Gilbert and Sullivan Rock and Roll Songs Multiple Choice Quiz | Music

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. A catchy name can draw quite a bit of attention to an entertainer. What change did manager Stephen Shane suggest Gilbert O'Sullivan make to his name?

Answer: He suggested he change his first name to Gilbert.

Raymond Edward O'Sullivan was born in Waterford, Ireland in 1946. His family moved to London when he was a child. Playing in various bands while in college, O'Sullivan met Stephen Shane in the late 1960s. Shane suggested Raymond change the first name of his stage name to Gilbert to suggest "Gilbert and Sullivan"--whose operettas have been popular since the late 1800s. O'Sullivan's early solo appearances often sported a "schoolboy" costume with a pudding-bowl haircut and short pants.

2. Gilbert O'Sullivan has had many singles that hit the charts. Which of the following was the first of his songs to be a Top Ten hit in any country?

Answer: Nothing Rhymed

While not his first released single, "Nothing Rhymed" was the first to score a high spot on the charts. "Nothing Rhymed" went to Number eight in the United Kingdom, Number two in Ireland, and Number 1 in the Netherlands when it was released in 1970. Written by O'Sullivan himself, the song first appeared as a single before appearing on his 1971 debut album "Himself". "Alone Again (Naturally)" (1972), "Clair" (1972), and "Get Down" (1973) were also hits but in later years.

3. "Alone Again (Naturally) is a well-known Gilbert O'Sullivan song. This introspective ballad features a melancholy narrator. Which of the following, according to the song, best describes the cause of his sadness?

Answer: He has been deserted at the altar by his would-be bride.

The lyrics to the song include the following: "Left standing in the lurch at a church / Were people saying, My God, that's tough / She stood him up / No point in us remaining / We may as well go home / As I did on my own / Alone again, naturally"

"Alone Again (Naturally)" was written by O'Sullivan and spent six weeks at Number one on the US Billboard chart. The song also rose to Number 3 in the United Kingdom and Number two in Ireland. Although the song did not originally appear on his 1972 album "Back to Front", it did appear as a bonus track on the 2012 reissue of the album. Though it may sound otherwise, the song is not considered autobiographical.

4. Songwriters sometimes write song about people they know. Which of these songs did Gilbert O'Sullivan write about the daughter of his manager?

Answer: Clair

"Clair" appeared on his 1972 album "Back to Front". The real Clair was the then-three-year-old daughter of O'Sullivan's manager, Gordon Mills. The song's reference to "Uncle Ray" is actually a reference to O'Sullivan's real first name. The song rose to Number One on various charts in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, and Canada.

5. Most of Gilbert O'Sullivan's singles were also released on albums. Which song is unusual in only being released as a single and not on an original studio album?

Answer: Ooh-Wakka-Doo-Wakka-Day

The song was originally released in 1972 and rose to Number 8 on the United Kingdom Singles chart and Number one on the Irish Singles chart. "Ooh-Wakka-Doo-Wakka-Day" would appear on a remastered version of "Back to Front" in 2012. In 2013, a reworded cover of the song was used in advertisements for the United kingdom's National Lottery.

6. Over the years, Gilbert O'Sullivan has released albums with a variety of interesting-sounding titles. Which album was not released by him in the nineteen seventies or eighties?

Answer: Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player

"Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player" was an album released in 1973 by Elton John. "I'm a Writer, Not a Fighter" (1973) included O'Sullivan's songs "Ooh Baby" and "Get Down". The album rose to Number two on the United Kingdom chart and Number 8 on the Netherlands chart. "A Stranger in My Own Backyard" (1974) included "A Woman's Place" and rose to Number nine on the United Kingdom chart. "In the Key of G" (1989) included the song "Lost a Friend".

7. Gilbert O'Sullivan's song "Get Down" is sometimes misinterpreted. According to O'Sullivan himself, what does the command in the song mean?

Answer: Telling a girl to get off of him.

Here's the first few lines of the song: "Told you once before / And I won't tell you no more / Get down, get down, get down / You're a bad dog baby / But I still want you 'round" Though it is a bit ambiguous, O'Sullivan himself has said that he is speaking to a girl in the song. "Get Down" was a Number one hit in the United Kingdom and Ireland and a Number three hit on the United States Adult Contemporary charts.

8. In many ways, the most successful years of Gilbert O'Sullivan's career was in the nineteen seventies. How many number one singles on any national chart did he score during this decade?

Answer: six

"Nothing Rhymed" (1970) and "Underneath the Blanket Go" (1971) were number one in the Netherlands. "Alone Again (Naturally)" was Number one on the United States Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts. "Ooh-Wakka-Doo-Wakka-Day" (1972) was Number one in Ireland. "Clair" (1972) and "Get Down" (1973) were Number 1 in the United Kingdom and Ireland with "Clair" also reaching Number one on the United States Adult Contemporary chart.

As far as his albums go, "Himself" (1971) was a Number 1 album in Norway and "Back to Front" was a Number one album in the United Kingdom and Norway.

9. In the 1990s, Gilbert O'Sullivan was involved in a landmark court which dealt with the use of sampling music in recording. Which of O'Sullivan's songs did rapper Biz Markie sample on his 1991 album "I Need a Haircut"?

Answer: Alone Again (Naturally)

The case title was "Grand Upright Music, Ltd. v. Warner Bros. Records Inc." Biz Markiee had sampled "Alone Again (Naturally)" for use in his song "Alone Again" without getting permission from Gilbert O'Sullivan or his record company. As a result of the decision, musical artists must receive permission from the original artist to sample a previous musical work. Gilbert O'Sullivan was awarded 100% of the royalties for Biz Markie's song.

10. While Gilbert O'Sullivan's first "Greatest Hits" album was released in 1976, he released another compilation album in 2004. While the album may have represented the very best of O'Sullivan's musical library, what soundalike phrase completes the title of the album? "The ____ of Gilbert O'Sullivan"?

Answer: Berry Vest

The album cover features an image of a sleeveless shirt with red berries. "The Berry Vest of Gilbert O'Sullivan" rose to number 20 on the United Kingdom chart and number 32 on the Norwegian chart. This represented O'Sullivan's first appearance on the charts in over a decade.

Source: Author bernie73

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor 1nn1 before going online.
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Gilbert and Sullivan Rock and Roll Songs Quiz

He may not be the "very model of a modern major general" or a "dear, little buttercup", but soft-rockstar Gilbert O'Sullivan does have both Gilbert and Sullivan in his name.

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