The Sounds of Shaun Quiz | Movies

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The film opens with a song that sets the tone well, though it's not about zombies! Which of these monster-based songs kicks off the film?

Answer: "Ghost Town" by The Specials

It plays over the film production company logos and when Shaun and Liz are discussing their relationship in the Winchester.

The song was written at a time of major social unrest in Britain and was written to evoke a feeling of impending doom. It was awarded 1981 "Single of the Year" by NME, Sounds and Melody Maker.

2. When Liz dumps Shaun, Ed takes him to the Winchester to cheer him up. Ed does a good job until which song on the jukebox prompts Shaun to start crying?

Answer: "If You Leave Me Now" by Chicago

"Who put this on?"
"It's on random!"

These lines will be repeated later in the film!

Taken from "Chicago X", the single was a number 1 in the US and the UK. It is sung from the POV of a man regretting the end of his relationship.

3. Ed and Shaun leave the pub, inebriated and in high spirits. Which song do they sing, mistaking a zombie's wailing as accompaniment?

Answer: "White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)" by Melle Mel

Of course, the zombie keeps groaning rather than contributing any lyrics.

"What's he doing? He should say bass."
"Or freeze."

The guys never realise how close they come to calamity!

Although the song only made it to number 7 in the UK charts, it stayed in the top 40 for 17 consecutive weeks, becoming the 13th best selling single of 1984. It warns of the dangers inherent in cocaine, addiction, and drug smuggling.

4. Shaun and Ed get back home safely, though worse-the-wear from drink. When they wake housemate Pete by playing electro at 4 in the morning, which record does Pete throw out of the window?

Answer: "Hip Hop Be-Bop" by Man Parrish

"That was the second album I ever bought!"

The record will come in handy later when the household objects the lads take outside to defend themselves against the zombies with no discernible damage.

Man Parrish was a pioneer of Electro music and "Hip Hop Be-Bop" was his first release. He has worked with Michael Jackson, Gloria Gaynor, Boy George and The Village People.

5. When Shaun is mindlessly channel surfing, it seems like the TV is trying to clue him in on something. A clip from a live performance of which song is featured in this scene?

Answer: "Panic" by The Smiths

An oblivious Shaun has come back from the shop having failed to notice the zombie outbreak. Half the channels are showing breaking news, but Shaun doesn't stay on any one channel long enough to hear what's happening. Hence:

"Though no one official is prepared to comment, religious groups are calling it Judgement Day. There's..."
[Channel change]
"Panic on the streets of London..."
[Channel change]
" - as an increasing number of reports of..."

The song was written as a critique of popular music of the era. Ironically, it became pretty popular itself, reaching number 11 on the UK singles chart!

6. When Ed does limited damage to a zombie with one of Shaun's records the boys take Shaun's vinyl collection outside and go on the attack. Shaun's a little over-protective of his tunes though - which is the first disc he allows Ed to throw?

Answer: Prince - "Batman"

As Shaun starts to warn Ed not to throw some records, Ed tosses a single, to no avail.

"Woah woah woah, what was that?"
"I think it was 'Blue Monday.'"
"Man, that was an original pressing!"

Ed then starts rifling through the collection, looking for something Shaun will part with:

"'Purple Rain?'"
"No."
"'Sign o' the Times?'"
"Definitely not."
"The 'Batman' soundtrack?"
"Throw it."

I love that Shaun obviously keeps his records in order, and presumably has other boxes of vinyl still inside.

Though mainly remembered for the song "Batdance", Prince wrote nine songs for the official soundtrack. The lyrics are all written from the perspective of characters in the movie.

7. One of Liz's records has made its way into Shaun's collection. Who is it by?

Answer: Sade

"Dire Straits?"
"Throw it."
"The Stone Roses?"
"No."
"Second Coming?"
"I like it!"
"Ah! Sade."
"That's Liz's."
"Yeah, but she did dump you."

Ed chucks "Diamond Life", the band's debut album, and it smashes on the big zombie's chest without doing any real damage.

Liz wasn't the only one buying the album - it went multi-platinum in both the US and the UK and sold six million copies worldwide. It held the record for best-selling debut by a British female vocalist for 24 years, when
Susan Boyle's debut album became the best-selling debut in UK chart history.

8. Which Northern Irish alternative rock outfit had three different songs play in the movie?

Answer: Ash

Ed plays "Meltdown" and "Orpheus" in his car, and a cover of "Everybody's Happy Nowadays" by the Buzzcocks plays when Shaun buys his mum some flowers. Chris Martin of Coldplay lends his voice to the cover and appears as himself promoting the charity "Zombaid" and as a zombie when Shaun and Liz ascend from the Winchester basement.

Ash started as a three piece outfit, Tim Wheeler, Mark Hamilton and Rick McMurray. The lads recorded two albums before recruiting Charlotte Hatherley, who worked with them for three albums, including the songs featured in "Shaun of the Dead". Hatherley then departed from the band, and the boys have since put out a further three albums.

Hatherley's mother, Patricia Franklin, can be seen in all three of the films in the "Three Flavours Cornetto" trilogy.

The band's first top 40 single, "Girl From Mars", is one of my favourite songs, and has been used by NASA as the hold music on their telephone lines.

9. Of course, the musical moment most people remember is when the jukebox randomly pops a Queen song on just as the gang start to dispatch John, the undead publican. Which song do the gang choreograph their attack with?

Answer: Don't Stop Me Now

"David, kill the Queen!"
"What?"
"The jukebox!"

"You're My Best Friend" does play at the end, when Shaun and Ed play video games in the shed. I do love a happy ending!

"Don't Stop Me Now" reached number on the British singles chart, yet due to persistent use of the song in TV, movies and adverts, the song remains one of the bands most popular songs. In 2015 electronics company Alba asked 2,000 UK adults to name their favourite uplifting song, and "Don't Stop Me Now" was the most common answer.

10. When the credits play you can hear "Mall Muzak", from which George A. Romero flick?

Answer: Dawn of the Dead

Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright are obviously big Romero fans, so it's nice to know that Romero was a fan of their movie, going so far as to cast them as prominently featured zombies in "Land of the Dead".

"Dawn of the Dead" was set in and around a mall, with survivors trying to keep the zombie hordes at bay. "Mall Muzak" can be heard frequently.

Source: Author garymeadows

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor skunkee before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

The Sounds of Shaun Trivia Quiz

Inspired by Halloween, ten questions about the music featured in "Shaun of the Dead". How's that for a slice of fried gold?

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>