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Ska Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
Ska Quizzes, Trivia

Ska Trivia

Ska Trivia Quizzes

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4 Ska quizzes and 40 Ska trivia questions.
1.
  Name That Ska Band    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a pretty basic quiz. I'll name a song and an obscure trivia fact or two. You name the band.
Tough, 10 Qns, myrab51, Mar 19 17
Tough
myrab51
657 plays
2.
  Ska Revival: British Ska Late 70s-Early 80s    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
In the late '70s, a couple of British bands began using the sound of original (Jamaican) ska, using influences from punk and new wave. My first quiz and one of my first musical loves.
Tough, 10 Qns, maan22, Jul 19 06
Tough
maan22
599 plays
3.
  Ska Wars    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a quiz about Ska music of the '60s and '70s. Some of the songs will be familiar but can you name the original artist.
Tough, 10 Qns, craig1jack, May 12 10
Tough
craig1jack
200 plays
4.
  Best Of British Ska    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Great songs from great bands. Do you remember them?
Average, 10 Qns, Vermic, Mar 19 20
Average
Vermic
Mar 19 20
1543 plays
trivia question Quick Question
Who had a hit with "Mirror In The Bathroom"? (Name they were known by in the US)

From Quiz "Best Of British Ska"





Ska Trivia Questions
1. Boney M had a massive hit with 'Rivers of Babylon' in 1978, but which artists released it in 1972?

From Quiz Ska Wars

Answer: The Melodians

It was written by Brent Dowe and Trevor McNaughton of The Melodians. It has become a reggae anthem. Boney M released it in 1978 and it went triple platinum in the UK.

2. This New Jersey based ska band has called Nirvana, Squirrel Nut Zippers, and the "Stand By Me" soundtrack some of their biggest influences. They do the song "Moment of Silence". Who are they?

From Quiz Name That Ska Band

Answer: Streetlight Manifesto

If Catch 22 threw you a little off, it might be because some of their members founded Streetlight. In 2005, after having their equipment stolen after shows twice, they actually had a tour named, "Please Stop Robbing Us Tour".

3. 'Ranking Full Stop' was the name of an early single by the (English) Beat. Who or what was Ranking actually?

From Quiz Ska Revival: British Ska Late 70s-Early 80s

Answer: Ranking Roger was the singer of the band

Ranking Rogers' real name is Roger Charlery, born in 1961 in Birmingham, UK.

4. Who had a hit with - One Step Beyond?

From Quiz Best Of British Ska

Answer: Madness

5. The B-side of 'Rivers of Babylon' by Boney M was the the nursery rhyme 'Brown Girl in the Ring'. Which artist had the reggae version of it on his 1972 album 'Reincarnation'?

From Quiz Ska Wars

Answer: Exuma

Exuma claimed Boney M re recorded the track without permission, the lawsuit was going on for over twenty years.

6. This ska band's original lineup included their high school band director on the trombone. They do the song "Wine Stained Lips". Who are they?

From Quiz Name That Ska Band

Answer: Catch 22

"All for the taste of wine stained lips, 200 miles just to get my fix." It's from the "Dinosaur Sounds" album.

7. 'You're working at your leisure to learn the things you'll need', the Specials sing on this 1980 single. Which one?

From Quiz Ska Revival: British Ska Late 70s-Early 80s

Answer: Rat Race

'Rat Race' was only released as a single, although the American version of 'More Specials' had it as an extra song.

8. Who had a hit with - (Free) Nelson Mandela?

From Quiz Best Of British Ska

Answer: The Special A.K.A. Band

9. British Ska group The Specials had a version of the Ska classic 'Monkey Man', but who had the original?

From Quiz Ska Wars

Answer: The Maytals

It was released in 1969 and has been covered many times even by The Wiggles featuring Kylie Minogue as the Pink Wiggle.

10. This band has covered The Cure, Lita Ford, A-Ha, and Social Distortion. The song "She Has a Girlfriend Now" is an original though. Who is the band?

From Quiz Name That Ska Band

Answer: Reel Big Fish

This is one of their trademark songs. Some others are "Sell Out", "Beer", "Good Thing" and "Everything Sucks".

11. 'The Prince' was an early single by Madness. Which Prince were they referring to?

From Quiz Ska Revival: British Ska Late 70s-Early 80s

Answer: Prince Buster

Prince Buster, a Jamaican ska singer and producer, also provided Madness with their name, as covered on the first album 'One Step Beyond'.

12. Who had a hit with "Mirror In The Bathroom"? (Name they were known by in the US)

From Quiz Best Of British Ska

Answer: The English Beat

This band was known as The British Beat in Australia, and as The Beat in the UK.

13. Who had a hit with 'Love of the Common People' in 1970?

From Quiz Ska Wars

Answer: Nicky Thomas

It reached number nine in the UK charts in 1970. Paul Young had a big hit with it in 1982, where it reached number two in the UK charts.

14. This band featured the song "Dos Mefinatly" on their "Summer Heat in Texas" album. Who is the ska band?

From Quiz Name That Ska Band

Answer: The Card Sharks

The Card Sharks got their start in Detroit. Their members are Johnny No-socks, Sloppy Joe, Nate Pork, Jeffy R, Turbo Red, and Big Al.

15. The Prodigy covered a Specials song for a compilation album in 2003. Which song?

From Quiz Ska Revival: British Ska Late 70s-Early 80s

Answer: Ghost Town

'Ghost Town' had as a topic race-related violence and unemployment that exploded in England in 1981. It still reached number 1, and defined that era perfectly.

16. Who had a hit with - Elvis Should Play Ska?

From Quiz Best Of British Ska

Answer: The Graduate

17. Who had a hit with 'Elizabethan Reggae' in 1970?

From Quiz Ska Wars

Answer: Boris Gardiner

This was a solo hit for Boris Gardiner in 1970. Some sixteen years later he had a surprise UK number one with 'I Wanna Wake Up With You'.

18. The drummer for this band owns Wünderland War Toy Company. They do the song "History of a Boring Town". Who are they?

From Quiz Name That Ska Band

Answer: Less Than Jake

The band is known for their sense of humor and a fixation with Pez candy. They are from Florida too. Hometown boys!

19. When the Specials broke up, one part became 'the Special AKA'. Three other members went on to form which band?

From Quiz Ska Revival: British Ska Late 70s-Early 80s

Answer: Fun Boy Three

Fine Young Cannibals and General Public were the remnants of the (English) Beat.

20. Who had a hit with - On my radio?

From Quiz Best Of British Ska

Answer: The Selecter

21. What Group had a hit with 'Black and White' in 1971?

From Quiz Ska Wars

Answer: Greyhound

Though a hit for Three Dog Night in 1972 in the US. Greyhound did a reggae version of it in 1971 and it was a top ten hit in the UK.

22. This band made appearances on TV shows "King of the Hill" and "Dawson's Creek." Their song is "Spiderwebs". Who is the band?

From Quiz Name That Ska Band

Answer: No Doubt

This was before Gwen Stefani decided to go Hip-Hop off on her own.

23. 'That's the way to do it' aka 'Odd Job Man' was the B-side of a 1980 Madness single. Which one?

From Quiz Ska Revival: British Ska Late 70s-Early 80s

Answer: The Return Of The Los Palmas 7

'The Return Of The Los Palmas 7' was an instrumental song, still reaching number 7 in the UK Hitparade in September 1980.

24. Who had a hit with - A Message To You, Rudy?

From Quiz Best Of British Ska

Answer: The Specials

25. Who had a hit with 'Montego Bay' in 1970?

From Quiz Ska Wars

Answer: Bobby Bloom

This was a hit both sides of the Atlantic. It reached number three in the UK and number eight in the US Billboard charts.

26. This band takes its name from a series of American nuclear testing. They have a well known logo tagged "The Dancing Ska Man". The song is "Unity". Who are they?

From Quiz Name That Ska Band

Answer: Operation Ivy

Tim Armstrong was still known by the nickname "Lint" during the time this song was made.

27. Which band is the odd one out?

From Quiz Ska Revival: British Ska Late 70s-Early 80s

Answer: Bad Manners

Bad Manners was never on the 2-Tone record label, but the other three were.

28. Who had a hit with - Hands Off... She's Mine?

From Quiz Best Of British Ska

Answer: The Beat

29. Who had a smash hit in 1975 with the song 'Barbados'?

From Quiz Ska Wars

Answer: Typically Tropical

This group wasn't from the roots of reggae, they were actually from the UK. They were Geraint Wyn Hughes and Jeffrey Calvert. It was a massive hit in the UK and was covered by The Vengaboys in 1999, with the title 'We're Going to Ibiza'.

30. This band's motto was "Be the music, not the scene." They did the song "All We Wanna Be". Who is this band?

From Quiz Name That Ska Band

Answer: Long Shot Hero

They called the band quits in July of 2006. Irons stated in his personal journal that he quit because the band was "turning into a business," rather then a music and fan driven band as it started out to be.

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