How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Pearl Jam, Francis Dunnery, Texas, Sting, Leftfield, Pavement, Ministry, Catatonia, The Chemical Brothers, Catherine Wheel, Toploader, Spiritualized
They are the performers of twelve vintage amusing, puzzling and sometimes shocking videos of songs that were ranked in various charts, this week (32/52) BUT… in the Nineties 90s.
1. How did Pearl Jam’s cover of “Last Kiss” become a hit?
- A It was used in a blockbuster movie
- B It gained unexpected radio airplay
- C It was a major concert staple
2. Which genre does Francis Dunnery’s “American Life In The Summertime” NOT incorporate?
- A Reggae
- B Country
- C Blues
3. What chart position did Texas’s “Black Eyed Boy” reach in the UK?
- A #5
- B #1
- C #20
4. Which instrument is prominently featured in Sting’s “Englishman In New York”?
- A Soprano saxophone
- B Harmonica
- C Violin
5. In what “language” are the lyrics of “Afro-Left” sung?
- A Swahili
- B Djum Djum talk
- C Xhosa
6. What is the theme of Pavement’s “Gold Soundz” music video?
- A A band concert
- B A scavenger hunt
- C A road trip
7. What notable feature does Ministry’s “N.W.O.” include?
- A A children’s choir
- B Presidential speech samples
- C Flamenco guitar
8. What caused “Strange Glue” by Catatonia to not include its original B-side on the album?
- A Record label demands
- B It was out of tune
- C A different song replaced it
9. Who collaborated with The Chemical Brothers on “Let Forever Be”?
- A Damon Albarn
- B Noel Gallagher
- C Paul McCartney
10. What subject is depicted in Catherine Wheel’s “Way Down” music video?
- A Ice skating championship
- B Plane crash
- C Space exploration
11. Which description best fits Toploader’s “Let The People Know”?
- A Psychedelic ballad
- B Grunge anthem
- C Post-Britpop track
12. Which band formed from former members of Spiritualized post-“Electricity” release?
- A Spacemen 3
- B Lupine Howl
- C The Velvet Underground
For TWENTY FOUR more ‘Vous Avez Dit Bizarre’ – Vintage 90s Music Videos – week 32/52 – click here and here
Tracklist
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1 . Pearl Jam – Last Kiss
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2 . Francis Dunnery – American Life In The SummertimeFeatured on the 1994 album “Fearless”.
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3 . Texas – Black Eyed BoyFeatured on the 1997 album “White on Blonde“.
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4 . Sting – Englishman In New YorkFeatured on the 1987 album “…Nothing Like the Sun“.
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5 . Leftfield – Afro LeftFeatured on the 1995 album “Leftism“.
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6 . Pavement – Gold SoundzFeatured on the 1994 album “Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain“.
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7 . Ministry – N.W.O. [New World Order]Featured on the 1992 album “Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs”.
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8 . Catatonia – Strange GlueFeatured on the 1998 album “International Velvet”.
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9 . The Chemical Brothers – Let Forever BeFeatured on the 1999 album “Surrender “.
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10 . Catherine Wheel – Way DownFeatured on the 1995 album “Happy Days”.
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11 . Toploader – Let The People KnowFeatured on the 1999 album “Onka’s Big Moka”. |
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12 . Spiritualized – ElectricityFeatured on the 1997 album “Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space“.
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. Radio station circulation gave Pearl Jam’s “Last Kiss” a lift in the charts. Initially released as part of a Christmas collection, its unexpected success drove it to become their top US hit.
2. “American Life In The Summertime” did not incorporate country music into its sound. Instead, it drew on rock, funk, and even Eastern musical influences.
3. Texas’s “Black Eyed Boy” climbed to number 5 on the UK Singles Chart. Its mix of Motown soul and modern pop flavor resonated widely.
4. The soprano saxophone, played by Branford Marsalis, makes Sting’s “Englishman In New York” memorable. The song’s jazz elements contrast with the narrative of cultural displacement.
5. The lyrics of “Afro-Left” by Leftfield are in “Djum Djum talk.” The vocals mimic African languages but are actually a unique nonsensical concoction.
6. Pavement’s “Gold Soundz” video features the band in a scavenger hunt. Dressed as Santa Claus, they search for a car-key-holding chicken around Irvine.
7. Ministry’s “N.W.O.” is notable for sampling George H.W. Bush. This industrial track couples driving guitar with political critique.
8. The song “Strange Glue” swapped its original B-side, “That’s All Folks,” with “My Selfish Gene” on the album. This musical substitution followed thematic alignment decisions.
9. Noel Gallagher lent his voice and songwriting skills to The Chemical Brothers’ “Let Forever Be.” His collaboration with the duo continued their creative partnership.
10. Catherine Wheel’s “Way Down” video portrays a plane crash scenario. The intense visuals focus on passengers’ mounting fears as impacts loom.
11. “Let The People Know” by Toploader embodies a post-Britpop aesthetic. Accompanying the upbeat rhythms are notable hooks ahead of future hits.
12. Former Spiritualized members formed Lupine Howl. Personnel shifts followed shortly after the acclaim of “Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space.”