She Changed My Life: Musical Inspirations Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. "It was the third of June On that summer's day" Which older woman made a man of Neil Diamond?

Answer: Desiree

"Desiree" is a track from Neil Diamond's 1977 album "I'm Glad You're Here With Me Tonight".
It describes a one-night liaison between a young man and a much older woman, after which he never sees the lady again but she continues to haunt his thoughts. As these things do...

2. "Well we drank champagne and danced all night Under electric candlelight" Who was the "lady" that managed to confuse The Kinks?

Answer: Lola

"Lola" is a transvestite who picks up a young man in a club and proceeds to take him home. He is never quite sure what is going on as "she walked like a woman and talked like a man".
The song was a hit for The Kinks in 1970, and was based on band manager Robert Wace's actual experience. According to singer Ray Davies, Wace did not realise anything until the next morning when they pointed out the stubble on his "lady" friend's cheek.

3. "The morning sun when it's in your face really shows your age But that don't worry me none in my eyes you're everything" Yet another older woman showed Rod Stewart the ropes. Who was she?

Answer: Maggie May

"Maggie May" was a hit for Rod Stewart off his "Every Picture Tells a Story" album in 1971.
According to Stewart the song was written about his own experiences with an older lady at the Beaulieu Jazz Festival in 1961.

4. "Please excuse me, I never meant to break your heart. So sorry I never meant to break your heart. But you broke mine" Marillion felt really bad about breaking this girl's heart. Who was she?

Answer: Kayleigh

"Kayleigh" was a big hit for Marillion in 1985, taken from the band's album "Misplaced Childhood".
According to lead singer Fish, the song is about several relationships of his that morphed into one, and the name comes from a woman he dated called "Kay Leigh". Sadly, Fish reported in October 2012 that she had passed away.

5. "You've been running and hiding much too long. You know it's just your foolish pride" Who was the girl that had Eric Clapton on his knees?

Answer: Layla

"Layla" was written by Eric Clapton for the 1972 Derek and the Dominoes album "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs".
It was inspired by Pattie Boyd who was married to The Beatles' George Harrison at that stage. Boyd would go on and divorce Harrison, and married Clapton in 1979. Unfortunately, that spark only lasted ten years before they too were divorced.

6. "Do you ever dream of me? Do you ever see the letters that I write? When you look up through the wire" Who was the unattainable love of Elton John's life?

Answer: Nikita

Released in 1985, "Nikita" was a hit for Elton John from his "Ice on Fire" album.
It was written about a fictional East German border guard who Elton "fantasized" having a relationship with.
Interestingly, Nikita is normally a male name in Russian- Elton John acknowledged that he was aware of that and he may have chosen the name because of his own sexuality.
The video for the song is memorable and features Elton and Nikita looking at each other through the barbed-wire fence of the Berlin Wall, with him fantasizing taking her to a football game.

7. "You don't have to put on the red light" What was the name of the prostitute that The Police fell in love with?

Answer: Roxanne

"Roxanne" was a hit for The Police on their 1978 album "Outlandos d'Amour".
The song was inspired by prostitutes near the band's hotel in Paris during a tour, and Sting wrote the song out of the viewpoint of a man who falls in love with one of the girls and tries to take her out of "the life".
The name of the girl was inspired by a poster of the play "Cyrano de Bergerac" which was hanging in the foyer of the same hotel.

8. "I'll never find another girl like you, for happy endings it takes two We're fire and ice, the dream won't come true" Who was the lady that Starship could not get along with anymore?

Answer: Sara

"Sara" was a major hit for Starship from their 1985 album "Knee Deep in the Hoopla". It was the second number one of the album after the massive hit "We Built This City", and also the second number one after their namechange from Jefferson Starship, who had previously been the highly successful Jefferson Airplane.
The song is named for band vocalist Mickey Thomas' then wife, Sara.

9. "I cross the street to her house and she opened the door She stood there laughing I felt the knife in my hand and she laughed no more" Who was the lady that drove Tom Jones to murder?

Answer: Delilah

"Delilah" was a hit for Tom Jones in 1968, written by Barry Mason.
The song describes a jealous lover who finds his lady having an affair with another man. When the lover leaves he confronts her, and when she laughs at him he stabs her in a rage.

10. "I got up to wash my face When I come back to bed Someone's taken my place" What is the name of the girl who breaks Simon and Garfunkel's heart?

Answer: Cecilia

"Cecilia" was a hit for Simon and Garfunkel from their 1970 album "Bridge Over Troubled Waters".
The song is not so much about a girl but a metaphor for the fickle music industry that reveres what is popular but very quickly discards you for a new fad.
St. Cecilia is also the patron saint of music, lending credence to this theory.

Source: Author strudi74

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Sometimes a girl comes along who just knocks you off your feet and changes your life. Here are ten ladies who affected songwriters over the years. Enjoy.

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