Serenading New York Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl

This is a Christmas song about an Irish couple down on their luck in New York. The couple had dreams about being a success but sadly their dreams were never fulfilled.
The song was a track on the band's third album "If I Should Fall from Grace with God" which was released in 1988. Kirsty MacColl was the wife of producer Steve Lillywhite who asked her to record a vocal. He decided to keep the recording and the song was released with Kirsty MacColl singing together with Shane McGowan.
"The boys of the NYPD choir / Still singing "Galway Bay" / And the bells were ringing out / For Christmas day" is the song's refrain.

Answer: Ace Frehley

The song was written by Russ Ballard who was the singer and guitarist of the group Argent. Ace Frehley recorded the song in 1978 as part of his eponymous first album which included nine tracks. The song became a hit and was subsequently included in the songs performed by KISS. The chorus of this stomping song is "I'm back, back in the New York Groove".

Answer: Billy Joel

The song appeared on the 1976 "Turnstiles" and expressed Joel's emotions on his returned to New York after a four year absence. The song was never released as a single but was one of Joel's favourites. His feelings were made clear by singing "I know what I'm needin', and I don't want to waste more time / I'm in a New York state of mind."

Answer: AC/DC

The song was a track on the band's "Stiff Upper Lip" album that came out in 2000. It was also released as a single with some modicum of success. It was written by the Young brothers and talks about enjoying the life and girls of the City. The last line of the song which is "I feel safe in a cage in New York city" paints a completely different picture!

Answer: Simon and Garfunkel

The song was a track on the duo's fifth studio album "Bridge over Troubled Water" which was released in early 1970. Paul Simon wrote the song while Art was away filming "Catch-22". His feelings are clearly shown in the opening lyrics of the song. "Tom, get your plane right on time / I know your part'll go fine / Fly down to Mexico / Do-n-do-d-do-n-do and here I am, / The only living boy in New York".

Answer: Don Henley

The song was a track on Henley's 1989 album "The End of the Innocence" and was released as a single in late 1990 with moderate success. The song also featured on the Eagles 1994 album "Hell Freezes Over". The song tried to capture the atmosphere of the City and how things could change in just a minute. "In a New York minute / Everything can change / In a New York minute / Things can get pretty strange".

Answer: R.E.M.

The song was a track on the 2004 album "Around the Sun" and was released as a single the same year. Although the song charted at number five in the UK's "Official Chart Company" it failed to make any impression in the US charts. The song was described by the lead singer Michael Stipe as a love song about one his favourite cities. "Leaving was never my proud / Leaving New York never easy / I saw the light fading out".

Answer: The Strokes

The song was a track on the band's "Is This It" album that was released in 2001. The track was removed from the album following the tragic events in New York in September 2001. The song was about how to avoid capture while engaged in illegal activities. The line that caused the song's withdrawal was "New York City cops / They ain't too smart".

Answer: The Doors

The song appeared on the band's 1972 album "Full Circle" and was written by Ray Manzarek". The album was released in August 1972 and was the second album following the loss of Jim Morrison The song was all about the sun and the moon falling in love and making their way to Earth.

The man ended up in Peking and the woman in New York. To fulfil their love the travelled to a little island in the Philippines where "'Cause you're invited to a wedding and to share the dream / Of the Peking King and the New York Queen".

Answer: Boz Scaggs

The song appeared on the 1980 album "Middle Man" which included nine tracks altogether. The song appeared as the B-side of the single "JoJo" which was also on the album. Boz Scaggs was a guitarist with The Steve Miller Band and was also associated with the band Toto. "Do like you do in New York / Go another round / Do like you do in New York City / Don't look down".