Most Popular UK No 1 Singles: 31 - 40 Quiz | Music

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. At number 40 in the chart of most popular UK number ones, who sang "You Really Got Me" in 1964?

Answer: The Kinks

"You Really Got Me" was the third single released by The Kinks and their first hit in the US.

It rates high in polls of the best guitar songs and is cited by many heavy metal/ hard rock artists as a major influence. There are rumours that the guitar solo was played by Jimmy Page, then a session musician but later a member of The Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin. This has been refuted by Page himself, who credits it to Kinks member Dave Davies.

2. At 39 on the list, which Elvis Presley single originally released in 1968 was remixed in 2002 and was a summer number one?

Answer: A Little Less Conversation

"A Little Less Conversation" was remixed by JXL in 2002 for a Nike advertising campaign that coincided with the football World Cup.

The remix reached number one in over 20 countries. The original version was only a moderate success (certainly by Elvis's standards).

In the UK it gave us some respite from the domination of the singles charts by Pop Idol finalists Will Young and Gareth Gates.

3. At 38 in the chart is the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest winner. Which song began the worldwide success of a certain palindromic Scandinavian group?

Answer: Waterloo

Abba won the 1974 European Song Contest on April 6 1974 with "Waterloo". It was the first of nine UK number ones for the group (as of summer 2009). It also reached the US and Australian top 10.

In 2005 "Waterloo" was chosen as the best song in Eurovision Song Contest history.

"Ding-a-Dong" won the contest in 1975 for Teach-In (Netherlands) and "Save Your Kisses For Me" won in 1976 for Brotherhood Of Man (UK).

4. In 37th position in the chart is "Mr Tambourine Man" by The Byrds. Who wrote this 1965 UK number one?

Answer: Bob Dylan

"Mr Tambourine Man" is one of only three songs to feature in two different versions in Rolling Stone's list of 500 Greatest Guitar Songs Of All Time (2003). The Byrds version was at number 79 whilst Bob Dylan was at 106.

The Byrds' version reached number one in the singles charts in both UK and US.

5. At 36 on the list, which Queen single taken from an album with the same name includes the lyrics: "While the sun hangs in the sky and the desert has sand. While the waves crash in the sea and meet the land. While there's a wind and the stars and the rainbow. Till the mountains crumble into the plain."?

Answer: Innuendo

"Innuendo" reached number one in the UK in 1991 and was from the Queen album of the same name.

At well over six minutes playing time it is one of Queen's longest songs.

6. At 35th place on the list, which Kylie Minogue dance single placed Kylie firmly back at the top of the charts after a relatively quiet decade? (Hint: In the video Kylie wears an iconic white hooded costume)

Answer: Can't Get You Out Of My Head

"Can't Get You Out Of My Head" went platinum in a number of countries including Australia and the UK.

"Can't Get You Out Of My Head" was written by Cathy Dennis and Rob Davis, who won an Ivor Novello award for it as the most performed record of the year. Cathy Dennis has written many hit singles including "Toxic" (Britney Spears) and "I Kissed A Girl" (Katy Perry). Rob Davis used to be a member of the 1970s band Mud and is now a successful song writer.

7. At 34 on the chart, which debut single released in 1983 was initially banned by the BBC following DJ Mike Read's announcement that he would not play it due to its suggestive lyrics and record sleeve?

Answer: "Relax" by Frankie Goes To Hollywood

"Relax" was the debut single by Liverpool band Frankie Goes To Hollywood. The record was initially played on Radio 1 and the band performed the single on the BBC television programme "Top Of The Pops". Then Mike Read looked at the record sleeve and read the lyrics and deemed it to be "disgusting".

"Relax" was released in autumn 1983 but did not chart until the following year. Once it had been banned, the single raced up the charts and was number one for five weeks. This caused the BBC some embarrassment, particularly during the chart rundown on "Top Of The Pops".

The single remained in the chart for 42 weeks and in the summer of 1984 bounced back up to number two position, just behind Frankie's follow-up single "Two Tribes". It is one of the best selling UK singles of all time.

By the end of 1984, the BBC had lifted the ban and the song did appear on the end of year "Top Of The Pops" show.

8. In 33rd position on the chart, which 1965 Beatles single was number one for three weeks in both the UK and US and is also the title of a Beatles album and film?

Answer: Help!

"Help!" was written mainly by John Lennon. It expresses his anxieties following the sudden huge success The Beatles had achieved. It was one of John's favourite Beatles' songs.

"Help!" was covered by French & Saunders, Kathy Burke and Bananarama as the 1989 Comic Relief official single and reached number three in the UK.

9. At 32nd in the chart, which Beatles single starts with an iconic opening chord and has a title inspired by a 'Ringo-ism'?

Answer: A Hard Days Night

Much has been written about the opening guitar and piano chord to "A Hard Days Night". There aren't many records that are instantly identifiable from the first chord but this is one of them.

"A Hard Days Night" was written for The Beatles' first feature film in 1964. The title was inspired by Ringo Starr, who had a habit of saying things slightly wrong or differently.

Peter Sellers recorded a comedy version of "A Hard Days Night" a la Laurence Olivier's performance as Richard III which made the charts in 1965.

10. At number 31 on the list, which Boomtown Rats single, inspired by a real event, included the lyrics: "And all the playing's stopped in the playground now. She wants to play with the toys a while. And school's out early and soon we'll be learning And the lesson today is how to die"?

Answer: I Don't Like Mondays

Bob Geldof, lead singer with the Boomtown Rats, wrote "I Don't Like Mondays" whilst on tour in America, after seeing a telex report about a 16 year old girl's shooting spree in San Diego.

For those of us of a certain age, the song later had great significance when the Boomtown Rats took to the stage at Live Aid in 1985. The image of 'Sir Bob' (as he later became) with arm aloft singing the line "the lesson today is how to die" is burnt in my memory.

The song will forever be linked in my mind to Live Aid and the Ethiopian famine, as will "Drive" by The Cars.

"I Don't Like Mondays" was the Boomtown Rats' second number one in the UK.

Source: Author Helmar

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Most Popular UK No 1 Singles: 31 - 40 Quiz

To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the UK singles chart, in 2002 people were asked to vote for their favourite UK Number One of all time. This is one of a series of quizzes based on the resulting Top 100.

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