Bands Singing About Other Bands Quiz

Answer: Camera Obscura

Camera Obscura formed in Glasgow in 1996 and released their debut album, 'Biggest Bluest Hi Fi', in 2001 which was produced by Belle & Sebastian frontman Stuart Murdoch. The album brought them to the attention of legendary DJ John Peel who consistently championed the band. Camera Obscura were soon asked to record a Peel session for his Radio 1 show and made regular appearances in John Peel's influential annual 'Festive Fifty' chart.

The band are known for their lush 60s inspired indiepop sound and Campbell's beautiful and often melancholy lyrics. 'Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken' was taken from the band's third album, 2006's 'Let's Get Out of This Country', is one of Camera Obscura's most upbeat tracks and is a popular floor-filler at British indiepop club nights.

The song is a response to 'Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken?', a song taken from Lloyd Cole and the Commotions excellent 1986 album 'Rattlesnakes', which is full of the band's trademark charm and wit.

Answer: CSS

CSS formed in Sao Paulo in 2003 and, while they have achieved only moderate commercial success, their dynamic and distinctive music has been used on the soundtracks of a number of television programmes and adverts. CSS stands for 'Cansei de Ser Sexy', which roughly translates as 'Tired of being sexy' and was inspired by a quote from Beyonce.

The band sing in both English and Portuguese. 'Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above' was the band's first international release and brought CSS to a wider audience. the NME named the song the sixth best track of 2006 and the publication continued to include it in lists of the best music of the twenty-first century.

The song was re-issued in 2007 when it reached number thirty-nine in the UK singles chart. 'Let's Make Love...' is a fantastic track which is characteristic of CSS' energetic, infectious electro-rock sound.

Answer: Betty and the Werewolves

Betty and the Werewolves formed in London in 2007 and comprised Laura McMahon, Emily Bennett, Helen Short and Doug McFarlane. They were signed to influential London-based indie label Damaged Goods after playing their first gig. The band released their debut single, 'Euston Station', in 2008 and their debut album, 'Teatime Favourites', appeared the following year.

However, the band took an indefinite hiatus in 2010 when the various members went on to focus on other musical projects with Emily Bennett joining indiepop luminaries Tender Trap. 'David Cassidy' is typical of the band's exuberant and melodic indiepop sound and is one of the group's best tracks.

Answer: Dexys Midnight Runners

Dexys Midnight Runners formed in Birmingham in the late 1970s. The band experienced a number of line-up changes in their early years with main songwriter, Kevin Rowland, remaining the one constant member. The band experienced early success and had a string of chart hits in the early 1980s, achieving several top twenty singles and two number one hits in the UK with 'Come On Eileen' and 'Geno'. 'Geno' was Dexys Midnight Runners' first UK number one single and it held the top spot on the chart for two weeks.

It was taken from the band's debut album 'Searching for the Young Soul Rebels'. 'Geno' is performed in the style of Geno Washington's Ram Jam band. This is far from the only occasion on which Dexys Midnight Runners paid tribute to their musical heros in song.

The band had a top five hit in 1982 with a cover of the Van Morrison track 'Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)'. When DMR performed 'Jackie Wilson Said' on Top of the Pops it led to an amusing incident when the band ended up performing the song in front of a picture of darts player Jocky Wilson rather than a picture of the legendary soul star.

There is still debate over whether this mix-up was due to confusion on the part of someone on the TOTP production team or whether it was a deliberate joke by the band.

Answer: Sonic Youth

Sonic Youth formed in New York in 1981 when two of the band's founding members, Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon, had begun playing music together. Over the next decade they became one of the most critically acclaimed alternative rock bands in America and have frequently been credited with revolutionising guitar rock and influencing future generations of bands.

They also signed to a major label and enjoyed moderate commercial success. The band appeared in a 1996 episode of 'The Simpsons' entitled 'Homerpalooza'.

After thirty years together Sonic Youth announced that they would be taking a break in 2011. Their split was attributed to the breakdown of Moore and Gordon's marriage. 'Tunic (Song for Karen)' is a lovely song, sung by Kim Gordon, which imagines Karen Carpenter happily playing drums in heaven and befriending Dennis Wilson, Janis Joplin and Elvis Presley. Karen Carpenter was the drummer and vocalist of the sibling pop duo The Carpenters.

She died tragically young after a long battle with anorexia.

Answer: Half Man Half Biscuit

Half Man Half Biscuit, or HMHB as they are often known, formed in Birkenhead, Merseyside in 1984. Their debut album, 1985's 'Back in the DHSS', was an instant success, topping the UK indie album chart and reaching number 60 in the standard UK albums chart.

The band's first two singles, 'The Trumpton Riots' and 'Dickie Davies Eyes', were also very popular and the band quickly gathered a large cult following in the UK. Despite HMHB's success they announced in 1986 that they intended to split up due to 'musical similarities'.

However, they reformed in 1990 and have continued to play together ever since. HMHB were championed by late DJ John Peel for whom they recorded twelve radio sessions. The band became known for their post punk sound and their surreal and often humourous music.

Their lyrics are typically crammed with countless references to British culture, geography and football. 'Joy Division Oven Gloves' is a typically bizarre and memorable example of the band's sound, though it seems to have little to do with the celebrated post punk luminaries referred to in its title.

Answer: The French

Darren Hayman and John Morrison formed The French in 2003 and released their first, and so far only, album 'Local Information' later the same year. The album spawned the singles 'Porn Shoes' and 'Gabriel at the Airport'. The French were known for their use of vintage drum machines and synthesizers, a sound which Hayman had begun to experiment with on the later recordings of his previous band, Hefner. Following a dispute with their label, Too Pure, The French went on indefinite hiatus in 2004. 'Wu-Tang Clan' is a charming low-key track about a woman who stays at home on her own on a Saturday night so that she can dance by herself to the eponymous rap group.

Answer: The Replacements

The Replacements formed in Minneapolis in 1979 and recorded their debut album, 'Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash', in 1981. The Replacements were influenced by 60s and 70s bands such as The Rolling Stones, Big Star, Aerosmith and Yes, as well as by British punk bands such as The Buzzcocks, The Clash and The Damned. Unlike many of their alternative rock contemporaries, The Replacements were known for their very personal and heartfelt lyrics, with Westerberg lyrically baring his soul in many of their songs.

Although the band never enjoyed significant commercial success, they are widely considered to have been one of the most influential alternative rock bands of the 80s. 'Alex Chilton' is a moving tribute to one of the band's musical heroes and featured on the band's 1987 album 'Pleased to Meet Me'.

Answer: MJ Hibbett and the Validators

Mark John Hibbett and his band the Validators have been performing together since the late 1990s. They gained a cult international online following in the early 2000s with their paean to the micro home computers of the early 1980s, 'Hey Hey 16k'. MJ Hibbett regularly plays the ukulele during solo shows. MJ Hibbett and the Validators are known for their cheerful, positive songs which focus on the good things in life and the positive side of human nature. 'The Lesson of the Smiths' recounts a valuable lesson which Hibbett learned when he realised that, by refusing to listen to bands like The Smiths and Take That because he hadn't liked the fans he had met, had caused him to miss out on some wonderful music.

Answer: Elf Power

Elf Power began as a lo-fi recording project of founding band members Laura Carter and Andrew Rieger. Over the years the band's line-up changed and grew and their sound became fuller and more complex as they added lush orchestration to their records. The band were based in Athens, Georgia and were part of the influential Elephant Six Collective which was largely based there.

Many members of other Elephant Six bands have appeared on Elf Power albums and they have toured with bands such as R.E.M. and Wilco. 'Loverboy's Demise' recounts the disappointment of seeing a previously beloved band live and realising that they are not what they used to be. Loverboy were a Canadian arena rock band, best known for songs such as 'Working for the Weekend', 'Hot Girls in Love' and 'Turn Me Loose'.