The Music of "Good Morning, Vietnam!" Quiz

Answer: Nowhere To Run

"Nowhere To Run" was a troop favorite during the Vietnam War and since Cronauer has been brought in to provide a personal touch with the troops, one sees several scenes of off-duty troops smiling to this song in downtown Saigon.
"Nowhere To Run" by Martha and the Vandellas, peaked at number eight on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in 1965.
The correct answer does not involve the track by Freddie and the Dreamers as Cronauer plays their song too fast in order to instantly lighten the mood of the film.

Answer: I Get Around

The Beach Boys' "I Get Around" was a number 1 hit during the summer of 1964 and is yet another cheerful tune that Cronauer plays to lighten the somber mood of the military. Cronauer's success in boosting morale is evidenced in the movie not only by the other DJs dancing to the song, but also by troops bopping along to the music from Saigon to the DMZ.

Answer: Lawrence Welk

Lt. Steven Hauk, played by Bruno Kirby, strictly follows all Army policies in order to gain the respect of his subordinates. Lawrence Welk would seem to be a good musical choice, since he is one of the finest examples of easy listening music, but instead the DJs sarcastically mock Hauk's choice due to its morale lowering qualities...something which is foreign to Adrian Cronauer.

Answer: Ray Conniff

Conniff's music is meant to contrast with Adrian's rebellious musical choices and, as such, is played over a scene of monotonous Vietnamese traffic, rather than the happy soldiers seen during Cronauer's music. Ray Conniff, like Lawrence Welk, is another easy listening standard bearer of the '50s and '60s.

Answer: Sugar and Spice

The scene showing the sunbathing soldiers is meant to convey just how popular Cronauer is becoming with the troops. However, because Adrian continues to play unconventional music choices, he becomes less popular with Lt. Hauk, who has him removed from the air due to insubordination.
"Sugar and Spice" is a song that topped out at number 44 in the 1963 American charts.

Answer: polkas

Lt. Hauk's choice to play the polka, which comes from the Czech word "pulka" meaning half-rhythm, promptly results in the mail room being flooded with letters from angry soldiers requesting that the more exciting Cronauer be reinstated. As the commanding general likes Cronauer's wild style as well, the troops get their wish and Adrian is returned to the air much to the chagrin of Lt. Hauk.

Answer: What A Wonderful World

Louis Armstrong, whose nickname Satchmo came from his unique satchel-mouthed embouchure, saw this song as a reminder of the good in the world. This is why Cronauer plays the song for the troops: to remind them that there is still good in the world, even though everything seems to be unraveling as the Vietnam War starts to escalate.

Answer: Mick Jagger

Adrian Cronauer does not realize how popular he is with the troops until after he meets a convoy of troops who know all of the lines from his radio show. Cronauer makes their day by doing an impromptu stand-up routine, including this joke, which subsequently makes Cronauer understand that his show truly makes a difference on the front lines, despite what the staid Lt. Hauk may think.

Answer: Beach Blanket Bingo

"Beach Blanket Bingo" is one in a series of beach party films that Avalon and Funicello made together. The beach party films, much like easy listening music, were meant to expose American troops and the native Vietnamese to "wholesome" American culture.

However, as one sees in "Good Morning, Vietnam!" such beach party films are not very entertaining. Several family members of Adrian's love interest have blank looks on their faces.

Answer: California Sun

"California Sun" was a huge hit in the summer of 1964, but the band that sings this song, The Rivieras, were not from California but South Bend, Indiana!
It is very apropos that this song is heard during the baseball game as it is a cheerful song that sums up the power that upbeat music can have over the mood of people: such is the moral of "Good Morning, Vietnam!"