Crying and Sadness in Songs Trivia

1. This song from the Beatles sounds and feels like a fun sing-along song, but it has words like "Made sure he was dead." What's the song?

From Quiz Happy-Sounding Sad Songs

Answer: Maxwell's Silver Hammer

"Bang bang Maxwell's Silver Hammer lay down on his head. Bang bang Maxwell's silver hammer made sure he was dead." It feels good, it gets stuck in your head, and it's fin to sing along with. However, when you actually read the lyrics... maybe you don't feel so good anymore. The Beatles were known for this kind of song. The three wrong answers are other examples of it.

From Quiz The Crying Game

Answer: Dave Berry

Dave Berry with his band the Cruisers released "The Crying Game" in 1964. The record made number five on the UK pop chart and did little business elsewhere. With the release of the movie "The Crying Game" in 1994, the song was a hit again for Berry although a version recorded for the movie by Boy George was the best selling version. Chuck Berry was a pioneer rock 'N' Roller, Richard Berry was a singer and songwriter, famous for writing "Louie Louie" and Ken Berry was an actor, best known as Captain Parmenter in the TV series "F Troop".

From Quiz One for Sorrow

Answer: 'Wake Me Up When September Ends', Green Day

Green Day singer Billie Joe Armstrong revealed that 'Wake Me Up When September Ends' was a tribute to his dad. Samuel Bayer directed the music video, which represented the theme of loss. It showed a young man and woman falling in love and promising never to leave each other. The woman was then horrified when the man joined the United States Marine Corps and was shipped out to Iraq.

From Quiz The Beagles Have the Blues

Answer: Lou Gramm

The correct answer is Foreigner's Lou Gramm, who really grasped the concept of a love ballad with the great lyric, "Even if heaven and earth collide tonight, we'll be all alone in a different light". Personally, I see this as a deep, soulful song. Foreigner was a band that originated in the 1970's and had some great hits spanning throughout the 1980's. Of the incorrect answers, Paul Rodgers voiced Bad Company, David Coverdale was the singer of Whitesnake, and Jon Bon Jovi is the face of Bon Jovi. Question submitted by user TallKool1.

From Quiz Crying Time Again

Answer: Jackie Wilson

"Lonely Teardrops" was a lament about the singer's plea that his lady return to him post haste. Jackie Wilson's original version went to Number One on the Billboard R&B charts, and made it to Number 315 in Rolling Stone's compilation of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Michael Jackson recorded the song in 1986, and revealed that Jackie Wilson was one of his main influences. Such notables as Elvis Presley (who was a personal friend of Wilson) and Bruce Springsteen also named the great black singer as one of their inspirations.

From Quiz Still More Sentimental and Sad Songs

Answer: Only the Lonely

Roy Orbison and Joe Melson wrote the lyrics for "Only the Lonely (Know the Way I Feel)" which quickly became the very first major hit song for Mr. Orbison. The sad, sentimental and teary song reached number two on the United States Billboard pop music charts and also number fourteen on the Billboard Rhythm & Blues charts, both in 1960. Again in 1960, the song reached number two on the UK singles chart. "Only the Lonely" received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999 followed by Rolling Stone placing the song at number 232 on "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list in 2004. (contributed by funnytrivianna)

From Quiz More Sentimental and Sad Songs

Answer: Brenda Lee

Brenda Lee began singing at five and by the time she was ten was the family's breadwinner. Red Foley, when he first heard her at ten, said "I still get cold chills thinking about the first time I heard that voice. One foot started patting rhythm as though she was stomping out a prairie fire but not another muscle in that little body even as much as twitched. And when she did that trick of breaking her voice, it jarred me out of my trance enough to realize I'd forgotten to get off the stage". One of her early hits was "Dynamite" that earned her the name of 'Little Miss Dynamite". She became an international star and in 1960 at a concert in the UK a little known band called The Beatles was the opening act. "So Sorry" was her greatest pop hit but "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" sold five million copies and became a holiday classic.

From Quiz Songs With Tears in the Title

Answer: Johnny Rivers

In 1967 Johnny Rivers reached Number Ten on the US Billboard charts with his recording of "The Tracks of My Tears". Johnny had success with other cover songs including "Baby I Need Your Lovin'" (1967), "Maybellene" (1964), "Memphis" (1964) and "Midnight Special" (1965). His only sixties chart-topper was in 1966 with "Poor Side Of Town". Smokey Robinson, Marv Tarplin and Pete Moore wrote "The Tracks of My Tears" and The Miracles released it as a single from their 1965 "Going to a Go-Go" LP. The song made it to Number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the the group's fourth million seller. Linda Ronstadt released her Number 25 version as a single from her 1975 "Prisoner in Disguise" album. Aretha's 1969 version from her "Soul '69" album peaked at Number 76.

From Quiz It Must Be a Broken Heart

Answer: Phil Collins

Released in 1980, "In the Air Tonight" was written by Phil Collins about the bitter break-up between him and his ex-wife. The single marked the start of Collins' solo career, and has since become one of the classic pop singles of all time. Cadburys used the song for a chocolate advert, featuring a gorilla on a drum kit, playing Collins famous drum solo, from where the song builds up to the moment the drum solo starts.

From Quiz Colder Than The Grave

Answer: Fairport Convention

Fairport Convention has had many line-up changes but Nicol was the founding member and led the band well into the 21st century. The folk-rock sound and the male/female lead singers (Nicol and Sandy Denny [Denny died tragically in 1978 of a cerebral haemorrhage after falling down stairs]) drew unfair comparisons that they were a British Jefferson Airplane Act. Their name came from the house, named Fairport, where the band members met.

From Quiz Sad Sappy Songs - Part 1

Answer: Teen Angel

'Teen Angel' was released in 1959 and sung by Mark Dinning. The song was banned in the U.S. and the U.K. but eventually made it to number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. In case you don't remember, she went back to get his high school ring.

From Quiz Sing Me a Crying Song

Answer: The Four Seasons

"Big Girls Don't Cry" rose to number one in 1962 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard's Rhythm and Blues survey. The Four Seasons have been known as Frankie Valley & The Four Seasons since 1970. Their original name was the Four Lovers. In 1990 The Four Seasons were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 1999 into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. They have had such hits as "Sherry" "Walk Like a Man" and "Dawn (Go Away)".

From Quiz Tearjerker Tunes III - Sad '60s

Answer: In Dreams

Roy originally rejected use of the song in the film; Lynch found a legal way he could use it anyway... and did. Eventually Roy filmed a video using clips from the movie. The song is great but the movie is disturbing.

From Quiz Tearjerker Tunes II

Answer: 500 Miles Away From Home

Nice Top ten "cross-over" hit for country star Bobby in 1963. In 1958, due to a label error, Bobby's recording of the novelty song "The All American Boy" was credited to Bill Parsons (one of the song's co-writers). The song was a hit and reached Number Two on Billboard's Pop Charts.

From Quiz Tearjerker Tunes

Answer: a puppy

Long-time country music favorite, Ms. Parton "crossed over" with her 1977 LP "Here You Come Again". It reached number 20 on the Billboard Pop Charts. On the LP is the classic "Me and Little Andy", a tune about an abandoned little girl and her puppy. It's a tear-jerking masterpiece.

From Quiz I'm Sure That Guy Cried

Answer: Brad Paisley

"Whiskey Lullaby" was recorded by Brad Paisley, featuring Alison Krauss, for his album "Mud on the Tires"(2003). It was later released as a single, and made it as high as number three on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart. It also won a CMA (Country Music Association) award for Song of the Year, in 2005. Jon Randall, who co-wrote the song with Bill Anderson, also recorded the song for his own album "Walking Among the Living"(2005).

From Quiz Songs With Tears or Crying in the Title

Answer: New Edition

"Can You Stand the Rain?" was a song released by New Edition in 1989. In 1962 "Crying in the Rain" was one of the first hit songs released by The Everly Brothers after they switched from Cadence Records to Warner Brothers in 1960. The song made it to Number Six on the US Billboard charts. The song was composed by Howard Greenfield and Carole King before King was 21 years old. In 1990 A-ha also released a single of "Crying in the Rain". A-ha's version peaked at number 26 on the US Adult Contemporary charts, but made it to number 13 on the UK Singles Chart. In 1982 Whitesnake recorded another song by the same name on their album, "Saints & Sinners". Their single also reached number 13 on the British charts. Carol King recorded a version of the song on her 1983 "Speeding Time" LP.

From Quiz Who's Cryin' Now?

Answer: The Everly Brothers

The song was released in December 1961. Don and Phil had been singing since they were six and eight years of age, respectively, and made a whole clatter of popular late 50's/60's hits including the wonderful " All I have To Do Is Dream" (1958) and "Cathy's Clown" (1960). Like all the greats, their music still resonates today!

From Quiz Happy-Sounding Sad Songs

Answer: Pumped up Kicks

"You better run better run, outrun my gun, all the other kids with the pumped up kicks." You never get tired of singing that do you? However, when you notice the words "Outrun my gun" that might make you think "What!?" "Pumped up Kicks" was inspired by the Columbine school shooting. Cubbie Fink, who created the great bassline that in large part makes this song what it is, said in an interview with CNN that he has a cousin who is a survivor of the shooting. The issue touched him very deeply. Singer Mark Foster said in an interview with the Washington Post that he wanted to bring awareness to the issue of gun violence among kids that he believes, as the second verse in the song suggests, is a result of a lack of time spent with family. The song's title refers to shoes that popular kids from richer families wear to elevate their social status according to the Chicago Tribune. Some people think the song is about Westroads Mall Shooter Robert Hawkins due to the first line of the song ("Robert's Got a Quick Hand"). The band denied it in the Omaha World Herald and said that it's just a coincidence.

From Quiz The Crying Game

Answer: Johnny Cash

"Cry, Cry, Cry" was Johnny Cash's first charted single making its debut in September 1955. The song made number fourteen on the Billboard C & W chart, the chart performance of this records secured Johnny Cash a place on the Louisiana Hayride along with other Sun records stars like Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis. The song has been covered by many artists, Marty Stuart, Elvis Costello and Norah Jones to name a few.

From Quiz One for Sorrow

Answer: Mr Brightside

The song featured on The Killer's debut album and was released as a single in 2003. 'Mr Brightide' was then rereleased in 2004 with a new music video. It was set in a burlesque show where singer Brandon Flowers appeared to be jealous of a man and a woman. The lyrics explored the thoughts of someone who felt betrayed: 'Now they're going to bed and my stomach is sick, and it's all in my head.'

From Quiz The Beagles Have the Blues

Answer: Because the son doesn't have any time to spend with his father.

His only number one hit (1974), "Cat's in the Cradle" had many inspirations, including being about Chapin's greatest fear about the conflict between his growing time on the road as a musician, and spending time with his own son. Nominated for a Grammy in 1975, the song was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011. It's one of those songs that, as a kid, you know is sad. But it's only when you become a parent that you realize its full pathos. Question submitted by user coventry815.

From Quiz Still More Sentimental and Sad Songs

Answer: Always make me cry

Although her success was in the early 60s, she continued to record into the late 70s. She had success also with a string of duets with Don Gibson. The lyrics of "Sad Movies" (1961) describe an emotional experience in a movie theater when she sees her boy friend with another girl, her best friend. Upset, she goes home and her mother asks what is troubling her and she replies: "And mama saw the tears and said what's wrong? And so to keep from telling her a lie I just said sa-a-a-d movies make me cry Oh-oh-oh sa-a-a-d movies always make me cry Oh-oh-oh sa-a-a-d movies always make me cry" (Special thanks to RP7)

From Quiz Songs With Tears in the Title

Answer: Donna Summer

In addition to topping the charts with Barbra, Donna Summer also enjoyed Number One success in 1979 with "Bad Boys" and "Hot Stuff" and hit Number Two with "Dim All the Lights". "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" was the fourth Number One for each artist. Paul Jabara and Bruce Roberts composed "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)". Both Barbra and Donna included the song on individual albums. Additionally Streisand's label and Summer's label each released the song as a single. The song spent two weeks on top of the US Billboard charts. The duo never performed the song live together but each singer performed renditions in concert or on tour. Evelyn "Champagne" King hit the Top Forty in 1979 with "I Don't Know If It's Right". "Knock On Wood" by Amii Stewart and "Ring My Bell"by Anita Ward topped the charts the same year.

From Quiz Sad Songs II

Answer: You were late

The song "Misunderstanding" appeared on Genesis' 1980 album, "Duke." It was one of twelve songs on the album and reached the Top 20 in the U.S., along with the Top 50 in the U.K.

From Quiz Colder Than The Grave

Answer: Colder Than Winter

Vincent "Vince" Gill is an American country singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He has achieved mainstream success and fame both as frontman to the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s, and as a solo artist starting in 1983. He wrote "Colder than Winter" in 1992. His version has a distinctive country sound whereas Sarah Brightman's interpretation focuses on the purity of her voice with a muted orchestral backing.

From Quiz Sad Sappy Songs - Part 2

Answer: Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes' was a show tune from a 1933 musical. Nat King Cole covered the song in 1946 but the Platters version released in 1958 was probably the most popular. It was on top of the charts in the U.K. for five weeks, number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number three on R & B charts. This song has been covered by nearly 60 artists ranging from Jerry Garcia and Cher to Louis Armstrong and Tommy Dorsey.

From Quiz Sing Me a Crying Song

Answer: Julie London

The inclusion of the song "Cry Me a River" in the 1956 film "The Girl Can't Help It" made it a hit for the singer/actress Julie London and the song rose to number nine in the US and number 24 in the UK. The song also had chart successes when it was sung by Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Cocker and Michael Buble. Julie London was born in the US in 1926 and died in 2000. She appeared in numerous movies and TV shows.

From Quiz Tearjerker Tunes III - Sad '60s

Answer: mend it again

"Only Love Can Break A Heart" was Gene's highest charting record in the U.S. It reached Number Two in late 1962. With almost two dozen chart hits, Gene never had a Number One record. As a song-writer he topped the charts with "He's A Rebel" as recorded by the Crystals in 1962. In fact, that's the song that kept "Only Love..." out of the top spot.

From Quiz Tearjerker Tunes II

Answer: Waterloo Sunset

This Kinks' classic was originally called "Liverpool Sunset." It did chart in the U.K., reaching Number Two in mid '67. Some people many not find it sad... but friendless, alone, and watching the world from a window seems kind of sad to me.

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Last Updated Nov 16 2024 5:51 AM

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