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Quiz about Songwriters Inspirations No 1

Songwriters' Inspirations No. 1 Quiz

Most Americans know that Francis Scott Key's inspriation for the "Star Spangle Banner" was the battle at Ft. McHenry. How about the creative inspiration of other favorites?

A multiple-choice quiz by rblayer. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
rblayer

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
190,794

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
552

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Ricky Nelson wrote and recorded "Garden Party" in 1972. About what "garden" was he referring? Hint

A backyard garden

Garden of Eden

Madison Square Garden

Garden of Good and Evil

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Question 2 of 10

2. What was James Taylor's inspiration for "Fire and Rain"? Hint

A school fire

His own life

A car crash

An earthquake

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Question 3 of 10

3. Who was Paul Anka's "Diana"? Hint

A girlfriend

An royal princess

A movie star

A babysitter

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Question 4 of 10

4. What was the significance of the numbers in the 1970 Chicago hit "25 Or 6 to 4"? Hint

Gambling odds

Lottery pick

Someone's birthday

Time of day

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Question 5 of 10

5. Who was the inspiration for the Derek and the Domino's hit "Layla"? Hint

Eric Clapton's sister

Grace Slick

Janis Jopling

George Harrison's wife

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Question 6 of 10

6. In 1964 the Four Seasons had a mega-hit with "Rag Doll". Who or what was the songwriters inspiration? Hint

A prostitute

His younger sister

A toy on a playground

A ragged and dirty little girl

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Question 7 of 10

7. Of whom was Roy Orbison thinking when he wrote "Pretty Woman"? Hint

His girlfriend

His wife

A woman he saw walking down the street

Sandra Dee

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Question 8 of 10

8. About whom did Paul Anka write 1960's "Puppy Love"? Hint

His first grade teacher

His second grade girlfriend

Debbie Reynolds

Annette Funicello

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Question 9 of 10

9. One of Bob Dylan's most often performed songs is "Just Like a Woman". About whom was Dylan singing? Hint

His mother

Rita Coolidge

Janis Joplin

A pin-up girl

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Question 10 of 10

10. Who was Buddy Holly's "Peggy Sue"? Hint

His drummer's girlfriend

His imaginary girlfriend

His high school sweetheart

His mother

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Ricky Nelson wrote and recorded "Garden Party" in 1972. About what "garden" was he referring?

Answer: Madison Square Garden

Nelson appeared in New York City in 1971 and everyone at Madison Square Garden expected him to play his old hit songs. Instead, he played his newer songs and was badly booed.

2. What was James Taylor's inspiration for "Fire and Rain"?

Answer: His own life

It was once rumored that the song was about the death of Taylor's girlfriend in a plane crash, but this was false. Taylor wrote the song when he was 20 years old, and suffering from depression and drug addiction.

3. Who was Paul Anka's "Diana"?

Answer: A babysitter

Anka wrote this song when he was 15 years old, and hopelessly in love with his sister's babysitter, Diana.

4. What was the significance of the numbers in the 1970 Chicago hit "25 Or 6 to 4"?

Answer: Time of day

Chicago singer Robert Lamm wrote the song about songwriting difficulties in the early morning. The title indicates that it is either 3:35 AM (ie. 25 minutes to 4) or 3:36AM (ie. 26 minutes to 4).

5. Who was the inspiration for the Derek and the Domino's hit "Layla"?

Answer: George Harrison's wife

Eric Clapton fell madly in love with Patti Harrison, the wife of one of the Beatles, and they married after a torrid affair. This didn't seem to affect the friendship of George and Eric, as George, joined by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, played at their wedding.

6. In 1964 the Four Seasons had a mega-hit with "Rag Doll". Who or what was the songwriters inspiration?

Answer: A ragged and dirty little girl

Bob Gaudio claims that while he was stopped at a red light in New York City, a dirty-faced, ragged-dressed little girl ran out and wiped his windshield. The inspiration for the hit song earned the girl $5.

7. Of whom was Roy Orbison thinking when he wrote "Pretty Woman"?

Answer: His wife

Roy wrote this song for his wife, Claudette. They eventually divorced and later remarried, only to have Claudette die tragically in a motorcycle accident.

8. About whom did Paul Anka write 1960's "Puppy Love"?

Answer: Annette Funicello

Annette and Paul had a very secret affair while on tour together. After the tour, the ex-Mickey Mouse Club member married Anka's manager.

9. One of Bob Dylan's most often performed songs is "Just Like a Woman". About whom was Dylan singing?

Answer: A pin-up girl

Edie Sedgwick was a pin-up girl and her picture was featured on Dylan's 1966 "Blonde on Blonde" album. She tragically died of a drug overdose in 1971.

10. Who was Buddy Holly's "Peggy Sue"?

Answer: His drummer's girlfriend

Peggy Sue Gerron dated Jerry Allison who was Holly's drummer on The Crickets. Peggy Sue and Jerry eventually got married. In 2001, 48,000 people in Holly's hometown of Lubbock, Texas sang the song at a Texas Tech football game in hopes of making the "Guinness Book of World Records".

Source: Author rblayer

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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