Out” by The Streets discusses the mental aftermath of fast-paced touring, specifically paranoia and anxiety, without explicitly breaching lyrical taboos.
6. Richard Ayoade directed the music video for “My Mistakes Were Made for You.” His cinematic style complements the track’s vintage influences and narrative depth.
7. The “Good Dancers” music video features angels in a forest for the American release. This imagery contrasts the Australian hospital dance sequence, showcasing creative versatility.
8. Rammstein’s “Amerika” tackles the themes of Americanization and globalization. Cultural icons and ironic lyrics depict a satirical view of America’s global influence.
9. Stereophonics wrote a song reflecting on the 7 July 2005 London bombings. The track examines personal and societal impacts of such tragic events.
10. “Voodoo People” by The Prodigy includes a flute sample in its sound. This diverse instrumentation contributes to the track’s unique breakbeat hardcore and techno fusion.
11. Eminem worked with Mike Elizondo and Tommy Coster on “The Way I Am.” The track tackles themes of press scrutiny and artistic independence amid external pressures.
12. While performing “Vermilion,” Slipknot members wore death masks, casts of their own faces, adding a visually intense element to their live presence.
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 • You never said you were pretending (Sugar Ray) • Check out what’s in the test tube baby You’re my little pipette (John Otway) • I don’t want anyone to see me like this right now (The Streets) • But I love to watch good dancers talk (The Sleepy Jackson) • To Africa comes Santa Claus (Rammstein) • You can call me an asshole, I’m glad (Eminem) • Hard to say what caught my attention (Slipknot)
Music-wise : Pop, Rap, Rock, Indie Rock, Hard Rock
