Tag: music

  • Swimming with Sharks

    Today’s five questions are random with no connection.

    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Which shark is pictured? 


    Two

    What 1964 film starring Stanley Baker and Michael Cain depicts the 1879 Battle of Rorke’s Drift?


    Three

    Complete the title of this short story by Alan Sillitoe which was published in 1959: The Loneliness of the…?


    Four

    Which state or territorial capital of mainland Australia is the only one north of the Tropic of Capricorn?


    Five

    Chumbawamba’s 2008 album The Boy Bands Have Won holds the Guinness World Record for the longest album title.  Can you tell me how many words are in the full title?  A decade (a group of ten) is acceptable. For example, if the answer is 104 then 101-110 is fine.

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • There’s a Theme Running Through It—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

    Swallowtail.
    Image Wildlife Trusts

    One

    What is the largest butterfly in the UK? It has a ten-letter name and lives in the Norfolk Broads. 

    Answer: Swallowtail

    The swallowtail is the largest and most localised butterfly in the UK. Adults emerge from winter chrysalises, drying their wings in reedbeds before displaying their bright colours. Their swallow-like tails and false eye spots confuse predators. Even as caterpillars, they are striking, with bulging horns for defence and orange scent glands that release a pineapple-like odor when threatened.


    Two

    In what 1975 novel does IRA member Liam Devlin take part in a wartime plot to kidnap Winston Churchill?

    Answer: The Eagle Has Landed

    Irish Republican Liam Devlin and Joanna Grey, an Afrikaner woman and seasoned Abwehr agent residing in England, team up with German paratroopers to plan and execute the kidnapping of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.


    Three

    In the 1955 film, To Catch a Thief (1955), who is seen sitting beside Cary Grant and a pair of caged birds on a bus? 

    Answer: Alfred Hitchcock

    Producer and director Alfred Hitchcock makes his signature cameo, approximately ten minutes into the film, as a bus passenger sitting next to Cary Grant and a caged pair of birds.


    Four

    What single answer satisfies all of the following: the title of Fleetwood Mac’s only number one hit on the UK Singles Chart; a significant being in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner; and in golf, refers to a score of three strokes under par for a hole?

    Answer: Albatross

    Albatross is a guitar-based instrumental by Fleetwood Mac, composed by Peter Green. It was released as a single in 1968 and became their only number one single on the UK charts. The albatross that saves the ship by leading the way from the ice in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and is then shot; and the word used as an alternative to double eagle meaning a score of three strokes under par for a hole.


    A nesting pair of Macaroni penguins, Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands.
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    Eudyptes chrysolophus: part of this bird’s name is also a type of pasta. What pasta? 

    Answer: Macaroni 

    The macaroni penguin—Eudyptes chrysolophus—is a crested penguin with a distinctive yellow crest, it is the most numerous penguin species, with an estimated 18 million individuals. Despite its abundance, the species is vulnerable due to widespread population declines since the mid-1970s.


    Theme

    The theme was of course Birds. Question 1. swallow (from swallowtail); 2. Eagle; 3. Caged birds mentioned in the question plus Hitchcock was the director of The Birds; 4. Albatross and 5. penguin.

  • There’s a Theme Running Through It

    Today, a common thread weaves through five seemingly unrelated questions.

    Image Wildlife Trusts.

    One

    What is the largest butterfly in the UK? It has a ten-letter name and lives in the Norfolk Broads. 


    Two

    In what 1975 novel does IRA member Liam Devlin take part in a wartime plot to kidnap Winston Churchill?


    Three

    In the 1955 film, To Catch a Thief (1955), who is seen sitting beside Cary Grant and a pair of caged birds on a bus? 


    Four

    What single answer satisfies all of the following: the title of Fleetwood Mac’s only number one hit on the UK Singles Chart; a significant being in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner; and in golf, refers to a score of three strokes under par for a hole?


    Five

    Eudyptes chrysolophus: part of this bird’s name is also a type of pasta. What pasta? 

    Good luck! The answers will be posted later.

  • Connections—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

    Marlene Dietrich, The Blue Angel. See question two.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    A rock group’s first album, which was self-titled, was released in 1964 while their latest Hackney Diamonds was released in 2023. Which group is this?

    Answer: Rolling Stones

    The Rolling Stones, an English rock band formed in 1962, are one of the most influential bands of the rock era. Known for their gritty, rhythmically driven sound, they pioneered hard rock and were at the forefront of the British Invasion. With over 250 million album sales, they have won four Grammy Awards and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.


    Two

    Who played Lola Lola in 1930’s film The Blue Angel?

    Answer: Marlene Dietrich

    The Blue Angel (1930) is a German musical comedy-drama film directed by Josef von Sternberg, starring Marlene Dietrich. It is based on Heinrich Mann’s novel and follows a professor’s transformation into a cabaret clown.


    Three

    What is the one word name used for the prestigious institution, part of a larger university, which Marie Curie attended for her studies in physics and mathematics, and where she became the first woman professor?

    Answer: Sorbonne

    Marie Curie studied at the Sorbonne, which is part of the University of Paris. She earned her degrees in physics and mathematics there and later became the first woman professor at the Sorbonne — National Geographic


    Four

    What, since February 2025, is the hereditary title of Prince Shah Rahim al-Hussaini, 50th hereditary Imam of Nizari Ismailis?

    Answer: Aga Khan

    The Aga Khan is the hereditary title of the spiritual leader and Imam of the Nizari Ismāʿīli Shias, a branch of Islam.  Currently, the 50th hereditary Imam is Prince Shah Rahim al-Hussaini. He succeeded his father in February 2025 and oversees development and humanitarian work.


    Five

    Founded by the Greeks in the first millennium BCE, this city is now Italy’s third-largest as well as Campania’s regional capital.  Please name it?Question

    Answer: Naples

    Naples, the regional capital of Campania, is Italy’s third-largest city and a significant cultural centre. Founded by Greeks in the first millennium BCE, it has a rich history, having served as the capital of various kingdoms. Today, it is a major economic hub with a UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic centre and numerous cultural sites nearby.

    Peter Sarstedt Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?
    Image chordify.net

    Six

    What connects the five answers above?

    Answers: (The song) Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?

    Peter Sarstedt’s 1966 hit Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)? features all five of these answers in its lyrics.  The song tells the story of Marie-Claire, a girl who rose from poverty in Naples to become a jet-setter. It achieved chart success in the UK, Ireland, Australia,  New Zealand and South Africa, reaching number one in all of them. In the US, it peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart and 36 on Canada’s RPM Adult Contemporary chart. The lyrics are shown below.

    Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)

    by Peter Sarstedt

    You talk like Marlene Dietrich
    And you dance like Zizi Jeanmaire
    Your clothes are all made by Balmain
    And there’s diamonds and pearls in your hair, yes there are

    You live in a fancy apartment
    Off the Boulevard St. Michel
    Where you keep your Rolling Stones records
    And a friend of Sacha Distel, yes you do

    But where do you go to my lovely
    When you’re alone in your bed?
    Tell me the thoughts that surround you
    I want to look inside your head, yes I do

    I’ve seen all your qualifications
    You got from the Sorbonne
    And the painting you stole from Picasso
    Your loveliness goes on and on, yes it does

    When you go on your summer vacation
    You go to Juan-les-Pins
    With your carefully designed topless swimsuit
    You get an even suntan on your back, and on your legs

    And when the snow falls you’re found in St. Moritz
    With the others of the jet set
    And you sip your Napoleon brandy
    But you never get your lips wet, no you don’t

    But where do you go to my lovely
    When you’re alone in your bed?
    Won’t you tell me the thoughts that surround you?
    I want to look inside your head, yes I do

    You’re in between twenty and thirty
    That’s a very desirable age
    Your body is firm and inviting
    But you live on a glittering stage, yes you do, yes you do

    Your name is heard in high places
    You know the Aga Khan
    He sent you a race horse for Christmas
    And you keep it just for fun, for a laugh, ha-ha-ha

    They say that when you get married
    It’ll be to a millionaire
    But they don’t realize where you came from
    And I wonder if they really care, or give a damn

    But where do you go to my lovely
    When you’re alone in your bed?
    Tell me the thoughts that surround you
    I want to look inside your head, yes I do

    I remember the back streets of Naples:
    Two children begging in rags
    Both touched with a burning ambition
    To shake off their lowly-born tags, they tried

    So look into my face, Marie-Claire
    And remember just who you are
    Then go and forget me forever
    But I know you still bear the scar, deep inside

    I know where you go to my lovely
    When you’re alone in your bed
    I know the thoughts that surround you
    ‘Cause I can look inside your head

    Genius


  • Connections

    His Highness Prince Rahim al-Hussaini. See question 4.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    A rock group’s first album, which was self-titled, was released in 1964 while their latest Hackney Diamonds was released in 2023. Which group is this?

    Two

    Who played Lola Lola in 1930’s film The Blue Angel?

    Three

    What is the one word name used for the prestigious institution, part of a larger university, which Marie Curie attended for her studies in physics and mathematics, and where she became the first woman professor?

    Four

    What, since February 2025, is the hereditary title of Prince Shah Rahim al-Hussaini, 50th hereditary Imam of Nizari Ismailis?

    Five

    Founded by the Greeks in the first millennium BCE, this city is now Italy’s third-largest as well as Campania’s regional capital.  Please name it?

    Six

    What connects the five answers to the above questions?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Meeting of the Waters—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions posed earlier.

    Meeting of the waters is the confluence
    between the dark Rio Negro (blackwater) and the pale sandy-coloured Amazon River (whitewater), referred to as the Solimões River in Brazil upriver of this confluence.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    The confluence of what two rivers is shown in the above picture?

    Answer: Rio Negro and Amazon aka (Rio Solimões)

    The Meeting of Waters in Brazil is where the dark Rio Negro meets the pale, sediment-rich Rio Solimões (Amazon River) but flows side by side for kilometres without mixing due to differences in speed, temperature, and sediment content. The Rio Negro is slower, warmer, and almost sediment-free, while the Solimões is faster, cooler, and carries Andean sediments. This striking visual contrast continues for many kilometres before blending fully.


    Two

    Who composed the original Star Wars film score?

    Answer: John Williams.

    Williams’ iconic score, recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra, revitalized interest in grand orchestral film music and remains one of the most recognizable movie themes in history.


    Xi Jinping, President of China.
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

    Is it true that China’s President Xi Jinping spent part of his childhood living in a cave?

    Answer: True

    As of 2010, approximately 3 million people in China’s Shanxi province resided in yaodong, which are caves dug into soft yet insulating dirt. These caves are naturally cool in summer and warm in winter, making them an affordable housing option. China’s president, Xi Jinping, spent part of his childhood in a similar cave in a nearby province. In 1968, at the age of 15, Xi applied to leave Beijing for the countryside, influenced by Mao Zedong’s Down to the Countryside Movement. On 13 January 1969, he moved to Liangjiahe Village in Yan’an, Shaanxi. The rural conditions were challenging which fostered his connection with the rural poor. Initially unable to adapt, he attempted to return to Beijing but was arrested and sent to a work camp. Persuaded by his aunt and uncle, he returned to the village, where he served as the party secretary and lived in a cave house.

    Yaodong(earth shelter) covered in snow.
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    What is the most abundant gas in Earth’s atmosphere?

    Answer: Nitrogen

    Nitrogen makes up about 78% of Earth’s atmosphere. Despite being so common, most living organisms can’t use atmospheric nitrogen directly — it must first be made into usable forms by bacteria and plants.


    Five

    The novel Brave New World was written by whom?

    Answer: Aldous Huxley

    Published in 1932, Brave New World predicted technologies and societal trends — such as genetic engineering and consumerism — that became eerily relevant decades later.

  • Meating of the Waters

    Today’s questions are a random selection.

    Meeting of the waters, see question one.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    The confluence of what two rivers is shown in the above picture?

    Two

    Who composed the original Star Wars film score?

    Three

    Is it true that China’s President Xi Jinping spent part of his childhood living in a cave?

    Four

    What is the most abundant gas in Earth’s atmosphere?

    Five

    The novel Brave New World was written by whom?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • On This Day: October 20th—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions in my earlier post.

    Sydney Opera House.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    On 20 October 1973, which Australian landmark officially opened to the public?  
    Sydney Opera House
    The Sydney Opera House, which was opened by Queen Elizabeth II, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, whose citation is

    Inaugurated in 1973, the Sydney Opera House is a great architectural work of the 20th century that brings together multiple strands of creativity and innovation in both architectural form and structural design. A great urban sculpture set in a remarkable waterscape, at the tip of a peninsula projecting into Sydney Harbour, the building has had an enduring influence on architecture. The Sydney Opera House comprises three groups of interlocking vaulted ‘shells’ which roof two main performance halls and a restaurant. These shell-structures are set upon a vast platform and are surrounded by terrace areas that function as pedestrian concourses. In 1957, when the project of the Sydney Opera House was awarded by an international jury to Danish architect Jørn Utzon, it marked a radically new approach to construction.
    UNESCO World Heritage Convention


    Two

    The Battle of Valdivia, part of the Chilean War of Independence, took place in which decade?  
    1820s
    This battle saw Chilean forces secure the southern stronghold from Spanish royalists, aiding in the country’s independence.


    The Traveling Wilburys—top: 1. Jeff Lynne, 2. Tom Petty;
    bottom: 3. Roy Orbison, 4. Bob Dylan, 5. George Harrison

    Three

    Which iconic rock musician gave his final live performance with his band, the Traveling Wilburys, on this day in 1990?  
    Roy Orbison
    Roy Orbison, part of the supergroup with George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty, passed away later that year.


    Muammar Gaddafi.
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    On 20 October 2011, which long-time Libyan leader was captured and killed during the civil conflict?  
    Muammar Gaddafi
    Muammar Gaddafi had ruled Libya for 42 years before being overthrown during the Arab Spring uprisings. His death, which ended one of Africa’s longest dictatorships, lead to years of instability in Libya.


    Five

    Which U.S. President signed the Louisiana Purchase Treaty on 20 October 1803?  
    Thomas Jefferson
    The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States, adding roughly 828,000 square miles of territory.

  • On This Day: October 20th

    Some trivia about today, October 20th.


    Flag of the United States (1795–1818).
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    On 20 October 1973, which Australian landmark officially opened to the public?  
    Sydney Opera House

    Two

    The Battle of Valdivia, part of the Chilean War of Independence, took place in which decade?  
    1820s

    Three

    Which iconic rock musician gave his final live performance with his band, the Traveling Wilburys, on this day in 1990?

    Four

    On 20 October 2011, which long-time Libyan leader was captured and killed during the civil conflict?

    Five

    Which U.S. President signed the Louisiana Purchase Treaty on 20 October 1803?  
    Thomas Jefferson

    Good luck! I’ll Post the answers later.

  • Unsinkable—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

    One

    In the film Titanic what were Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet’s fictional characters full names?

    Answer: Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater

    Titanic film poster.
    Image Original Vintage

    Two

    Name the independent countries in Africa that have names beginning with ‘M’?

    Answer: Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco and Mozambique


    Three

    What type of animal was Flipper, the star of the sixties American television series?

    Answer: Bottlenose dolphin

    Bottlenose dolphins.
    Image American Oceans

    Four

    There’s only been one instance of a father and daughter performing a number one song in America. Can you name the song and the performers?

    Answer: Somethin’ Stupid Frank and Nancy Sinatra

    This 1967 hit, which was billed as being by ‘Nancy Sinatra and Frank Sinatra’, was the first and only instance of a father-daughter number-one song in America. Nancy Sinatra has said, ‘Some people call (it) the Incest Song, which I think is, well, very sweet!’


    Five

    Name any US presidents and British prime ministers with the same surname?

    Answer: Woodrow Wilson and Harold Wilson

    Woodrow Wilson, was the 28th President of the United States and was in office from 1913 to 1921.
    Harold Wilson, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and was in office from 1964 to 1970 and 1974 to 1976.