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Quiz about Perennial Number Two Hits Never Reaching Top Spot
Quiz about Perennial Number Two Hits Never Reaching Top Spot

Perennial Number Two Hits Never Reaching Top Spot Quiz


Many highly rated songs have, surprisingly,been destined to occupy the "bridesmaid" position for a sustained period of time on the Billboard Top 40 charts. This quiz examines each one's nemesis. (cryptic clues may help)

A multiple-choice quiz by muffin1708. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
muffin1708
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
387,133
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
313
Question 1 of 10
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?) Hint


Question 2 of 10
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) Hint


Question 3 of 10
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?) Hint


Question 4 of 10
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? Hint


Question 5 of 10
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.) Hint


Question 6 of 10
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? Hint


Question 7 of 10
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?)
Hint


Question 8 of 10
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) Hint


Question 9 of 10
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?) Hint


Question 10 of 10
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) Hint



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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?)

Answer: "All Shook Up" - Elvis Presley

Initially Perry Como's "Round and Round" halted the Diamonds for two weeks before Elvis' "All Shook Up" took top place for nine weeks on the Billboard Top 40 charts. A case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time as "Little Darlin'" was ranked number three in the 1957 Billboard Top 40 ratings behind "All Shook Up" and "Love Letters in the Sand".
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)

Answer: "Physical "- Olivia Newton- John

It was Olivia Newton-John's "Physical" that spent ten weeks at the top of the Billboard Top 40 charts and closely avoided "Bette Davis Eyes" and "Endless Love" that both occupied nine weeks at number one on those charts in the months leading up.
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?)

Answer: "Rosanna" - Toto

Toto's "Rosanna" was the song in question, and the band followed up with "Africa" which topped the Billboard Top 40 charts for one week a couple of months later.
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?

Answer: "Baker Street" - Gerry Rafferty

Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty wrote and sang about "Baker Street", a street in the Marylebone district of London. No significant reason was given for the title of the song in its Billboard Top 40 lyrics and it didn't mention No. 221B where Sherlock used to reside.
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.)

Answer: "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough" - Patti Smyth and Don Henley

"Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough" by former Scandal lead singer Patti Smyth and Eagles frontman Don Henley was written by Patti and Glen Burtnik. It was significant that the 13 week run on the top of the Billboard Top 40 list by Boyz11Men was certainly bad luck for Patti and Don.
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?

Answer: "Return to Sender" - Elvis Presley

As Elvis had already chalked up 17 number one Billboard Top 40 hits at this stage it would be doubtful if he had any misgivings about "Return To Sender"s' "failure". However, he received a posthumous award from the US Postal service with a commemorative stamp honoring him.

This set off a flurry of fans and stamp collectors sending off letters to fictitious addresses with the stamp included in the hope that it would come back marked "Return To Sender".
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?)

Answer: Twist And Shout

"Twist And Shout" was recorded for the "Please Please Me" album in early 1963 and John was so sick that a double take was impossible but it appears that the first effort was more than acceptable. His coughing can be heard on the album. With "I Want To Hold Your Hand" ruling the Billboard Top 40 charts for seven weeks at that time, "Can't Buy Me Love" eventually broke through to be number one for five.
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)

Answer: Dancing In The Dark

"Dancing In The Dark" was Bruce's most successful single on the Billboard Top 40 to that time and was voted number one single of 1984 by the "Rolling Stone" magazine readers' poll. The "Born In The USA" album spawned no less than seven songs onto the Billboard Top 40 charts and all reached the top ten.
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?)

Answer: "Louie Louie" - The Kingsmen

Maybe "Louie Louie" was ahead of its time with unfamiliar lyrics then, but after an immediate cult following it has been covered countless times by artists of all genres.
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)

Answer: "You're Still the One" - Shania Twain

Shania Twain's "You're Still The One" remains her best effort on the Billboard Top 40, although, at the time of writing, she has topped the Canadian country charts thirteen times and the US country list on seven occasions.
Source: Author muffin1708

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