I Reflected Deeply and By the Water Quiz

Answer: Thanks for all the joy they're bringing

This song first appeared on the Swedish pop group ABBA's fifth album of their music. Called "ABBA: The Album", this was released in Sweden in 1977. The song itself was released as a single in November in 1983, and in various other musical releases in between times.

Its most popular presentation was perhaps that seen in the excellent film and stage productions of "Mamma Mia!", written by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus. The film, which opened in the United Kingdom in 2008, featured an excellent line-up of performers, including Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Julie Walters.

Answer: I'm a woman's man: no time to talk

"Stayin" Alive" is the signature song from the movie "Saturday Night Fever". The song was released in December 1977 and hit number one on the charts by February, 1978. The movie, released in America, starred John Travolta. It was made with a budget of two and a half million dollars - and grossed over $282,000,000 at the Box Office. Wow!

Answer: Cannot be denied

This exquisite song was written by the Americans Jerome Kern and Otto Harback for the stage musical "Roberta" (1933). It was re-presented in the film adaptation of the same name in 1935, and starred the fantastic Fred Astaire, Gingers Rogers and Randolph Scott.

The song has been recorded by various performers ever since, including the great Nat King Cole himself in 1946. It re-appeared in the 1952 movie "Lovely To Look At", starring Kathryn Grayson. It was the singing group The Platters who probably took this lovely song to its greatest heights when they released it in 1958, when it shot to number one on the charts in America. And, even into the 21st century, almost 100 years after it was first written, the song is still being performed by various artists with an appreciation of its beautiful lyrics and haunting melody.

Answer: Everybody's waiting for me to arrive

Written by Linda Perry, "Get the Party Started" is a song made popular by the lively and energetic performer, Pink, whose real name is Alecia Beth Moore. It's also found on her album "Missundazstood", released in the United States in 2001, and has become known as one of Pink's biggest hits.

Answer: A beautiful sight to see

I just love all those hilarious, pathos-filled songs from the Music Hall era. This one was written by Harry Lamb and Harry Von Tilzer and was one of the most popular songs in the early 1900s. Von Tilzer urged Lamb to change the lyrics to make sure people understood the lady in question was actually married to a rich old man, and wasn't his mistress. Shock, gasp, horror! Can you imagine the moral outrage otherwise? Women everywhere used to break into tears when first hearing this song. It was a beautiful age of innocence, no matter how much we may laugh at it today. Here are just a few of this lovely old song's words:

"She's only a bird in a gilded cage,
A beautiful sight to see,
You may think she's happy and free from care,
She's not, though she seems to be-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-eeeee,
'Tis sad when you think of her wasted life,
For youth cannot mate with age,
And her beauty was sold,
For an old man's gold,
She's a bird in a gilded cage."

Answer: Reflections of the love you took from me

The 1967 song "Reflections" was made popular by Diana Ross and the Supremes. Prior to this, all songs released by the group were credited to The Supremes" but this was the first single to come out in the United States in July of that year featuring the groups' new name. The song was created by the Motown writing team of Holland-Dozier-Holland.

Answer: And fades away like the morning dew

Also known as "O Waly, Waly" this folk song has a Scottish or English background. The original words are said to be a reference to the unfortunate marriage of James Douglas, the 2nd Marquis of Douglas, to his first wife in 1670. In 1906, the lyrics were updated to give the song a wider appeal, and were included in a book of English folk songs known as "Folk Songs from Somerset".

Answer: I'm now alone with a broken heart

This country song was written by Lebowsky and Newman, and recorded in 1956 by Tex Ritter, Jimmy Young and Gogi Grant. It proved immensely popular in the United States on its release there, reaching number one on the charts. Since then it's been recorded by other country and western singers from time to time, with each recording proving as equally popular as the first.

This included a rendition by Patsy Cline in 1962, Frank Ifield in 1963, and James Galway and Sylvia in the 1980s.

Answer: Softly and sadly he sighed

The Vilya are spiritual beings from Slavic legends. They live in woods and by waters and can take any shape they desire, including that of beautiful women. Anyone hearing their voices can fall under their spell and forget to eat, drink or sleep for as long as the Vilya wish. The Vilja are not allowed to fall in love, for if they do, that loved one is doomed to die. In Lehar's "Merry Widow" which was first performed in Vienna in 1905, a hunter falls under the spell of Vilia, one of these beings. She has taken the shape of a beautiful maiden. After loving him, she vanishes and he pines away until he dies. Here is one verse from this exquisite song that sums up this legend.

"The wood-maiden smiled and no answer she gave,
But beckoned him into the shade of the cave,
He never had known such a raptuous bliss,
No maiden of mortals so sweetly can kiss!
As before her feet he lay,
She vanished in the wood away,
Ane he called vainly
Till his dying day!"

Answer: Once in a lullaby

The Academy Award winning song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" was written by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg for the 1939 musical, "The Wizard of Oz". The vulnerable Judy Garland made this song her own in this film, and in every live performance she ever gave afterwards in which the number was included. Every time I see her singing it in the old re-runs of the movie on television, it gives me a lump in my throat remembering her tragic life. Here are the lyrics from this beautiful old number.

"Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.

Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow.
Why then, oh why can't I?

If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, of why can't I?"