Who's That Song About ? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Norma Jean Baker

Norma Jean, or Marilyn Monroe, was the subject of the original version of the song. After Princess Di's untimely demise in 1997, Elton released a new version "Candle In The Wind 1997/Something About The Way You Look Tonight" as a tribute to Diana. It became the world's best selling single of all time.

Answer: All Those Years Ago

"All Those Years Ago" was originally a song about Ringo. George Harrison rewrote the lyrics as a tribute to John Lennon. It featured Ringo and Paul McCartney, although they weren't in the studio together. Their voices were later added. "He's So Fine" was a song by the Chiffons, which had a melody so similar to Harrison's later song "My Sweet Lord" that a court case resulted over royalties. Harrison lost.

Answer: Ricky Valance

The third of February 1959, "the day the music died", Buddy Holly, Jiles P. Richardson (aka The Big Bopper), Ritchie Valenzuela (aka Ritchie Valens) and pilot Roger Peterson all lost their lives when the chartered plane crashed in Iowa during a snowstorm. Waylon Jennings should have been on the plane, but gave up his seat.

The Big Bopper and musician Tommy Allsop then tossed a coin for the seat, Richardson winning the toss and losing his life. Ricky Valance was probably busy at the time telling Laura, he loved her.

Answer: Danny Mirror

"I Remember Elvis Presley (The King Is Dead)" was a UK chart number four hit for Danny Mirror in September 1977. It was released after the death of Elvis. Danny, real name Eddy Ouwen was a Dutch musician and record producer. If you fell for the misspellings of Times or Mail and thought they were real people, don't worry you were supposed to.

Answer: Neil Reid

Neil Reid was a schoolboy when he was discovered on talent show "Opportunity Knocks". He went on to have a number two hit with the song. After a minor hit with his follow up song, he quickly faded to obscurity. Fellow Scot Lena Zavaroni was also a child prodigy who appeared on the talent show. Jimmy Osmond covered the song in the USA.

It was the B side of "Long Haired Lover From Liverpool" reaching number 36 on the US Pop charts. Bonnie Jackson doesn't exist as far as I know, I made her up!

Answer: Hey Jude

Written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon/McCartney, the song was originally titled "Hey Jules". Paul wrote the song to console Julian Lennon after the break up of his parent's marriage. "Beautiful Boy" was written by John Lennon about his son Sean.

Answer: A messenger for his record company

Elton John wrote the song on the day 17 year old Guy Burchett was killed in a cycle accident. He had morbidly wrote the song about death, and on hearing the next day about the messenger boy's death, he then entitled it "A Song For Guy".

Answer: No-one knows for sure

Carly Simon has never publicly acknowledged who the song is about. Mick Jagger (who sang backing vocals on the song), ex husband James Taylor and Warren Beatty are among the favourites. The list also includes Cat Stevens, Kris Kristofferson and unfaithful fiancee William Donaldson. Modesty prevents me from adding my name to the list.

Answer: David Gates

David Gates, of Bread, wrote the song about his father. It was a number five Billboard hit in the US and a number 32 UK chart hit. Curiously, in my opinion, much inferior cover versions by Ken Boothe and Boy George both topped the UK charts.
James McLeish Mason is my brother in law and a co-conspirator on many of the questions in this quiz. "Thanks Wee Man!"

Answer: Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson

Written by Clyde Orange, an original member of the band, it is the Commodores only hit since Lionel Richie left the band in 1982. It is a tribute to Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson who both died in 1984.

Answer: Carol, his high school girlfriend

Sedaka wrote the song about his high school girl friend who happened to be Carole King (real name Carol Klein). She returned the compliment with her song "Oh Neil". They went to Abraham Lincoln High in Brooklyn New York along with Neil Diamond. Could have been some school concert.

Answer: His daughter

Written by Phil Lynott and Gary Moore, the song by Thin Lizzy was about his daughter Sarah and the change in his lifestyle resulting from her birth. Thin Lizzy had an earlier song also called "Sarah" about Phil's grandmother, who was also named Sarah. The 1979 song is often called "My Sarah" in the US. Confusing isn't it!

Answer: Madness

"My Name is Michael Caine" said Sir Michael (real name Maurice Joseph Micklewhite) in the 1984 Madness hit, the song simply called "Michael Caine". "Not a lot of people know that" is a famous phrase used by Caine impersonators. Caine, at first, refused to do the voice samples but was persuaded to by his daughter who was a Madness fan.

Answer: Lawrence Stephen Lowry

Lawrence Stephen Lowry was a British painter noted for his paintings of bleak industrial landscapes, mostly of Northern England. The paintings often featured spindly human figures, hence matchstick men. He was the subject of UK hit songs by Status Quo and Brian and Michael. Status Quo had a UK number seven hit with "Pictures Of Matchstick Men" which also got to number 12 in America.

It is Quo's only US hit to date. Brian and Michael took "Matchstalk Men And Matchstalk Cats And Dogs" to a UK number one in 1978.

Answer: Patricia Anne Boyd

Patricia Anne or Pattie Boyd was the subject of two songs by Eric Clapton while she was married to George Harrison, "Layla" and "Bell Bottom Blues". Both songs appeared on the Derek and the Dominos album "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs" She later divorced Harrison and then married Clapton, who then wrote the song "Wonderfull Tonight" for her. George had previously written "Something" and "For You Blue" about her, though after the divorce, he denied "Something" was about her and claimed it was about Ray Charles. Strange!