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The Killers: "Sam's Town" Trivia Quiz

This quiz will focus on the Killers' sophomore CD "Sam's Town", from the songs on it to background information. *All questions pertain to the original US version of the CD, unless stated otherwise.

A multiple-choice quiz by HPKillersFreak. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
HPKillersFreak

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
256,175

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
25

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
13 / 25

Plays
635

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 25

1. What exactly is Sam's Town, as referred to by the Killers? Hint

A casino in the middle of the Vegas Strip

A casino in the outskirts of Las Vegas

America

It's not a real place

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Question 2 of 25

2. The "Sam" that the Killers named their album after is none other than one of America's most well-known symbols, Uncle Sam.

True

False

3. Lead singer Brandon Flowers has said that "Sam's Town" is a much more "Americanized" album than their debut "Hot Fuss", and it is the MOST heavily influenced by which American singer/songwriter? Hint

Johnny Cash

Bob Dylan

Bruce Springsteen

Neil Young

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Question 4 of 25

4. Before its release, Brandon said that Sam's Town would be "the best album in the last ____ years." Hint

NEXT>

Question 5 of 25

5. Which of these themes is NOT present in the songs on "Sam's Town" (particular to Brandon)? Hint

Personal struggles

Religion

Politics and government

Family

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Question 6 of 25

6. Brandon wrote "Enterlude" and "Exitlude" after he dreamt about Kurt Cobain singing its melody.

True

False

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Question 7 of 25

7. Which of these songs was NOT written entirely by Brandon? Hint

Uncle Jonny

Why Do I Keep Counting?

Sam's Town

For Reasons Unknown

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Question 8 of 25

8. Which song on the album was written by the entire band? Hint

Bones

When You Were Young

Read My Mind

This River Is Wild

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Question 9 of 25

9. Which one of these bonus tracks is one that the group is very proud of? Hint

Where the White Boys Dance

Daddy's Eyes

All the Pretty Faces

Under the Gun

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Question 10 of 25

10. In the CD jacket, the man dressed as a Native American is really Ted Sablay, the band's background instrumentalist.

True

False

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Question 11 of 25

11. Which band did backing vocals with the Killers on the album? Hint

Louis XIV

The Futureheads

We Are Scientists

The Hold Steady

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Question 12 of 25

12. Which song contains the lyric, "Sometimes I'm nervous when I talk I shake a little, sometimes I hate the line I walk"? Hint

Bling (Confession of a King)

This River Is Wild

My List

Uncle Jonny

NEXT>

Question 13 of 25

13. Which song was rejected by the album's producers in its original context, but once revised, became one of the best tracks on the album? Hint

Read My Mind

Bones

When You Were Young

Sam's Town

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Question 14 of 25

14. Even with the more American sound to it, "Sam's Town" reached a higher position on the British charts than it did on the American charts the first week.

True

False

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Question 15 of 25

15. How many Grammys did "Sam's Town" and the songs off it win in 2007? Hint

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Question 16 of 25

16. How many awards were the Killers, "Sam's Town", and its songs nominated for in the NME Shockwave Awards 2007? Hint

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Question 17 of 25

17. Which "Sam's Town" song mentions Grandma Dixie? Hint

For Reasons Unknown

Uncle Jonny

Sam's Town

My List

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Question 18 of 25

18. Which song was released as the second single off the album? Hint

When You Were Young

For Reasons Unknown

Read My Mind

Bones

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Question 19 of 25

19. What does the sash the girl is wearing on the front cover of the album say?

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 20 of 25

20. On the back cover of the CD, which one of the Killers is wearing sunglasses? Hint

Mark Stoermer

Dave Keuning

Brandon Flowers

Ronnie Vannucci

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Question 21 of 25

21. Which "Sam's Town" song opens, "There's a plane and I am flying, there's a mountain waiting for me"? Hint

This River Is Wild

Why Do I Keep Counting?

Bling (Confession of a King)

My List

NEXT>

Question 22 of 25

22. Which song contains the somewhat strange lyric, "There was an open chair, I sat down in the open chair"? Hint

Uncle Jonny

When You Were Young

Bling (Confession of a King)

For Reasons Unknown

NEXT>

Question 23 of 25

23. Which song asks the question, "Have you ever seen the lights"? Hint

For Reasons Unknown

Sam's Town

Why Do I Keep Counting?

This River Is Wild

NEXT>

Question 24 of 25

24. Although "Sam's Town" has a much more American sound to it, how many of the music videos off the album were filmed outside the US? Hint

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Question 25 of 25

25. In the Killers' first big hit, "Somebody Told Me", it repeats that "Heaven ain't close in a place like this". However, on "Sam's Town", one of the songs claims "Outside the sun is shinin', it seems that Heaven ain't far away". Which song contradicts "Somebody Told Me"? Hint

My List

This River Is Wild

Exitlude

Bling (Confession of a King)

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What exactly is Sam's Town, as referred to by the Killers?

Answer: A casino in the outskirts of Las Vegas

Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall is located in Sunrise Manor, Nevada. It opened in 1979, and is owned by the Boyd Gaming Corporation.

2. The "Sam" that the Killers named their album after is none other than one of America's most well-known symbols, Uncle Sam.

Answer: False

The Killers actually named their album after Sam Boyd. Sam Boyd came to Las Vegas in 1941 with only $80 to his name. Eventually, Sam formed the Boyd Gaming Corporation and became one of the most successful casino owners ever. Sam died in 1993.

Answer: Bruce Springsteen

"When You Were Young" shows a particularly strong influence, with its mention of "burning down the highway skyline".

4. Before its release, Brandon said that Sam's Town would be "the best album in the last ____ years."

Answer: 20

Despite Brandon's confidence in the album, many critics and fans liked their debut "Hot Fuss" better, and "Sam's Town" received a lot of mixed reviews.

5. Which of these themes is NOT present in the songs on "Sam's Town" (particular to Brandon)?

Answer: Politics and government

Family is probably one of the main motifs, in the songs "Sam's Town" and "Uncle Jonny". Although not blatantly displayed in the songs, Brandon says that religion is underlying in some of them. Brandon's "fear", for lack of a better term, of mortality is explored in "Why Do I Keep Counting?" ("Am I strong enough to be the one? / Will I live to have some children?").

Although the album is more American, Brandon says he tends to avoid politics in song.

6. Brandon wrote "Enterlude" and "Exitlude" after he dreamt about Kurt Cobain singing its melody.

Answer: True

As strange as it may seem, it's true. Brandon was asked if this was true in an interview, and he responded, "Yes. He was in a ship in the clouds. It was very extravagant, I guess."

7. Which of these songs was NOT written entirely by Brandon?

Answer: Uncle Jonny

Even though "Uncle Jonny" is a personal tale about Brandon's uncle, it was written by Brandon, guitarist Dave Keuning, and bassist Mark Stoermer.

8. Which song on the album was written by the entire band?

Answer: When You Were Young

"Bones" was written by Brandon, Mark, and drummer Ronnie Vannucci. "Read My Mind" was written by Brandon, Mark, and Dave. "This River Is Wild" was written by Brandon and Mark.

9. Which one of these bonus tracks is one that the group is very proud of?

Answer: Where the White Boys Dance

Brandon affectionately referred to the song as "a slut", and has said it's one of their best songs.

10. In the CD jacket, the man dressed as a Native American is really Ted Sablay, the band's background instrumentalist.

Answer: False

It is really the co-producer of "Sam's Town", Flood.

11. Which band did backing vocals with the Killers on the album?

Answer: Louis XIV

Louis XIV provided the backing vocals on "Sam's Town" and "My List".

12. Which song contains the lyric, "Sometimes I'm nervous when I talk I shake a little, sometimes I hate the line I walk"?

Answer: This River Is Wild

This line is from "This River Is Wild", which features a strong spaghetti-western sound to it.

13. Which song was rejected by the album's producers in its original context, but once revised, became one of the best tracks on the album?

Answer: Read My Mind

At first, "Read My Mind" was originally entitled "Little Angela", and neither of the producers thought it was good enough. A couple hours and a lot of editing later, "Read My Mind" was born, and the whole band feels it's the best song they'd written on the album.

14. Even with the more American sound to it, "Sam's Town" reached a higher position on the British charts than it did on the American charts the first week.

Answer: True

Although it only sold 260,000 compared to the US's 315,000 its first week, it landed the number 1 spot on the UK charts, whereas it hit number 2 on the US charts.

15. How many Grammys did "Sam's Town" and the songs off it win in 2007?

Answer: 0

The Killers were only nominated in two categories: Best Rock Song and Best Short Form Music Video, both for "When You Were Young". Unfortunately, the Killers lost in both categories, to the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Dani California" and OK Go's "Here It Goes Again", respectively.

16. How many awards were the Killers, "Sam's Town", and its songs nominated for in the NME Shockwave Awards 2007?

Answer: 4

The Killers were nominated for Best International Band, Best Album ("Sam's Town"), Best Track ("When You Were Young"), and Best Video ("Bones"). "Bones" won best video. The Killers lost to My Chemical Romance (Int'l Band), the Arctic Monkeys' "Whatever Peopke Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" (Album), and the View's "Wasted Little DJs" (Track). Brandon was also nominated for Sexiest Man and Best Dressed, but lost to Matt Bellamy and Farris Rotter, respectively.

17. Which "Sam's Town" song mentions Grandma Dixie?

Answer: Sam's Town

"I still remember Grandma Dixie's wake," sings Brandon in this song. It also mentions Brandon's brother, who really was born on the Fourth of July.

18. Which song was released as the second single off the album?

Answer: Bones

"When You Were Young" is the first single, "Read My Mind" is the third single, and "For Reasons Unknown" is the fourth single.

19. What does the sash the girl is wearing on the front cover of the album say?

Answer: Miss

The girl posing on the cover is singer/model Felice LaZae.

20. On the back cover of the CD, which one of the Killers is wearing sunglasses?

Answer: Mark Stoermer

As a part of the Killers' new look, they are all dressed in a more western getup, as opposed to the fancy suits and eyeliner of "Hot Fuss".

21. Which "Sam's Town" song opens, "There's a plane and I am flying, there's a mountain waiting for me"?

Answer: Why Do I Keep Counting?

Because "Why Do I Keep Counting" addresses some personal aspects of Brandon, it is possible that this lyric makes an allusion to Brandon's fear of flying.

22. Which song contains the somewhat strange lyric, "There was an open chair, I sat down in the open chair"?

Answer: For Reasons Unknown

"For Reasons Unknown" was considered as a single early on before the album was released, but ended up as the fourth single.

23. Which song asks the question, "Have you ever seen the lights"?

Answer: Sam's Town

Before the album's release, the line "Have you ever seen the lights?" would periodically flash across the screen of the Killers' official website.

24. Although "Sam's Town" has a much more American sound to it, how many of the music videos off the album were filmed outside the US?

Answer: 2

"When You Were Young" was filmed in Mexico, and "Read My Mind" was filmed in Japan.

Answer: Exitlude

The same line is also in "Enterlude". "Somebody Told Me" is probably one of the best-known Killers songs, released as the first single off "Hot Fuss".

Source: Author HPKillersFreak

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