Songs Over Time Trivia Quiz

Answer: After the Ball

A definite golden oldie, this song was written by the American Charles Harris in 1891. It relates the story of an old man telling his niece why he never married his sweetheart. It turned out he saw her kissing another man at the ball, but then refused to listen to her explanation, and dissolved their relationship. Sadly she dies (absolutely yummy musical hall stuff) and he finds out after her death that the other man was her brother. It's been performed over and over since then, as a single, by individual entertainers. Oh, and how they wrung the pathos out on stage when singing this lovely old number.

The song originally appeared in the stage musical "A Trip to Chinatown" in 1891. This was then made into a silent movie that appeared years later, which is really hilarious when you think of it. It then re-emerged in the stage musical "Show Boat" in 1927, and again in two film versions of the same name - one made in 1936, and the one most of us would be familiar with, the 1957 musical with Kathryn Grayson. It also cropped up in two additional movies. These were the 1936 film "San Francisco" and the 1940 musical "Lillian Russell". I'd love to see that one if it ever pops up on late night television.

Answer: My Mammy

Performed by the great American performer, Al Jolson himself, this song brought tears to the eyes of audiences everywhere where presented in Jolson's inimitable style. He sang it in the 1918 Broadway production of "Sinbad" and in the films "The Jazz Singer" (1927), "The Singing Fool" (1928) and "Rose of Washington Square" (1939).

It's been performed by hundreds of amateur singers ever since, some doing it justice and some, well let's be kind. Let's just say it brought tears to my eyes as well - usually of laughter.

It was revived in 1967 by the group, The Happenings, and a form of it even emerged in the 1967 musical "Thoroughly Modern Millie".

Answer: Broadway Melody

The lyrics for this song were written in America in 1929 by Charles King. The song proved to be one of the great hits of the time, as well as appearing in the 1929 film of the same name. That tells the story of two girls competing for the heart of a fellow. Simple plot, excellent songs.

This film won an Academy award and holds the honour of being the first talkie to do so. It also featured that great old song "Give My Regards to Broadway". Both songs continue to be revived in various musical presentations featuring songs from that particular era. With the passing of time since there, there's a touch of sorrow whenever they're heard today however, as though something precious, some magical time, has gone forever.

Answer: Who Could Ask for Anything More?

The great George and Ira Gershwin of America composed this excellent jazz number in 1930. It's been around ever since. Its catchy rhythm really made your feet itch to be on a dance floor. The song appeared in the 1930 musical "Girl Crazy", an updated version of the slower tempo number that was used in the 1928 movie "Treasure Girl". Ethel Merman became famous for belting it out in the original Broadway production of "Girl Crazy".

Since then, the song was featured in the 1951 film "An American in Paris". Then it popped up as a number in the 1995 film "Mr Holland's Opus". The number of famous singers who have performed it over the years since it first came hot off the ivories is quite astonishing - including the great Judy Garland herself.

Answer: Summertime

The song was again written by the American George Gershwin and the equally American DuBose Heyward for the 1935 production of "Porgy and Bess". Although the movie isn't seen around much any longer, the song certainly has survived as a great single in its own right.

It has a beautiful relaxed and dreamy feel to the words and the music, and yet at the same time, it suggests an almost sensuous delight in life's simple pleasures.

Answer: I Wanna Be Loved By You

Don't you just love it? This happy, cheeky song was first written in America in 1928 by Herbert Stothart and Harry Ruby. It became totally associated with the American singer Helen Kane (1904-1966). Who is she, I hear you ask? None other than the famous Boop-Boop-a-Doop girl whose image was used later in a series of cartoons as Betty Boop.

The wonderful Marilyn Monroe then really reinforced the fame of the song when she performed it in her 1959 comedic film "Some Like It Hot", also starring Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis.

Answer: Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

Those lyrics are just hilarious! And ever so replete with the deep meaning of life. This song was one fantastic hit by the singing group, the Andrews Sisters. It's just so happy I love it. Its music is described as fitting into the early jump blues genre.

It was written in America by Don Ray and Hughie Prince in 1941, not long before American entered the war, and still reflects a kind of happy optimism before the harsh reality of the war made itself felt. Bette Midler rerecorded the song in 1973, bringing it to the fore once more, and once again, it proved its enduring popularity.

Answer: Ain't Misbehavin'

"Ain't misbehavin', I'm savin' my love for youuuuuu".

Written by Americans Fats Waller, Harry Brooks and Andy Razaf in 1929, this is one of those golden oldies that crop up from time to time in various musical revues. It appeared in the 1943 film "Stormy Weather', again in the musical "Connie's Hot Chocolates" and in the 1978 musical "Ain't Misbehavin" which was "a tribute to black musicians of the 1920s and '30s". An amazing number of top performers have also recorded this song as a single over time. These include Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole and Billie Holiday - just to name a few.

Answer: Rock Around the Clock

The original name of the song was "We're Gonna Rock Around the Clock Tonight". It was then shortened to "(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock", before finally settling on "Rock Around the Clock". It wasn't the first song written for the birth of the rock era, but it symbolised that time from when it first hit the charts in 1954, when it was recorded by Bill Haley and the Comets in America.

It's been described as the anthem for the rebellious youth of the fifties. Sadly now however, those same rebellious youth are now buying perfectly well adjusted dentures.

Answer: Mack the Knife

The music drama, as it was more commonly known, which gave birth to this song was "The Threepenny Opera'. This was written by the Germans, Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht. Now however, who would know that? The song has become an entity in its own right. And it's a fantastic number with one of the best pieces of swing music ever created.

It was recorded by American singer Louis Armstrong as a single in 1956, and then made even more popular with a recording by Bobby Darin in 1959. Interestingly, when Armstrong recorded it, Weill's widow was present in the studio.

It was almost as though she was there to hand the baton on to the next generation.

Answer: Blueberry Hill

The words leave a lot to be desired, but I just love the beat of this old song. Written by Vincent Rose and Al Lewis in the 1940s, and recorded by such greats as Glenn Miller and Jimmy Dorset, it would be Fats Domino who really cemented this song's fame with his version in 1956. Ever since, it's been considered one of Rock and Roll's great classics.

Answer: Satisfaction

Made popular by none other than the English band, the Rolling Stones (whom I detest), this song hit the charts in 1965. It was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, long time members of the Stones. It was their first song to reach number one on the US charts as well. Before it reached number one back in the UK though, it was banned for a while, because of its suggestive lyrics.

However much as I dislike the Stones and their songs, this song has gone down in rock history as number two on the list of the 500 greatest rock songs of all time.

This list was compiled by "Rolling Stone", considered to be the top magazine available for "music, liberal politics and popular culture". Perhaps because it didn't make number one on that list is the real reason why the Rolling Stones "can't get no satisfaction".

Answer: In the Flesh

Hip Hop music symbolised the 1970s in westernised music. Block parties, with DJs playing popular music also became very popular. This type of music has been described as "a voice for the disenfranchised youth of low-economic areas". Oh blah, blah, blah. Every era since music began has had communities disadvantaged in that fashion. It doesn't just belong to the 1970s. Perhaps the difference is that the seventies now had a very visible and audible means of expressing it. I just don't get the wearing of hats back to front though. What's that supposed to symbolise? To me, it just means someone has been dopey enough to put their hat on the wrong way round.

However, back to the song. It was performed by the American rock band, Blondie, whose lead singer, Deborah Harry, used to be a waitress and Playboy Bunny. This band is noted for being one of the pioneers for the 1970s "New Wave and Punk scene". The words of the song are remarkably devoid of intelligence and a grasp of the English language. I've taught teenie boppers who are capable of better expression. In a way perhaps, this song and many of the ones that spring from this era, appear to be simply thumbing their nostril-pierced nostrils at the establishment. In that regard then, their defiance is just a tiny bit admirable. At least they weren't sheep. They were young, rebellious, and ready to take on the world - along with their music.

Answer: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Performed by American singer Cyndi Lauper, this was the first song to become a major hit for her. If it is indeed considered an anthem for feminists everywhere, it's a rather mild one. The words are rather harmless, and the song is easy to listen to. Released by Cyndi in 1983, it soon became "an award-winning video and a world wide hit". Such was this song's appeal, it has been recorded by thirty other artists in various countries as well. Impressive.

Answer: My Heart Will Go On

This song of course is the theme song associated with the 1997 blockbuster movie "Titanic" as the haunting theme that runs through the show. It became an outstanding hit single in its own right however. Written by American composers, James Horner and Will Jennings, and recorded by Canadian singer, Celine Dion, it reached number one on all the charts in many countries right throughout the world. An honour justly deserved. Exquisite words and haunting music combine perfectly.

It's gone down in music history as one of the best selling singles of all time - and it's an absolutely beautiful song with which to complete this quiz.