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Quiz about Hits Sung In A Foreign Language

Hits Sung In A Foreign Language Quiz

Over the years, not many songs in a language other than English have been successful in the North American market. This quiz deals with the songs and artists that did and covers the years from 1958 to 1991. Have fun!

A multiple-choice quiz by Maddogrick16. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Maddogrick16

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
170,686

Updated
Jul 22 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
996

One at a Time - Single Page

Question 1 of 10

1. This foreign language song was #1 for five weeks in 1958. It also has the distinction of winning the first Grammy ever for Best Song. Of course the song was "Volare". Who was the recording artist? Hint

Dean Martin

Domenico Modugno

Renato Carosone

Rocco Granata

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Question 2 of 10

2. Emilio Pericoli had a #6 hit in 1962 with this song from the film "Rome Adventure", a piece of romantic fluff starring Troy Donahue and Suzanne Pleshette. It was? Hint

"Eh, Cumpari"

"Al Di La"

"Begin the Beguine"

"Arrivederci Roma"

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Question 3 of 10

3. "Sukiyaki" was a big hit in the summer of 1963, topping the charts for three weeks. Who was the singer? Hint

Kyu Sakamoto

Shingo Katayama

Jumbo Ozaki

Shigeki Maruyama

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Question 4 of 10

4. In December 1963, The Singing Nun had a huge hit that was #1 for four weeks. It was? Hint

"Frere Jacques"

"Soeur Sourire (Sister Smile)"

"Jean"

"Dominique"

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Question 5 of 10

5. "Guantanamera" was a #9 hit in 1966 and was this Los Angeles based trio's biggest hit. Hint

The Sandpipers

Santa Esmeralda

Mongo Santamaria

The Safaris

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Question 6 of 10

6. Miriam Makeba had a #12 hit in 1967 which was sung in a South African tribal language. It was? Hint

"Skokiaan"

"Welela"

"The Click Song"

"Pata Pata"

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Question 7 of 10

7. In 1971, Santana had a #13 hit with this Spanish language number. Hint

"La Cucaracha"

"Oye Como Va"

"Cielito Lindo"

"El Condor Pasa"

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Question 8 of 10

8. "Eres Tu (Touch The Wind)" was another song sung in Spanish that peaked on the charts at #9 in the spring of 1974. Who recorded it? Hint

DeFranco Family

Mocedades

La Belles

DeCastro Sisters

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Question 9 of 10

9. In 1959, Richie Valens had a #22 hit with "La Bamba". It charted just before his untimely death in the Buddy Holly plane crash. The song was reprised in 1987 as part of the movie of the same name based on Valens' life. This time it hit #1 on the charts! What was the name of the group who sang the 1987 version. Hint

Los Bravos

Los Umbrellos

Los Del Rios

Los Lobos

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Question 10 of 10

10. The song "Sadeness" was a surpise #5 hit in 1991. It featured traditional Gregorian Chant sung in Latin backed with a disco beat. What recording act came up with this novel approach? Hint

Extreme

Eternal

Exile

Enigma

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Domenico Modugno

Dean Martin did record the song but his version only reached #12 on the charts. Modugno's version was the big hit and award winner. Carosone charted once with "Torero" that hit #18 in 1958 and Granata also had one hit - "Marina" which charted #31 in 1959.

2. Emilio Pericoli had a #6 hit in 1962 with this song from the film "Rome Adventure", a piece of romantic fluff starring Troy Donahue and Suzanne Pleshette. It was?

Answer: "Al Di La"

"Eh, Cumpari" was a big hit for Julius LaRosa in 1953, "Begin the Beguine" was Artie Shaw's biggest hit in 1938 and although "Arrivederci Roma" is something of a standard that has been recorded many times by many people, no version has ever charted top forty.

3. "Sukiyaki" was a big hit in the summer of 1963, topping the charts for three weeks. Who was the singer?

Answer: Kyu Sakamoto

"Sukiyaki" was also a big #3 hit for "A Taste Of Honey" in 1981 when they applied English lyrics to the melody. However, the lyrics were not a translation of the original version. The Japanese title of the song was "Ue O Muite Aruko" meaning "I Look Up When I Walk". Sakamoto was one of the unfortunate souls killed when a JAL 747 slammed into Mount Fuji in 1985. Ozaki, Katayama and Maruyama were all Japanese professional golfers.

4. In December 1963, The Singing Nun had a huge hit that was #1 for four weeks. It was?

Answer: "Dominique"

The Singing Nun was Sister Luc-Gabrielle whose real name was Jeanine Deckers who recorded in Europe under the name Soeur Sourire. Eventually, she left the Order and ultimately committed suicide in 1985.

5. "Guantanamera" was a #9 hit in 1966 and was this Los Angeles based trio's biggest hit.

Answer: The Sandpipers

They recorded a Spanish version of "Louie, Louie" that peaked at #30 in 1966, had a #17 hit with an English language song in 1970 entitled "Come Saturday Morning", then vanished from the scene.

6. Miriam Makeba had a #12 hit in 1967 which was sung in a South African tribal language. It was?

Answer: "Pata Pata"

She was born in Johannesburg in 1932 and was politically active in South Africa in opposition to apartheid. She was expelled from her homeland in the 60's. Among her five husbands were Hugh Masekela, the jazz musician, and the one-time leader of the Black Panthers, Stokely Carmichael. She was welcomed back to South Africa with the change in government.

7. In 1971, Santana had a #13 hit with this Spanish language number.

Answer: "Oye Como Va"

Although all their early hits were rhythmically Latin based, this was the only one sung in Spanish that charted. All their other hits were sung in English.

8. "Eres Tu (Touch The Wind)" was another song sung in Spanish that peaked on the charts at #9 in the spring of 1974. Who recorded it?

Answer: Mocedades

Mocedades was a sextet from Bilbao, Spain and featured the vocal talents of the Amezaga sisters, Amaya and Izaskum. "Eres Tu" was their only chart success in North America.

Answer: Los Lobos

Los Bravos had a hit in 1966 with "Black is Black", Los Del Rios were responsible for "Macarena" in 1996 and Los Umbrellos' biggest hit was the #42 song "No Tengo Dinero" (not a big hit but what a video!).

10. The song "Sadeness" was a surpise #5 hit in 1991. It featured traditional Gregorian Chant sung in Latin backed with a disco beat. What recording act came up with this novel approach?

Answer: Enigma

The fad quickly faded but not before a number of albums were produced and released by actual monks singing traditional Gregorian Chants more or less in the same modern vein.

Source: Author Maddogrick16

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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