Female Musical Icons Trivia Quiz

Answer: Madonna

Written by Curtis Hudson and Lisa Stevens of American disco group Pure Energy, "Holiday" was released as the third single from Madonna's eponymous 1982 debut album. "Holiday" became a Billboard Hot 100 Top 20 hit in 1983, peaking at Number 16 and contributing to Madonna's rising star in the process. "Holiday" reached Number Six in the UK in January 1984 and then reached Number Two upon re-release in August 1985, thus joining a select group of singles to chart in the UK on two separate occasions.

Answer: Pat Benatar

Written by Canadian songwriter and producer Eddie Schwartz, "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" was recorded for Pat Benatar's 1980 album "Crimes of Passion." "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" became a huge Billboard Hot 100 hit, reaching Number Nine and being certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for selling more than a million singles in the US.

The song has become a familiar tune played at sporting events around the world.

Answer: Tina Turner

Written and performed by Tina Turner in 1973, "Nutbush City Limits" was released as a single by Ike & Tina Turner. The song commemorates Tina Turner's hometown of Nutbush, Tennessee. Reaching Number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Number Four in the UK, "Nutbush City Limits" was the last hit single produced by the duo before they split in 1976.

In March 1980, during his audition to replace the recently deceased Bon Scott as AC/DC's singer, Brian Johnson performed "Nutbush City Limits" as part of his audition, greatly impressing the band's members with his rendition.

Answer: Janis Joplin

"Me and Bobby McGee" was written by American singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson and originally performed by country singer Roger Miller in 1969. Janis Joplin chose to record it for her album "Pearl," recording the now iconic cover just days before her death on October 4, 1970. "Me and Bobby McGee" was ranked by Billboard Magazine as the "Number 11 Song for 1971."

"Me and Bobby McGee" became the second posthumously released Billboard Hot 100 Number One single in 1971, after Otis Redding's R&B/Soul classic "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" in 1968.

Answer: Joni Mitchell

Written and recorded by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, "Big Yellow Taxi" is a protest song inspired by the drabness of seeing a parking lot outside the hotel room she was staying in while on vacation in Hawaii and how concrete was overtaking nature. "Big Yellow Taxi" has become one of the most well known protest anthems of the era.

Although the single only reached Number 67 on the Billboard Hot 100 upon release in 1970, a live version recorded and released in 1974 fared much better, reaching Number 24 on the Hot 100. In 2005, Canadian radio station CBC Radio One ranked "Big Yellow Taxi" as Number Nine on its list of "50 Tracks: the Canadian Edition."

Answer: Aretha Franklin

Originally written and performed by Otis Redding in 1965, "Respect" was covered by Aretha Franklin in 1967 and became her signature song. "Respect" reached Number One on the Billboard Hot 100 and was ranked number five on Rolling Stone magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004.

Aretha Franklin was known as the "Queen of Soul" and in 1987 became the first female performer inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Answer: Anne Murray

Written by Canadian songwriter Gene MacLellan and recorded by a number of artists including Bing Crosby and Elvis Presley, it was Anne Murray's 1969 recording of the track that saw it rise to prominence. Released as a single in June 1970, "Snowbird" reached Number Two on the Canadian Pop charts and Number Eight on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, "Snowbird" has become Anne Murray's signature song and was a firm fan favourite at her concerts.

Anne Murray re-recorded "Snowbird" in 2007 with English soprano Sarah Brightman for her album of covers, "Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends."

Answer: Linda Ronstadt

Originally written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson and performed by Orbison in 1963, Linda Ronstadt covered "Blue Bayou" in 1977 and scored a major worldwide hit with it, reaching Number Three on the Billboard Hot 100 and Number Two on the Cash Box Top 100 in the US as well as Number Three in Australia and New Zealand. "Blue Bayou" was certified Platinum in the US for selling over two million singles.

Don Henley, drummer and vocalist of the Eagles, sung backing vocals on the track.

Answer: Joan Baez

"Diamonds & Rust" was written, composed, and performed by Joan Baez in 1974 and became a minor Billboard Hot 100 hit, reaching Number 35 in 1975. Despite its relative failure on the charts, "Diamonds & Rust" is considered by fans and critics as one of Baez's best songs. The song alludes to Baez's brief romantic relation with Bob Dylan between 1963 and 1965.

In 1997, British heavy metal band Judas Priest recorded a hard rock cover of "Diamonds & Rust." Their version used altered lyrics and has become a fan favourite at their live shows, frequently played in a slow, acoustic style that more faithfully represents the original.

Answer: Joan Armatrading

"Drop the Pilot" was written and performed by Joan Armatrading for her 1983 album "The Key." Whilst it only charted low on the US charts, peaking at Number 78 on the Billboard Hot 100, "Drop the Pilot" represents Armatrading's highest charting US single release.

The song was much more successful in Armatrading's native UK, reaching Number 11 on the UK Singles chart, and spent ten weeks in the Top 40 overall. "Drop the Pilot" was Armatrading's third and final UK Top 40 hit of the 20th century.