Girls' Names in Song Titles Trivia Quiz

Answer: Sylvia's Mother

'Sylvia's Mother' was the first hit, back in 1972, for the band which called themselves Dr Hook and the Medicine Show at the time. They shortened the name to just Dr Hook in 1975. With singers Ray Locorriere and Ray Sawyer, with his distinctive eye patch, the band had several more hits including 'Only Sixteen' (1975), 'Sharing the Night Together' (1978) and 'Sexy Eyes' (1980).

'Sylvia's Mother' reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the UK Singles Chart. It tells the story of the singer trying to speak to Sylvia, but being stonewalled by her mother, Mrs Avery, who refuses to let him speak to Sylvia who is about to marry another man.

Answer: Come On Eileen

Dexy's Midnight Runners first came to attention in the UK when they had a number one hit with 'Geno' in 1980. The song was a tribute to Geno Washington, so doesn't qualify for this quiz, but the band's even bigger hit certainly does. 'Come On Eileen' was a huge, worldwide, hit in 1982. As well as reaching number one in the UK, the band was successful in the USA where the song was also number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland also loved it.

Dexy's continued the tribute theme with 'Jackie Wilson Said', written and originally recorded by Van Morrison, in 1982 and had a further top twenty UK hit in 1986 with 'Because of You'.

Answer: Hey There Delilah

By far the most successful single for the Plain White T's, 'Hey There Delilah' was written by the band's lead singer Tom Higgenson. He had met Delilah DiCrescenzo, an American runner, and wrote the song about her, although the two of them never actually dated. The lyrics describe him thinking of her while being far away.

The song was a great success, reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 2007 and hitting number two on the UK Singles Chart.

Answer: Sweet Caroline

Beloved by sports fans, 'Sweet Caroline' was written and sung by Neil Diamond. It was originally released as a single in 1969 and may have been inspired by Caroline Kennedy or Diamond's wife, who was actually named Marcia. Diamond himself has given both explanations, adding that Marcia didn't fit as he needed three syllables for the name.

It was a top ten hit around the world, although not reaching number one anywhere. In the USA it got to number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart. Many sports use the song to get the crowd engaged with ice hockey, American football, football (soccer0 and cricket among them.

Answer: My Sharona

'My Sharona' was The Knack's biggest hit and their first single, released in 1979. Written by lead singer Doug Fieger and guitarist Berton Averre the song, with a strong, driving beat, hit number one in Australia and Canada as well as in the band's home country of the USA and in the UK.

The song was inspired by Sharona Alperin, who became Fieger's long term partner and muse. The band was unable to repeat the success of their first song, but did release several albums. Fieger died in 2010 from cancer with Sharona being a regular visitor - both were married to other people but had maintained a friendship following their separation.

Answer: Annie's Song

John Denver wrote this song for his wife (at the time) in 1973. The title of 'Annie's Song' does not appear anywhere in the lyrics, so it is sometimes subtitled 'You Fill Up My Senses', another part of the lyrics.

The song was a huge hit for John, reaching number one in both the UK and USA as well as in Canada after it was released in 1974. It was a follow up to another number one - 'Sunshine on My Shoulders'. Denver's career came to a sad end when he died in an aircraft accident in 1997.

Answer: Dear Prudence

The Beatles had quite a few songs mentioning girls' names, but these lyrics come from 'Dear Prudence', a track on the band's 1968 album called 'The Beatles' but better known as the 'White Album'.

The song was written by John Lennon, although credited to Lennon and McCartney, as was usual for The Beatles. It was written during a trip to India when the band members were visiting Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Mia Farrow and her sister Prudence were also there, and Lennon took his inspiration from Prudence.

Answer: Pamela Pamela

Wayne Fontana, real name Glyn Geoffrey Ellis, was originally the lead singer with The Mindbenders, who had two UK hits with 'The Game of Love' (1965) and 'Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um' in 1964. He left the band to pursue a solo career and had a few minor hits in his own name.

'Pamela, Pamela' was the most successful single release, reaching number eleven on the UK Singles Chart in 1966. The song reminisces about a girl he knew during their schooldays and watching her grow into womanhood. It was written by Graham Gouldman, who went on to form the band 10cc.

Answer: Bernadette

This 1967 hit for the Four Tops was written by the prolific Motown team of Holland, Dozier, Holland who also provided the group with other hits such as 'I Can't Help Myself' and 'Reach Out I'll Be There'.

The lyrics of 'Bernadette' are about the singer's girlfriend who is so attractive that other men pretend to be his friend just to get close to her. It reached number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number eight on the UK Singles Chart.

Answer: Roxanne

'Roxanne' was the second single released by The Police, in 1978 although it only achieved chart success when it was reissued the following year. The group had achieved some success with 'So Lonely' and 'Can't Stand Losing You' although even the latter song had to be reissued before hitting the charts. Later hits included 'Message in a Bottle' and 'Don't Stand So Close to Me'.

The subject matter of 'Roxanne' probably didn't help, being about a prostitute who is encouraged to give up that way of life and stop putting on 'the red light' which attracts customers. Written by lead singer Sting, the name was inspired by a poster of the play 'Cyrano de Bergerac', who falls for a woman of the same name as in the song.