How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Offaiah, Blossoms, Calvin Harris, Onerepublic, Katy Perry, Pet Shop Boys, Slipknot, Avicii, Skrillex, Cheat Codes, Tove Lo, Matoma
They are the performers of twelve amusing, puzzling and sometimes shocking videos that were ranked in various charts, this week (33/52) BUT … in the Tens 2010s.
1. Which artist’s song does OFFAIAH’s 2016 debut single sample?
- A Drake
- B Lil Wayne and Charlie Puth
- C Flo Rida
2. What historic figure is referenced in the title of Blossoms’ 2015 track?
- A Alexander the Great
- B Napoleon
- C Charlemagne
3. Which Calvin Harris song reached number one in Ireland upon its 2012 release?
- A I’m Not Alone
- B Summer
- C The fourth single from 18 Months
4. Who directed the music video for the hit song from One Republic’s rereleased album Native?
- A Sophie Muller
- B Jonas Åkerlund
- C Spike Jonze
5. Which artist released a song inspired by a dog show, complete with a narrative music video?
- A Britney Spears
- B Lady Gaga
- C Katy Perry
6. Who initially considered offering a track to One Direction for Eurovision before releasing it themselves?
- A Coldplay
- B Pet Shop Boys
- C New Order
7. What track did Slipknot release after bassist Paul Gray’s death and drummer Joey Jordison’s departure?
- A Duality
- B The track from .5: The Gray Chapter
- C Vermillion
8. Which DJ released the lead single of Avicii’s EP featuring Sandro Cavazza before his passing?
- A Marshmello
- B Calvin Harris
- C Avicii
9. Which film’s soundtrack features Skrillex and Rick Ross’s 2016 collaboration?
- A The Avengers
- B Suicide Squad
- C Fast & Furious
10. What 2016 single by Cheat Codes and Dante Klein uses elements of Kevin Lyttle’s 2003 hit?
- A Let Me Love You
- B Turn Me On
- C No Promises
11. Which Tove Lo song, with provocative artwork, became the lead single from her album Lady Wood?
- A Talking Body
- B Cool Girl
- C Habits
12. Who collaborated with Norwegian producer Matoma on a tropical house single released in 2016?
- A Becky Hill
- B Ellie Goulding
- C Zara Larsson
Tracklist
1 . Offaiah – Trouble |
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| Club anthem “Trouble” has its own captivating video, directed by Daniel Brown, that intertwines beauty with danger, set in a “Walking Dead”-ian decor and a perilous swamp setting. |
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2 . Blossoms – Charlemagne |
| Blossoms’ Tom Ogden shared that “Charlemagne” was inspired by the historical King of the Franks. But do not expect any soldiers in armor; “Charlemagne” is only a metaphor for adoring someone like royalty when the video features a dark poker game, mysterious figures, and symbolic imagery – another metaphor, possibly. |
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Featured on the 2015 album “Blossoms”. |
3 . Calvin Harris – We’ll Be Coming Back (w/ Example) |
| Calvin Harris and Example’s collaboration, “We’ll Be Coming Back,” surprises with a less intense vibe than their usual hits. The music video, directed by Saman Keshavarz, showcases a ‘police and thieves’ plot with the duo involved in a heist, chased by a policewoman in a desert setting. The storyline is that the cars are great. |
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Featured on the 2012 album “18 Months”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
4 . Onerepublic – Love Runs Out |
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| In “Love Runs Out,” OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder, the band’s lead, pledges eternal love on a chorus that draws comparisons to Kanye West’s “Love Lockdown” and Adele’s “Rumour Has It.” The song’s video, directed by Sophie Muller, is a visual spectacle featuring surreal imagery and tribal dancers – all shot against a green screen. |
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Featured on the 2014 album “Native”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
5 . Katy Perry – Small Talk |
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| Small Talk, Katy Perry’s single, digs into the complexities of love, from intimacy to estrangement and nostalgia. Co-written by Charlie Puth, the lyrics hint at past relationships, sparking speculation about which of Perry’s famous exes inspired the song. The video is directed by Tanu Muino. |
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6 . Pet Shop Boys – Winner |
| Produced by Andrew Dawson, “Winner,” the single from British synthpop duo Pet Shop Boys, carries a message of perseverance. The accompanying video features Dirty Diana, a transgender member of the London Rollergirls, and her journey in the roller derby world, mentored by Shaolynn Scarlett. The video is directed by Surrender Monkeys. |
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Featured on the 2012 album “Elysium”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
7 . Slipknot – The Negative One |
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| Slipknot’s “The Negative One” marks their first release without key members Joey Jordison and Paul Gray. Corey Taylor, the vocalist, describes the track as a blend of old and new Slipknot, bridging their “Iowa” and “Vol. 3” eras, and continuing their legacy despite challenges. The accompanying video, directed by percussionist Shawn Crahan, is haunting, echoing early Slipknot themes. |
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Featured on the 2014 album “.5: The Gray Chapter”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
8 . Avicii – Without You (w/ Sandro Cavazza) |
| Without You from Avicii’s EP showcases a memorable progressive and joyous house melody with country-pop influenced synths, featuring Swedish artist Sandro Cavazza. |
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9 . Skrillex – Purple Lamborghini (w/ Rick Ross) |
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| Jared Leto’s Joker joins Skrillex and Rick Ross in the video for “Purple Lamborghini,” promoting the 2016 “Suicide Squad” film. The video depicts the Joker’s chaotic journey through a nightclub, culminating in a speedboat ride, rendering the Lamborghini moot. The video is directed by Colin Tilley. |
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10 . Cheat Codes – Let Me Hold You [Turn Me On] |
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| Let Me Hold You (Turn Me On) is a vibrant EDM track by Cheat Codes – comprising Trevor Dahl, Kevin Ford, and Matthew Russell – and Dante Klein, blending catchy hooks with soulful vocals inspired by Kevin Lyttle’s original “Turn Me On.” The video is directed by Chris Campbell. |
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11 . Tove Lo – Cool Girl |
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| Tove Lo’s new single “Cool Girl” is inspired by the “cool girl” monologue from the film “Gone Girl.” It questions the authenticity of suppressing emotions to appear “cool” and challenges the idea of changing oneself for love. The video is directed by Tim Erem. |
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Featured on the 2016 album “Lady Wood”. |
12 . Matoma – False Alarm |
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| British artist Becky Hill collaborates with Norwegian electronic musician Matoma on “False Alarm,” accompanied by a music video, directed by Samy Mosher, that narrates the unexpected journey of a young couple. |
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Featured on the 2018 album “One in a Million”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site |
And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. OFFAIAH’s debut single samples “Nothing but Trouble” by Lil Wayne and Charlie Puth. The track climbed to number 29 on the UK’s chart, sampling its way into playlists everywhere.
2. Blossoms’ single titled “Charlemagne” made its mark in 2015. The historic reference doesn’t manifest in lyrics, just in title inspiration.
3. Calvin Harris’s collaboration featuring Example debuted at number one in Ireland. Clearly, the Irish have a soft spot for electro house.
4. The video for One Republic’s song from Native was directed by Sophie Muller, showcasing her keen eye with visually appealing storytelling.
5. Katy Perry released a music video about a dog show, adding a dash of humor and whimsy. Featured in the video is her canine companion, Nugget.
6. Pet Shop Boys toyed with gifting their track to One Direction but ultimately kept it; they preferred releasing it themselves.
7. The track from .5: The Gray Chapter marked Slipknot’s creative new phase post line-up changes, becoming a Grammy-nominated “gift” to fans.
8. Avicii’s collaboration with Sandro Cavazza was the lead single for his EP. It enjoyed renewed popularity following Avicii’s untimely passing.
9. Skrillex and Rick Ross lent their musical muscles to Suicide Squad’s soundtrack, bringing Gotham grit to Grammy-nominated beats.
10. Cheat Codes and Dante Klein’s single “Sex” borrows from Kevin Lyttle’s classic. Apparently, summer’s most contagious number was up for sharing.
11. Tove Lo led Lady Wood’s album with “Cool Girl,” artwork and all. A tale spun in colorful doughnut-licking delight – less dessert, more pop promise.
12. Matoma and Becky Hill joined forces for a track swirling with tropical vibes, charting in various regions with a breezy, effortless appeal.
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!