All American Trivia Quiz

Answer: Green Day

Released in 2004, this is the title track and the first single released from Green Day's highly successful seventh studio album. Both societally critical and politically charged, the song and the album helped to renew the band's flagging careers, earned them numerous awards and it spawned a successful Broadway musical.

Answer: Lenny Kravitz

This is a critically acclaimed song that was originally released by The Guess Who in 1970. Whilst it has been covered numerous times, the most notable effort was by Lenny Kravitz in 1999. Kravitz recorded his version for the film "The Spy Who Shagged Me" (1999). It would later appear on his album "5" in the same year and earn him the Grammy for the Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.

Answer: The Dirt Band

"An American Dream" was written by, and originally recorded by, Rodney Crowell in 1978. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, who'd shortened their name to The Dirt Band for this recording, covered it a year later with greater success. They were supported on this recording with background vocals by Linda Ronstadt who, on occasions has used it on compilation albums of her own.

Answer: Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

In 2008 Rolling Stone magazine listed this song as one of the greatest 100 guitar songs of all time and, whilst it has been a fan favourite it has never charted well for the band. Released as the second single from the band's eponymous debut album (1977), it failed to chart on the US Billboard Hot100. Re-released in 1994 to support the launch of the band's Greatest Hits album it managed to find its way to number 68 on the same charts. For the band it was a concert staple and it proved to be the last song Tom Petty performed publicly.

It was used to close out his encore at the Hollywood Bowl on September 25, 2017... a week later Petty passed away.

Answer: Bad Religion

This song was inspired by a comment from US President George Bush during the Gulf War, stating that "we'll win because God is on our side". Greg Graffin then took the slant that God favours America and used that to deliver a song that spoke of nations using religion as an excuse for war.

The track is the first single from the band's 1993 album "Recipe for Hate". Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam assists with backing vocals.

Answer: Don McLean

There's not a lot that I can say about this song that has not already been said. The straight facts are that it was the title track from Don Mclean's debut album released in 1971 and it topped the charts in many countries across the globe. McLean has said in interviews that the song represented the loss of innocence. From the sweeter, simpler times of the 1950s ("pink carnation and a pick-up truck") which graduated to more volatile and darker climes in the 1960s ("my hands were clenched in fists of rage").

Answer: Willie Nile

Willie Nile paints an interesting portrait. He's produced rock and roll songs with a swagger and he has been hailed by critics ever since he laid his first track down with Arista records back in 1981. However, mainstream success has continued to elude him.

This song is the title track of Niles' eighth studio album (2013) and he uses it to pay homage to American music. As he wends his way, lyrically, from New York to Los Angeles, he weaves a series of acoustic guitars, electric guitars and the occasional banjo through melodies that mix a touch of rock with bluegrass, country, folk, blues and a little bit of soul.

Answer: Estelle

Estelle is a British rap artist who was being mentored by John Legend at the time of writing this track. His suggestion to her was to write a song of romance where she pursues an American male. What started out as a little bit fun became a disco/funk classic that evolved into a sort of female anthem, that shot to number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US and earned Estelle a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.

The song was the second single from Estelle's 2008 album "Shine" and features the work of Kanye West.

Answer: Bruce Springsteen

The full title of the song adds the sub-title "(41 Shots)" at the end and it was inspired by the shooting death of twenty three year old Amadou Diallo in 1999. The song is a protest for what is seen as an over-reaction by the police and was first aired by Springsteen at a live performance in Atlanta in June 2000.

It would eventually appear on the 2001 album "Live in New York City" and soon followed up with the same version of "The Essential Bruce Springsteen" disc in 2001.

Answer: Gaslight Anthem

It may seem like a curse to hail from the same state as Bruce Springsteen, be influenced by him, quote him in your songs and then be compared to the man as well. But, with the release of "American Slang", Gaslight Anthem seem to have shaken off that shadow.

This song is the title track and opening song of their third studio album (2010). It is a brisk rocker that has their lead singer's (Brian Fallon) rusty pipes bellow about his best days being behind him.