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David Bowie's Berlin Trilogy Trivia Quiz

The "Berlin Trilogy" refers to the albums "Low," "Heroes," and "Lodger," although only the second of these was recorded primarily in Berlin. These albums are considered to contain some of his most innovative music.

A multiple-choice quiz by agentofchaos. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
agentofchaos

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
393,472

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
188

Awards
Top 5% quiz!

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The album cover of "Low," released in 1977, uses a still from what film featuring David Bowie? Hint

Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

The Man Who Fell to Earth

Labyrinth

Christiane F.

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Question 2 of 10

2. "Low" contains several tracks that are purely instrumental, while a few others have sparse, minimal lyrics. Of the following, which is the only one to include spoken lyrics? Hint

Speed of Life

Art Decade

Warszawa

A New Career in a New Town

3. "You're just a little girl with grey eyes / Never mind, say something / Wait until the crowd cries" are the opening lyrics of what song from "Low" that contains more spoken words than any other track on the album? Hint

Be My Wife

Sound and Vision

What in the World

Breaking Glass

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Question 4 of 10

4. The song "Heroes" from the album of the same name, tells the story of two lovers who are separated by what obstacle? Hint

Immigration problems

Parental disapproval preventing them from marrying

The Berlin Wall

Language barriers

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Question 5 of 10

5. Like "Low," the "Heroes" album contains several instrumental tracks. Of the following, which one contains lyrics that consist only of the song's title being briefly repeated? Hint

V-2 Schneider

Moss Garden

Sense of Doubt

Neuk�ln

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which track on "Heroes" contains the dramatic lines, 'A couple of drinks on the house an' he said / "Tell you who you are if you nail me to my car"'? Hint

Blackout

The Secret Life of Arabia

Beauty and the Beast

Joe the Lion

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Question 7 of 10

7. Although most of the tracks on "Heroes" were written and improvised at the studio where they were recorded, one song on the album had been written prior to these sessions. What was its name? Hint

Friday on my Mind

Silly Boy Blue

Sons of the Silent Age

Blackout

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Question 8 of 10

8. "Lodger," released in 1979, had a different style than "Low" and "Heroes," and today is often regarded as one of his most under-rated albums. It was met with critical indifference upon its release, yet since then has become one of Bowie's most influential works. Which British band had a 1995 hit single whose title was inspired by the song "Look Back in Anger" from "Lodger"? (Hint: their song says to do the opposite.) Hint

Oasis

The Clash

Madness

Blur

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Question 9 of 10

9. "Boys Keep Swinging" was one of the songs from the "Lodger" album that was released as a single, and reached Number Seven in the UK charts. It was accompanied by a music video that featured what striking and controversial element? Hint

Explosions

Nudity

Cross-dressing

Profanity

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Question 10 of 10

10. The song "DJ" was another single from "Lodger." In the accompanying video, there are a couple of scenes where Bowie is wearing what item on his face? Hint

An eyepatch

Groucho Marx glasses

A gasmask

A fake beard

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The album cover of "Low," released in 1977, uses a still from what film featuring David Bowie?

Answer: The Man Who Fell to Earth

"The Man Who Fell to Earth," released in 1976, was Bowie's first starring film role. Bowie recorded some music that was intended for the soundtrack of this film, but the director decided that it was unsuitable, and these works were incorporated into "Low." The album's title, located on the cover above the side-on image of the artist, forms a visual pun meaning "low profile," which was part of what Bowie was seeking by moving from New York to Berlin, as he was trying to overcome his out-of-control cocaine use.

2. "Low" contains several tracks that are purely instrumental, while a few others have sparse, minimal lyrics. Of the following, which is the only one to include spoken lyrics?

Answer: Warszawa

"Warszawa" is almost completely instrumental, and the few enigmatic lyrics sung by Bowie are not even real words. The song was inspired by a brief visit by Bowie to Warsaw, Poland, in which he was struck by the desolation of the city, such as the sight of bomb craters that had never been repaired.

Answer: What in the World

Like some of the other songs on the album, the lyrics seem disjointed and somewhat random. The song has a more frantic pace, and has many more verses, than the other tracks on the album. By contrast, the lyrics of the other three songs consist of barely more than a couple of short paragraphs.

4. The song "Heroes" from the album of the same name, tells the story of two lovers who are separated by what obstacle?

Answer: The Berlin Wall

The album was recorded in a studio located near the wall within sight of the Red Guards of East Berlin. The song's image of lovers kissing by the wall was inspired when Bowie saw his producer Tony Visconti embracing the backing vocalist Antonia Maass outside the studio.

As Visconti was married to another woman at the time, Bowie used to state that the song was inspired by an anonymous young couple, although in 2003 he confirmed that Visconti was the real inspiration.

5. Like "Low," the "Heroes" album contains several instrumental tracks. Of the following, which one contains lyrics that consist only of the song's title being briefly repeated?

Answer: V-2 Schneider

Like most tracks on "Heroes," this song was influenced by Krautrock, and this song in particular was a tribute to Florian Schneider, one of the founders of Kraftwerk. The title also refers to the V-2 rocket, which was originally developed in Germany and which later had an important influence on the American space program.

6. Which track on "Heroes" contains the dramatic lines, 'A couple of drinks on the house an' he said / "Tell you who you are if you nail me to my car"'?

Answer: Joe the Lion

The inspiration for these particular lyrics was a famous piece of performance art by Chris Burden, who had his hands nailed to a Volkswagen as if he were being crucified! Apparently, Burden wanted to convey the idea of personal danger as a form of artistic expression through his performances. (I've heard of suffering for one's art, but this may be taking it too far!)

7. Although most of the tracks on "Heroes" were written and improvised at the studio where they were recorded, one song on the album had been written prior to these sessions. What was its name?

Answer: Sons of the Silent Age

"Sons of the Silent Age" is a classic Bowie track in that the lyrics are enigmatic, incongruous, and disturbing. Bowie also considered using this song as the title of the album before deciding on "Heroes." "Blackout" appears on the album, but the other two choices do not. "Silly Boy Blue," an early Bowie song from the 1960s, reflected his interest at the time in Tibetan Buddhism. Bowie covered the Easybeats' "Friday on my Mind" on his 1973 album "Pinups."

Answer: Oasis

Oasis had a major hit with "Don't Look Back in Anger" and acknowledged David Bowie as one of their major influences.

Answer: Cross-dressing

The video contains a number of scenes featuring what appear to be the song's three backup singers but who are actually all played by David Bowie in drag. The song is considered a satirical response to the Village people, e.g., "YMCA," and pokes fun at gender stereotypes.

10. The song "DJ" was another single from "Lodger." In the accompanying video, there are a couple of scenes where Bowie is wearing what item on his face?

Answer: A gasmask

This is another satirical song, this time a comment on the public image of DJs, and some of the scenes in the video show Bowie destroying a DJ studio. What the gasmask represents is never explained. Bowie did have an eyepatch-wearing persona earlier in his career during his glam rock phase. As far as I know, he never wore Groucho Marx glasses or a fake beard though.

Source: Author agentofchaos

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