Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Although being ranked highly on the Billboard Top 40 charts for 1957, the Diamond's smash hit "Little Darlin'" endured eight weeks in the number two spot, and for almost all of the time was held out by that year's top rated Top 40 song. Can you name the super hit that impeded it? (lack of comprehension?)
2. The next song currently has the unenviable "record" of being second for a total of ten weeks on the Billboard Top 40 charts. In 1981, three hits took the top spot for nine or more weeks. So what was the monster hit that kept British-American band Foreigner's song "Waiting For a Girl Like You" in second place for nine of those weeks? (maybe it could have exerted itself a bit more)
3. A song that went on to win the "record of the year" Grammy Award in the 1983 presentation and was nominated for "song of the year" lingered in second spot for five weeks on the Billboard Top 40 list. It was first retarded by "Don't You Want Me" by The Human League and then by Survivors' "Eye Of The Tiger". Can you pick this tune by a band who came up with a number one single off the same album soon after? (Remember the Serengeti?)
4. In 1978 a fine song reached number one in the Cashbox charts but spent six weeks in the runner-up position on the Billboard Top 40 list thanks to Andy Gibbs' smash hit "Shadow Dancing".(Perhaps Holmes and Watson would be a bit miffed at this.) Can you name it?
5. A song that topped the Canadian charts for seven weeks in 1992 stayed anchored on the Billboard Top 40 in the number two spot for six weeks as a result of Boyz11Men's smash hit "End of the Road". (If you know about an outrage in a Californian hotel you will nail this one.)
6. A song that was certified Platinum in the USA, and became the Christmas number one hit in the UK and Ireland in 1962, couldn't get to the top spot on the Billboard Top 40 and had a malaise in second position for five weeks. "Big Girls Don't Cry " by The Four Seasons suffocated it for those five weeks. (refer The Box Tops big 1967 Billboard hit) What song was it?
7. In April 1964 the top five positions on the Billboard Top 40 charts belonged to - who else but - The Beatles, and so it was fairly obvious that not all would reach the top.
Even though this particular song was holding the number one spot on the Cashbox charts, it was destined to hold number two for four weeks on the Top 40 list. This was recorded on their first ever album session and lead singer John was suffering a very heavy cold. (Checker and Isley?)
8. Bruce Spingsteen's 1984 album "Born In The USA" was a huge success around the world with top ranking in at least nine countries. But incredibly the best performing track could only reach number two for four weeks on the Billboard Top 40 charts. This song was shaded by "The Reflex" by Duran Duran and Prince's "When Doves Cry". (torch music could be appropriate)
9. Towards the end of 1963 and right on the cusp of the forthcoming "British Invasion" a very controversial record hit the Billboard Top 40 charts and stalled in second place for six weeks; denied top position by The Singing Nun's "Dominique" and Bobby Vinton's "There! I've Said It Again". Initially it caused some outrage over its perceived demeanor but it has gone on to have a huge number of covers. (two French kings?)
10. In 1998 Next's "Too Close" and "The Boy Is Mine" by Brandy and Monica combined to deprive a Billboard Hot Country Charts number one from repeating the feat on the Billboard Top 40; it was then stranded on number two for a near-record nine weeks. It was the Canadian singer/songwriter's fourth entry into the Billboard Top 40 charts and the first top ten record.(refer The Platters" no.5 1955)
Source: Author
muffin1708
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor
agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.