AND THE OSCAR GOES TO...

The Academy Awards are on Sunday night.  Here’s another Oscar quiz just for fun.  There’s not much else to say, the questions are self explanatory, so...may we have the envelope please.   

                 

QUESTIONS

1.  Phil Collins has had many hits over the years, both as a solo performer and as a member of Genesis.  Some of the songs he’s written for motion pictures have been nominated three times for Academy Awards.  But how many times has Phil Collins  WON an Oscar?  a. once  b. twice  c.  never                            

      

2.  On the record charts, Randy Newman has had mixed success.  His biggest hit was 1978’s “Short People”, which made it to # 2 on Billboards’ Hot 100 chart.  As a composer of songs and musical scores for film, he’s done much better.  The movies that Randy’s songs and/or musical scores have appeared in include” “Toy Story”, “Toy Story 2”, “Toy Story 3”, “Babe: Pig In The City”, “Ragtime”, “Monsters, Inc”, “A Bug’s Life”, “The Princess And The Frog”, “James and The Giant Peach”, “Cars” and “Meet The Parents”.  Randy’s been nominated for various Academy Awards 20 times, but how many Oscars has he actually WON?  a. none  b. one  c. two            

                

3.  Here’s a quick one.  The Beatles have won several Grammy Awards, including the recent 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award, but have they ever won an Academy Award?  Yes or No? 

                 

4.  In March of 1982 at the 54^th annual Academy Awards ceremony (which honoured movies released in 1981), “Chariots of Fire” won for ‘Best Picture’.  That movie also won the Oscar for ‘Original Score’ for its composer.  The title song even went to # 1 on Billboards’ Hot 100 chart for one week in May of ’82.  Who composed the musical score for “Chariots of Fire”?               

    

5.  Stevie Wonder, Prince, Phil Collins, Lionel Richie, Carly Simon, Paul McCartney (as one quarter of The Beatles), Elton John and Bruce Springsteen have all won Academy Awards.  How many times has Bob Dylan WON an Oscar?  a. Never  b. Once  c. Twice    

             

ANSWERS

1.  In 1984, Phil Collins was nominated in the ‘Best Original Song’ category for “Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)”.  It didn’t win.  Then in 1988, Phil’s song, “Two Hearts” from the movie “Buster”, (which Collins also starred in) was nominated in the same category.  It didn’t win.  Finally, at the 72^nd annual Academy Awards in 1999, Phil Collins won the ‘Best Original Song’ Oscar for “You’ll Be In My Heart” from the Disney animated feature, “Tarzan”.  So the correct answer is b. one

2.  Randy Newman has won 2 Academy Awards, so the correct answer is c.  At the 2001 Academy Awards (held on March 24, 2002), Randy won the ‘Original Song’ Oscar for “If I Didn’t Have You” from “Monsters Inc”.  Randy walked to the podium again in 2011 (for movies released in 2010) to accept the ‘Original Song’ Oscar for “We Belong Together” from Pixar’s “Toy Story 3”, which was also nominated in the ‘Best Picture’ category, but lost to “The King’s Speech”.                                         

    

3.  Yes, The Beatles have won…but only once.  John, Paul, George and Ringo won for ‘Original Song Score’ for “Let It Be” at the 43^rd Oscar ceremony held on April 15^th, 1971.  That year, Francis Lai won the Academy Award for ‘Original Score’ for his music for the motion picture “Love Story”.  “For All We Know” from “Lovers and Other Strangers” took the Oscar statue for ‘Original Song’.  The song went to # 3 on Billboards’ Hot 100 chart in March of ’71 for the Carpenters. 

    

4.  This might have been a little tough if you don’t know your movie music.  It was Vangelis who composed the Academy Award winning score for “Chariots Of Fire”.  The ‘Original Song’ Oscar that year went to Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, Christopher Cross and Peter Allen for “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)”.                                    

5.  The correct answer is b. once.  Bob Dylan won the ‘Original Song’ Academy Award at the 73^rd annual ceremony held on March 25^th, 2001 for “Things Have Changed” from the film “Wonder Boys” starring Michael Douglas.  It was Dylan’s first and so far, only nomination and win.  That year, Julia Roberts won ‘Actress In A Leading Role’ category for her portrayal of Erin Brockovich.  The ‘Best Picture” was “Gladiator” starring Russell Crowe, who also won the Oscar for ‘Actor In A Leading Role’.

OSCAR, OSCAR (2014 EDITION)

The Academy Awards are coming up in early March, so we’re starting with our pre-Oscar quiz. The questions are mostly based on musicians/singers/songwriters etc, who’ve won Academy Awards.  That’s pretty much all you need to know, so go ahead and give it a go.       

             

QUESTIONS

1.  George Lucas is not a musician, although he did date Rock and Roll Hall of Fame soon-to-be-inductee Linda Ronstadt for a few years.  Lucas is the man who created the “Star Wars” empire, which he sold to the Walt Disney company for 4 Billion dollars.  How many times has George Lucas been nominated for an Academy Award in the ‘Best Director’ category?  a. Once  b. Twice  c.  Three times  d.  Five times                            

      

2.  This singer originally became famous in the 1960’s as one half of a singing duo with her then husband.  She later moved on to a successful solo career that continues today.  When she turned to acting, she starred in highly successful movies such as “Mermaids”, “Mask”, “Tea With Mussolini” and “Burlesque”.  She’s won an Emmy award, several Golden Globes, one People’s Choice Award and an Oscar in 1988.  Can you name the actress and what was her Academy Award winning role?           

                

3.  In 1995, this legendary New Jersey singer/songwriter (oops, I think I’ve just given it away, haven’t I?) was nominated for an Academy Award for the 2nd time in his career.  He’d won the Oscar two years before for a song he wrote and performed for a film starring Denzel Washington and Tom Hanks, who also won an Academy Award for his performance.  What’s the name of this movie and who is our New Jersey musician (as if you didn’t know)? 

                 

4.  The 3rd season of American Idol was where the world first caught a glimpse of this singer.  She came in seventh, but went on to a stellar show business career, which included winning a Grammy Award, a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for ‘Best Supporting Actress” in her debut film, “Dreamgirls”.  She’s also a spokeswoman for Weight Watchers.  Who is she?            

    

5.  Let’s see how good your short term memory is.  What song won the Academy Award last year for ‘Best Song’?  No hints this time.  Totally up to you.        

             

ANSWERS

1.  George Lucas has been nominated twice for the Academy Award for ‘Best Directing’.  His first time was in 1974 for “American Graffiti”.  George Roy Hill won the Oscar that year for his direction on “The Sting”.  The last time George was nominated as director was in 1978 for the original “Star Wars”.  That year, Woody Allen took home the Oscar for “Annie Hall” (although the woodman wasn’t actually at the ceremony to accept the statue).                           

2.  Cher won the Academy Award in 1988 for her role in the ‘87 film, “Moonstruck”. The other nominees that year were Glenn Close (“Fatal Attraction”), Holly Hunter (“Broadcast News”), Sally Kirkland (“Anna”) and Meryl Streep (“Ironwood”).                                          

    

3.  At the 67th annual Academy Awards ceremony in 1994, New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen won the Oscar for the song, “Streets of Philadelphia”.  Tom Hanks took home the Oscar statue for “Actor In A Leading Role”.              

    

4. She’s Jennifer Hudson, who also starred in the 2011 film “Winnie Mandela” as the wife of Nelson Mandela.  Jennifer’s third studio album is scheduled to be released in the first quarter of this year.                                  

5.  Last year, the Academy Award for ‘Best Original Song From a Motion Picture” went to “Skyfall” from the James Bond film.  Adele (Adkins) not only sang the title song, but co-wrote it as well.            

I WANT TO SING YOU A LOVE SONG

Well, here it is Valentine’s Day, and for the first and possibly only time, we’re going to have a quiz for today ONLY.  Tomorrow, there’ll be a brand new quiz for you to ponder. But for today, all you need is love.  

Here’s the dillio.  All five questions are about # 1 songs with ‘love’ in the title from the 1970’s – that’s when there were more # 1 love songs on the chart than any other decade, although the 1990’s had a heckuva lot of # 1 love songs as well.       

      

So, have a LOVEly time with this quiz and really put your HEART into it.    

QUESTIONS

1.  The Supremes had several # 1 hits with the word ‘love’ in the title.  Their first, in 1964 was “Where Did Our Love Go”.  They followed that up with ”Baby Love” later that same year.  Then in ’65 came “Stop! In The Name of Love”.  In ’66, they topped the singles chart again with “You Can’t Hurry Love”.  “Love Is Here And Now You’re Gone” was # 1 in ’67.  The groups’ final # 1 ‘love’ song came in 1968 with “Stoned Love”.  Lead singer Diana Ross had her own share of solo ‘love’ songs after she left the group, including her duet with Lionel Richie in 1981, “Endless Love”, but we’re talking about the ‘70’s here, so what was the name of Diana Ross’ only # 1 ‘love’ hit from the 1970’s?  Was it a. Why Do Fools Fall in Love  b. Getting’ Ready For Love  c.  Love Hangover          d.  One Love In My Lifetime                            

      

2.  Think scary amusement park ride for your clue to this question.  In early 1976, the Ohio Players took their ‘love song’ to # 1 for one week.  After this hit, they never again had a # 1 hit.  No clues!  No hints!  Do you know the name of this song?               

                

3.  He was the youngest brother in this famous singing family.  By the time he had his first # 1 hit in 1977, his three older brothers had already had three # 1’s as well as over a dozen Top 40 hits.  Even though many people think they’re Australian, all four of these brothers were born in Manchester, England.  This youngest brother saw his first three chart hits go to # 1 and all of those were either written or co-written by one or all of his older brothers.  For several years, he regularly made the supermarket tabloids for his drug use and for dating actress Victoria Principal, who at the time was co-starring in the hit TV series “Dallas” as Pamela Ewing.  What’s the name of this ‘70’s singer and what was his 1978 ‘love’ song?            

                 

4.  This group was Motown Records first million selling performers.  They first charted in 1959, but that song, “Bad Girl” (actually released on the Chess label, barely made the Hot 100.  Their next release “Shop Around” on Motown’s Tamla label, zoomed up to      # 2 in 1961.  Throughout their career, The Miracles charted 46 songs with two of those making it to # 1.  What’s the name of this group and their 1976 # 1 ‘love’ hit?         

    

5.  The year was 1975 and legendary ‘60’s singer/songwriter Neil Sedaka was back on the record charts.  His 1960’s hits for RCA Victor Records included “Calendar Girl”, “Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen” and 1962’s # 1 smash, “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do”.  By 1975, he’d signed with Elton John’s Rocket records label and came back stronger than ever with two    # 1 hits that year – “Laughter In The Rain” for one week in February followed by “Bad Blood” (featuring Elton John) for three weeks in October of ‘75.  In between his own # 1’s, a husband and wife duo had recorded their own version of a ‘love’ song Neil had written and recorded on his comeback album in ’74, “Sedaka Is Back” and that one ALSO went to # 1 for four weeks in June and July of ‘75.  There was lots of love for Neil that summer.  Can you name the married duo as well as their # 1 ‘love’ song.  C’mon now, keep it together (HINT ALERT).              

             

ANSWERS

1.  Diana Ross had four # 1 hits during the 1970’s, but her only # 1 ‘love’ song was c. “Love Hangover” which hung on to the # 1 spot for two weeks in the summer of 1976.  Her other three #1’s from that decade were:  “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (1970), “Touch Me In The Morning” (1973) and “Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To)” (1976).                             

2.  “Love Rollercoaster” was that Ohio Players # 1 hit in 1976.  Their only other # 1 was 1975’s “Fire”.  When this funky R&B based band first came together in Dayton, Ohio in 1959, they called themselves The Ohio Untouchables.  They first recorded as a backing band for the vocal group The Falcons, (featuring Wilson Pickett).  The Ohio Untouchables disbanded in 1963, but several of the original members re-formed as The Ohio Players and signed to Westbound Records in Detroit in 1971.  Over 20 people can claim membership in this ‘players’ club.  The Ohio Players album covers were famous for their ‘risque’ (for the times anyway) photos of naked (or provocatively dressed) women.                                                         

    

3.  In 1978, Andrew Roy Gibb, aka Andy Gibb topped the singles chart with “(Love Is) Thicker Than Water”, a song he co-wrote with older brother Barry.  Andy first arrived on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1977 with the # 1 hit “I Just Want To Be Your Everything”.  “(Love Is) Thicker Than Water” was his next # 1 the following year and his third and final    # 1 was 1978’s “Shadow Dancing”, which remained in the top spot for 7 weeks.  From 1981 to ’82, he hosted the TV series “Sold Gold”.  In 1981, his duet with then girlfriend Victoria Principal of the Everly Brothers song, “All I Have To Do Is Dream”, made it to # 51 on Billboards’ Hot 100.  Andy Gibb died on March 10, 1988 at the tender age of 30.                

    

4.  “I’m just a love machine, and I won’t work for nobody but you”.  That was The Miracles # 1 hit for the week of March 6, 1976 and happened several years after co-founding member Smokey Robinson had left the group.  “Love Machine” was written by The Miracles new lead singer, Billy Griffin and Pete Moore.  The groups’ only other  # 1 was in 1970 with “Tears Of A Clown”.   Back then, they were known as Smokey Robinson and The Miracles.  They reverted to simply The Miracles in 1973.  “Love Machine” was the best selling single The Miracles ever had, with over 4.5 million copies sold.  It was also The Miracles final charted hit record.       

5.  Neil Sedaka wrote “Love Will Keep Us Together” and recorded it on his 1974 album, “Sedaka’s Back”.  A husband and wife duo known as The Captain & Tennille (Daryl Dragon and Toni Tennille) recorded their own version of the song the following year that went straight to the top of Billboards’ Hot 100 singles chart where it remained for 4 weeks.  The Captain & Tennille paid tribute to songwriter Sedaka by singing “Sedaka is back” near the end of their version of “Love Will Keep Us Together”.  The duo also recorded a Spanish language version of that song, “Por Amor Viviremos” (in fact, they re-recorded their entire debut album in Spanish) and that version climbed to # 49 on the Hot 100.  “Love Will Keep Us Together” was The Captain & Tennille’s first # 1.  Their only other chart topper was 1980’s “Do That To Me One More Time”.  It was recently announced that Daryl Dragon aka The Captain had developed Parkinson’s disease and that he and Toni Tennille would be divorcing.  They’d been married for 39 years.