Wordwise Songs | 10 Question Music Multiple Choice Quiz

Answer: We Shall Overcome

"We Shall Overcome" was one of the many American protest songs that were on the music scene during the 1960s. Its most popular version was undoubtedly that performed by the great singer, Joan Baez. The song itself however had been around in various forms for many years prior to that time, one of which can be dated right back to the beginning of the 20th century.

The version Joan Baez made her own was published in 1948, when it was taught at a Tennessee adult school that trained union organisers. Union organisers had to be trained at a government run school? That would seem to be the very antithesis of what they stood for.

By the 1960s, "We Shall Overcome" had moved away from those early striking roots to become associated with the Civil Rights Movement that swept the USA during that period in history instead. Today, it is recognised as that Movement's unofficial anthem.

Answer: Georgia On My Mind

Its most popular version was released in the United States in September, 1960, but "Georgia On My Mind" was actually written by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell back in the 1930s, and performed by very many artists in the interim. These included Louis Armstrong, Frankie Laine, Dean Martin, Glenn Miller, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. More recent performers of this great old number include Michael Buble, Michael Bolton, Crystal Gayle, Van Morrison, the Righteous Brothers, Willie Nelson and Annie Lennox. Jamie Foxx does a pretty fantastic rendition as well. However, for utter perfection and delivery, it has to be the version by Ray Charles that's the best of all.

So popular is "Georgia" that it fits into most genres of music, from jazz, blues and soul to traditional pop. Pooh-pooh to the pop version. There's nothing better than a couple of warming drinks, the lights down low, and the soothing refrains of a blues version of this dreamy old number to make anyone feel downright mellow.

Answer: Back In Black

Written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson, "Back in Black" was released in December by the Australian group AC/DC in their album of the same name. By 2009, this perennial hard rock number was being described as the second greatest song of all time by the television music channel VH1. Today, it still maintains a healthy position on the Rolling Stones magazine's list of the 500 greatest songs of all times. It has been performed by more than twenty other artists or groups since it was first released, used in several television series and films, featured in assorted commercials, and even used to introduce A Grade football games.

Music of course has to appeal to all types of personalities, and what is revolting to some is, well, music to the ears of others. As for this writer though, I truly detest the hard rock and heavy metal genre.

Answer: Another Brick In The Wall

"Another Brick in the Wall" is a different kind of song. In fact, it's not a single song at all, but one of three different variations on a theme, all of which are found in Pink Floyd's famous rock opera album called, what else, "The Wall". The titles of those three variations are Part I ("Reminiscing"), Part II ("Education") and Part III ("Drugs"). That was a very ambitious project for that time in the history of music, but it turned out to be an outstanding success.

The single of the second variation from "Another Brick in the Wall" by this famous English group reached number one, not only in the UK, but also in the US, West Germany and many other countries - except South Africa.

It was banned there because, appropriately so, it became associated with a protest movement against racial inequalities in that country's schooling system.

Answer: Take Five

"Take Five" is a smooth jazz instrumental, strongly featuring saxophone, that was released in 1959 - and then, such was its popularity, again in 1961. It was composed by Paul Desmond and recorded by the famous American group, The Dave Brubeck Quartet (which included Paul), on their hit album, the 1959 "Time Out". Over time, this number has become the highest selling jazz single of all time.

It has appeared continually in any number of other productions, been recorded by more than forty other artists, and has even used as the theme music for a daily television news program in the United States. Following the death of its composer in 1977, all royalties from performances of same are donated to the American Red Cross. What a wonderful thing to do.

Answer: Space Invaders

Based on the video game of the same name, the song "Space Invaders" was released in 1979 in Australia. Written and produced by Russell Dunlop and Bruce Brown, the pair also performed the song with their group, Player One, aka Player [1]. This became a huge hit in Australia and was the best selling song of 1980 in that country.

However it failed to do well internationally when released overseas. In the United States, to avoid confusion with another band's similar name, the performers called their band Playback there.

Answer: Time After Time

Cindy Lauper's 1984 song, "Time After Time", originally appeared on her first album, the 1983 "She's So Unusual", but when released as a single in the US the following year, it hit the charts big time. Considered today to be one of the best love songs ever written, few people would disagree with that description. Its bittersweet lyrics tell of the loss or fading away of love, but how, just perhaps, if one searches long enough, those magic moments can be recaptured. Perhaps. I particularly like the following words that come accompanied by a change of rhythm and volume. They speak of the real heartache of lost love:

"If you're lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you, I will be waiting
Time after time, time after time, time after time..."

(Sniff)

Answer: Rock Around The Clock

Well enough of heartache in the 1980s. Let's liven up the party with this grand old rock and roll number from the 1950s instead! This is a song that doesn't depress us, or give our social consciences a hearty kick, or make us want to blow up parliament, or pepper every single conversation of the day with the foulest profanities. No, instead of that daily fare in music and lyrics given to us today, the 1954 US release "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and His Comets is rock music at its most joyous, young and defiant.

It's full of life and movement and all our tomorrows which promised so much of everything back then. A smash hit the world over, it's been performed everywhere and by everyone since then, and crops up constantly in most shows that are based on that era of yesterday when the world still seemed a place of hope and youth and a happy future.

Answer: Baby One More Time

"Baby One More Time" was American entertainer Britney Spear's debut single. Written and produced by Max Martin and Rami, this 1998 number also appeared on Britney's album of the same name, which was released the following year. Shooting straight to the top of the charts in every country in which it was released, today this song is noted for being one of the top selling singles of all time.

It tells the story of teenage heartbreak and a girl who wishes she'd never broken up with her lad. Oddly though, the music video, which came out with the record, takes a different approach to the lyrics, and features a convent schoolgirl daydreaming about a boy on whom she has a crush. Excellent video that it is, the only criticism that can be made about it is that the lovely Britney is rather hopeless at lip synchronisation.

Answer: Always On My Mind

"Always On My Mind", or "You Were Always On My Mind" as it is sometimes known, was composed by Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher and Mark James, and released in the Us in 1972. First sung by the great Elvis Presley following the breakdown of his marriage to Priscilla, this number, believe it or not, has been recorded by more than 300 other performers as well. Willie Nelson's 1982 Grammy Award winning rendition was one of these, and that's the one I love most. And I love Willie Nelson's voice.

It's not cultured, it's not trained, it cracks now and then and it occasionally wobbles, and yet, and yet, it's so honest and true that somehow it speaks right to the heart.

It's Willie, warts and all, and in this song, Willie gives us heartbreak and regret in its truest and most natural form.