Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. It was 1959, and dating was all about "the kiss." The question on every boy's mind was "when she would", and the question on every girl's mind was "if she should". Oh, we knew there was a sordid side to dating. There was something called "second base" and rumors of bases even beyond that. But Paul Anka sang to us about the down to earth matter of the kiss. In his song "Put Your Head On My Shoulder", after asking his girl to put her head on his shoulder, what does Paul Anka ask for next? (50s remember!)
2. For those of you not yet familiar with it, the Insipid Song Lovers Association is dedicated to honoring predictable, unpretentious and undemanding songs. ISLA prefers the familiar, the tested - which is to say, we prefer the clichéd. "Put Your Head On My Shoulder" does not contain a single line without a cliché! Once the songwriter has his girl's arms around him, what does he ask her to do? (Don't go too fast now.)
3. The Insipid Song Lovers Association maintains that originality is incompatible with the truly insipid song. As you will see, no original thoughts, wording or concepts mar "Put Your Head On My Shoulder". Before Paul Anka attempts to move nearer to kissing this girl, he establishes that he is not interested only in the physical. In one short statement he confesses his own love and asks the girl to demonstrate hers.
4. The songwriter of the 50s had to master the economical use of words. Top 40 songs of the 50s typically lasted 2 1/2 minutes, and there was often an instrumental interlude. The individual words also needed to be held, when possible, to single syllables. With that in mind, with what line does Paul Anka bring their lips close together in "Put Your Head On My Shoulder"?
5. The songwriter has made notable progress in a little more than one verse. She put her head on his shoulder, held him, squeezed him and now she has placed her lips next to his. He has admonished her to "show" her love. In the next line of "Put My Head On Your Shoulder" Paul Anka asks for the most innocuous and best deserved sort of kiss. What did he ask for?
6. "Put Your Head On My Shoulder" leaves us in the dark as to whether the songwriter succeeded in his quest for the kiss. The lyrics imply, however, that he did not. After commenting "maybe you and I will fall in love", the songwriter treats us to a dazzling display of clichés in the bridge. See if you can fill in the blanks. People say that love's a _______. What is love in this line?
7. "Put Your Head On My Shoulder" continues to hint that the songwriter was less than successful in his quest for the kiss. Can you fill in the blank in the next line. "A game you just can't ____."
8. In "Put Your Head On My Shoulder", Paul Anka seems to have admitted defeat in the game of love. What can this mean but no kiss? He goes on to commit himself to continuing his pursuit. "If there's a way,
I'll find it someday," he promises. What is the missing word in the next line, "And then this _________ will rush in."
9. Unlike many songs of its day, "Put Your Head On My Shoulder" has a second verse after the bridge rather than a repetition of the first. Now it is true that there are striking parallels with the first verse, and those less understanding than ISLA might point out that only a few words were changed. But may I point out that there weren't many words TO change? More importantly, in the second verse Paul scales down his demands to a request that she whisper in his ear. What does Paul ask her to whisper?
10. The Insipid Song Lovers Association experienced explosive growth after my first quiz, its membership increasing a staggering 600% from just me to six people. Yet there is still room on the ground floor of this movement. Ask me to sign you up now. "Put Your Head On My Shoulder" (which must be mentioned in every question so that the question can stand alone) reached what number on the Billboard top 40 list?
Source: Author
uglybird
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor
Dalgleish before going online.
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