Black is Black Online Quiz | Color Songs

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In honour of the title of the quiz, we will start with the following song. The lyrics start with: "Black is black I want my baby back. It's grey, it's grey, since she went away Oh-oh, what can I do? 'cause I-I-I-I-I, I'm feelin' blue." Released in 1966 this record reached Number one in Canada, Number four in the US and Number two in the UK; can you recall who recorded it? (Careful, remember the year)

Answer: Los Bravos

Maybe a bit sneaky with this one.
Los Bravos recorded the original in 1966.
La Belle Epoque reached Number two in the UK and number one in Australia in 1976 with a cover version of the song.
Johnny Hallyday spent seven weeks at the top of the French charts with a French language version 'Noir C'est Noir' in 1966.
As far as I am aware the Four Seasons have never recorded this song.

*Useless Information* With the success of this song, Los Bravos became the first Spanish rock band to release an international hit single.

2. 1994 now and Soundgarden release a song with the word BLACK in the title. What was the correct title?

Answer: Black Hole Sun

'Black Hole Sun' is the correct title.
The record reached number 12 in the UK charts and, whilst it failed to chart on the 'Billboard Hot 100' it spent seven weeks at number one on the 'Billboard Mainstream Rock' charts.

3. I was going to use that old classic 'Paint it, Black' but instead I thought I would venture somewhere I rarely go and that's the name of a Rolling Stones album. Released in 1976, what was this bruiser of an album called?

Answer: Black and Blue

'Black and Blue' was the Rolling Stones 13th UK album and their 15th US album release.
It topped out at number two on the UK album charts and number one on the US 'Billboard 200'.

*Useless Information* This album was the first studio album to feature Ronnie Wood on guitar after Mick Taylor had left the band.

4. Which band sang the following lines in 1970? "Finished with my woman 'cause she couldn't help me with my mind People think I'm insane because I am frowning all the time"

Answer: Black Sabbath

Of course the song is 'Paranoid' by Black Sabbath. Reaching number four in the UK and only number 61 on the US Billboard charts 'Paranoid' is considered to be one of the greatest 'Heavy Metal' songs of all time:

Number 41 on the NME (United Kingdom) "All Time Top 100 Singles" in 1976
Number four on the VH1 (United States) "100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs" in 2008.

*Useless Information* Tony Iommi, lead guitarist and founder of Black Sabbath, stated in his autobiography that neither he nor Ozzy Osbourne knew what Paranoid meant in those days... The song was written by bass player 'Geezer' Butler - The intelligent member of the band.

5. Peaking at number two in the UK, which band had a 1970 hit with 'Black Night'?

Answer: Deep Purple

Probably more famous for their 1973 hit 'Smoke on the Water', Deep Purple recorded 'Black Night' in 1970.

*Useless Information* In the 1975 'Guinness Book of World Records' Deep Purple were listed as the "Globe's Loudest Band"; during a 1972 concert, sound levels were recorded at 117dB and, allegedly, three members of the audience were rendered unconscious.

6. Forward to 1980 and AC/DC release one of their most famous albums, Does anyone remember the missing word? "------- in Black" (Number of spaces does not indicate the amount of letters)

Answer: Back

'Back in Black' was released in July 1980 and was the first album recorded without Bon Scott, who died in February of that year.

*Useless Information* According to the British 'NME Best Selling Albums of All Time' 'Back in Black' is ranked as the top selling album by a band (49 million copies sold) and is beaten only by Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'.

7. "Hey, hey, mama, said the way you move Gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove. Ah, ah, child, way you shake that thing Gonna make you burn, gonna make you sting." are the opening lyrics to which Led Zeppelin track?

Answer: black dog

Originally known as The New Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin were a British band who had very little initial success in the UK. 'Black Dog' was their fourth single release and peaked at number 15 on the 'Billboard Hot 100' charts; it was also a chart success in many other countries but NOT in the UK.

*Useless Information* The song was named after a black Labrador which was seen walking around the recording studios where 'Black Dog' was being recorded (the title is never mentioned in the lyrics)

8. Well, out of my comfort zone now, and on to 2005 which is when a song entitled 'My Humps' was a top ten hit in the UK and the US for Black Eyed Susan. Is that true or false?

Answer: False

Of course not, it was recorded by The Black Eyed Peas.
Although most music critics panned the song it was a commercial success reaching number three on the 'Billboard Hot 100' and also in the UK's music charts.

*Useless Information* 'Rolling Stone' placed the song at number one on its list of the '20 Most Annoying Songs' in 2007, whilst AOL Radio were slightly less critical ranking it at number 80 on their '100 Worst Songs Ever' list in 2010.

9. Ram Jam had a hit in both the UK and the US with a song entitled 'Black Betty' but what year was this?

Answer: 1977

Yes, it was 1977.
The song is credited as being written by Huddie Ledbetter (known as Lead Belly) although it is believed that the song is an adaption of earlier folk songs.

*Useless Information* Nobody is sure exactly what the 'Black Betty' in the song refers to; it has been thought that Black Betty may mean anything from a musket (fore runner of the 'Brown Bess'), a bottle of whiskey (Benjamin Franklin refers to 'He kiss'd Black Betty' as a euphemism for being drunk), a whip used on slaves in the US and also as the wagon used to transport prisoners at the Texas penal farm.

10. 'Black Magic Woman' was a song recorded by both Fleetwood Mac (1968) and Santana (1970). One of these releases was a hit in the UK the other one was a hit in the US in the year of their release, but which was which?

Answer: Fleetwood Mac UK - Santana US

Fleetwood Mac's version reached number 37 in the UK but didn't chart in the US.
Santana reached number four in the US but didn't chart in the UK.

Source: Author DaveH1960

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
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Black is Black Trivia Quiz

The concept is easy... Songs with the word BLACK in the title

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