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America Trivia Quiz

They rode onto the charts on 'A Horse With No Name' in 1972. This quiz is mostly about the lyrics of their songs, with three general questions. Most of the information comes from the insert from the 'Complete Greatest Hits' cd.

A multiple-choice quiz by skunkee. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
skunkee

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
126,693

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
10 / 15

Plays
2553

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek were the three members of 'America'. Where did they meet? Hint

They all went to college together.

They all played in a band called 'The American Dream' .

They have known each other since high school.

Their fathers were all U.S. Air Force servicemen stationed in England.

NEXT>

Question 2 of 15

2. How did they choose the name 'America'? Hint

From an 'Americana' jukebox.

From the show 'American Bandstand'.

From the band 'American Dream' that they'd played in.

Because the were born in America even though they were living in England.

NEXT>

Question 3 of 15

3. Last information question and then we'll get on to the lyrics. Which one of the three left the band in 1977?

Answer: (first and last name, or just surname)

4. Okay, from now on it gets easier. I'll give you the lyric and you give me the song title. The first one is; '...it felt good to be out of the rain. In the desert you can't remember your name...' Hint

Sandman

The Border

Ventura Highway

A Horse With No Name

NEXT>

Question 5 of 15

5. 'We used to laugh. We used to cry. We used to bow our heads then wonder why.' Hint

Only In Your Heart

Amber Cascades

I Need You

Another Try

NEXT>

Question 6 of 15

6. 'So please, believe in me when I say I'm spinning round, round, round, round, smoke glass stained bright colours.' Hint

Daisy Jane

Sandman

Tin Man

A Horse With No Name

NEXT>

Question 7 of 15

7. 'Don't give up until you drink from the silver cup, and ride that highway in the sky.' Hint

Paradise

Ventura Highway

Lonely People

The Border

NEXT>

Question 8 of 15

8. 'Don't try denying living on the other side, all your life, you were on your own.' Hint

Today's the Day

Don't Cross the River

The Border

Another Try

NEXT>

Question 9 of 15

9. 'He flies the sky like an eagle in the eye of a hurricane that's abandoned.' Hint

Tin Man

Don't Cross the River

World of Light

Sandman

NEXT>

Question 10 of 15

10. 'I never believed in things that I couldn't see. I said if I can't feel it, then how could it be?' Hint

You Can Do Magic

Daisy Jane

Right Before Your Eyes

Sister Golden Hair

NEXT>

Question 11 of 15

11. 'Will you meet me in the middle, will you meet me in the air? Will you love me just a little, just enough to show you care?' Hint

Don't Cross the River

Only in Your Heart

Muskrat Love

Sister Golden Hair

NEXT>

Question 12 of 15

12. 'I get the shivers, up and down my spine. The only time I'm happy's when I know she's mine.' Hint

You Can Do Magic

Ventura Highway

Muskrat Love

Woman Tonight

NEXT>

Question 13 of 15

13. 'Honey would you please be my missus? And she says yes with her kisses. Now he's ticklin' her fancy, rubbin' her toes... Hint

Muskrat Love

Sister Golden Hair

I Need You

Daisy Jane

NEXT>

Question 14 of 15

14. 'Oh won't you come in out of the rain? And things will never be the same. And then just like Greta Garbo...' Hint

Right Before Your Eyes

Amber Cascade

Paradise

Today's the Day

NEXT>

Question 15 of 15

15. 'Some people say this town don't look good in snow. You don't care, I know.' Hint

A Horse With No Name

Ventura Highway

Tin Man

Sandman

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek were the three members of 'America'. Where did they meet?

Answer: Their fathers were all U.S. Air Force servicemen stationed in England.

Their fathers were stationed at West Ruislip, near London, and the boys all met while working in the warehouse on the base.

2. How did they choose the name 'America'?

Answer: From an 'Americana' jukebox.

The jukebox was in the cafeteria of the warehouse where they all worked.

3. Last information question and then we'll get on to the lyrics. Which one of the three left the band in 1977?

Answer: Dan Peek

Dan Peek left the group in 1977 because he rediscovered his Christian faith, and was not happy with his lifestyle. He went on to pursue more religious music, while Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell continued to tour and record as 'America'.

Answer: A Horse With No Name

This was their big North American breakthrough hit in the spring of 1972. It was written by Bunnell who had spent a lot of time exploring the desert while growing up in California.

5. 'We used to laugh. We used to cry. We used to bow our heads then wonder why.'

Answer: I Need You

This song was one of the first written by Gerry Beckley and was on the self-titled album (remember those?) 'America'.

6. 'So please, believe in me when I say I'm spinning round, round, round, round, smoke glass stained bright colours.'

Answer: Tin Man

Bunnell wrote this song, referring to the words as 'kaleidoscopic imagery'. It was on the album 'Holiday' and reached #4 on the charts.

7. 'Don't give up until you drink from the silver cup, and ride that highway in the sky.'

Answer: Lonely People

Writing credit for this one goes to Dan Peek and his wife Catherine. Peek wrote it shortly after getting married, stating that he had always felt like one of the lonely people, but now felt like one of the winners.

8. 'Don't try denying living on the other side, all your life, you were on your own.'

Answer: Don't Cross the River

Peek got the idea for the line 'don't cross the river if you can't swim the tide' while watching a college football game. Alabama fans were holding up a sign that said just that, referring to the 'Alabama Crimson Tide'.

9. 'He flies the sky like an eagle in the eye of a hurricane that's abandoned.'

Answer: Sandman

Bunnell wrote this one, drawing on conversations he'd had with airmen who had just returned from the war in Viet Nam. The line 'running from the sandman' refers to one guy in particular who'd said that he hardly ever slept while in Viet Nam because he'd been afraid to.

10. 'I never believed in things that I couldn't see. I said if I can't feel it, then how could it be?'

Answer: You Can Do Magic

This was their big bounce back hit in 1982, the first real North American hit they'd had since Dan Peek left the group. It was written by Russ Ballard and released on the album 'View From the Ground'.

11. 'Will you meet me in the middle, will you meet me in the air? Will you love me just a little, just enough to show you care?'

Answer: Sister Golden Hair

This one was written by Beckley, and was their first #1 hit after 'A Horse With No Name'. The line 'meet me in the air' came about because Jackson Browne, who they were touring with, misheard the original line and sang it back to Beckley that way. Beckley liked it better than the original and kept it that way.

12. 'I get the shivers, up and down my spine. The only time I'm happy's when I know she's mine.'

Answer: Woman Tonight

This is one of my favourites, but since it only made it to #44, it's obvious that not everyone agrees with me. This song was Dan Peek's attempt at reggae and has a delightful Jamaican feel to it.

13. 'Honey would you please be my missus? And she says yes with her kisses. Now he's ticklin' her fancy, rubbin' her toes...

Answer: Muskrat Love

This song was written by Willis Allen and only made it to # 67 on the charts. Strangely enough, 'Captain and Tennille' took it to #4 three years later.

14. 'Oh won't you come in out of the rain? And things will never be the same. And then just like Greta Garbo...'

Answer: Right Before Your Eyes

I had to put this one in because it was written by Canadian Ian Thomas. They took it to #45 on the charts in 1982.

15. 'Some people say this town don't look good in snow. You don't care, I know.'

Answer: Ventura Highway

This song was written by Bunnell and is all about leaving. It reached #8 in the charts.

Source: Author skunkee

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Dalgleish before going online.
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