Simply Stellar Songs Trivia Quiz

Answer: Over the Rainbow

"Over the Rainbow" (often referred to as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow") with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg won Best Song in 1939. During WWII, along with "White Christmas", it was adopted by American troops in Europe as a symbol of the United States! The United States Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp recognizing lyrics of Harburg in April of 2005.

Answer: The Way We Were

Written by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman (lyrics) and Marvin Hamlisch (music) "The Way We Were" has been covered by Andy Williams, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Donna Summer, and Barry Manilow, to name a few. The song was certified Gold and Platinum.

Answer: Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah

"Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" is from the Disney 1946 movie "Song of the South". The music was written by Allie Wrubel and lyrics by Ray Gilbert. The lyrics "Mr. Buebird on my shoulder. It's the truth. It's actual. Everything is satisifactual" are repeated throughout the song.

It was the second in a long line of Disney songs to win an Oscar and was part of an opening theme medley for "The Wonderful World of Disney".

Answer: Doris Day

"Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)" was performed by Doris Day in "The Man Who Knew Too Much" and was written by the Jay Livingston and Ray Evans. It was also featured in the films "Please Don't Eat the Daisies" and "The Glass Bottom Boat", which also starred Day. It became her signature song and was the theme song to her sitcom "The Doris Day Show".

Answer: When You Wish Upon a Star

The original version was sung by Cliff Edwards as the character Jiminy Cricket for Walt Disney's 1940 adaptation of "Pinocchio". It was heard over the opening credits and in the final scene of the film. Written by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington, it won Best Song in 1940.

Answer: False

"Moon River" from "Breakfast at Tiffany's" was performed by Andy Williams at the 1961 Oscars. Although it became his theme song, ironically the song never charted because the record company thought it had little or no appeal to teenagers.

Answer: The Days of Wine and Roses

"The Days of Wine and Roses" from the film of the same name won in 1962. It may be brief but the lyrics and melody are beautiful. The phrase "days of wine and roses" was from the poem "Vitae Summa Brevis" by Ernest Dowson.

The lyrics are:
"The days of wine and roses smile and run away like a child at play through a meadow land toward a closing door, a door marked 'Nevermore' that wasn't there before.

The lonely night discloses just a passing breeze filled with memories of the golden smile that introduced me to the days of wine and roses and you.

(REFRAIN) The lonely night discloses just a passing breeze filled with memories of the golden laugh that introduced me to the days of wine and roses and you."

Answer: Moon River

In "Breakfast at Tiffany's" the instrumental version is played over the film's opening. The lyrics are first heard in the scene where Paul Varjak (George Peppard) discovers Holly Golightly (Hepburn) singing them and strumming her guitar on the fire escape of their building.

There was talk of dubbing Hepburn's voice but director Blake Edwards decided that Hepburn's own plain, unpretentious rendition fit the character better.

Answer: Thanks for the Memory

"Thanks for the Memory" was composed by Ralph Rainger and lyrics by Leo Robin for the film "The Big Broadcast of 1938" and won Best Song 1938. It was sung by Hope and Shirley Ross. As Hope's signature song there have been different adaptions of the lyrics, especially when he entertained the troops in the USO shows. Thanks for the memories, Bob!

Answer: False

Definitely not! In February of 2014 Bruce Broughton, a composer and former Academy Governor e-mailed voters and asked them to vote for his song "Alone Yet Not Alone". The song was disqualified because of improper campaigning. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is quite clear in their regulations. A complete list can be found on their website.