The Songs of Johnny Mathis Trivia Quiz

Answer: Brazil

The song "Brazil" is also known as "Aquarela do Brasil", or "Watercolour of Brazil". It was written in 1939 by Ary Barroso, and is considered to be one of the earliest examples of samba.

The lyrics are:

"Where hearts were entertaining June,
We stood beneath an amber moon
And softly murmured 'someday soon.'
We kissed and clung together,
Then, tomorrow was another day
The morning found me miles away
With still a million things to say;
Now, when twilight dims the sky above
Recalling thrills of our love,
There's one thing I'm certain of
Return I will to old Brazil.

Brazil... the Brazil that I knew
where I wandered with you
Lives in my imagination
Where the songs are passionate
And a smile has flash in it
And a kiss has art in it
For you put your heart in it
And so I dream of old... Brazil"

Answer: It's Not for Me to Say

Written in 1957 for the film "Lizzie" by Robert Allen and Al Stillman, the song was also used in the 1990 film "Goodfellas". It went to #5 on Billboard for Johnny in 1957.

"It's not for me to say you love me
It's not for me to say you'll always care
Oh, but here for the moment I can hold you fast
And press your lips to mine
And dream that love will last

As far as I can see this is heaven
And speaking just for me, it's ours to share
Perhaps the glow of love will grow with every passing day
Or we may never meet again
But then, it's not for me to say

And speaking just for me, it's ours to share
Perhaps the glow of love will grow with every passing day
Or we may never meet again
But then, it's not for me to say"

Answer: Chances Are

Another song by Robert Allen and Al Stillman, "Chances Are" was published in 1957 and was a #1 hit for Johnny Mathis.

"Chances are 'cause I wear a silly grin
The moment you come into view
Chances are you think that I'm in love with you
Just because my composure sort of slips
The moment that your lips meet mine
Chances are you think my heart's your Valentine

In the magic of moonlight when I sigh, 'Hold me close, dear'
Chances are you believe the stars that fill the skies are in my eyes

Guess you feel you'll always be the one and only one for me
And if you think you could
Well, chances are your chances are awfully good

Chances are you believe the stars that fill the skies are in my eyes
Guess you feel you'll always be the one and only one for me
And if you think you could
Well, chances are your chances are awfully good

The chances are your chances are . . . awfully good"

Answer: Gina

Paul Vance and Leon Carr wrote this lovely song, which reached #6 for Johnny on Billboard in 1962.

"Gina, Gina, I kissed you once and then
I felt so wonderful, so very wonderful
Let's do it over again

Gina (Gina), Gina (Gina), I can't remember when
I've ever felt a kiss that made me feel like this
Let's do it over again

Look at you, oh, look at you
So warm, so sweet, so shy
Look at me, oh, look at me
I can't believe that I'm such a lucky guy

To have Gina, Gina all for my very own
It's much too wonderful, so very wonderful
To know that Gina is mine alone

Oh, look at you, oh, look at you
So warm, so sweet, so shy
Look at me, oh, look at me
I can't believe that I'm such a lucky guy

To have Gina (Gina), Gina (Gina) all for my very own
It's much too wonderful, so very wonderful
To know that Gina is mine (Gina is mine)
Gina is mine alone"

Answer: What Would Mary Say

Written by Paul Vance and Eddie Snyder, Johnny took this song to #9 on Billboard in 1963.

"I must be going (don't go)
My heart is showing (don't go)
I better hurry away
If I don't leave I'll be sorry
What will my Mary say?

Your lips are thrilling
My arms are willing
I know that I shouldn't stay
If I don't leave I'll be sorry
What will my Mary say?

What would I do if she should need me
And find me kissing you?
She's always trusted me completely
Her poor heart would break in two
I must be going (don't go)
My heart is showing (don't go)
I better hurry away
If I don't leave I'll be sorry
What will my Mary say?

If I don't leave I'll be sorry
What will my Mary say?

(Don't go)
(Don't go)"

Answer: The Twelfth of Never

Paul Francis Webster and Jerry Livingston wrote this classic song for Johnny. Although today it is one of the songs his fans virtually demand to hear every time he performs, it only reached #9 on Billboard in 1957. The tune is a traditional English folk tune, from the 16th century "Riddle Song" (also known as "I Gave My Love a Cherry").

"You ask me how much I need you, must I explain?
I need you, oh my darling, like roses need rain
You ask how long I'll love you, I'll tell you true
Until the Twelfth of Never, I'll still be loving you

Hold me close, never let me go
Hold me close, melt my heart like April snow

I'll love you 'til the bluebells forget to bloom
I'll love you 'til the clover has lost its perfume
I'll love you 'til the poets run out of rhyme
Until the Twelfth of Never and that's a long, long time

Until the Twelfth of Never and that's a long, long time"

Answer: A Certain Smile

Another classic Johnny song, "A Certain Smile" was the title song from a 1958 film about a student at the Sorbonne who has an affair with her fiance's uncle. The film was based on a the book "Un Certain Sourire" by Francois Sagan. The song itself, written by Paul Francis Webster and Sammy Fain, went to #14 on Billboard.

"A certain smile, a certain face
Can lead an unsuspecting heart on a merry chase
A fleeting glance can say so many lovely things
Suddenly you know why my heart sings

You love awhile and when love goes
You try to hide the tears inside with a cheerful pose
But in the hush of night exactly like a bittersweet refrain
Comes that certain smile to haunt your heart again

But in the hush of night exactly like a bittersweet refrain
Comes that certain smile to haunt your heart again"

Answer: Misty

Written originally in 1954 as an instrumental by pianist Erroll Garner, words were later added by Johnny Burke. It is also considered to be Sarah Vaughan's signature tune, but IMHO nobody does it better than Mathis.

"Look at me,
I'm as helpless as a kitten up a tree
And I feel like I'm clinging to a cloud
I can't understand,
I get misty just holding your hand

Walk my way,
And a thousand violins begin to play
Or it might be the sound of your hello
That music I hear,
I get misty the moment you're near

You can say that you're leading me on
But it's just what I want you to do
Don't you notice how hopelessly I'm lost
That's why I'm following you

On my own,
Would I wander through this wonderland alone
Never knowing my right foot from my left
My hat from my glove
I'm too misty, and too much in love"

Answer: Wonderful Wonderful

"Wonderful Wonderful" was an early hit by Johnny, hitting #14 on Billboard in 1957. It remains one of his most loved songs.

"Sometimes we walk hand in hand by the sea
And we breathe in the cool salty air
You turn to me with a kiss in your eyes
And my heart feels a thrill beyond compare
Then your lips cling to mine
It's wonderful, wonderful
Oh, so wonderful, my love

Sometimes we stand on the top of a hill
And we gaze at the earth and the sky
I turn to you and you melt in my arms
There we are, darling, only you and I
What a moment to share
It's wonderful, wonderful
Oh, so wonderful, my love

The world is full of wonderous things it's true
But they wouldn't have much meaning without you

Some quiet evening I sit by your side
And we're lost in a world of our own
I feel the glow of your unspoken love
I'm aware of the treasure that I own
And I say to myself
'It's wonderful, wonderful
Oh, so wonderful, my love'

And I say to myself
'It's wonderful, wonderful
Oh, so wonderful, my love'"

Answer: When Sunny Gets Blue

This song was written by Jack Segal and Marvin Fisher in 1946, and was the "B" side for the single "Wonderful, Wonderful".

"When Sunny gets blue, her eyes get gray and cloudy
Then the rain begins to fall
Pitter-patter, pitter-patter, love is gone so what can matter?
No sweet loving man comes to call

When Sunny gets blue, she breathes a sigh of sadness
Like the wind that stirs the trees
Wind that sets the leaves to swaying like some violins are playing
Weird and haunting melodies

People used to love to hear her laugh, see her smile
That's how she got her name
Since that sad affair she's lost her smile, changed her style
Somehow she's not the same

But memories will fade and pretty dreams will rise up
Where her other dreams fell through
Hurry, new love, hurry here to kiss away each lonely tear
And hold her near when Sunny gets blue

Hurry, new love, hurry here to kiss away each lonely tear
And hold her near when Sunny gets blue"