Singing Of Continents Trivia Quiz

Answer: South America

"Don't cry for me Argentina
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild days
My mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance"

"Don't Cry for Me Argentina" was the big hit from the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical "Evita". It was originally performed by Julie Covington in 1976 and reached number one on the UK Singles Chart. This recording preceded the stage musical by two years.

Julie Covington decided against performing the role on stage and the UK production opened with Eva being played by Elaine Paige. Patti LuPone had the role in the original Broadway production in 1979.

Answer: Europe

"So how can you tell me you're lonely,
And say for you that the sun don't shine?
Let me take you by the hand and walking you through the streets of London
I'll show you something to make you change your mind"

"The Streets Of London" was written and recorded by English folk singer Ralph McTell. It was first released in 1969 on the album "Spiral Staircase" and then released as a single in 1974 where it reached number two on the UK Singles Chart. Cover versions of the song have been made by more than two hundred artists.

The song is a social commentary on the worlds social outcasts and contrasts their problems with those that only believe they have troubles. He based the song on his experiences while hitchhiking and busking throughout Europe.

Answer: Asia

"One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble
Not much between despair and ecstasy
One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble
Can't be too careful with your company
I can feel the devil walking next to me"

"One Night in Bangkok" is from the 1984 musical "Chess". The original recording was by Murray Head and reached number one on the Australian, Swiss and West German music charts.

The musical contains music by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson (Of ABBA fame) and lyrics by Tim Rice. It is set during the cold war and focus' on the world chess championship between an American and Russian man. The story tells of the political consequences surrounding the game and the love affair between the married Russian player and the American's female manager.

Answer: South America

"Tall and tan and young and lovely
The girl from Ipanema goes walking
And when she passes, I smile, but she
doesn't see. She just doesn't see
No, she just doesn't"

"The Girl from Ipanema" ("Garota de Ipanema") was a worldwide hit with different versions throughout the 1960's. It won a Grammy Award in 1965 for Record of the Year. Ipanema is a fashionable district of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

It was written by Antonio Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes in 1962 for a musical comedy they were writing. Norman Gimbel later translated the words from Portuguese to English.

The song was inspired by fifteen year old Heloísa Pinto who walked daily from her home in Ipanema to the beach - passing a cafe where Jobim and Moraes were regulars.

Answer: Africa

"It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do
I bless the rains down in Africa
Gonna take some time to do the things we never had"

"Africa" was written and sang by US rock band Toto. It appeared on their 1982 album "Toto IV". In February 1983 the single reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the UK Singles Chart.

It nearly wasn't included on the album as the group had become tired of the song after spending so long writing it and some members were worried that it was too different from their usual music. After it's release it was played on all the bands tours until 2008 when they broke up.

Answer: Europe

"Ooh I've been to Nice and the Isle of Greece
while I've sipped champagne on a yacht
I've moved like Harlow in Monte Carlo
and showed 'em what I've got"

"I've Never Been to Me" was written by Ron Miller for Charlene Duncan. She released the song twice - first in 1976 where it reached 97 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart and again in 1982 when it became a major hit reaching number one in the UK and Australia and number three in the US.

The song has the singer replying to a bored housewife who wishes her life could be as exciting and glamorous. Charlene sings of all the wonderful things she's seen and done in her life but it only underlines the shallowness of her existence - she's achieved everything except a sense of self and a life with any meaning.

Answer: Asia

"You've got me turning up, I'm turning down
I'm turning in, I'm turning out
I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese
I really think so"

"Turning Japanese" was a 1980 hit for UK new wave pop band "The Vapors". The song did best in Australia where it reached number one on the ARIA Singles Chart. It charted at number three on the UK Singles Chart and number 36 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

The song was written before their first single but, knowing it would be a hit, they chose to not release it first hoping not to become a 'one hit wonder'. They never did match it's success and the band only lasted from 1979 to 1981.

The lyrics are about a prisoner talking about pictures of his love taped to his cell wall. Dave Fenton, the groups vocalist and songwriter, says "Turning Japanese is all the clichés about angst and youth and turning into something you didn't expect to."

Answer: South America

"When my Baby, When my baby smiles at me I go to Rio De Janeiro
My-oh me-oh
I go wild then I have to do the samba, Then la bamba"

"I Go To Rio" was a signature song of Australian singer-songwriter Peter Allen. It was first released on his album "Taught By Experts" in 1977, the album and the single both went to number one in Australia.

The song is also the finale in the musical "The Boy From Oz" which is based on his life.

Though Allen wrote and recorded many songs himself his greatest career success came via songs he wrote for others including "Don't Cry Out Loud" for Melissa Manchester, Rita Coolidge's "I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love" and his biggest of all "I Honestly Love You" which he co-wrote for Olivia Newton John.

Answer: Africa

"Foreign types with their hookah pipes sing:
Way-oh-way-oh-way-ooo-aaa-ooo...
Walk like an Egyptian."

"Walk Like an Egyptian" was a 1986 hit for "The Bangles" from their "Different Light" album. Songwriter Liam Sternberg got the inspiration for the lyrics from watching people walking on a ferry - the stiff movements reminded him of the reliefs of Ancient Egyptians.

The song reached number one on the US, Dutch and German Singles charts and number three in the UK. It has the distinction of being the first song ever to reach number one on the US Billboard Singles Chart that was performed by an all female band that played their own instruments.

Answer: Europe

"My my, at Waterloo Napoleon did surrender
Oh yeah, and I have met my destiny in quite a similar way
The history book on the shelf
Is always repeating itself

Waterloo - I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo - Promise to love you for ever more
Waterloo - Couldn't escape if I wanted to
Waterloo - Knowing my fate is to be with you"

"Waterloo" was written and performed by ABBA for the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. It won the contest and became a worldwide hit reaching the top ten in 15 countries. As of 2009, it is still the only Eurovision winner that has made it into the US top 40 where it reached number six.

The lyrics compare the singers love life with the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte and the French Empire by the Duke of Wellington and his forces at the Battle of Waterloo in Belgium on the 18th June 1815.