Winter Is Coming Trivia Quiz

Answer: Winter Wonderland

Written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith, this song has become a festive favourite, even though the word 'Christmas' is not mentioned in the lyrics. 'Winter Wonderland' has been covered by countless artists over the decades including Eurythmics, Cocteau Twins, Cyndi Lauper, Liz Phair, Grandaddy and The Ronettes.

The original song lyrics imagined the snowman that was built in the meadow as 'Parson Brown' in the first bridge section and 'a circus clown' in the second, but subsequent versions of the song have not always followed these lyrics with some eschewing one of the descriptions completely.

Answer: Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

It is apocryphally said that Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne wrote this perennial seasonal hit during a heatwave in 1945. This would not make them the first people to be inspired to write a wintry song to escape the interminable heat as Irving Berlin famously wrote 'White Christmas' while sweating through a Californian Christmas and dreaming of the winters of his childhood.

It has been recorded by numerous artists including 'Kylie Minogue, Bing Crosby, Jessica Simpson and Kim Wilde. Like many other wintry songs, it has become a staple on many Christmas playlists despite not actually mentioning Christmas.

While two of the incorrect answers should be familiar to you, the third, 'The Snow Don't Fall', is a beautiful song by the wonderful American indiepop band The Aislers Set.

Answer: Sleigh Ride

Yet again the composer of this seasonal classic, Leroy Anderson, was inspired to write his instrumental composition during a heatwave in 1946, though it was not completed until 1948. Lyrics were added a little later by Mitchell Parish. The mention of 'pumpkin pie' in the lyrics might suggest that this song is about Thanksgiving, but no definite mention of any festival is made, apart from a reference to a birthday party. 'Sleigh Ride' has been recorded by many artists including The Ronettes, TLC, Debbie Gibson, The Andrews Sisters, Johnny Mathis, Airport Girl and Das Wanderlust. Again, while you will probably recognise two of the wrong answers, the third, I'm Going To Build My Snowman Better Than Yours', is a song by excellent and quirky British duo The Lovely Eggs.

Answer: Marshmallow World

Written by Carl Sigman and Peter DeRose in 1949, this delightfully upbeat song has been recorded by Darlene Love, Brenda Lee, Emmy the Great and Tim Wheeler, Karen O and Dean Martin amongst others. Of the wrong answers, while I am sure 'Frosty' needs little introduction, I should mention that 'In The Bleak Midwinter' is a carol that sets a poem by Christina Rossetti to music while 'Candy Cane Children' was a limited edition Christmas single by The White Stripes.

Answer: I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter

'I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter' was a modest top 20 hit on the US Billboard chart for Connie Francis in 1962, peaking at number 18. It enjoyed a revival in popularity in the UK in 2008 when it was remade as 'Warm This Winter' by Gabriella Cilmi. This excellent and incredibly catchy song really deserves to be better known, so I highly recommend tracking down either of the mentioned versions when putting together your winter playlists! Since this is the first song in this quiz to mention Christmas in its lyrics, I decided to put some Christmas songs in as the wrong choices. 'Last Christmas' was a big UK chart hit for Wham, 'Hopped Up On Christmas' is by American Indiepop band Dressy Bessy and 'Christmas Wish' is by British pop punk band The Priscillas.

Answer: A Hazy Shade Of Winter

Written by Paul Simon, 'A Hazy Shade Of Winter' was taken from the duo's highly-acclaimed album 'Bookends'. While the song was a modest hit for Simon and Garfunkel, peaking at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1966, The Bangles had considerably more success with their version which reached number two in the same chart in 1987.

Although I am sure that music purists will vehemently disagree with me, I vastly prefer the cover by The Bangles to the original! Of the wrong answers, 'Eternal Flame' is by The Bangles and 'The Boxer' and '7 O'Clock News/Silent Night' are both by Simon and Garfunkel.

Answer: A Winter's Tale

There is a sad story behind the making of this song as it was composed by Freddie Mercury from his hospital bed while he was dying of complications from AIDS in 1991. Freddie knew he did not have long left and so insisted on recording this song in one take, with music and lyrics together, which was an unusual technique for Queen.

The song was finally released in 1995 after Freddie Mercury had passed away. The song peaked at number six on the UK singles chart. The wrong answers are all songs by Queen.

Answer: 50 Words For Snow

The adjective 'Legendary' is probably bandied about too liberally when describing pop stars, however, in my opinion, Kate Bush is a true British musical legend. Since she broke onto the music scene in 1978 with her first, and so far only, number one hit 'Wuthering Heights' there has been nobody quite like her. Fans and critics alike have praised the breadth and imagination of her music and her minute attention to detail. You never know quite what to expect of a new Kate Bush album as they are always surprising and her 2011 offering, '50 Words For Snow', was no exception.

The album is an atmospheric, minimalist affair with all the songs being connected by the theme of falling snow. The title track is based on the myth that Eskimos have many words for snow and includes a number of snowy synonyms that Kate Bush made up herself, all of which are delivered by veteran English actor and comedian Stephen Fry. All of the wrong answers are the names of other tracks from '50 Words For Snow'.

Answer: River

This gorgeous song is full of longing and regret with the singer wishing she could skate away on a frozen river, both literally and metaphorically. With Christmas approaching she ponders on a recent break-up while opining over the deficiencies of the place in which she is living. 'River' is taken from Joni's classic 1971 album 'Blue' and, despite never having been released as a single, it remains one of her most popular and most frequently covered songs. Joni Mitchell is widely viewed as one of the most important and influential Canadian musicians of all-time and she has been cited as an influence by countless artists.

The wrong answers are all titles of songs from Mitchell's masterpiece 'Blue'.

Answer: Baby, It's Cold Outside

This duet was written by Frank Loesser in 1944. He sold the song to MGM and it made its cinematic debut in 'Neptune's Daughter' the same year. It is typically a duet, usually between a man and a woman with the male singer attempting to persuade the female singer to spend the night with him.

However, there are some versions of the song in which the roles are reversed or in which both performers are the same gender or even versions sung by a single performer. Artists who have recorded this song include Tom Jones, Cerys Matthews, Liz Phair, Dolly Parton, James Taylor, Natalie Cole, She & Him, Seth Macfarlane, Allo Darlin' and Idina Menzel. Of the wrong answers 'Kiss You In The Snow' is by Welsh indiepop band The School, 'Black Snow' is by British rock band Ten Benson and 'Winter Hawk' is a song by American indie band Elf Power.