The show is based on Madame Butterfly. This song occurs in Act 1 between an American GI and Vietnamese woman who are in love but know that that the US is pulling everyone out. He promises to get her out too. See the show to find out.
The show premiered in London in 1989 and ran for 10 years with 4000+ performances. It is Broadway's thirteenth longest-running show.
You may recognize this as being from a James Bond film. But which one.
Both the song and film names are mentioned in the song, so this is a test of how quickly you can them.
And, you is the singer?
Year most recently used: 1977 Difficulty: 1
"Nobody Does It Better" Performed by Carly Simon
This a power ballad and the theme song for the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me (1977).
It was the first Bond theme song to be titled differently from the name of the film since Dr. No (1962), although the phrase "the spy who loved me" is included in the lyrics.
Featured in a Film from 1952, but a well-known singer made it famous.
Year most recently used: 1993 Difficulty: 2
"When I Fall in Love" Performed by Nat King Cole
Most recently included n Sleepless in Seattle.
My first example of a song that was well know in popular culture and included in a film. This song was first introduced in the film One Minute to Zero in the early 1950's. Many artists have covered it since then, most noticably Nat King Cole. His daughter, Natalie, did a duet with recording of him singing it on TV once. It is one of MANY old standards included in 'Sleepless in Seattle'
What did you think about such heavy use of well know songs as a element of this movie?
When first released some critics said it was the worst song ever, others loved it.
Year most recently used: 1992 Difficulty: 4
"What's Up" Performed by 4 Non Blonds
Featured in Netflix Series Sense8
This is one of many pop songs that found its way into the Netflix series 'Sense8'. There were several songs that I discovered
while watching this series that I liked enough to pull into a playlist.
This is opening theme from HBO's remake of Westworld. It's a nice soothing piece that contrasts with the sinister things happening in the show. Here it is in context.
I like the visual of the skelton piano player part of the opening where at first you think the skelton is playing the piano, but when its hands lift up, you realize it's a player piano and the robot's hands are just matching the key movements. A foreshadowing that things are not going to be what they seem.
Pretty well known song. How fast can you name it; and what movie is it from?
Year most recently used: 2001 Difficulty: 1
"May It Be" Performed by Eivør Pálsdóttir
A lot of singers have covered this song from Lord of the Rings.
I picked this version of it because it is a chance to introduce you to the singer -- Eivor. Eivør Pálsdóttir lives in the Faroe Islands and sings in Faroese, Islandic, Swedish, Danish and English.
I discovered her when I was browsing the Periscope App. Periscope was a live streaming app with a feature that lets you look over a map of the world and see who is broadcasting live.
So I see this red dot in the middle of the North Atlantic and just have to click on it. I saw an interesting view of rugged shoreline drive with snow covered mountains. The broadcaster was streaming her drive to work and playing a Eivor CD. But everyone on the channel was asking "who is that singer?".
Eivor started out singing Faroese folk songs and ballads and has a couple of CDs of these, which include some good tracks even if you can't understand the words. Her version of "May It Be" from Lord of the Rings is magical. This track was from a performance at the 40th Jubilee for the Queen of Denmark.
Baby boomers, might have seen the epic film that featured this song.
But there is another question here. To what old song have these new lyrics been added.
Year most recently used: 1962 Difficulty: 4
"Home in the Meadow " Performed by Debbit Reynolds
This is a baby boomer selection. Obviously set to Greensleeves, this variation is sung by Debbie Reynolds as the main characters are first setting out on their journey at the beginning of the Epic movie How The West Was Won.
But did you know that Greensleeves was written by Henry VIII when he was courting Anne Bolin? Check out the lyrics that go on and on and on. How many verses does Greensleves have? 18
How quickly can you get this recurring theme from a movie?
Year most recently used: 1965 Difficulty: 1
"Lara's Theme"
From Doctor Zhivago
How many times was Lara's Theme used in Doctor Zhivago? Enough that you'll never forget it. There were several pieces of music written for different spots in the film, but the director didn't like them and just substituted Lara's Theme over and over. For most of us this was also our introduction to the sound of a balalaika.
This one is an outlier as it doesn't fit the categories I set out for song picks. For this one you will need a "gamer" as it is the opening for a popular game from 2005.
Year most recently used: 2005 Difficulty: 4
"Baba Yetu"
Opening music from Civilization IV Game
The lyrics are the Lord's Prayer or "Our Father" in Swahili. It was the first music from a game to win a Grammy.
This one is a recurring theme from a movie. This is a favorite of my wife who finds this to be very relaxing.
Year most recently used: 1985 Difficulty: 4
"Africa"
from the movie Out of Africa. it is used often in the movie when looking out across the wide, open vistas. Especially during ballon rides.
Staring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford and loosely based on a book by Isak Dinesen about her life in Africa in the early 20th century. The music by John Berry won him an Oscar for Best Original Score
this original version was sung by Paul Robeson in 1936 from Showboat
For my college friends from Memphis, this song has additional significance.
For many years the Memphis Symphony did a sunset concert as part of the Memphis in May festival on the banks of the Mississippi river.
Free for all that could find a spot to sit on the river bank. The highlight of the evening was the performance of Ol' Man River by James Hyter.
Sadly the concert has been discontinued, but here is the complete song in
James Hyter's last performance in 1998
James did change some of the lyrics to avoid some of the racial overtones.
And he was criticized by some for even singing it, but he felt that these performances on the river contributed to bringing up to 25,000
people together in a shared experience. Here is the original Paul Robeson version:
I love the whimsical and playful nature of this. For those that haven't see the show,
the "Cats" are slowly making their appearance coming out of various hiding places in what looks like junkyard.
Some even appearing to express curiosity about the audience
A christmas selection. You know this song, but what show is it from? And as it is often sung without the introduction, how quickly did you recognize it?
Year most recently used: 1954 Difficulty: 2
"White Christmas" Performed by Barbara Streisand
The song originated in a musical called Holiday Inn with music by Irving Berlin, which was then later
made into a movie of the same name staring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire.
But most of you may know it from a later movie, staring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, named White Christmas.
In this film Crosby and Kaye are famous performers/producers that have a touring show.
They learn that their old commanding officer from WWII now owns a small Vermont hotel but it is
shrugging to make ends meet. They decide to move their Christmas show to this small inn and thus
bring in a lot of customers for the holidays.
As well known as this song is, far fewer recognize the introduction. Did you recognize it before the verse?
From a Tony Award winning Best Musical. The name is right up front, but what musical is it from?
Year most recently used: 1982 Difficulty: 2
"Unusual Way" Performed by Linda Eder
From the show Nine
Nine was originally written as a class-project in a music theatre workshop in 1973.
It was later developed into a Broadway show that opened in 1982 and ran for 729 performances
and won a Best Musical Tony award.
It is loosely based on Federico Fellini's semi-autobiographical 1963 film 8 1/2
This show is about a film writer/director that is having problems with both his marriage and well as difficulty gettting started on a new project. This song describes the relationship that one of the (many) women in his life has had with him. The singer relates how he has made her who she is, but he has to let her go now. This cover sung by Linda Eder.
The show ran for almost 2 years on broadway starting in 1982. It has since has limited runs touring internationally every few years. It was made into a movie in 2009
This song is from a show that was the second longest-running show to ever run on Broadway. It was also made into a film. What is the show, and who is singing this film recording?
Year most recently used: 1975 Difficulty: 1
"Razzle Dazzle" Performed by Richard Gere
From Chicago
Not only a popular show in theaters, the movie version, (Richard Gere, Catherine Zeta Jones and Rene Zellweger),
won an Academy Award for Best Picture in 2002.
The story is based a play about actual homicides in Chicago in 1924.
This artist you may be able to guess from the overall sound, but what is its name?
It was also used in very incongruous way in a scene from a movie. Hint: the movie was part of a trillogy and had an American remake.
Year most recently used: 2011 Difficulty: 2
"Orincco Flow" Performed by Enya
A popular song from the late 80s (also known as "Sail Away"), it has appeared in many TV shows and series:
South Park, Eighth Grade, Cougar Town, Black Mirror, The Last Man on Earth; and in the
movies Shrek Forever After and Moone Boy.
But the strangest appearance is in the U.S. Version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,
where is it played by the villain as he murders people in his basement.
This track is not sung by the original artist, so it may be a challenge for younger listeners. So who was the original artist and what movie is it from?
Year most recently used: 1961 Difficulty: 2
"Can't Help Falling in Love" Performed by Linda Eder
Originally by Elivs Presley
This track is song by Linda Eder. The song was featured in the 1961 movie Blue Hawaii, which was the first of 3 Elvis films shot in Hawaii
This tittle of this one is pretty obvious, but what show is it from?
Year most recently used: 1975 Difficulty: 2
"What I Did for Love"
from A Chorus Line by Marvin Hamlish/Edward Kleban
A song from near the end of the show after one of the dancers has suffered a career-ending injury.
(Although this could apply to athletes as well.)
The dancers are asked what they would do if they were told they could no longer dance.
This reply offers the view that they should have no regrets as they choose their career for love,
and their talent was only theirs "to borrow," and would someday be gone anyway.
This is an obscure one that perhaps may be slightly familiar because it was included in a popular Netflix series in 2020 and background music in several other films.
Year most recently used: 2020 Difficulty: 4
"Gnossienne No.1"
Written by Erik Satie in 1893 and featured recently in The Queen's Gambit
This melancholy melody was used in Episode 2 of Netflix's The Queens Gambit when we meet Beth Harmon's mother who is suffering from depression.
I had never before heard of the music of Erik Satie. He is known for creating 'elevator music' before it was a thing.
He described it as music 'intended to be heard, but not listened to'.
It was also used in The Painted Veil, Killing Eve, Mr. Nobody, Chocolat, What Lies Beneath, Royal Tenenbaums, Hugo, he Simpsons, My Dinner with Andre, On a Wing and a Prayer (Star Trek TNG), Julie & Julia, The Blacklist and others; whenever and sad or contemplative mood is needed.
It sounded familiar to me, however, and I eventually remembered that a Canadian artist I follow (Bryn Oh -- who creates virtual narratives in 3D worlds),
had used it as part of one of her works: The Singularity of Kumiko (A small film to look at later)
One of my favorite instrumental tunes from years ago. But fans of a certain current TV Series will recognize it, but may not know the actual name.
It has some new lyrics for the show but was originally written in the late 19th century.
Year most recently used: 2013 Difficulty: 2
"Skye Boat Song" Performed by Celtic Twilight
Credited to "Various" - because (from Wikipedia): "Sir Harold Boulton, 2nd Baronet composed the lyrics to an air collected by Anne Campbelle MacLeod
in the 1870s, and the line 'Over the Sea to Skye' is now a cornerstone of the tourism industry on the Isle of Skye.
Alternative lyrics to the tune were written by Robert Louis Stevenson, probably in 1885.
After hearing the Jacobite airs sung by a visitor, he judged the words of this song to be 'unworthy',
so made a new set of verses "more in harmony with the plaintive tune".
Most recently the lyrics were changed again by Bear McCready for the opening of the Outlander series you can
hear here
This one is somewhat appropriate for Thanksgivings weekend as it takes place at a feast. The singer is fairly easy to recognize, but what Broadway show and movie it is from?
Year most recently used: 1965 Difficulty: 3
"Love with all the Trimmings" Performed by Barbra Streisand
"Love with all the Trimmings" is from the musical "On a Clear Day". It ran on Broadway for 2 years and was made into a film in 1970.
This recording is from the film and sung by Barbara Streisand. The song is imagined in Daisy's mind during a huge dinner scene as she is sitting across the
table from a man she is VERY interested in.
The title doesn't show up in the lyrics on this one. It has been used in 3 films.
Year most recently used: 2001 Difficulty: 3
"Nature Boy" Performed by Eivør
This song has been covered by a lot of artists since it was written in 1948. including: Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan and more recently Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga.
It as been featured in the films: 'The Boy with Green Hair', 'The Talented Mr. Ripley', most recently: 'Moulin Rouge'.
This recording is sung by Eivør - A Faroese singer I already mentioned on Pick #6
Most everyone will get this one right away. So the challenge is how quickly you get it before the first words are sung. But what film was this used it?
If you have not heard this version before, you're in for a treat.
Year most recently used: 1967 Difficulty: 1
"The Sound of Silence" Performed by Disturbed
An extremely well known song. It's inclusion in the film The Graduate was an accident:
When editing the 1967 film The Graduate, the directors initially timed some scenes to this song, intending to substitute original music for the scenes.
However, they eventually concluded that an adequate substitute could not be found and decided to purchase the rights for the song for the soundtrack.
This version by the heavy metal band Disturbed was released in 2015 and many fans think it is even more powerful
and meaningful than the original.
This version by Distrubed was used in a shocking episode in season 5 of the Blacklist.
This one is from an older Broadway show. It includes the title, but can you recall it from before then?
Year most recently used: 1935 Difficulty: 2
"It Ain't Necessarily So" Performed by Susannah McCorkle
This song from Porgy and Bess has become a 'standard' and covered by many artists -- in this case Jazz singer Susannah McCorkle.
The song is a sort of theme song for a drug dealer. Who expresses the view that everything the bible says 'Ain't Necessarily So'.
It has some influences from Jewish blessings: From Wikkpedia -- the first and most direct example of influence occurs at the start of the song;
the melody and phrasing is nearly identical to the blessing incanted before reading from the Torah.
The words 'It ain't necessarily so' stand in place of Bar'chu et adonai ham'vorach, meaning Bless Adonai, who is blessed.
This motif repeats multiple times in both, and both include a response from a congregation.
The song also seems to draw from the tonality of the Jewish prayer mode Adonai malakh (God is King) by emphasizing
the minor tenth, the major third, and the minor seventh.
This is a song from 1933 and the original title was 'The World is Ending'. It later became well know in the English world after this recording. Who is the singer and
what is it's more well know name
Year most recently used: 2017 Difficulty: 3
"Gloomy Sunday" Performed by Billy Holiday
This was written by Hungarian pianist and composer Rezső Seress in 1933. It is also known as the 'Hungarian Suicide Song', as there is an urban legend that many people have taken their own lives while listening to this song.
THere were a lot of suicides in Hungary during the 1930s, due to the harsh conditions at that time anyway.
There is some debate as to the meaning. Some claim it is about despair about the Great Depression and the rise of Fascism in Hungary
Some suggest the words my not have been written until during WWII and reflect the sad state of the world at that time.
Others suggest it is simply about death of a loved one and desire to join them in the afterlife.
There are apparently several versions of lyrics so, perhaps all of them were correct at some time.
It was used in the movie The Man who Cried and also in series Babylon Berlin
This is the theme song from a 1968 western film. It stars a very well-known actor (now).
It is often grouped with other Western-themed films, (and you may guess some of those titles), but is not really part of that group.
Year most recently used: 1968 Difficulty: 2
"Hang 'em High" Performed by Hugo Montenegro
Hang 'em High was produced by and stared Clint Eastwood. After appearing in the Rawhide TV series,
Clint was eager to shed his nice guy image and played the lead three Italian 'Spaghetti Westerns',
(which were actually filmed in Spain): 'A Fistful of Dollars' (1963), 'For a Few Dollars More' (1965), and 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly', (1966).
While the American made Hang 'em High (1968), was his breakout role, the film itself had mixed reviews...
'a poor American-made imitation of a poor Italian-made imitation of an American-made western.'.
This British romantic popular song written in 1939 has become a standard with many artists covering it. The title is early in the song, but do you recall it from any of the recent TV shows.
Year most recently used: 2017 Difficulty: 3
"A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley" Performed by Manhattan Transfer
The Nightingale is a song bird that prefers rural habitats; and so hearing it a city is considered a rare event.
Written in 1939, it has been used in: 'Everytime We Say Goodbye', Good Omens', 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel', and the Doctor Who spinoff 'Torchwood'
A very well-known song. It was used very appropriately in an intense docudrama film in 1984.
Year most recently used: 1984 Difficulty: 3
"Imagine" Performed by Pentatonix
The film: "The Klling Fields" is based on the experiences of two journalists in Cambodia and
refers to the sites where collectively more than 1.3 million people were killed and buried by the Communist Party of Kampuchea during Khmer Rouge rule from 1975 to 1979.
Yoko Ono, told the producer ‘This is exactly the way John would have liked the song to have been used.'
The name is 30 seconds into this holiday song, but what Broadway show was it written for?
Year most recently used: 1966 Difficulty: 3
"We Need a Little Christmas" Performed by Pentatonix
This popular Christmas tune is actually from a popular Broadway musical: Mame.
Written by Jerry Herman and usually played during the holiday time,
this song comes into the show right after Mame has lost her fortune on the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and decides
that she and her family “need a little Christmas” to cheer them up.
Angela Lansbury originated the role of Mame in the 1966 production, and won a Tony Award for her role.
This song has been re-recorded numerous times, with notable recordings for
A Muppet Family Christmas in 1987, and for the tv show Glee in 2010
You probably recognize the distinctive voice of the performer of this song. But how soon can you name the song and what two movies has it been used in? The most likely one you have seen was in 2001.
Year most recently used: 2019 Difficulty: 2
"Your Song" Performed by Ewan Mcgregor
One of the memorable parts of the film Moulin Rouge in 2001, sung by Ewan Mcgregor. "Your Song" was written by Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin, in 1970.
It has been included in almost all of Elton's concerts. It has also been covered by Ellie Goulding and Lada Gaga. Ellie's version was used in the SciFi show Haven, and she performed it at Prince William and Kate's wedding in 2011.
In listening to the song, there are several lines that you might think would be the title. YourSong was first released early in Elton John's career in 1970. The song was also covered by Ewan McGregor and opera singer Alessandro Safina in the 2001 musical film Moulin Rouge!, and by Taron Egerton in the 2019 film Rocketman.
It was voted as The Nation's Favourite Elton John Song by the British public in 2017
This song from the 1960's was used in an adaption of a graphic novel for film.
Who wrote the song and what film was it most recently used in.
Year most recently used: 2009 Difficulty: 2
"The Times They Are A-Changin" Performed by Peter, Paul & Mary
Three Bob Dylan songs are used in the film: "Watchmen": “All Along the Watchtower, “Desolation Row” and this one -- “The Times They Are A-Changin'” which was first released in 1964.
The film was criticized by some for straying too far from the graphic novel. Others said it was faithful, but it was difficult for those who did not know the story to follow.
You have 28 seconds before the name of this song occurs. But what 1995 film set in Europe during WWII included this 1930's era song?
Year most recently used: 1996 Difficulty: 3
"A Hundred Years From Today" Performed by Carice van Houten
This song was used in the film Black Book and sung by Carice van Houten, (you may recognize her as the Red Woman from Game of Thrones). Set in Holland during World War II, this is the story of a Jewish singer who joins the resistance against the Nazis.
It was very appropriate for the film as a recording by Ethel Waters with the Benny Goodman Orchestra was very popular at that time.
Other recordings include: Sarah Vaughn, Doris Day, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra.
Three other Harry Belafonte songs were used in the film: "Jump in the Line (Shake, Senora)", "Man Smart, Woman Smarter" and "Sweetheart from Venezuela"
An extreamly popular holilday song. Who is the original artist (heard here), and from what 1944 film is it from. Or perhaps you recall it use in a 1990 movie
Year most recently used: 1990 Difficulty: 3
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" Performed by Judy Garland
Original recording by Judy Garland in the 1944 MGM musical Meet Me in St. Louis.
The song is used when a family is upset by the father's plans to move from St. Louis to New York City for a job promotion.
Judy Garland's character, sings the song to cheer up her despondent five-year-old sister.
A little song from 1982 that didn't draw a lot of attention until it was included in what became a cult film in 2001.
Year most recently used: 2001 Difficulty: 2
"Mad World" Performed by Michael Andrews and Gary Jules
The original song has a full score with lots of synthesizers and heavy percussion. This stripped-down version by Michael Andrews and Gary Jules gives the song a very different feel.
It was included in Donnie Darko in 2001 and while the film was not a success, demand for the Andrews/Jules version soared.
Most people will recall this as the theme to a popular TV show. But what it the name of the song?
Year most recently used: 1970 Difficulty: 2
"Suicide Is Painless"
This is the theme of M*A*S*H. The movie version for 1970 has a full song with lyrics and was called "Suicide Is Painless"
From Wikipedia: "The films director, Robert Altman, had two stipulations about the song for composer Johnny Mandel -- it had to be called "Suicide Is Painless" and it had to be the "stupidest song ever written". Altman attempted to write the lyric himself, but, upon finding it too difficult for his '45-year-old brain' to write something 'stupid' enough, he gave the task to his 15-year-old-son Michael, who reportedly wrote the lyrics in five minutes."
The name is early in this song. Although it doesn't mention Christmas, it has been considered a Christmas song. It has been recorded over 400 times, but the 1949 movie is pretty much forgotten. What do you think about the lyrics? Discuss ...
Year most recently used: 1949
"Baby It's Cold Outside" Performed by Ricardo Montalbán and Esther Williams
The Me Too Movement has been critical of this song. And they may have a point, if you just read the lyrics or listen to a more recent recordings. But seeing the song as it was presented in the 1949 movie: Neptune's Daughter, it is very playful and flirty.
The woman in the first scene really wants to stay but is looking for excuses -- because it would be unseemly in society at that time to stay overnight. She's really in charge of the situation.
And then when the roles are reversed by Betty Garrett and Red Skelton in the second iteration it becomes even funnier.
Both couples do a great job with the "choreography"
Watch the song performed in context What do you think?
This is a tough one. It is an instrumental theme song for a movie from 1973. See if the overall feeling of it gives you a clue as to the nature of the film.
Year most recently used: 1973 Difficulty: 4
"Tubluar Bells" Performed by Mike Oldfield
This is the introduction to the 1973 ‧ Horror/Mystery film "The Exorcist".
Tubular Bells is a composite piece of music with each instrument played by the composer Mike Oldfield. It is 26 minutes in total, but just the introduction was picked up and used for The Exorcist.
In this sample, I've shortened the 6-minute movie theme to just 2 minutes to eliminate some of the repetition.
This song was used in a film from 1968 and its remake in 1999. Hints: It is about a robbery and the remake starred Pierce Brosnan
Year most recently used: 1999 Difficulty: 4
"Windmills of Your Mind" Performed by Noel Harrison
Windmills of Your Mind was used in both versions of the Thomas Crown Affair -- in the original 1968 film starring Steve McQueen and the 1999 remake with Pierce Brosnan. It was written by French composer Michel Legrand.
The song (with English lyrics by Americans Alan and Marilyn Bergman) won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
For the film remake in 1999 it was sung by Sting.
The film is about a wealth man who steals art just for the fun of it.
This song from a Broadway show is a little tricky as it is similar to another one used in a more recent show. Who wrote it and what show is it from?
Year most recently used: 1956 Difficulty: 3
"You'll Never Walk Alone" Performed by Claramae Turner
You'll Never Walk Alone was written for the 1944 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel.
You may be forgiven if you wanted to say The Sound of Music as "Climb Every Mountain" is also written by them and is functionally similar in the shows -- both giving hope and inspiration to carry on; and they sound similar as well.
(But I left out the lead-in dialog about "What will I do now that he had died?", which would have steered you away from The Sound of Music).
This classical musical piece is now most strongly associated with a film. What is the name and what film is it now tied to?
Year most recently used: 1978 Difficulty: 3
"Ride of the Valkyries"
This music was intended by Richard Wagner to be a majestic ascent into the heavens. But in Francis Ford Coppola's 1978 classic Apocalypse Now, it became associated with 'death from above' when it was played on loudspeakers from helicopter gunships just before they attacked enemy positions in Vietnam.
This is an example of diegetic music. Diegetic music is heard by both the audience and the characters in the film. Non-diegetic music is part of the soundtrack that only the audience hears.
This is very well known standard. But who wrote it and for what show?
Year most recently used: 1987 Difficulty: 3
"Someone to Watch Over Me" Performed by Linda Ronstadt
Someone to Watch Over Me is a George Gershwin song with lyrics by Ira Gershwin. It was created in 1926 for the show Oh, Kay!
It was originally a "fast and jazzy" up-tempo song, but in the 1930's singers started performing it as a slow ballad
It was more recently used in a Ridley Scott film of the same name in 1987.
It stars Tom Berenger as a police detective who has to protect a wealthy woman who is a key witness.
A standard slow dance song. The name is right up front, so here is an instrumental version by Tommy Smith and Raleigh's Casablanca Orchestra.
Year most recently used: 1965 Difficulty: 2
"The Shadow of your Smile" Performed by Casablanca Orchestra
This was the "love theme" in the 1965 film The Sandpiper, where it was used without words. Written by Johnny Mandel with lyrics by Paul Webster, it has been recorded by more than 70 artists over the years.
A well-known song now, but it was fairly obscure when it was first written. How quickly can you recognize it?
And what was the 2001 film that included it and led to its popularity soaring?
Year most recently used: 2001 Difficulty: 2
"Hallelujah"" Performed by Pentatonix
"Hallelujah" was written in 1984 and got some exposure when John Cale released it in 1991. But it was its use in the 2001 film Shrek that made the song widely known.
Easily recognized and reached #9 in the charts when first released. But its use in what movie caused it to resurge in the charts 20 years later.
Year most recently used: 1992 Difficulty: 1
"Bohemian Rhapsody" Performed by Queen
Bohemian Rhapsody was released by Queen and was reported to be a combination of ideas from three different s
It does not have the normal form of rock songs and includes elements of Opera with bombastic choruses, sarcastic recitative, and distorted Italian operatic phrases. Lyrical references include Scaramouche, the fandango, Galileo Galilei, Figaro, and Beelzebub".
Critics didn't quite know what to make of it at the time.
The 1992 film Wayne's World included it as a sing-along car song and it surged to #2 in the charts.
A pop song released in 1968, it went to #1 when covered by a different artist in 1974. But what 2014 film reintroduced it to a new generation
Year most recently used: 2014 Difficulty: 2
"Hooked on a Feeling" Performed by B.J. Thomas
This song enjoyed moderate success when first released by B. J. Thomas in 1968, but its cover by Blue Swede with the addition of the "ooga chaka" chant took it to #1 in 1974.
In 2014 it was included in Guardians of the Galaxy. This film included a lot of pop songs and its soundtrack did climb to #1.
This rock song hit the top of the charts when it was released in 1957. The name is only 15 seconds in, so you need to be quick to name it. Who is the artist and what film from 1986 (and its sequel in 2022), featured it?
Year most recently used: 2022 Difficulty: 1
"Great Balls of Fire" Performed by Jerry Lee Lewis
This Jerry Lee Lewis song was featured in Top Gun from 1986, in the sequel Top Gun: Maverick in 2022.
Dennis Quaid starred in a bio-pic about Lewis in a 1986 film.
First written for a 1955 prison film, it is most widely associated with this version that was released in 1965.
What is its name, what is this group, and what 1990 film made it popular again?
Year most recently used: 1990 Difficulty: 2
"Unchained Melody" Performed by Righteous Brothers
Unchained Melody was written as the theme song for the 1955 prison film of the same name. It has become one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, with this version by the Righteous Brothers, probably the most well-known. But Elvis Presley also has a popular version of it.
It reappeared in the top 100 charts and reached #13 after it's use in the 1990 film Ghost, which started Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore/
A recurring theme from a 1957 movie. What is the movie? What is the movie and what is the song?
Year most recently used: 1957 Difficulty: 4
"Colonel Bogey March" Performed by Mitch Miller
Almost everyone will say the theme from The Bridge on the River Kwai. Or perhaps The River Kwai March. But the whistled part is actually The Colonel Bogey March, with the orchestral accompaniment being the River Kwai March.
Mitch Miller blended them together as "March from the River Kwai - Colonel Bogey" heard here, and produced all the confusion.
It concerns a group of captured british solders that are forced to make a bridge. It is featured in the movie as something the prisoners whistle as they march to and from work on the bridge. The British officer in charge is determined to show the Japanese just how good a bridge the British can make.
No lyrics in this sample, but perhaps the unique sound will trigger a memory. It was the theme song for a 1982 blockbuster film.
Year most recently used: 1982 Difficulty: 3
"Eye of the Tiger" Performed by Survivor
Written as the theme for Rocky III in 1982. it was #1 for six weeks.
Here's a story from Wikipedia: "By 1982, the American band Survivor had released two unsuccessful albums and were concerned they would be dropped by their record label. That year, the director and actor Sylvester Stallone enlisted them to write a song for his film Rocky III, after Queen denied him permission to use "Another One Bites the Dust".
Stallone asked for "something street" with a pulse to match the punches of the boxing scenes. He sent them a copy of the montage used in the film's introduction, depicting the boxer Rocky Balboa and the ascent of his rival, Clubber Lang."
The challenge is to identify the song, and the show, movie, or series it came from or was featured in.
By "featured in", I mean a song that may not have been created specifically for the production, but was included in some fashion.
There may be several uses of the song so my choice may not be the only one.
This is for songs that I first heard in a movie or series and liked enough to add to one of my playlists.
There are also a few theme songs, so if you didn't see the movie or series you probably won't' get those,
but most are going to be very easy and obvious, so just a chance to reminisce about the first time you heard them .
Each sample is about one minute excerpt. You don't even have to listen all of each one if it is guessed quickly.
If you want to play in a group, you can award points for:
Song Title
Original Artist (Some songs may not be the original soundtrack version).
Composer
Show or film that used it. (There may be more than one correct answer).
Also note the 'Year most recently used:' if you have a wide range of ages present.
