Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The composer responsible for "MacArthur Park" wrote hit songs for Glen Campbell, the Fifth Dimension, Judy Collins, and others. He was only 22 when he wrote "MacArthur Park". Who is this award-winning, Songwriters' Hall of Fame composer?
2. Wikipedia says that there have been over 50 different recordings of "MacArthur Park", but the original is unquestionably the most well known. The singer was not known for being a singer, but instead was a classically trained actor. Who sang the original version?
3. Probably the second most well known version of this song was recorded by one of the great queens of disco in 1978. At 8 minutes and 40 seconds it was longer than the original version and therefore well suited for dancing (though not really for listening, in my opinion). Who did the disco version?
4. One of the lesser known versions of "MacArthur Park" was recorded by a member of a group of country super stars, known as the Outlaws; which one?
5. Before we get into the lyrics, where is THE MacArthur Park about which the song is written?
6. The song opens with "Spring was never waiting for us, girl. It ran one step ahead while we followed in____________ " In what did we follow Spring?
7. If the opening line was not strange enough, the next couplet goes even further: "Between the parted pages and were pressed in love's hot fevered iron like _____________________________"
8. Then comes the magnificent, often parodied, chorus: "MacArthurs Park is melting in the dark; all the sweet green icing flowing down". Wait, stop the music! Richard Harris is singing "MacArthurs Park" and the name of the song is "MacArthur Park". What happened?
9. OK... the park is melting in the dark and all the sweet green icing is flowing down (whatever the heck that means). Why is the icing flowing and the park melting? Weather is behind this mess.
10. There is a second verse about "a yellow cotton dress", "birds like tender babies" and "old men playing__________________, 'neath the trees" What game are the old men playing 'neath the trees?
11. "MacArthur Park" is a very complex song for a pop song and is divided into four distinct movements. The second movement is beautifully scored and surprisingly poignant.
"There will be another song for me, for I will sing it.
There will be another dream for me, someone will bring it.
I will drink the wine while it is warm
and never let you catch me looking at the sun.
And after all the loves of my life, oh after all the loves of my life _____________________________"
How does this segment of lines end?
12. The third movement of "MacArthur Park" is sometimes referred to as the "scherzo". What does the term "scherzo" mean?
13. After the frantic third movement, we are back on familiar ground. There is a dramatic crescendo, a massive key change, and here comes Richard Harris once again with the closing chorus. He is surrounded by a huge orchestra but stands his ground. As he screams the last two lines of "oh nooooooooooo. oh noooooooooooooooo" in a falsetto one usually associates with a group of singers known as "castrati" he is joined by what instruments, also at the top of their range?
14. In spite of some comments made in jest, I really do love this song, and if it comes on while I am driving, I will pull over, if possible to listen to it. Apparently, many other people agree with me, or at least agreed with me at one time. Despite its length and way-over-the-top nature, when "MacArthur Park" was released in 1968, at what spot did it top out on the American Billboard pop charts?
15. There have been numerous parodies of this great song over the years. Weird Al Yankovic recorded one on his album "Alapolooza". What was it called?
Source: Author
Elder1954
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor
Dalgleish before going online.
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