The Power Of The Spoken Word Trivia Quiz

Answer: Daydream Believer

"Daydream Believer" (1967) was the last number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Monkees. The spoken word dialogue on the track is a conversation between lead vocalist Davy Jones and sound engineer, Chip Douglas, and the quote in the question continues with Jones saying, "Okay, I don't mean to get you excited, man. It's 'cause I'm short, I know...".
Twelve years after The Monkees, Canadian singer Anne Murray also charted on the Billboard Hot 100 with the track, her version reaching number 12 in 1979 and being minus the spoken word intro.

Answer: Modern Love

"Modern Love" (1983) was a huge hit for David Bowie, hitting the top ten in many countries, but it never made it to a number one spot. The highest it got was number two, in Canada, kept off the top by "True" (1983) from Spandau Ballet and in UK where it was kept from number one by "Karma Chameleon" (1983) by Culture Club.

Answer: I'm A Slave 4 U

"I'm A Slave 4 U" (2001) charted in the top ten of most countries around the world, apart from USA where it became Britney's worst charting single since her debut in 1998.
On the Billboard Hot 100, it only just scraped into the top 30, although it did perform much better than the follow up single, "Overprotected" (2002).
The song was seen as Spears' initial foray into the "adult" music market as she attempted to cast off the teen idol image of previous tracks such as "Oops!... I Did It Again" (2000) and although she did eventually manage the transition, it certainly wasn't plain sailing.
"I'm A Slave 4 U" is well remembered however for her performance at the MTV Video Music Awards of 2001, in which she sang with a large albino python draped around her shoulders.

Answer: Jesus Built My Hotrod

Mix thrash metal with a healthy dose of psychobilly and you get this wonderful driving song from Ministry, which is heavily influenced by "Surfin' Bird" (1963) by The Trashmen.
The track, released in 1991 remains one of the best known tracks from Ministry and although it didn't crack the mainstream charts, it did make it into the top 20 on the Billboard Alternative chart in USA.
The spoken intro continues, "Jesus was an architect previous to his career as a prophet, All of a sudden, I found myself in love with the world, So there was only one thing that I could do, Was ding a ding dang my dang a long ling long".

Answer: The Number Of The Beast

The spoken intro continues, "Because he knows the time is short, Let him who hath understanding reckon the number of the beast, For it is a human number, Its number is six hundred and sixty-six" which is the Biblical text from Revelation 13:18.
The song by Iron Maiden attracted the ire of many religious groups in USA and there were organised burnings of the band's records, which actually served as great publicity for the band and boosted their profile.
In the band's native UK however, the track was well received and reached number 18 in UK charts in 1982 and on its re-release in 2005, did even better, peaking at number three.
The 1982 album of the same name, from which the track was taken was voted UK public's favourite British album in a 2012 survey by HMV to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's 60 years as monarch.

Answer: Let's Go Crazy

"When Doves Cry" (1984) was the huge hit from "Purple Rain" (1984) by Prince, but this track wasn't far behind. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in USA and was also a top ten hit in UK, Canada and Australia.

Answer: Rock 'n Roll Ain't Noise Pollution

"Back In Black" (1980) from AC/DC was one heck of an album, and this track closed the album and left you wanting more. When released as a single, the song made the top ten in the band's native Australia but didn't crack the top 100 in UK and failed to register at all on the Billboard Hot 100 in USA. On its re-release in 1981, the track shot up to number 15 in UK charts, but once again failed to find its way onto the Billboard Hot 100 in USA.

Answer: Born This Way

This 2011 track from Lady Gaga was such a huge hit that it is probably easier to list the countries in which it didn't make number one. Indeed, the fact that one of the countries the song performed badly in was UK, where it peaked at number three, shows just how successful this song was.
The track is as expected, a staple at Lady Gaga live shows, but not so expected is the fact that it is also a regular at Alice Cooper gigs.

Answer: You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth

This 1977 track has its place in history, as the first solo single from Meatloaf. When initially released though it failed to trouble the charts at all, and it took a re-release in 1978 for the track to find success on the singles charts. It became a top 40 hit in UK and Canada as well as in USA on the Billboard Hot 100, but it was Australia and New Zealand where the song achieved huge success.

In Australia it peaked at number three and it went one better in New Zealand, hitting the number two spot, where it remained for five weeks, held off the top by Boney M and their "Rivers Of Babylon" (1978).

Answer: Baby Got Back

No matter how many tracks Sir Mix-a-Lot releases, he will always be remembered for "Baby Got Back" (1992) which hit the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in USA and spent five weeks there.
The spoken intro to the song is from a pair of "valley girls" discussing the size of a black girl's behind, before Sir Mix-a-Lot comes in with nothing but praise for large, curvy posteriors.