It's Elementary, My Dear Watson Quiz

Answer: Water Music

Händel's "Water music" was written at a request by the then British King George I, who wanted some orchestral music to listen on the river Thames. It premiered on the 17 July 1717. The king and some friends listened to it on a royal barge and he was very much amused, together with some onlookers on other boats and on the shores. Today you just use your iPod.

Answer: Reflets dans l'eau

"Reflections in the Water" is a piano piece written in 1905. Debussy is better known for "Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune" some years later. It is a slow song, just for watching reflections on the water, but not for energetic rowing or swimming.

Answer: Cool water

This song was written in 1936 by Bob Nolan. A man travels through a dry environment and longs for cool, fresh water. A lot of people performed it; Vaughn Monroe and The Sons of the Pioneers in 1948 had the most success. The best version in my opinion was done by Lubbock Lou and his Jughuggers in the Gene Kelly episode of "The Muppet Show".

Answer: Ice in the Sun

"Ice in the Sun" was the second hit single by Status Quo, released in 1968. It has a notable psychedelic touch and was written by Marty Wilde and Ronny Scott. It is not to be confused with "Like Ice in the Sunshine" which was formerly a jingle for a certain ice cream brand, usually played in German cinemas just before the ice cream seller came.

The first single was released in 1985 by Beagle Music Ltd; among others, Anastacia did the same in later years.

Answer: Bridge over Troubled Water

This was the last album by Simon and Garfunkel, released in 1970, recorded in 1969. It was also on the market as a single and even though the album and single were very successful, the duo split later in 1970. Seemed that instead of "All your dreams are on their way" both men were on their separate ways, too.

Answer: Madman Across the Water

This was the fourth Elton John studio album and a song of the same name. It was released in 1971. The best known song of this album is "Tiny Dancer". The lyrics of "Madman Across the Water" were by Bernie Taupin, as usual with Elton John songs. Taupin sturdily denied that the madman was identical with Richard Nixon, then US President.

Answer: Smoke on the Water

On 4 December 1971, British band Deep Purple was recording an album in Montreux, Switzerland. Frank Zappa and his band, the Mothers of Invention, were also there and gave a concert in the Montreux Casino. And "some stupid with a flare gun" set fire to this casino. Thankfully, no one received major injuries. Deep Purple watched how the smoke from the burning building drifted over Lake Geneva.

A song about this experience became part of the freshly made album "Machine Head" and also their best known hit.

Answer: Hot Water

This Level 42 song was heard as a single weeks before the album "True Colours" hit the shops. As being in hot water means being in trouble or disgrace, they didn't have to fear this. Considering it was their second UK top 20 hit, from - if I did count right - then 13 singles, they could buy a lot of tea to use with the hot water.

Answer: Steam

The first time you could hear Peter Gabriel's "Steam" was on the 1992 album "Us". It was the second single after "Digging in the Dirt" and released in January 1993. It blew Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" away from the top of the US charts. The video was directed by Stephen R. Johnson, unmissable, the same one who made "Sledgehammer".

Answer: Water Under the Bridge

The song, written by Adele herself and by Greg Kurstin. It was first released on the album "25" in 2015 and as a single in 2016. It reflects her relationship with her then boyfriend, whom she married in 2018. The song reached number one in Israel and a good place at two in Canada.