How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : The Coral, Richard Hawley, Erasure, Taproot, The Vines, Sia, Louis XIV, Sea Power, Avenged Sevenfold, Super Furry Animals, The Lost Brothers, Pet Shop Boys
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 chart position did The Coral’s “Dreaming of You” reach in the UK upon its release?
- A Number 13
- B Number 27
- C Number 38
2. Which landmark inspired the title of Richard Hawley’s album *Lady’s Bridge*?
- A Tower Bridge
- B Lady’s Bridge, Sheffield
- C London Bridge
3. Who directed the official music video for Erasure’s “Freedom”?
- A Flood
- B Mute Records
- C Vince Clarke
4. What key factor contributed to the mainstream success of Taproot’s “Poem”?
- A An award-winning guitar solo
- B Chart-topping studio album
- C A heavily rotated music video
5. In which of these was The Vines’ “Outtathaway!” featured?
- A Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol soundtrack
- B Bruce Almighty film
- C The Dark Knight Soundtrack
6. Which language was used by Sia in the music video for “Soon We’ll Be Found”?
- A Morse Code
- B Latin
- C American Sign Language
7. Louis XIV’s “Finding Out True Love Is Blind” references which charming descriptors?
- A Vanilla and Coconut
- B Chocolate girl and Carrot juice
- C Sugar and Spice
8. In “Remember Me,” by Sea Power, how does the music video visually reinforce its themes?
- A By featuring a live concert
- B By showing a war memorial band
- C By animating a graphic novel
9. Avenged Sevenfold’s “Almost Easy” had a notable performance by which marching band?
- A UCLA Marching Band
- B Ohio State University Marching Band
- C USC Trojan Marching Band
10. What unique feature does the DVD edition of “Rings Around the World” include?
- A A live performance at Wembley Stadium
- B A Llwybr Llaethog remix
- C Gruff Rhys’s autobiography
11. What distinctive instrument was used by The Lost Brothers in “Fugitive Moon”?
- A Ornette Coleman’s saxophone
- B Charles Mingus’s bass
- C Liberace’s piano
12. Which band’s single, offered to Aerosmith but recorded by themselves, features a 50-piece orchestra?
- A Depeche Mode
- B Pet Shop Boys
- C Spandau Ballet
For TWENTY FOUR more ‘Vous Avez Dit Bizarre’ – Vintage 2000s Music Videos – week 43/52 – click here and here
Tracklist
1 . The Coral – Dreaming Of You |
| Written by band’s frontman James Skelly, “Dreaming of You” by The Coral is a last minute inclusion into their eponymous debut album at the insistence of producer Ian Broudie who reworked the track with label founder Alan Wills. The accompanying video is directed by Laurence Easeman. |
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Featured on the 2002 album “The Coral“. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
2 . Richard Hawley – Serious |
‘There’s a kindness in her eyes, there’s no darkness in disguise’
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| Created in three minutes, while working on the film score for “Flick” by David Howard, at Sheffield Axis studio with Mike Timm at the console, Richard Hawley’s track “Serious” reflects his rockabilly roots. The piece features Johnny Wood on slap bass, the Vernon Sisters on vocal harmonies, and Richard performing a solo on a borrowed Gretsch Tennessean guitar. |
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Featured on the 2007 album “Lady’s Bridge”. Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site |
3 . Erasure – Freedom |
| Produced by Flood, “Freedom” by Erasure was written by Vince Clarke and Andy Bell. |
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Featured on the 2000 album “Loveboat”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
4 . Taproot – Poem |
‘I pray this pain will go away’
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| Ann Arbor, Michigan nu-metal group Taproot’s “Poem” melds elements of Korn, Deftones, and Linkin Park, opening with a solo guitar followed by a heavy intro. In the accompanying music video, directed by Brothers Strause and shot in Los Angeles, a passionate encounter between a young couple unfolds against a backdrop of a building’s chaotic destruction. |
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Featured on the 2002 album “Welcome”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
5 . The Vines – Outtathaway |
| The music video for Australian alternative rock band The Vines’ “Outtathaway!” is directed by David LaChapelle. |
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Featured on the 2002 album “Highly Evolved”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
6 . Sia – Soon We’ll Be Found |
‘Let’s not fight, I’m tired, can’t we just sleep tonight?’
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| Reflecting on Sia’s relationship with her deaf former boyfriend, “Soon We’ll Be Found” echoes the struggles of a couple trying to communicate. In the accompanying music video, Sia combines visual and auditory artistry, presenting the lyrics in American Sign Language (ASL). |
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Featured on the 2008 album “Some People Have Real Problems”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
7 . Louis XIV – Finding Out True Love Is Blind |
| Crafted by frontman Jason Hill, the lustful lyrics of “Finding Out True Love Is Blind” by San Diego indie band Louis XIV, embodies, a tongue-in-cheek bravado alongside a glam-rock groove. The music video is directed by Chris Hopewell. |
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Featured on the 2005 album “The Best Little Secrets Are Kept”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
8 . Sea Power – Remember Me |
‘Until there was nobody really there’
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| Opening with a chainsaw-like riff, leading into a near minute-and-a-half of pounding drums and spiky guitars before the vocals kick in, “Remember Me” by British Sea Power delivers a potent mix of raw male energy with a contemplative theme on old age and mortality. Conceptualized by British filmmaker Dougal Wilson, the accompanying music video transforms London’s iconic statues, including those of Nelson and Wellington, into singing rock figures performing at a war memorial scene in a London park. |
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Featured on the 2003 album “The Decline of British Sea Power”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
9 . Avenged Sevenfold – Almost Easy |
‘By that look on your face, I may have forced the scale to tip’
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| Penned by The Rev, “Almost Easy” by Avenged Sevenfold, melds hard-rock with an emotionally charged narrative on loss, questioning one’s sanity amidst pain. The accompanying music video, directed by P.R. Brown, portrays the band performing in a desolate, fiery landscape with zombie-esque individuals emerging. |
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Featured on the 2007 album “Avenged Sevenfold”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
10 . Super Furry Animals – [Drawing] Rings Around The World |
‘Sooner or later we will melt together’
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| A spirited psych-pop anthem, “(Drawing) Rings Around The World” by Super Furry Animals, led by Gruff Rhys, offers a burst of melody and power chords, making it an excellent choice for a sing-along. The music video is directed by Pedro Romhanyi. |
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Featured on the 2001 album “Rings Around The World“. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
11 . The Lost Brothers – Fugitive Moon |
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Featured on the 2012 album “The Lost Brothers”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
12 . Pet Shop Boys – Numb |
| Composed by Diane Warren and orchestrated with a 50-piece ensemble under Trevor Horn’s direction and production, “Numb” by Pet Shop Boys presents a melodic challenge as noted by vocalist Neil Tennant, due to its complexity. The lyrics straightforwardly express the narrator’s desire to escape feelings and reaching emotional numbness. The music video, directed by Julian Gibbs, Julian House, and Chris Sayer, depicts a frozen city through a re-collaged icy dream sequence of archival Russian footage. |
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Featured on the 2006 album “Fundamental”. Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site |
And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. “Dreaming of You” reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart in 2002. The song garnered significant radio play, enhancing its popularity and leading to its eventual Platinum certification.
2. Richard Hawley’s “Lady’s Bridge” is named after an actual bridge in Sheffield, his hometown. The album fused vintage influences with personal nostalgia, solidifying his local legacy.
3. The music video for Erasure’s “Freedom” was directed by Vince Clarke himself. His directorial vision added a personal touch reflective of the song’s themes.
4. Taproot’s “Poem” gained mainstream traction due in part to its music video, which was frequently aired, driving its chart success and cultural impact during the early 2000s.
5. “Outtathaway!” by The Vines infamously appeared in the film Bruce Almighty. Despite its absence from the soundtrack, the song synced well with the on-screen chaos.
6. Sia captivatingly signed her lyrics in the “Soon We’ll Be Found” video using American Sign Language. This choice underscored both her visual artistry and inclusive storytelling.
7. Louis XIV’s track “Finding Out True Love Is Blind” whimsically includes references to a “chocolate girl” and “carrot juice.” Such lyrical quirks enhance the song’s playful tone.
8. In Sea Power’s “Remember Me,” the band, depicted as a war memorial, uses historical allegory to evoke themes of memory and mortality, in line with their lyrical intent.
9. Avenged Sevenfold’s “Almost Easy” was featured in a 2009 Rose Bowl halftime show by the USC Trojan Marching Band. This performance showcased the song’s broad appeal.
10. Super Furry Animals included a Llwybr Llaethog remix on the “Rings Around the World” DVD. This added creative dimension to an already eclectic audiovisual project.
11. The Lost Brothers’ track “Fugitive Moon” features Tony Garnier on an upright double bass once owned by Charles Mingus, weaving history into the song’s narrative texture.
12. The Pet Shop Boys’ single, initially intended for Aerosmith, showcases dramatic orchestration with a 50-piece ensemble. This grand arrangement reflects the duo’s ambitious production style.
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 • There’s a kindness in her eyes, there’s no darkness in disguise (Richard Hawley) • I pray this pain will go away (Taproot) • Let’s not fight, I’m tired, can’t we just sleep tonight? (Sia) • Until there was nobody really there (Sea Power) • By that look on your face, I may have forced the scale to tip (Avenged Sevenfold) • Sooner or later we will melt together (Super Furry Animals) •
Music-wise : Pop, Electronic, Rock, Indie Rock
