Take Heart! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Toni Braxton

The soul singer Toni Braxton was blessed with some powerful pipes, in a somewhat lower range than is usual with the female voice. The caliber of her singing, combined with the song's music that changes keys several times, provide the listener with an ability to appreciate the lyric's meaning: "Come back to me and let me "un-cry these tears..."

"Un-break My Heart" was written by Diane Warren. It was a hit around the world. A particularly popular cover version in Spanish, "Regresa A Mi", was done by the UK-based vocal quartet Il Divo.

Answer: Hungry Heart

"Hungry Heart" can be heard as an anti-romantic song; it's not a love song. The opening lines are: "Got a wife and kids in Baltimore, Jack, I went out for a ride and I never went back, Like a river that don't know where it's flowin', I took a wrong turn and I just kept goin'".

"Hungry Heart" was first released on the double album called "The River" (1980).
The tradition of the audience's singing the song's first verse alone, dated from the tour that supported that LP, and continued throughout Bruce Springsteen's touring career.

Answer: Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes

Southside Johnny is an R&B singer whose real name is John Lyon. "Hearts of Stone" was the title track for his group's third album, produced by Steven Van Zandt. Bruce Springsteen was often criticized, in his early days as a professional musician, for giving away some of his best songs to other artists, and "Hearts of Stone" was often used as an example. But Southside was not just anyone; he and Springsteen are close friends and they both hail from the same area of New Jersey. In any case, no argument about the special quality of this song. Lyrics include: "...But I can't talk now, I'm not alone, so put your ear close to the phone, 'cause this is the last dance, the last chance for hearts of stone." Of course it's a slow number.

It is noteworthy that Bruce Springsteen wrote songs specifically for all the artists named.

Answer: Queen

Queen included this song as a track from their 1977 album "News of the World". The major hits from that album were, of course, "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions", but those song titles don't fit in this quiz!

Answer: "Heartbeat", Buddy Holly

"Heartbeat", which was the last single recorded by Buddy Holly (1958) before his very untimely death, wasn't initially a big hit for the singer, though it did place within the Top 100 on the US charts. Of course it was later to become very well known, as his audience sought out every recording they could lay hands on.

"Heartbeat" and its B-side, "Well All Right", have been covered by many other singers. Some, stars in their own right, released whole albums, such as Bobby Vee ("I Remember Buddy Holly") and Connie Francis ("With Love to Buddy").

Answer: The Yardbirds

"Heart Full of Soul" was written by Graham Gouldman. It was the first single released by the Yardbirds after Jeff Beck took over from Eric Clapton as their lead guitarist. One noteworthy cover of the song, and a great cover at that, was done by the Canadian power trio Rush.

Answer: Al Green

"How Can You Mend A Broken Heart", written by Barry and Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees, is a slow romantic ballad. The Bee Gees released the song in 1971, and it went straight to Number One on the Canadian and American charts. Al Green's
version of "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" was included on his 1972 album "Let's Stay Together". Though performed at an even slower tempo, Green's cover is really note-for-note the same song as the Bee Gees' original; the difference seems to lie in the uniqueness of his voice.

In a rather neat piece of symmetry, "Let's Stay Together", the lovely title track of Al Green's 1972 album, proved to be a major hit for Tina Turner, taken from her 1985 album "Private Dancer". In the 1980s, Al Green turned his beautiful voice to the service of gospel music, releasing albums such as "He Is The Light".

Answer: Elvis Presley

Elvis first sang this romantic ballad in 1953. It was recorded at Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, as one of the two first songs on the legendary acetate demo that Elvis recorded as a birthday present for his mother.

"That's When Your Heartaches Begin" was written in 1937, by a trio of writers: Fisher, Raskin and Hill. It was recorded during that era by the Inkspots, an early and popular black singing group.

Answer: Bonnie Tyler

Welsh vocalist Bonnie Tyler released "Total Eclipse of the Heart" in 1983, on her album "Faster Than the Speed of Night". The song was written by Jim Steinman. The song was recorded with some heavy session musicians, including two members of the E Street Band (Roy Bittan and Max Weinberg) and guitarist Rick Derringer.

"Total Eclipse of the Heart" achieved Number One status in the UK, Canada and Australia, and also went to Number One on the Billboard Hot 100 for 1983. The single went on to sell over six million copies worldwide.

Answer: Switzerland

The band's name is pronounced Doo-BLAY. There were just two members, Felix Haug and Kurt Maloo, and they both are native to Switzerland. When this song entered the charts, it was the first song by a Swiss artist (or group) that had ever been on Billboard's Hot 100. (It peaked at Number 16).

Haug and Maloo wrote the song, and released it as a track on their album "Blue".