Historical Figures in Songs Multiple Choice Quiz | Something in Common

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. "Tin soldiers and ______ coming We're finally on our own This summer I hear the drumming Four dead in Ohio" Which US president is mentioned in this song by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young?

Answer: Nixon

From 'Ohio' on the album 'So Far' (compilation album) by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

A song about the Kent State shootings.

2. "Whatever happened to ___________? He got an ice pick, that made his ears burn" Which revolutionary is mentioned in this song by The Stranglers?

Answer: Leon Trotsky

From 'No More Heroes' (both album and song title) by The Stranglers.

This line refers to the murder of Trotsky on the orders of Stalin. He was stabbed with an ice pick.

Lenin created the USSR after the Bolsheviks took power in the November revolution of 1917. Stalin won the power struggle after Lenin's death. His main rival Trotsky fled the country. He was murdered in 1940 in Mexico City.

Bukharin was Stalin's ally in this power struggle until he was purged himself and executed after a show trial in 1938.

3. On 'Trompe le Monde' by The Pixies there's a song about a famous engineer. Who is he? Hint: "They didn't want it but he built it anyway".

Answer: Alexandre Gustave Eiffel

From 'Alec Eiffel' on the album 'Trompe le Monde' by The Pixies.

The Eiffel Tower, named after its builder, was constructed for the 1889 World's Fair. Many inhabitants of Paris thought it was an eyesore.

Imhotep was an Egyptian engineer who built Pharaoh Djoser's step pyramid. Christopher Wren built St. Paul's Cathedral in London. Isambard Kingdom Brunel was a British engineer who designed a great number of ships and bridges.

4. "RA RA ________ Lover of the Russian queen There was a cat that really was gone" Who is mentioned in this song by Boney M?

Answer: Rasputin

From 'Rasputin' on the album 'Nightflight to Venus' by Boney M.

The queen is Alexandra Romanovna (born Alix of Hesse), wife of Nicholas II, last tsar of Russia. Whether Rasputin really was her lover is unknown, but it is certain that he had a lot of influence on the queen because he seemed to be the only one who could cure her son (crown prince Alexis) who suffered from haemophilia. In December 1916 Rasputin was murdered by Russian nobles who resented his influence on the imperial household.

Ramesses is the name of many Egyptian pharaohs. Ragnar Lodbrok is a legendary Viking. John Rambo is a fictional character.

5. "And now I know how ________ felt Now I know how _________ felt As the flames rose to her Roman nose And her Walkman started to melt" Which French heroine is mentioned in this song by The Smiths?

Answer: Joan of Arc

From 'Bigmouth Strikes Again' on the album 'The Queen is Dead' by The Smiths.

Marianne is a symbol of France representing liberty and reason. Marie Antoinette was a queen of France who was guillotined in the aftermath of the French Revolution. Eleanor was a duchess of Aquitaine who was married to Louis VII, king of France. She had the marriage annulled and later remarried Henry II, king of England.

6. "She's a good girl, loves her mama Loves ______ and America, too She's a good girl, crazy 'bout Elvis Loves horses and her boyfriend, too" Who is mentioned in this Tom Petty song?

Answer: Jesus

From 'Free Fallin'' on the album 'Full Moon Fever' by Tom Petty.

7. "My my At Waterloo ________ did surrender Oh yeah And I have met my destiny in quite a similar way" Which general is mentioned in this ABBA song?

Answer: Napoleon

From 'Waterloo' on the album 'Waterloo' by ABBA.

Wellington defeated Napoleon at Waterloo. Bl�cher was the Prussian general whose troops joined the battle in the closing stages and helped to accomplish victory for the seventh coalition (anti France coalition consisting of several nations). Mikhail Kutuzov was a Russian general who fought in the Napoleonic wars.

8. Which US president is NOT mentioned in Billy Joel's 'We didn't Start the Fire'?

Answer: Abraham Lincoln

'We Didn't Start the Fire' is a song on the album 'Storm Front' by Billy Joel.

A whole number of historical figures are mentioned in this song amongst which are no less then five US presidents: Truman, Nixon, Kennedy, Eisenhower and Reagan. Not Abraham Lincoln though.

9. "Karma Police Arrest this girl Her _______ hairdo Is making me feel ill And we have crashed her party" Which dictator is mentioned in this Radiohead song?

Answer: Hitler

From 'Karma Police' on the album 'OK Computer' by Radiohead.

Stalin (Russia), Franco (Spain) and Pol Pot (Cambodia) were dictators too but Hitler stands out with the silliest hairdo.

10. "On the shore lay __________ With his coca leaves and pearls In his halls he often wondered With the secrets of the worlds." From 'Cortez the Killer' by Neil Young. Who, except Cortez, is mentioned?

Answer: Montezuma

From 'Cortez the Killer' on the album 'Zuma' by Neil Young.

A song about the conquest of the Aztec empire by Spanish conquistadors. Montezuma was king of the Aztecs when Cortez landed in Mexico in 1519 CE.

Pacal was a Maya king who ruled Palenque between 603-633 CE. Pachacuti Inca was the Inca king who transformed the small Cuzco kingdom into a great empire (15th century CE). Ahuizotl was the Aztec king who preceded Montezuma.

Source: Author AlonsoKing

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Historical Figures in Songs Trivia Quiz

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