The Songs of Paul Anka Quiz | Music

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Paul Anka began his career at the early age of fourteen. Which of these songs was his first single?

Answer: I Confess

When Paul was thirteen he formed a group called the Bobbysoxers. By the time he was fourteen he was already composing his own songs. In 1956 "I Confess" was the first single recorded by Paul Anka but it wasn't a success. However, not to be discouraged, when he was fifteen years old he traveled to Los Angeles in pursuit of an audition.

2. In 1957 Paul Anka auditioned for Don Costa of the ABC-Paramount Records. Anka's recording career began with which hit song which turned Paul Anka into a teen sensation?

Answer: Diana

"Diana" was an instant hit which sent Paul Anka rocketing to stardom. The hit song peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, the U.S. Billboard R&B Singles Chart, Canadian Singles Chart, UK Singles Chart and Australia Singles Chart. Singer Ricky Martin sang a duet of "Diana" with Paul Anka on the "Amigos" album (1996). "Diana" was also covered by the Misfits in 2006.

3. Not only was Paul Anka famous for his songs, he also wrote songs for many artists like Buddy Holly, Connie Francis, Mitch Miller, The Doobie Brothers, Tom Jones and Barbra Streisand, to name a few. Which Frank Sinatra hit did Paul Anka write?

Answer: My Way

"My Way", written by Paul Anka, was released in 1969. The story behind the lyrics - an old man reflecting on his life as he awaits the end of his life. The old man is comfortable with the fact that he is old and will die and tells how he dealt with life's challenges and difficulties but always lived with integrity. "My Way" reached number twenty seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and soared to the number two spot on the U. S. Easy Listening chart.

4. "I've got everything/You could think of/But all I want/Is someone to love" From which Paul Anka hit do these lyrics come from?

Answer: Lonely Boy

"Lonely Boy" peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1959. Billy "Crash" Craddock covered the song in 1971 and Donny Osmond revived the song in a 1972 single.

5. Paul Anka wrote a song about someone putting their head somewhere. Where did Paul want someone to put their head in 1959?

Answer: Shoulder

"Put Your Head On My Shoulder" was released in 1959 by ABC-Paramount. On the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart, the song peaked at number two. In 1962 The Lettermen released a cover version of Anka's song. In 1978 Leif Garrett recorded a version of the song as well.

6. In Paul Anka's song "You Are My Destiny" he speaks about reverie. What exactly is reverie?

Answer: A daydream

A reverie means the state of being happily lost in one's own thoughts, a daydream. The lyrics are beautiful and go like this:

"You are my destiny
You share my reverie
You are my happiness
That`s what you are

You have my sweet caress
You share my loneliness
You are my dream come true
That`s what you are

Heaven and heaven alone
Can take your love from me
`Cause I`d be a fool
To ever leave you dear
And a fool I`d never be

You are my destiny
You share my reverie
You`re more than life to me
That`s what you are

You are my destiny
You share my reverie
You are my happiness
That`s what you are"

7. When the Beatles and the Rolling Stones became popular, Paul Anka's music style became lost. What did Paul do to begin to revive his popularity?

Answer: Bought back his music rights

It cost Paul Anka $250,000.00 to buy back his music rights. From there he began to change his image from a teen idol to a songwriter for crooners like Frank Sinatra. Paul Anka's songwriting career became very successful.

8. We've all watched late night talk shows at one time or another. Which late night talk show did Paul Anka write the theme song for?

Answer: The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson

Paul Anka wrote the theme song for "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" in 1962. The song has been estimated to have been played around 1.4 million times. With this one song, Anka earned between eight and nine hundred thousand dollars. This theme song was also known as "Johnny's Theme", "It's Really Love" and "Toot Sweet".

9. Paul Anka has released over one hundred and twenty albums during his music career. Which of these albums was released in 2011?

Answer: Songs of December

Paul Anka's album "Songs of December" was released in 2011. This Christmas album includes songs like "White Christmas", "Silver Bells" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas". Paul said that he could not resist recording a Christmas album with the hopes of this album bringing much joy to listeners.

This album was the first seasonal album by Anka in more than fifty years. Anka produced the album which had guest arrangements by David Foster, Johnny Mandel, Chris Walden and Patrick Williams. Al Schmitt was responsible for the engineering and mixing of this great holiday album.

10. "(You're) Having My Baby" was a hit from a 1974 duet. With whom did Paul Anka sing this song?

Answer: Odia Coates

"(You're) Having My Baby" (1974) was written by Paul Anka and sang as a duet with Odia Coates. This song became Paul's first number one hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 since 1959. The song was later regarded as chauvinistic which led Paul to sometimes sing the song as "(You're) Having OUR Baby". Despite the problems with groups declaring the song as a "worst" it also reached the number eleven spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles.
Odia Coates was a singer born on November 13, 1941 in Vicksburg, Mississippi. She died on May 19, 1991 at the young age of forty nine.

Source: Author funnytrivianna

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The Songs of Paul Anka Trivia Quiz

Born on July 30, 1941 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Paul Albert Anka has been a famous singer since the late 1950s. Croon along with me to the many tunes of Paul Anka.

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