Another British Invasion Trivia Quiz

Answer: Vienna

"Vienna" by the 1980's new wave group Ultravox became their signature song, making it to number two in the UK Singles Chart. It featured the lyrics:

"We walked in the cold air
Freezing breath on a window pane
Lying and waiting
A man in the dark in a picture frame
So mystic and soulful
A voice reaching out in a piercing cry
It stays with you until
The feeling has gone only you and I
It means nothing to me
This means nothing to me
Oh, Vienna"

The main line up for Ultravox were Chris Cross (bass), Warren Cann (drums), Billy Currie (keyboards) and Midge Ure (lead vocals).

Answer: London

"London Calling" by The Clash made it to number 11 in the UK Singles Chart when it was released in 1979. The British punk rock band hailed from London and the song lyrics were written at a time when there was a metaphorical war between rich and poor, unemployment, and also concern over worldwide events including the Three Mile Island nuclear incident.

It was the band's way of sending a message out asking people not to be apathetic, and alluded to the old World War 2 call sign, "This is London calling...".

Answer: Amarillo

Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield wrote the song and lyrics to "Is This the Way to Amarillo" in 1971. It featured the words "pillow" and willow" and the only place name they could think of that rhymed was the Mexican town of Amarillo. The lyrics told of a man's search for his girlfriend, Marie. British singer Tony Christie released the single in 1971 and it reached number 18 in the UK Singles Chart.

He re-released the same song along with actor/comedian Peter Kay where it peaked at number one in 2005.

Answer: Cairo

Popular ska band Madness had a host of hits in the UK Singles Chart including "Baggy Trousers", "House of Fun", "Our House", "It Must Be Love" and their 1979 release, "Night Boat to Cairo". The group originated from Camden in north London and has been fronted by Suggs, aka Graham McPherson, since their inception.

Answer: Orleans

"Maid of Orleans", "Joan of Arc" and "Souvenir" were all popular songs that featured on the album "Architecture & Morality" by Liverpool based, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. They reached numbers five, four and three, respectively, on the UK Singles Chart. "Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)" was written by band member Andy McCluskey in 1981 which coincidentally happened to be the 550th anniversary of the death of Joan of Arc.

Answer: Hong Kong

"Hong Kong Garden" was the first single by the British rock band, Siouxsie and the Banshees. Released in 1978, it reached number seven in the UK Singles Chart. The lyrics were nothing to do with the city of Hong Kong, but were based on a Chinese takeaway in Chislehurst, south-east London, which used to suffer from racist attacks from skinheads. The lyrics featured the words:

"Harmful elements in the air
Symbols clashing everywhere
Reaps the fields of rice and reeds
While the population feeds.

Junk floats on polluted water
An old custom to sell your daughter
Would you like number 23?
Leave your Yens on the counter please."

Answer: Bangor

Fiddler's Dram were a short lived folk group from Kent whose signature song "Day Trip to Bangor" reached number three in the UK Singles Chart in January 1980. The four piece band all met while studying at the University of Canterbury and featured vocals, fiddle, guitar, harmonica and the lesser used bodhran and bouzouki. Their lead singer was Cathy Lesurf who later went on to front the folk band, Fairport Convention. "Day Trip to Bangor" was written by Debbie Cook and featured the catchy chorus;

"Didn't we have a lovely time
The day we went to Bangor
A beautiful day, we had lunch on the way
And all for under a pound, you know
That on the way back I cuddled with Jack
And we opened a bottle of cider
Singing a few of our favourite songs
As the wheels went around."

Answer: Harlem

Originally written by American R&B singers, Bob & Earl, "Harlem Shuffle" was released as a cover version in 1986 by The Rolling Stones. The backing vocalists included Bobby Womack and Tom Waits. The official video featured both live action of the band, mixed in with animated cats visiting them as they sang in a club.

The video animation scenes were created by Ralph Bakshi who had earlier worked on the cartoon, "Fritz the Cat".

Answer: New York

Sting was the lead singer for British band The Police from 1977 to 1984, until making his own way as a solo artist with hits such as "Fields of Gold". "Englishman in New York" featured on his second solo album, "...Nothing Like the Sun". The song lyrics were written by Sting and based on the 1970s gay icon, Quentin Crisp, who had recently moved to New York.

The song only reached number 51 on the UK Singles Chart in 1988 and was remixed two years later where it reached number 15.

Answer: Baghdad

Iconic singer Kate Bush exploded on the UK Singles Chart in 1978 with her haunting "Wuthering Heights". Her song ""Kashka from Baghdad" was on her second album, "Lionheart" which also featured the hit single, "Wow". In 2011, she became the first female artist to have had a top five album in the British charts over five successive decades. These have included:

"The Kick Inside" reached number three (1978)
"Never for Ever" reached number one (1980)
"The Red Shoes" reached number three (1993)
"Aerial" reached number three (2005)
"50 Words for Snow" reached number five (2011)