Alterations Trivia Quiz

Answer: Like a Prayer

Pepsi paid Madonna $5 million to use "Like A Prayer" in one of their commercials but showed the commercial only two times before Madonna released her video for the song, after which, due to the controversial religious iconography and sexuality of the video, Pepsi yanked the commercial and released Madonna from all contractual obligations.

Answer: Purple Haze

The Cure's version of "Purple Haze" appeared on the 1993 Jimi Hendrix tribute album "Stone Free."

Answer: "Higher Ground" and "Love Rollercoaster"

"Higher Ground" appeared on the Red Hot Chili Peppers 1989 release "Mother's Milk" while "Love Rollercoaster" appeared on the 1996 soundtrack "Beavis and Butt-Head Do America." Stevie Wonder's original hit version of "Higher Ground" appeared on his 1973 release "Innervisions" while Ohio Players original hit version of "Love Rollercoaster" appeared on their 1975 release "Honey."

Answer: Alien Ant Farm

Although originally released in 2001, Alien Ant Farm's version of the 1987 Michael Jackson hit "Smooth Criminal" was also featured on the 2002 soundtrack for "American Pie 2."

Answer: Siouxsie and the Banshees

"Dear Prudence" was a favorite of John Lennon's and was often covered live by the Jerry Garcia Band. When Siouxsie and the Banshees released their version in 1983, it went to #3 on the UK singles chart. Another popular cover by Siouxsie was their 1987 version of Iggy Pop's 1977 "The Passenger."

Answer: Danielle Dax

British music producer Danielle Dax's club hits included "Cathouse" and "Big Hollow Man" as well as her 1990 version of one of the most experimental Beatles tunes, the Indian influenced "Tomorrow Never Knows," which concluded their 1966 "Revolver" album.

Answer: Velvet Underground's "Sweet Jane"

Cowboy Junkies covered "Sweet Jane" on "The Trinity Sessions," their 1988 album recorded on one microphone in a cavernous church, and based their recording on one of the Velvets live versions, rather than their studio version of the song, which may have prompted the respect for the Cowboy Junkies cover expressed by Velvets leader Lou Reed.

Answer: The Clash

The most popular version of "I Fought the Law" was released by the Bobby Fuller Four in 1965. The Dead Kennedys recorded a version with alternative lyrics which they sang from the point of view of former police officer Dan White, whose 1978 murder of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and City Supervisor Harvey Milk resulted in a lower charge of manslaughter after his defense claimed he had been depressed and eaten too many twinkies.

Instead of "I fought the law, and the law won," the Dead Kennedys sang "I fought the law, and I won."

Answer: Joy Division

Ian Curtis' widow had the words "Love Will Tear Us Apart" carved on his headstone.

Answer: George Michael's "Faith"

After Wham! broke up, many doubted George Michael would make it as a solo act, but the popularity of his first solo album "Faith" quelled those doubts. Limp Bizkit recorded Michael's hit on their first album release "Three Dollar Bill, Yall$."

Answer: Pearl Jam

The song was based on a real, fatal car crash in Barnesville, Georgia in 1962. J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers 1964 version charted at #2 in US singles, while Canadian group Wednesday's 1973 version got to #18 in the US. Pearl Jam brought the song to #2 once again.

Answer: New Order

New Order's version of "Blue Monday" is the highest selling 12" single of all time. It's said that the song may be based on Ian Curtis's suicide (as mentioned in #9 above). Another popular New Order cover was Frente's 1994 acoustic version of their 1986 "Bizarre Love Triangle."

Answer: Anthrax

The Public Enemy/Anthrax version appears on P.E.'s "Apocalypse '91 . . . The Enemy Strikes Black" and on Anthrax's "Attack of the Killer B's" and had much influence on the emergence of rapcore.

Answer: Gimme Shelter

The Rolling Stones original 1969 version is featured in three Martin Scorcese films, "Goodfellas," "Casino" and "The Departed." The backup vocals are sung by Merry Clayton.

Answer: The Who, "Can You See the Real Me?"

GNR released "Live and Let Die" on 1991's "Use Your Illusion I," "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" on 1992's "Use Your Illusion II," and "Sympathy for the Devil" on 1994's "Interview with the Vampire" soundtrack.

Answer: Rage Against the Machine

"Renegades of Funk" was the only song to reach the Top 20 on the US rock track charts from Rage Against the Machine's album "Renegades," which is comprised completely of cover tracks.

Answer: Iggy Pop

"Real Wild Child (Wild One)" appears on Pop's most commercially successful album "Blah Blah Blah," which also contains "Cry for Love." Iggy Pop was more often covered than coverer. His 1977 "The Passenger" was covered by Siouxsie and the Banshees, Michael Hutchence and Lunachicks.

Answer: The Stranglers

Amos's album also included covers of The Beatles "Happiness is a Warm Gun," Joe Jackson's "Real Men," and 10cc's "I'm Not in Love," among others.

Answer: The Communards

David Coles teamed with falsetto singer Jimmy Somerville, formerly of Bronski Beat, in 1985 to form the short-lived Communards, who broke up in 1988. "Don't Leave Me This Way" made it to #1 in the UK and #1 on the US dance chart. Their only other big hit was another cover, this time of Gloria Gaynor's "Never Can Say Goodbye," which charted at #4 in the UK and #2 on the US dance chart.

Answer: Hurt

"Hurt" originally appeared on Nine Inch Nail's 1994 "Downward Spiral," and the Johnny Cash cover in 2002 was his last hit single before his death in 2003.