You Shook Me All Night Long Trivia Quiz

Answer: Motor

Anthropomorphizing lovers into automobiles was hardly a novel concept when AC/DC undertook this project. Chuck Berry did it to some degree in his classic "Maybellene", whereas Marc Bolan did so more explicitly in the T-Rex tune "Get It On".

Answer: American

Along with the other tracks on the album "Back in Black", this song was recorded in the Bahamas during the spring of 1980. Not coincidentally, this region is also a popular holiday destination for US vacationers who enjoy wearing the very fashions that would call the above body parts to one's attention; AC/DC vocalist Brian Johnson has made note of this startling coincidence when asked about the inspiration for the song.

Answer: Fighting

This song was AC/DC's first single release after the tragic loss of their original vocalist Bon Scott from acute alcohol poisoning. Though the band had already began work on a new album with Scott at the time of his death, they decided to start afresh with new material written in collaboration with new singer Brian Johnson.

And, yes, I did exercise some discretion with which lines I chose to quote in this quiz.

Answer: The walls

The singles chart success of this cut was rather modest in retrospect. It peaked at number 35 in North America (Billboard chart) and number 38 in the United Kingdom (Official UK Charts Company). That being said, however, the song became a live staple for both AC/DC and a plethora of heavy metal and hard rock cover bands, received copious radio airplay, and was ranked number 10 on VH1's list of "The 100 Greatest Songs of the 80s".

It is also, by popular acclamation, far and away the most played song at a certain type of US entertainment establishment that I, of course, would not be familiar with in the slightest.

Answer: Seduction

This song was produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange, who also produced a cover version performed by his wife, Ms. Shania Twain. Suffice to say that the Shania version did require some changes in lyrics.

Answer: Applause

Modest as the song's singles chart position was, the same cannot be said for its album. In the quarter century following its release, "Back in Black" sold over 40 million copies worldwide, reaching the number one position in the United Kingdom. It never attained the number one slot in the US, topping out at number four, but has sold steadily since its release and was certified the fifth-highest selling album of all time in that country by the RIAA.

Answer: Cool

Though some (such as the anti-rock Christian activists Steve and Dan Peters) have criticized AC/DC for sallying forth with this song and the album "Back in Black" within a scant four months of their former frontman's passing, the band reached an internal consensus that Bon Scott would have wanted it that way, and Scott had remarked once on seeing his eventual replacement Brian Johnson perform: "If anything happens to me, get that guy".

Unbeknownst to Scott at the time, much of what he had mistaken for passionate performance was actually Johnson suffering from appendicitis, but it's a good story none the less. For details, see "Rolling Stone's" profile of AC/DC from 2/28/2003.

Answer: Knocked

"You Shook Me All Night Long" has also grown to be popular entrance music for several professional athletes, including baseball players Jim Thome and Tino Martinez. I am not sure of any fighters who use this on a regular basis; if anyone can help me out on this, I'd much appreciate it.

Answer: Took

"You Shook Me All Night Long" is prominently featured in the Stephen King-directed film "Maximum Overdrive", which was scored by AC/DC from both original and previously released material. It also plays over the closing credits of 2001's "A Knight's Tale" and is featured in the Howard Stern opus "Private Parts".

Answer: Ten

In 2002, Celine Dion and her "girlfriend" (or so she kept exclaiming during the performance) Anastacia performed this song at a VH1 "Divas Live" concert in Las Vegas - with Wayne Newton in attendance, no less. Though never officially released as a single, this version has received substantial airplay in several non-English-speaking countries. If you would like to view this performance, please seek it out yourself. Sorry, I'm not going there.

As always, I'd love to hear any comments you might have, especially those that will make this a better quiz. Thanks for playing.