Song Titles Unsung Trivia Quiz

Answer: A Lover's Concerto

The melody of this song was adapted from Bach's "Minuet in G" and, until 1970, was thought to have been written by Johann Sebastian Bach but was actually composed by Christian Petzold (how's that for a trivia question?). It was Denny Rendell who took the classical piece and turned it into a pop song. "A Lover's Conceerto" was recorded by The Toys (Barbara Harris, Barbara Parritt and June Montiero) in 1966.

It was their first single and their biggest hit, especially when you consider that the group 'disbanded' two years later.

Answer: Harpers Bizarre

Simon and Garfunkel produced yet another hit in 1966 with "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) from their album "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme". Harpers Bizarre (formerly The Tikis) were determined to turn the song into a single; their version reached number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in April 1967.

The band recorded the work of contemporary songwriters, e.g., Randy Newman and Nilsson, and also covered some old standards; their version of Glenn Miller's "Chattanooga Choo Choo" hit number one on Billboard's Easy Listening chart, and their rendition of Cole Porter's "Anything Goes" is heard in the 1970 film "Boys in the Band".

They 'disbanded' in 1969.

Answer: Leitch

Apparently, 1966 was a very good year for writing 'unsung' titles; I guess it was just a cryptic, psychedelic time. Donovan Philips Leitch was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1946; he had his own distinct singing style which blended folk and pop and jazz.

His first successful singles came in 1965 in the UK with "Catch the Wind", "Colors" and "Universal Soldier"; "Sunshine Superman" hit number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and "Mellow Yellow" reached number two (both in 1966). Donovan was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014.

As an aside, one of his daughters is Ione Skye, from the film "Say Anything".

Answer: Ozzy Osbourne

All of the choices were part of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath with Iommi as guitarist, Butler as bassist and Bill Ward on drums. It was Ozzy who was the front man, the lead singer who is said to have bitten the head off a bat at a Des Moines, Iowa concert in January 1982.

As the story goes, someone threw a bat on stage and Ozzy, believing it was rubber (and probably on drugs - Ozzy, not the bat), bit its head off...even worse, the bat bit him back (before its demise) and Ozzy had to be treated for rabies! Early in the 2000s, Ozzy became a TV star of the reality (?) show "The Osbournes" with his wife Sharon and two of their kids, Jack and Kelly.

Answer: Scaramouche

I thought this was a tough one. All of the above characters originated in the "Commedia dell'arte", a type of 16th century Italian theater in which masks were used to portray certain stock characters as a form of satire. Among the stereotypes used were the miserly merchant, foolish old man and mischievous servant. Scaramouche was a combination of the "zanni (servant) and the Capitano", with expansive gestures and affected language. "Bohemian Rhapsody" was released in 1975 and asked "Is this the real life?/Is this just fantasy?", and questioned whether Scaramouche will "do the Fandango".

Inspired by this, Scaramouche is the name of the lead female in the musical "We Will Rock You".

Answer: Taboo

The wrong answers include: "Black Magic Woman" and "Oye Como Va", both from Santana's 1970 album "Abraxas" and the song "Smooth" from "Supernatural" (1999). "Taboo" was released in 1971 on the album called "Santana III 1979", to distinguish it from the band's 1969 debut album; it was their third studio album.

The song goes like this: "Llorando se fue la que un dia me hizo llorar/Llorando se fue la que un dia me hizo llorar/Llorando estara recordondo el amor"; the title refers to the storyteller yearning for the girl he loves, but (as is true in so many unrequited love songs), he is afraid to do anything for fear he might lose her...and so he does!

Answer: Come as You Are

Wow...we've hit the trifecta! In Nirvana's 1991 album, at least three songs fit this quiz in that the titles are not found in the lyrics; actually there is yet another song from "Nevermind" which is applicable, i.e., "Territorial Pissings" but there wasn't enough room in the 'incorrect' section.

The lyrics to "Come as You Are" actually make sense: "Come as you are, as you were/As I want you to be/As a friend, as a friend/As an old enemy" but later drifts into Cobain-land when he swears he doesn't "have a gun".

It seems when Kurt was 17 he had a fight with his mother and wound up on the streets for four months at the Morck Hotel which had a slogan in an old ad saying "Come as You Are".

Answer: Green Day

Green Day is a punk rock band formed in 1986 by Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt. The trio was formed when Tre Cool replaced drummer John Kiffmeyer in 1990 and, in 2012, Jason White made it a quartet. The band has won Grammy Awards for "Dookie" (Best Alternative Album) and with the rock opera "American Idiot" which garnered awards for Best Rock Album, Record of the Year (for "Boulevard of Broken Dreams") and Best Musical Show Album; they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame on April 18, 2015.

As for 1994's "Basket Case", Billie Joe Armstrong claims the song is about his "struggle with anxiety" which made him feel like he was going crazy.

Answer: Affirmation

The wise and wonderful song "Affirmation (I Believe)" from the 1999 album of the same name is the correct answer. Among its words of wisdom: "I believe the sun should never set upon an argument"; "I believe that beauty magazines promote low self-esteem"; "I believe your most attractive features are your heart and soul". Savage Garden was an Australian pop band formed in 1994, consisting of Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones.

In the late 1990s, they had several number one hits including "Truly Madly Deeply", "To the Moon and Back" and "I Knew I Loved You"; and their two studio albums, "Savage Garden" and "Affirmation" were very successful.

Unfortunately, they 'disbanded' in 2001.

Answer: Chris Martin

While all of the above are memebers of the British rock band Coldplay, it is Chris Martin, the lead singer and Jonny Buckland, the lead guitarist, who originally started the band in 1996 under the name Pectoralz. When Guy Berryman linked up, they changed their name to Starfish; finally Will Champion joined the band and, in 1998, they became Coldplay.

In 2000, they received universal renown with their hit single "Yellow" and in 2008 they released the album "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends" with the song lyrics "I used to rule the world/Seas would rise when I gave the word/Now in the morning I sleep alone/Sweep the streets I used to own". (Right on, eh Gwyneth?)