Five Letter Songs (P-Z) Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Smiths

"Panic" is a song written by Morissey and Johnny Marr of The Smiths, and released as a single in 1986. As the story goes, the song was written after Marr and Morissey were listening to the radio and heard a news report about the Chernobyl disaster, immediately after which a song by Wham! ("I'm Your Man") was played.

The disproportion of the two events made them angry and led them to write how the music "says nothing to me about my life", and "Hang the DJ".

Answer: Garbage

"Queer" is a 1995 song by the rock band Garbage, from their self-titled debut album. According to singer Shirley Manson, the lyrics don't have as much to do with being gay as with tolerance and, according to band member Duke Erikson, loss of innocence. The song became a top twenty hit on both the UK singles chart and Billboard's Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart.

Answer: Amy Winehouse

"Rehab" (not Rihanna's song) is from the 2006 album "Back to Black", written and performed by British singer Amy Winehouse. The lyrics say "They tried to make me go to rehab/I said no, no, no". At the 50th Annual Grammy Awards in 2008, Amy won five Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album and Best New Artist. Sadly and ironically, in 2011, at the age of 27, she died from alcohol intoxication.

Answer: The Isley Brothers

"Shout" (not the Tears for Fears song) was written by the Isley Brothers, and recorded in 1959. The upbeat tune was written as a contrast to Jackie Wilson's depressing "Lonely Teardrops", to make you want to kick your heels up, throw your head back, get on down, get up and dance with your baby and "Shout".

It only went to number 47 on the Billboard Hot 100, but it became the Isley Brothers' first gold single.

Answer: Aretha Franklin

"Think" (not the Rolling Stones song) is a soul song written by Aretha Franklin and Ted White. Performed by Franklin, the song is from her 1968 album "Aretha Now". It is a feminist paean to men to warn them to think about their actions and the results. "Think" reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100, and hit the top spot on Billboard's Hot Rhythm and Blues Singles.

Answer: Bill Withers

"Use Me" (not Future's song) was written and performed by Bill Withers on his 1972 album, "Still Bill". The lyrics tell of how people are warning him that his love is just using him, but his answer is "You just keep on using me until you use me up". The soul song was his third million seller, after "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Lean on Me". "Use Me" reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Answer: Madonna

"Vogue" is a lighthearted dance tune performed by Madonna on her "I'm Breathless" album, released in 1990. Madonna was introduced to "Vogueing" at the Sound Factory Club in New York City, and the sound became a prototype for the dance music of the 1990s, somewhat reminiscent of the disco scene of the 1970s. The song reached number one in over thirty countries around the world.

Answer: John Lennon

"Woman" was the first single released after John Lennon's death in 1980. It appeared on the "Double Fantasy Album", and was written as a tribute to his wife, Yoko Ono. When Rolling Stone had interviewed Lennon about the song, he said "it was a 'grown-up' version of his song "Girl". "Woman" reached number one on the UK charts and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S.

Answer: Soft Cell

"Youth" (not the Troye Sivan song) is by British Synthpop techno duo Marc Almond and Dave Ball, known as Soft Cell. The song appears on the album "Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret" from 1981, and talks about the fleetingness of youth. One of the other songs to come from that album was their big hit "Tainted Love", which reached number eight on the U.S. charts.

Answer: Beach House

"Zebra", the last song in our alphabetical listing, is by the American band Beach House, from Baltimore, Maryland. The tune is from the group's 2010 album, "Teen Dream". The video features abstract shapes and colors, and the words are almost as obscure, i.e., "Any way you run, you run before us/Black and white horse arching among us", somehow different and deceptive?