Kia ora koutou ē hoa mā
Welcome to Friday afternoon and the answers! In very exciting quiz news, there are now over 100 people subscribed to the quiz! And yet…only 13 teams took part this week. It’s a work in progress ❤
“Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?” from the Arctic Monkeys was the song that everyone who sent in an answer got right; Elton John’s “The North” caused the most confusion, primarily over it’s title (many, many of you thought it was called “Northern Skies” which is a solid guess!).
1960s: “Girl from the North Country”, Bob Dylan
1990s: “The North”, Elton John
2000s: “Fare Thee Well Northumberland”, Mark Knopfler
2010s (band): “Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?”, Arctic Monkeys
2010s (musical): “The Election of 1800”, Hamilton
Your leaderboard this week:
🥇 on 10/10: Learning Support Policy, Lore in Order, Siobhan M, WDPTBTI, Vercisca, and BSA Team
🥈 on 9/10: I've Got a Dark Alley and a Bad Quiz Team Name, Radio Gaga’s, and Team Impoverished
🥉 on 8/10: Quartz, and The Bogan Crue
Have a great weekend - any guesses on next week’s theme?
Kirsti.
1960s: “Girl from the North Country”, Bob Dylan
If you’re travelin' in the north country fair
Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline
Remember me to one who lives there
For she once was a true love of mine
Hint: It’s not Johnny Cash, though he has done a famous version of this song. This song, from the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature winner, is heavily influenced by traditional English folk music, particularly “Scarborough Fair” - and this song is almost identical to a later song from this artist, “Boots of Spanish Leather”. You may know this artist from his songs “Blowin' in the Wind”, “The Times They Are a-Changin’”, and “Like a Rolling Stone”. Song title not in lyrics quoted, but shares it’s name with the second jukebox musical to use this artist’s music.
1990s: “The North”, Elton John
Have you seen the North
That cold grey place
Don't want its shadow anymore
On my face
A man grows bitter
We're a bitter race
Some of us never get to see
A better place
In the Northern Skies
There was a steel cloud
It used to follow me around
But I don't see it now
Hint: This song wasn’t released as a single so no surprise if it’s not familiar, but it’s story of life being hard in the North of England, particularly as the steel industry disappeared, is a familiar one. It’s from the same British singer, songwriter and pianist who brought you “Rocket Man”, “Crocodile Rock”, “Tiny Dancer” and “Your Song”, and the song title is in lyrics quoted.
2000s: “Fare Thee Well Northumberland”, Mark Knopfler
My heart beats for my streets and alleys
Longs to dwell in the borderlands
The northeast shore and the river valleys
Fare thee well, Northumberland
I may not stay, I'm bound for leaving
I'm bound to ramble and to roam
I only say my heart is grieving
I would not gamble on my coming home
Hint: A solo effort from the lead guitarist, singer and songwriter of the rock band Dire Straits who also did the music from The Princess Bride. Born in Glasgow, his family moved to Newcastle when he was seven, and the album this song came from, “The Ragpicker’s Dream”, features numerous references to North East England. Song title in lyrics quoted.
2010s (band): “Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?”, Arctic Monkeys
Now, it's three in the mornin'
And I'm tryna' change your mind
Left you multiple missed calls
And to my message, you reply
"Why'd you only call me when you're high?"
"Hi, why'd you only call me when you're high?"
Hint: Why’d I pick a song with such a long title? This English rock band formed in Sheffield (more Northern England for you!) but the real connection to this week’s theme is me being silly about one of the words in their band name, because you can’t get much more north than these simians. You probably know them from such songs as “Do I Wanna Know?”, “Brainstorm” (a favourite of mine), and “I Bet That You Look Good on the Dancefloor”. Song title in lyrics quoted.
2010s (musical): “The Election of 1800”, Hamilton
Yo. Ev’ry action has an equal, opposite reaction
John Adams shat the bed. I love the guy, but he’s in traction
Poor Alexander Hamilton? He is missing in action
So now I’m facing—
Aaron Burr!
With his own faction
He’s very attractive in the North. New Yorkers like his chances
Hint: I couldn’t resist. You can probably guess the musical very easily from the lyrics, but the song title is a little harder: it’s the one about an election in the early 1800s.
