Talk To Me - Songs With Spoken Words Online Quiz | Music

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. 'When I say I'm in love, you best believe I'm in love, L-U-V!'

Answer: The Shangri-Las

The defiant statement of love, L-U-V was the intro to 'Give Him A Great Big Kiss' a number 18 hit for the Shangri-Las in 1964. The song was later covered by artists such as The New York Dolls, Tracey Ullman and Bette Midler.

'Give Him A Great Big Kiss' ended with the girls in the chorus quizzing the lead singer:

"Is he a good dancer?
Whaddayamean, is he a good dancer?
Well, how does he dance?
Close, very, very close!"

2. 'I guess I found out for myself that everyone was right'

Answer: Jan & Dean

'Dead Man's Curve' was a 1963 Jan & Dean song about a fictional car race accident which occurred at the curve known as 'Dead Man's Curve' on Sunset Boulevard west of Doheny Drive in West Hollywood, California. Like many teenage tragedy songs of the era, it contained spoken lines in which the survivor described the tragedy to the doctor treating him:

"Well, the last thing I remember, Doc, I started to swerve
And then I saw the Jag slide into the curve"

"Dead Man's Curve" reached number eight on the Billboard chart.

3. 'What am I doin' here?'

Answer: Larry Verne

Larry Verne's novelty song, 'Mr. Custer' was a number one Billboard hit in October of 1960. It's a largely spoken word production in which Verne speaks as one of General George Custer's troopers on the way to the Battle of the Little Bighorn. The song contains lyrics whose references to native Americans probably wouldn't pass muster these days. Charlie Drake covered 'Mr. Custer' in Britain, reaching number 12 on the charts.

4. 'When I hold you in my arms and I feel my finger on your trigger'

Answer: The Beatles

'Happiness is a Warm Gun' was a cut on the Beatles' 1968 album 'The Beatles' (The White Album). Written by John Lennon, 'Warm Gun' was suggested to him when reading an article in the National Rifle Association's magazine. The title was a takeoff on Charles Schulz's bestselling book of cartoons, 'Happiness Is A Warm Puppy'.

5. 'An island which lay, before the great flood, in the area we now call the Atlantic Ocean'

Answer: Donovan

'Atlantis' was a lengthy monologue describing the mythical civilization of Atlantis and its demise when it slid beneath the ocean. The spoken word segment was followed by a repetitive chorus:

"Way down below the ocean
Where I wanna be, she may be"

The song reached number one in several European countries. In the US it was the B-side of 'To Susan on the West Coast, Waiting" reaching number seven. In the UK, 'Atlantis' reached only number 23.

6. 'He'll rip your lungs out, Jim'

Answer: Warren Zevon

This lung ripper was also "the hairy-handed gent who ran amok in Kent". These spoken lyrics are from Warren Zevon's only US top 40 hit, 'Werewolves Of London'.

The idea for the song was jokingly suggested to Zevon by Phil Everly after seeing the 1935 film 'Werewolf of London'. Personnel on the song include Mick Fleetwood and John McVie of Fleetwood Mac on drums and bass.

7. 'Eatin' a Reuben sandwich with sauerkraut'

Answer: The Hombres

Thought by some critics to be a parody Bob Dylan's 'Subterranean Homesick Blues', 'Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out)' was The Hombres' only chart appearance, reaching number 12 in 1967. A cover by Jonathan King peaked at 26 on the UK chart in 1969. In addition to appearing in the soundtrack of the 2005 film 'Elizabethtown,' other covers were released by The Nails and by John Cougar Mellencamp. 'Let It All Hang Out' certainly had some of the most enigmatic lyrics ever to grace the pop charts:

"It's rainin' inside a big brown moon
How does that mess you baby up, leg
Eatin' a Reuben sandwich with sauerkraut
Don't stop now, baby, let it all hang out"

8. 'Dearly beloved, we have gathered here today'

Answer: Prince

'Let's Go Crazy' was the opening track of both the album and movie 'Purple Rain.' The song was Prince's second Billboard number one and reached the top ten in Britain. 'Let's Go Crazy' became a frequent concert opener for Prince.

9. 'Now go stand in the corner'

Answer: Taylor Swift

"Now go stand in the corner and think about what you did" opened Taylor Swift's song, 'Better Than Revenge'. The song was one of 14 singles which reached the charts from Swift's 2010 album, 'Speak Now'.

10. 'Two silhouettes saying goodnight by the garden gate'

Answer: The Kinks

The lyric is from 'Come Dancing' one of Ray Davies' nostalgic looks back at his childhood. Released from the 1983 album 'State Of Confusion', the single reached the number six spot on the Billboard chart in the US and peaked at 12 in the UK. The silhouettes Ray was watching as they said goodnight were his sister and her boyfriend coming home late from an evening at the neighborhood dance hall.

Source: Author wilbill

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Talk To Me - Songs With Spoken Words Quiz

These songs have something in common - they all contain passages which are spoken, not sung. In some songs the spoken lyrics are brief. In others a large part of the song is spoken. Can you match these passages with the artist who spoke them?

Questions		Choices
1. 'When I say I'm in love, you best believe I'm in love, L-U-V!'		The Kinks
2. 'I guess I found out for myself that everyone was right'		Taylor Swift
3. 'What am I doin' here?'		Larry Verne
4. 'When I hold you in my arms and I feel my finger on your trigger'		Warren Zevon
5. 'An island which lay, before the great flood, in the area we now call the Atlantic Ocean'		Donovan
6. 'He'll rip your lungs out, Jim'		Prince
7. 'Eatin' a Reuben sandwich with sauerkraut'		The Hombres
8. 'Dearly beloved, we have gathered here today'		The Shangri-Las
9. 'Now go stand in the corner'		Jan & Dean
10. 'Two silhouettes saying goodnight by the garden gate'		The Beatles