Unutterably Silly Quiz

[Bilbo1967]

I think that Lady Gaga has stated that she took her stage name from Radio Gaga? I could guess at The Pretenders being named after the Platters song, but I can't see any similar links with the other two?

[orlok]

Originally Posted by Shayne Parkinson

What's the link between these songs:
- David Bowie, "Jean Genie"
- The Platters, "The Great Pretender"
- Queen, "Radio Ga Ga"
- Mississippi John Hurt, "Coffee Blues"

Two parts to this quiz:
1. The feature that links the songs - 1 point
2. (After Part 1 has been found) The relevant detail for each song - 1 point per song

On the assumption that my first guess is wrong...is the link Freddy Mercury? This is a bit tenuous too:
- He and Bowie recorded "Under Pressure" together
- Mercury recorded a cover of "The Great Pretender"
- He was a member of Queen, obviously
- Ummmm...

[Shayne Parkinson]

Originally Posted by orlok

Ha! I have just this minute come from reading a page of facts on the UK chart history in the newspaper, and I know that Jean Genie was held off the number one spot by an ultimately less well remembered song. So is that the link, that they were all held off the number one slot and only reached number 2? I *think* that's true of Radio Ga Ga as well.

Jean Genie was stopped from reaching the number one spot by Blockbuster, by the Sweet.

A very nice answer, with only one disadvantage: it's not the correct one.

[Shayne Parkinson]

Originally Posted by orlok

On the assumption that my first guess is wrong...is the link Freddy Mercury? This is a bit tenuous too:
- He and Bowie recorded "Under Pressure" together
- Mercury recorded a cover of "The Great Pretender"
- He was a member of Queen, obviously
- Ummmm...

Very clever! But not the one.

[Shayne Parkinson]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

I think that Lady Gaga has stated that she took her stage name from Radio Gaga? I could guess at The Pretenders being named after the Platters song, but I can't see any similar links with the other two?

You have it, Bilbo: they are all songs that inspired stage names. You're also correct re Lady Gaga and The Pretenders.

The other two are a bit trickier. Hint: the answer is in the lyrics rather than the title.

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by Shayne Parkinson

You have it, Bilbo: they are all songs that inspired stage names. You're also correct re Lady Gaga and The Pretenders.

The other two are a bit trickier. Hint: the answer is in the lyrics rather than the title.

Can't think of anything from Jean Genie, and I've never heard of the other one

[orlok]

The only thing I can think of is that Jean Genie was supposedly a reference to Jean Genet.

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by orlok

The only thing I can think of is that Jean Genie was supposedly a reference to Jean Genet.

How many number ones did she have?

[orlok]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

How many number ones did she have?

I know, it's the reverse of the right answer . But all I can come up with at the mo.

[Fbone]

Mississippi John Hurt's Coffee Blues was the inspiration of The Lovin' Spoonfuls.

[Fbone]

David Bowie's Jean Genie's lyrics are bizarre but they do contain go-go and simple minded. Two musical groups there.

[Shayne Parkinson]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Mississippi John Hurt's Coffee Blues was the inspiration of The Lovin' Spoonfuls.

Quite right!

David Bowie's Jean Genie's lyrics are bizarre but they do contain go-go and simple minded. Two musical groups there.

Simple Minds is the one. Well done, Fbone.

Three points to Bilbo, two to Fbone. You're up, Bilbo.

[Bilbo1967]

Five more questions from me;

1. What surprised scientists from the University of Sydney when they travelled to Sandy Island (halfway between Australia and New Caledonia) recently?

2. Which country's parliament is called the Riigiikogu?

3. What was the name of the Monty Python character who exploded after eating too much in a restaurant?

4. In heraldry, what specific animal is called a lucy?

5. Below is a subset of the rules of a particular game. Name that game;

1. All games are played to 12. However, if the score is 10–10, or 11–11 the game can be 'set' so that you play to a higher number.

2.The start of a point comes from a serve, and then a shot called a 'cut' is used to try and stop the server or his/her partner being able to hit the ball back.

3. The cut must go to the right of the black line on the front wall (note: if the ball hits the right hand wall and then hits the front wall to the left of the black line this is regarded as 'in'). If the ball goes to the left of the black line a 'Black Guard' is in effect and if the serving pair hit the ball down they do not lose the point; it is treated as a 'let'.

4. When a pair reaches 11 points, the server must stand with at least one foot on the bottom step when they serve. From that point they cannot move until the 'cutter' has hit to ball. This is called 'step'.

[Kumabjorn]

2. South Korea?

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

2. South Korea?

Sorry, no.