Dance-pop song "True Blue" is the titular song from Madonna's third studio album and was released in 1986. It was said to have been written as a tribute to her then husband Sean Penn. It was a commercial success, reaching the top of the charts in multiple countries.
2. Moon
Answer: Blue
A popular song, "Blue Moon" was written in 1934 by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for MGM for a film. Not used in that film, its lyrics were changed a couple of times and it appeared in some seven MGM films in the end. Many versions have been recorded over the years, including by Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, the Beatles, Eric Clapton and Rod Stewart.
3. Monday
Answer: Blue
British rock band New Order released the song "Blue Monday" in 1983. It also appears on their "Power, Corruption & Lies" album. It is an early example of synth-pop and electronic dance music. As a 12-inch single, it sold over 3 million copies and has been covered by numerous artists.
The record sleeve was unusual, being designed to look like a 5 1/4-inch floppy disk with colour block coding to provide the song details.
4. Jean
Answer: Blue
David Bowie's song "Blue Jean" appeared in his sixteenth studio album "Tonight", which was released in 1984. Bowie was quoted in 1987 as describing it as "a piece of sexist rock 'n roll" and "not very cerebral". It nevertheless has appeared in at least eight Bowie compilation albums.
5. Back to
Answer: Black
"Back to Black" was the titular track on Amy Winehouse's second studio album, which was released in 2006. It is considered to be one of her signature songs. A powerful song, it reflects her feelings following the break-up (at the time) with her boyfriend, who left her for an ex-girlfriend.
The sound and beat was influenced by 1960s girls groups, although with a darker feel. Beyoncé and André 3000 did a cover version of it for the 2013 film "The Great Gatsby".
6. Water
Answer: Black
The American band The Doobie Brothers recorded "Black Water" for their 1974 album "What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits". Initially it was released on the B-side of the single but it became popular and was re-released on the A-side to become one of the few B-side records to top the Billboard 'Hot 100' where the A-side was also a hit.
It is based on the writer's New Orleans experiences and has an a cappella section.
7. Honey
Answer: Black
American rock band Thrice released "Black Honey" in 2016, the second single from their studio album "To Be Everywhere is to Be Nowhere". It is a political song, using a man trying to access a beehive as a metaphor for US foreign policing in the Middle East with black honey being a euphemism for oil.
8. Hole Sun
Answer: Black
Written by Chris Cornell, American rock band Soundgarden released "Black Hole Sun" in 1994. It was the third single from the "Superunknown" album and is an iconic song with a psychedelic edge. It is accompanied by a surreal music video. It became one of their better known songs. British singer-songwriter Griff also wrote and released a song with the same name in 2021.
9. Light
Answer: Green
There have been at least four different "Green Light" songs in the 20 years since 2000: one by Beyoncé in 2006, the John Legend one in 2008, another by Roll Deep in 2010 and the one by New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde in 2017. This last one was the lead single from her second studio album "Melodrama", which came out in 2017. The green light here is a traffic signal metaphor, which she is waiting for so she can get on with her life after a relationship break-up. Lorde's genre of music is electropop, art pop and indie pop.
10. Onions
Answer: Green
An instrumental, "Green Onions" was recorded in 1962 by Booker T. & the M.G.'s. It has received a host of accolades, receiving a Grammy Hall of Fame Award (1999) and being inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2018, amongst others. It has been used in at least 18 films and TV episodes ranging from the film "American Graffiti" (1973) to more recent TV shows such as "The Resident" (2018), "The Village" (2019), "9-1-1 Lonestar" (2020) and "The Wonder Years" (2021). It was also charting in the UK and Ireland in 1980.
11. Door
Answer: Green
The lyrics to "The Green Door" tell of the singer's attempts to gain access to a mysterious private club behind a green door. The song was first released in 1956, sung by Jim Lowe. There have been many cover versions over the years, with the Shakin' Stevens'version topping the charts in the UK during 1981. The inspiration, perhaps, is the Prohibition-era Green Door Tavern in Chicago which gained a reputation for serving illegal alcohol. The green door was copied by other venues, reportedly becoming a symbol for a speakeasy.
12. Disease
Answer: Green
This song appears on American rock band Pearl Jam's seventh studio album "Riot Act", which was released in 2002. Greed is the "green disease" and the song a comment on materialism. "Riot Act" was a move towards social and political commentary, being influenced by the 9/11 attacks and the deaths of nine fans at the 2000 Roskilde Festival. It came after a break for the band following its "Binaural" album of 2000.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Fifiona81 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
