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The Timing Is 'All Wrong' Trivia Quiz

Time signatures of 4/4 or 3/4 dominate pop songs in the western world. But others are part or wholly written in 'odd' time signatures. A quiz on songs that became very popular despite the timing being 'all wrong'. Period 1961-1982.

A multiple-choice quiz by casey317. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
casey317

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
337,696

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
469

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. This tune was released as a single in 1961 following the success of the 'Time Out' album by The Dave Brubeck Quartet. It is played entirely in 5/4 time and is entitled? Hint

Pick up Sticks

Three to get Ready

Kathy's Waltz

Take Five

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Question 2 of 10

2. On The Beatles 'Revolver' album there is only one song title starting with the letter S. Although mainly in 4/4 it has 9 bars of 3/4 in the bridge. Pick this favourite track of mine from this list of Beatles songs. Hint

She Loves You

Sexy Sadie

She Said She Said

Something

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Question 3 of 10

3. Few well known songs start off with the ringing of a cash register then continue with a bass riff in 7/4 time, but this one, written by Roger Waters, did. Hint

'Money's too Tight (to Mention)'- Simply Red

'Money' - Pink Floyd

'Money Money Money' - ABBA

'Money Honey' - Elvis Presley

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Question 4 of 10

4. 'A Night at the Opera' was the album, 'Queen' the band. My favourite track from it has at times the feel of an operatic piece. Though primarily in 4/4 time it has some 5/4 and 2/4 bars with several key and tempo changes. What song could I be referring to? Hint

Bohemian Rhapsody

You're my Best Friend

God Save the Queen

Love of my Life

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Question 5 of 10

5. 'Jesus Christ Superstar' was an enormously popular stage production world-wide. It is full of music with 'odd' time signatures. In 1971 Yvonne Elliman, a singer on the original cast album, released a single from the show which made 'Billboard' top 100. Written in 5/4 time, which of these was it? Hint

Gethsemane

Pilate's Dream

Could We Start Again Please?

Everything's Alright

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Question 6 of 10

6. In 1975 the Bee Gees had a hit with a song that is in 4/4 except for an instrumental break of eight bars that alternates from 3 to 4 beat bars. Another clue? The lyric line over the last four bars of this break starts 'do be lu bu loop do be lu bu loop'. Hint

New York Mining Disaster

How Deep Is Your Love

How Can You Mend a Broken Heart

Jive Talkin'

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Question 7 of 10

7. Cat Stevens 1971 album 'Teaser and the Firecat' was hugely popular. One song from this album is in 7/4 and partly sung in Greek. Which of these is it? Hint

Morning Has Broken

Moonshadow

Peace Train

Rubylove

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Question 8 of 10

8. In 1964 Dionne Warwick had her first top ten USA hit with a Burt Bacharach/Hal David song. I'd like you to guess the name of this very slow tune that contains bars of 4/4, 5/4, 5/8, 7/8, 9/8 or 12/8 depending on who transposes it. Hint

Do You Know the Way to San Jose

Walk On By

A House Is Not a Home

Anyone Who Had a Heart

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Question 9 of 10

9. A television series theme made the billboard top 100 in the late 1960s. An instrumental, it is composed in 5/4 time so meets my criteria. In 1996 a film starring Tom Cruise and based on the TV series was released. Which is it? Hint

Batman

Andy Griffith Show

Mission Impossible

Avengers

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Question 10 of 10

10. When you have a section of a song with two consecutive groups of 14 beats you know that the time signature will be a little odd. Such is the case for a Cliff Richard song released in 1981 that made the top 100 in both the U.K. and the USA. Hint

Wired For Sound

Move It

Dynamite

Some People

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This tune was released as a single in 1961 following the success of the 'Time Out' album by The Dave Brubeck Quartet. It is played entirely in 5/4 time and is entitled?

Answer: Take Five

It's not that often that a jazz tune becomes as popular as 'Take Five'. In 1961 it was listed at 95 in the American top 100 tunes for that year. Other instrumentals to make the 1961 list included 'Wheels', 'Exodus' & a Lawrence Welk version of 'Calcutta'. Quite an eclectic mix.

Answer: She Said She Said

Starts in 4/4 then when you get to the passage 'No no no you're wrong. When I was a boy' etc., suddenly you're counting three beats to the bar. The Beatles often played with unusual times in their songs, 'All you Need Is Love' being one that starts with a 4/4, 3/4, 4/4, 3/4 sequence.

3. Few well known songs start off with the ringing of a cash register then continue with a bass riff in 7/4 time, but this one, written by Roger Waters, did.

Answer: 'Money' - Pink Floyd

'Money' is from Pink Floyd's hugely popular 'Dark Side of the Moon' album released in March 1973. Played mainly in 7/4, with a 4/4 guitar solo. David Gilmour's guitar solo is rated in a 2008 'Guitar World' reader's poll as one of 'The greatest 100 guitar solos'.

Answer: Bohemian Rhapsody

'Bohemian Rhapsody' was released as a single in 1975 and in the U.K. reached number one on the charts. Following Freddy Mercury's passing in November 1991 the same recording again became a U.K. number one. I did an 'Advanced Google' search on 'Bohemian Rhapsody meaning' to get 9750 results. The lyrics have undergone a lot of analysis!

Answer: Everything's Alright

How well the lyric line fits into the 5/4 signature. Prior to 'Everything's Alright' Yvonne had chart success with 'I Don't Know How to Love Him', also from 'Jesus Christ Superstar'.

Answer: Jive Talkin'

'Jive Talkin' is apparently a phrase used when you think someone is talking 'rubbish' or 'poppycock'. To transcribe the music I would have written it as four bars of 7/4. Same outcome, quicker to write, but then I think those that transcribe songs get paid by the bar. (Joke.)

7. Cat Stevens 1971 album 'Teaser and the Firecat' was hugely popular. One song from this album is in 7/4 and partly sung in Greek. Which of these is it?

Answer: Rubylove

7/4 time is not that unusual in Greek music. No doubt Cat's Greek heritage had an immense influence on this composition. While the other song choices for this question may be more popular than the answer, 'Rubylove' is my particular favourite.

Answer: Anyone Who Had a Heart

This song takes the cake for multiple time signatures and yet made the charts in many countries. I once had an exact transcription of Dionne's version, now lost, but I still recall how complex it looked on paper. During my research I found out Dionne's family name is actually 'Warrick' but a record label error showed 'Warwick' which she then adopted.

Answer: Mission Impossible

Written by Lalo Schifrin for the very popular TV series of the same name. While the other choices were also extremely popular they are all written in 4/4 time. Another contender I considered is the original theme from the long-running British TV series 'The Bill', which could be 7/4 time or one bar of 3 then one of 4, but I don't know if it ever made 'the charts' anywhere.

But I am sure many English speaking people could hum along with it.

Answer: Wired For Sound

'Wired for Sound' has a section with the lyrics 'Power from the needle to the plastic' covering 14 beats. This can be interpreted as 3 bars of 3/4 then a 5/4 bar which certainly fits it into my 'wrong time' category. Like most of my selections you will get an argument as to how it should be written and I have seen one suggestion that it is two bars of 7/4, it could even be 6/4, 6/4, 2/4.

They all add to 14 beats, depends on where you hear the accents.

Source: Author casey317

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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