Quizology.Online

Tag: music

  • Gallimaufry IV | Answers

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

    Today, more gallimaufry — ‘a confused jumble or medley of things’.

    Dobby, see question two.
    Image Harry Potter Fandom

    One

    In July 1985, Live Aid was held simultaneously at two venues on either side of the Atlantic. What were the venues?

    Answer: Wembley Stadium, London and JFK Stadium, Philadelphia

    Live Aid, a benefit concert held simultaneously at Wembley Stadium in London and JFK Stadium in Philadelphia on July 13, 1985, was organised by Boomtown Rats frontman Bob Geldof and Ultravox vocalist Midge Ure. The event attracted an estimated 1.5 billion television viewers and raised millions of dollars for famine relief in Ethiopia.

    Two

    Dobby, the house-elf from Harry Potter, was in the news a couple of years ago when the National Trust asked fans not to leave memorabilia at the site of his grave at Freshwater West Beach, Pembrokeshire, Wales. What one item associated with Dobby and Harry Potter have fans been leaving?

    Answer: Sock

    Many fans have been leaving a sock for Dobby, referencing the fact that it was a sock Harry Potter used to trick Lucius Malfoy to set the house-elf free. Freshwater West, a ‘Site of Special Scientific Interest’, is home to large grey seals, harbour porpoises, and some of the world’s largest seabird populations. The National Trust asks visitors to leave no trace – no socks included.

    Three

    What creature, from Greek mythology, is being described here: ‘a creature with the head, arms, and torso of a man and the body and legs of a horse’?

    Answer: Centaur

    Centaurs, creatures from Greek mythology with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse, were known for their wild nature and inhabited various regions in Thessaly and beyond. They also appear in Roman mythology and medieval bestiaries. In modern fiction, centaurs appear in C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia and J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter.

    Four

    What song opens ‘We’re caught in a trap, I can’t walk out’?

    Answer: Suspicious Minds

    Mark James’s 1968 song Suspicious Minds initially failed to chart, but Elvis Presley later recorded it, transforming it into a number one hit and earning it a Grammy Hall of Fame induction.

    Five

    An African dictator who was in office as the President between January 1971 and April 1979 declared himself the uncrowned King of Scotland. Who was this dictator, and what country did he rule?

    Answer: Idi Amin; Uganda

    Idi Amin, a Ugandan military officer, ruled as a dictator from 1971 to 1979 after overthrowing President Milton Obote. His regime was marked by human rights abuses, economic collapse, and international isolation. Amin, who had become known as ‘The Butcher of Uganda’, was ousted by Tanzanian forces in 1979 and lived in exile until his death in 2003.

  • Gallimaufry IV

    Today, more gallimaufry — ‘a confused jumble or medley of things’.

    Dobby, see question two.
    Image Harry Potter Fandom

    One

    In July 1985, Live Aid was held simultaneously at two venues on either side of the Atlantic. What were the venues?

    Two

    Dobby, the house-elf from Harry Potter, was in the news a couple of years ago when the National Trust asked fans not to leave memorabilia at the site of his grave at Freshwater West Beach, Pembrokeshire, Wales. What one item associated with Dobby and Harry Potter have fans been leaving?

    Three

    What creature, from Greek mythology, is being described here: ‘a creature with the head, arms, and torso of a man and the body and legs of a horse’?

    Four

    What song opens ‘We’re caught in a trap, I can’t walk out’?

    Five

    An African dictator who was in office as the President between January 1971 and April 1979 declared himself the uncrowned King of Scotland. Who was this dictator, and what country did he rule?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Gallimaufry III—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier post. According to the Oxford English Dictionary ‘gallimaufry’ originated: mid-16th century: from archaic French galimafrée ‘unappetizing dish’, perhaps from Old French galer ‘have fun’ + Picard mafrer ‘eat copious quantities’.

    Today we have gallimaufry, ‘a confused jumble or medley of things’.

    Robert Langdon, The Da Vinci Code.
    Image Screenrant

    One

    What ’S’ is a subject in which Professor Robert Langdon specialises at Harvard in the novel and film The Da Vinci Code?

    Answer: Symbology

    Langdon is Professor of Religious Iconology and Symbology at Harvard University. The Oxford English Dictionary defines symbology as ‘the study or use of symbols’ or ‘symbols collectively’.

    Two

    What ‘S’ is the town of Freddie Mercury’s birth?

    Answer: Stone Town (in Zanzibar)

    Freddie Mercury, born Farrokh Bulsara in Stone Town, in the British Protectorate of Zanzibar (now Tanzania) in 1946. He spent a large part of his childhood in India, where he attended St. Peter’s School and formed a band, the Hectics.

    Three

    What ‘W’ does an oenophile love?

    Answer: Wine

    Oenophile is defined as ‘a connoisseur of wines’. Its origins are from the mid-19th century: from Greek oinos ‘wine’ + -phile. Oxford English Dictionary.

    Four

    What ‘A’ is the name of the submarine commanded by Gene Hackman’s character in Crimson Tide?

    Answer: Alabama (USS Alabama)

    The film centres on a conflict between a submarine commander and his XO over a missile launch order, mirroring a Cuban Missile Crisis incident onboard the Soviet submarine B-59.

    Five

    ‘G’ was the first initial of the author of The Canterbury Tales. What are this writer’s first and last names?

    Answer: Geoffrey Chaucer

    Geoffrey Chaucer, an English poet and writer, is best known for The Canterbury Tales and is considered the ‘father of English literature.’ The Canterbury Tales, an anthology of twenty-four stories written by Chaucer between 1387 and 1400, are widely regarded as his magnum opus and a paramount work of English literature. The tales, presented as part of a fictional storytelling contest, are incomplete, with Chaucer’s intention being to write four stories from the perspective of each of the 30 pilgrims.

  • Gallimaufry III

    Today we have gallimaufry, ‘a confused jumble or medley of things’.

    Robert Langdon, The Da Vinci Code.
    Image Screenrant

    One

    What ’S’ is a subject in which Professor Robert Langdon specialises at Harvard in the novel and film The Da Vinci Code?

    Two

    What ‘S’ is the town of Freddie Mercury’s birth?

    Three

    What ‘W’ does an oenophile love?

    Four

    What ‘A’ is the name of the submarine commanded by Gene Hackman’s character in Crimson Tide?

    Five

    ‘G’ was the first initial of the author of The Canterbury Tales. What are this writer’s first and last names?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Truth is always strange, Stranger than Fiction—Answers

    Truth is always strange, stranger than fiction.
    Image Quoteslyfe

    Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

    Today’s questions not only relate to January 22nd, they are also all about quotes. The first two questions are multiple choice, while the remainder are not.

    One

    Today’s post title is ‘Truth is always strange, stranger than fiction’. The person, born today in 1788, who originated this saying, was whom?

    • Lord Byron
    • Mark Twain
    • Rudyard Kipling

    Answer: Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)

    ‘T is strange,—but true; for Truth is always strange—

     Stranger than fiction: if it could be told,

    How much would novels gain by the exchange!

    — Lord Byron: Don Juan (1819)

    Mark Twain is also associated with this phrase, but it was originated by Byron.

    Two

    Which science fiction author wrote ‘How does one hate a country, or love one?’?

    • Isaac Asimov
    • Philip K. Dick
    • Ursula K. Le Guin

    Answer: Ursula K. Le Guin

    How does one hate a country, or love one? Tibe talks about it; I lack the trick of it. I know people, I know towns, farms, hills and rivers and rocks, I know how the sun at sunset in autumn falls on the side of a certain plowland in the hills; but what is the sense of giving a boundary to all that, of giving it a name and ceasing to love where the name ceases to apply? What is love of one’s country; is it hate of one’s uncountry? Then it’s not a good thing. Is it simply self-love? That’s a good thing, but one mustn’t make a virtue of it, or a profession… Insofar as I love life, I love the hills of the Domain of Estre, but that sort of love does not have a boundary-line of hate. And beyond that, I am ignorant, I hope.

    — Ursula K. Le Guin, The Left Hand of Darkness

    Three

    On this day in 2004, Wikiquote had this as its Quote of the Day: ‘I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.’ Whose words are being quoted?

    Answer: Douglas Adams

    Douglas Adams, English author and humourist, created The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, a radio comedy that became a successful book series and was adapted into various media. He also wrote Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul, and contributed to Doctor Who and Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

    Four

    What king, who had previously said, ‘I don’t mind praying to the Eternal Father, but I must be the only man in the country afflicted with an eternal mother,’ ascended the British throne on this day in 1901, and who was his mother?

    Answer: King Edward VII; Queen Victoria

    The quote was a joke referring to his mother’s famously long reign of almost 64 years. Queen Victoria died in 1901, and Edward succeeded to the throne at the age of sixty.

    Five

    A 1960 song which was written by a singer-songwriter born today in 1931 includes these lines: ‘All day long they work so hard / Till the sun is goin’ down.’ Who is the singer-songwriter and what is the song?

    Answer: Sam Cooke; Chain Gang

    All day long they work so hard
    Till the sun is goin’ down.
    Working on the highways and byways
    And wearing, wearing a frown.
    You hear them moanin’ their lives away.
    Then you hear somebody say:
    “That’s the sound of the men working on the chain gang.
    That’s the sound of the men working on the chain gang.”

    — Chain Gang

  • Truth is always strange, Stranger than Fiction

    Truth is always strange, stranger than fiction.
    Image Quoteslyfe

    Today’s questions not only relate to January 22nd, they are also all about quotes. The first two questions are multiple choice, while the remainder are not.

    One

    Today’s post title is ‘Truth is always strange, stranger than fiction’. The person, born today in 1788, who originated this saying, was whom?

    • Lord Byron
    • Mark Twain
    • Rudyard Kipling

    Two

    Which science fiction author wrote ‘How does one hate a country, or love one?’?

    • Isaac Asimov
    • Philip K. Dick
    • Ursula K. Le Guin

    Three

    On this day in 2004, Wikiquote had this as its Quote of the Day: ‘I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.’ Whose words are being quoted?

    Four

    What king, who had previously said, ‘I don’t mind praying to the Eternal Father, but I must be the only man in the country afflicted with an eternal mother,’ ascended the British throne on this day in 1901, and who was his mother?

    Five

    A 1960 song which was written by a singer-songwriter born today in 1931 includes these lines: ‘All day long they work so hard / Till the sun is goin’ down.’ Who is the singer-songwriter and what is the song?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • A Masterly Performance—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    These questions are all related to today’s date, January 21st.

    Pontifical Swiss Guard.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    One

    In what century were this corps of soldiers entrusted with the duties of watchmen for the holder of a particular office, and what office was that?

    Answer: 16th century

    The Pontifical Swiss Guard, established in 1506, protects the Pope and the Vatican. Their duties include accompanying the Pope on journeys, guarding Vatican access points, and protecting the College of Cardinals during the Vacant See.

    Two

    The professional golfer Jack Nicklaus was born on this day in 1940. During his professional career, how many Masters Tournaments did he win?

    Answer: Six

    American professional golfer Jack Nicklaus, born in 1940, dominated world golf from the 1960s to the 1980s. He won 18 major championships, including a record six Masters Tournaments between 1963 and 1986, and was named PGA Player of the Year five times. Nicklaus also designed golf courses and authored several books.

    Three

    A French fashion designer born in 1905 became known for annually introducing new lines, for example the Muguet/Lily of the Valley line and H-Line in 1954; and the A-Line and Y-Line in 1955. Who was this designer?

    Answer: Christian Dior

    Christian Dior, a French fashion designer, revolutionised post-war fashion with his New Look style, characterised by feminine, sculpted clothing with rounded shoulders, a cinched waist, and a full skirt. Backed by Marcel Boussac, he founded his fashion house in 1946 and introduced the New Look in 1947. Dior’s influence extended beyond clothing, as he also launched perfumes, shoes, makeup, and accessories, solidifying his status as a leading figure in the fashion industry.

    Four

    A Spanish singer born in 1941 went on to be one third of the operatic singing trio The Three Tenors. Identify the three singers who comprised The Three Tenors?

    Answer: Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo and José Carreras

    Plácido Domingo, a Spanish-born singer, conductor, and opera administrator, is renowned for his powerful tenor voice and versatility. He performed over 150 operatic roles, ventured into popular music, and founded the Operalia competition to support young singers. Allegations of sexual misconduct in 2019 led to the cancellation of performances, although Domingo denied any wrongdoing.

    Concorde G-BOAA at the National Museum of Flight, Scotland.
    Image National Museum of Flight

    Five

    On 21 January 1976, two Concorde aircraft, one from British Airways and the other from Air France, made their first commercial flights. What were the two routes flown by these Concorde aircraft on that day?

    Answer: (British Airways) London to Bahrain and (Air France) Paris to Rio

    The Concorde, a supersonic passenger jet built by British and French manufacturers, made its first transatlantic flight (non-commercial) in 1973 and inaugurated scheduled commercial supersonic service in 1976. Despite its technological prowess and ability to halve transatlantic flight times, the Concorde was never financially viable due to high operating costs and noise pollution. The programme ended in 2003 after a fatal crash in 2000 and financial losses. British Airways Concorde B-GOAA, which flew the first London-Bahrain flight mentioned in this question, is on display at the National Museum of Scotland’s National Museum of Flight.

    Hopefully, there will be some more trivia for your amusement here tomorrow.

  • A Masterly Performance

    These questions are all related to today’s date, January 21st.

    Pontifical Swiss Guard.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    One

    In what century were this corps of soldiers entrusted with the duties of watchmen for the holder of a particular office, and what office was that?

    Two

    The professional golfer Jack Nicklaus was born on this day in 1940. During his professional career, how many Masters Tournaments did he win?

    Three

    A French fashion designer born in 1905 became known for annually introducing new lines, for example the Muguet/Lily of the Valley line and H-Line in 1954; and the A-Line and Y-Line in 1955. Who was this designer?

    Four

    A Spanish singer born in 1941 went on to be one third of the operatic singing trio The Three Tenors. Identify the three singers who comprised The Three Tenors?

    Concorde G-BOAA at the National Museum of Flight, Scotland.
    Image National Museum of Flight

    Five

    On 21 January 1976, two Concorde aircraft, one from British Airways and the other from Air France, made their first commercial flights. What were the two routes flown by these Concorde aircraft on that day?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later today.

  • Doubly Tuned—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

    Five random questions today.

    Billy the Kid.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    One

    Billy the Kid was shot and killed at Fort Sumner by whom?

    Answer: Sheriff Pat Garrett

    Henry McCarty, aka William H. Bonney and Billy the Kid, an American outlaw and gunfighter, was linked to nine murders, solely responsible for four, and possibly involved in five others. Sheriff Pat Garrett, responding to rumours, questioned Pete Maxwell, a friend of Bonney’s, and encountered Bonney unexpectedly, leading to a confrontation where Garrett fatally shot Bonney.

    Two

    Whose first novel was When the Lion Feeds?

    Answer: Wilbur Smith

    Wilbur Addison Smith (1933–2021) was a British-South African novelist known for his historical fiction set in Southern Africa. He wrote 49 books, selling over 140 million copies, and focused on themes like hunting, mining, romance and conflict.

    Three

    Tennis: The Woodies won six Wimbledon men’s doubles titles. What were their surnames?

    Answer: Woodbridge and Woodforde

    The Woodies, Australian tennis doubles pairing Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde, were one of the most successful in history, winning 61 ATP titles and 11 major titles. They represented Australia in the Olympics and Davis Cup, winning gold and silver medals and contributing to a Davis Cup victory. The Woodies were inducted into the Australian and International Tennis Halls of Fame in 2010.

    Four

    DOUBLY TUNED is an anagram of an English word, an adverb meaning certainly. What is the word?

    Answer: Undoubtedly

    undoubtedly /ʌnˈdaʊtɪdli /

    ▸ adverb without doubt; certainly: they are undoubtedly guilty.

    — Oxford English Dictionary

    Five

    Simon and Garfunkel’s first U.S. number one single hit was what?

    Answer: The Sound of Silence

    The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel, written by Paul Simon, was initially released in 1964 as an acoustic version. A remixed version with electric instruments, released in 1965, became a number-one hit and led to the duo’s reunion and the release of their second album. The song appeared under both the opening and closing credits of the 1967 film The Graduate and was included on its soundtrack album.

  • Doubly Tuned

    Five random questions today.

    Billy the Kid.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    One

    Billy the Kid was shot and killed at Fort Sumner by whom?

    Two

    Whose first novel was When the Lion Feeds?

    Three

    Tennis: The Woodies won six Wimbledon men’s doubles titles. What were their surnames?

    Four

    DOUBLY TUNED is an anagram of an English word, an adverb meaning certainly. What is the word?

    Five

    Simon and Garfunkel’s first U.S. number one single hit was what?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answer later.