Katie Melua Trivia Quiz

Answer: Kutaisi, Georgia, USSR

Katie Melua was born in Kutaisi, Georgia, but she grew up in Batumi, Ajaria. Her family moved to Moscow where they stayed until she was nine when they moved to Belfast, Northern Ireland. She lived there until 1998 when she moved again, this time to Surrey in southern England.

As a result of moving so much Melua is fluent in Georgian, Russian and English. Melua and her family became British citizens in August 2005.

Answer: Ketevan

Her real name is Ketevan, Keti for short, which was anglicized to Katie, when her family moved to Belfast.

Answer: Mike Batt

Mike Batt is best known as the lead singer of The Wombles but he is also a highly successful songwriter and musician. He discovered Melua when she was studying at the Brit School for the Performing Arts. After hearing her perform a song of her own composition, he signed her to his own music label.

Answer: The death of Eva Cassidy

The song "Belfast (Penguins and Cats)" is about the troubles in Belfast, "Piece By Piece" is about the end of Melua's relationship with her boyfriend, "Spiders Web" is about the conflict in Iraq and "Faraway Voice" is about the sudden death of one of Katie Melua's heros, Eva Cassidy. It was while performing this song at her college, she was talent spotted by her now manager, Mike Batt.

Answer: Call Off The Search

"Call Off The Search" reached Number One in the UK album charts on January 17, 2005, knocking Dido off the top spot. It remained there for three weeks, before being pushed to Number Two by Norah Jones for two weeks before returning to Number One for a further three weeks.

Answer: Being part of Band Aid 20

After having an incredible year in 2004, in several interviews Melua cited being part of the charity group Band Aid 20 as the highlight of her year, saying "it was amazing".

Answer: False

Although this is how many people have described her, Katie Melua has never called herself a jazz artist, saying "it would be an insult to jazz singers". Melua often calls herself 'an acoustic singer,' describing her music as a mixture of blues, soul and Irish and Georgian folk.

Answer: Nelson Mandela

Terry Wogan is widely regarded as the person who got Melua noticed, as he often plays her music on his hugely popular radio show. Michael Parkinson interviewed Melua on his chat show, where he told her that he was a great fan. At the 2004 Royal Variety Performance the Queen told Melua that she had heard and enjoyed her CD ("Call Off The Search"). Nelson Mandela has not said that he is a fan of Katie Melua but, when they met at the 46664 concert in 2005, Melua told Mandela that she was a great admirer of his.

Answer: Save the Children

Katie Melua is an ambassador for the charity Save the Children. In 2005 Melua travelled to Sri Lanka where she saw the work that the charity was doing to help those affected by the civil war and tsunami.

Answer: Oxfam charity shops

Katie Melua is famous for going to award ceremonies, looking stunning, in a dress from her local Oxfam shop that cost her less than £50, when most of the other people at the events wear designer outfits that cost hundreds.