Country Quizzin’ – 02/17/09 Edition
February 17, 2009
Top 3 scores this week:
24/29 – pselby
22/29 – Erik North, Occasional Hope
21/29 – CMW
Top 6 February scores (so far):
46/52 – pselby
44.5/52 – Erik North
42/52 – Occasional Hope
41/52 – CMW, Scott
40/52 – J.R. Journey
39.5/52 – JoeB.
One more week! Bring your A-game, folks!
Alright, folks, we’re gettin’ serious this week. I’m unnerved by the number of people who have perfect or near-perfect scores so far this month, so I’m throwing out a tall order this week that will hopefully help shake up the numbers a bit:
29 questions on songs whose titles mention the names of places.
Which is to say, each song’s title cites a city, state, country, or other specific area, and in most cases the lyric has a lot to do with the place cited. Certain places may be repeated between separate songs, so you shouldn’t let a fear of repetition cloud your judgment. These songs will naturally come from lots of different eras of country music so as to amp up the challenge, and not all of them will necessarily be super well-known. I’m actually hoping that people will struggle with this one so as to create more competition than we currently have, so don’t feel dumb if a lot of these go over your head!
Remember, as always, that reporting answers you’ve looked up on search engines and whatnot without admitting you did so is against the rules. This is a test of your current knowledge, and given the wide swath of material covered herein, I will get mighty suspicious if a bunch of perfect scores keep popping up!
Also as always, you have until tomorrow (Wednesday) at 10 pm EST to answer, and your comments will be revealed along with the correct answers and updated rankings at 10:30 pm.
Here’s a playlist of the answers, which are also below:
Questions:
For each question, you must name the song title to receive full credit. If you cannot remember it exactly, you can earn partial credit for a close-enough attempt.
1. A dark Waylon Jennings single about a guy who takes his girl down to New Orleans, then kills her and sends her dead body back home after he catches her running around on him.
Cedartown, Georgia
2. An oddly lighthearted take on one of the final battles of the War of 1812. It was made most popular by Johnny Horton.
Battle of New Orleans
3. In my opinion, the definitive latter-day Kenny Chesney single, and probably one of the best, too. It finds him hanging in the tropics again, but this time he admits that it’s because he doesn’t know quite how to handle real life.
Beer in Mexico
4. A fiddle-laden Charley Pride number about a man who feels so wronged by his significant other that he’d rather hitchhike around and walk through bad weather and sleep on the ground in public places than go back home to her. Ouch.
Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone
5. This one has also been recorded by Charley Pride, as well as Gram Parsons, Bobby Bare, the Statler Brothers, and others. As with the Waylon song in #1, it’s about a guy who brings a woman to a big city only to have her abandon him for something else. This time, it’s the city itself she seems to fall for, and the guy just goes back home resigned instead of killing her. Still sad, though.
Streets of Baltimore
6. A grand old song about happenings related to a fictional train, the last verse of which finds a family using the train to bring a recently deceased relative back home. The most famous versions are by the Carter Family and Roy Acuff.
Wabash Cannonball
7. Best known for the hit versions by Bobby Bare and Tom Jones, it finds its narrator bemoaning the fact that he lives in a big city and preparing to suck up his pride and go back home to the country.
Detroit City
8. A semi-epic Garth Brooks hit about a woman who allegedly haunts an ocean shore after drowning herself upon learning of her rodeo cowboy husband’s death.
The Beaches of Cheyenne
9. A spiteful number that helped rocket Jimmie Rodgers into stardom, it finds him preparing to buy various firearms and showing off his signature yodel between verses.
Blue Yodel No. 1 (T for Texas)
10. Probably Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn’s most famous duet, and why not: it’s a wonderfully silly number about a couple who refuse to have their love quashed by geographical obstacles.
Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man
11. A cautionary Merle Haggard hit about a man who forsakes his rural family for the gambling highs of Reno, which inevitably fail him in the end, leaving him with nothing.
Kentucky Gambler
12. Roger Miller’s cute sum-up of a certain foreign locale and the American kids who are fascinated by it.
England Swings
13. One of Trisha Yearwood’s first big hits was this brooding number about heading to Nashville to try your hand at country music stardom.
Wrong Side of Memphis
14. A sprightly Hank Snow hit with an alliterative title, it finds a man talking up his musically talented Southern lady-friend.
Music Makin’ Mama from Memphis
15. Alabama’s infamous mandate for any band who dares play in a particular section of the United States.
If You’re Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)
16. Alison Krauss promises to return to her urban home someday with this midtempo romp that was included on Now That I’ve Found You and Live.
Oh, Atlanta
17. In this Tanya Tucker hit, a woman fondly reminisces about a particular dance that was popular in her childhood.
San Antonio Stroll
18. A Connie Smith hit that is, very simply, about getting homesick and going back. The title of the song is the name of the character’s hometown.
Cincinnati, Ohio
19. Included on the Dixie Chicks’ most recent album is this scathing cut-down of Natalie Maines’ hometown and the hypocrisy she alleges of its residents.
Lubbock or Leave it
20. An iconic country song if ever there was one. It’s by the Charlie Daniels Band, it mentions the devil. There, consider yourself freebie’d.
Devil Went Down to Georgia
21. Mel McDaniel scored a hit with this quirky little number about all of the fun things you can do on a particular day of the week in a particular state.
Louisiana Saturday Night
22. One of Reba McEntire’s best hits, it finds a wife offering a remarkably forgiving take on what she suspects is her husband’s infidelity.
Whoever’s in New England
23. Marty Robbins’ classic western tale of a man whose love for a girl is stronger than his fear of going back to the town where he knows he could be killed.
El Paso
24. With this single, Lee Ann Womack offered an entry into the library of songs about women driving away from men/towns/memories they know are no good for them.
A Little Past Little Rock
25. Easily one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard, this Wanda Jackson hit makes totally un-P.C. references to World War II bombings and includes a threat to detonate your head. Woah now!
Fujiyama Mama
26. One of Glen Campbell’s Jimmy Webb-penned hits. This is the one where the guy is driving away from his lady for good, anticipating how she’ll be reacting to his goodbye letter as he reaches various points along his journey.
By the Time I Get to Phoenix
27. Red Foley’s snappy smash about a kid who’s really charismatic in the way he polishes your footwear.
Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy
28. One of the official state songs of Tennessee, it was most notably a mainstream hit by Lynn Anderson. The song is an eccentric ode to a particular portion of the state.
Rocky Top
29. Easily one of the best things Trace Adkins has ever recorded, it finds a deceased soldier finally at peace with where and why he now rests.
Arlington
Category: Country Quizzin'
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1. “Cindy Of New Orleans”
2. “The Battle Of New Orleans”
3. ?
4. “Is Anybody Goin’ To San Antone?”
5. “Streets Of Baltimore”
6. “The Wabash Cannonball”
7. “Detroit City” (Tom Jones also had a hit with it in ‘67)
8. “The Beaches Of Cheyenne”
9. ?
10. “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man”
11. “Kentucky Gambler”
12. “England Swings”
13. “Wrong Side Of Memphis”
14. ?
15. “If You’re Gonna Play In Texas (You Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band)”
16. ?
17. “San Antonio Stroll”
18. ?
19. “Lubbock Or Leave It”
20. “The Devil Went Down To Georgia”
21. “Louisiana Saturday Night”
22. “Whoever’s In New England” (?)
23. “El Paso”
24. “A Little Past Little Rock” (?)
25. “Fujiyama Mama”
26. “By The Time I Get To Phoenix”
27. ?
28. “Rocky Top”
29. “Arlington”
2. Battle of New Orleans
3. Beer in Mexico
6. Wabash Cannonball (guess)
7. Detroit City
8. beaches of Cheyenne
10. Lousiiana Woman, Mississippi Man
13. Wrong Side of Memphis
15. If Youre Gonna Play in Texas
17. San Antonio Stroll
18. Cincinnati Ohio
19 Lubbock or Leave It
20 the devil Went Down to Georgia
21. Louiaian Saturday Night
22. Whoever’s in New England
23 el Paso
24. A Little Past Little Rock
26. by The time I Get to Phoenix
27. Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy
28. Rocky Top
29. Arlington
[...] Country Universe’s “Country Quizzin’” expanded to 29 questions this weekR… [...]
2. Battle of New Orleans
3. Beer in Mexico
6. Wabash Cannonball
8. Beaches of Cheyenne
9. T for Texas
11. Kentucky Gambler
15. If You’re Gonna Play In Texas
16. Oh, Atlanta
20. Devil Went to Georgia
23. El Paso
24. Little Past Little Rock
26. By The Time I Get to Phoenix
28. Rocky Top
29. Arlington
1. (I should probably know this, huh?)
2. Battle of New Orleans
3. Beer in Mexico (not one of my favorite later Chesney songs, though)
4. Is Anybody Going to San Antone
5. (I should probably know this too.)
6. (…)
7. Detroit City
8. Beaches of Cheyenne
9. T for Texas (Blue Yodel)
10. Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man
11. Kentucky Gambler
12. England Swings
13. Wrong Side of Memphis
14. (Oh, I like Hank Snow.)
15. If You’re Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)
16. Oh, Atlanta
17. The Shake (later covered by Neal McCoy)
18. (I got nothing.)
19. Lubbock or Leave It
20. Devil Went Down to Georgia
21. Louisiana Saturday Night
22. Whoever’s in New England
23. El Paso
24. A Little Past Little Rock
25. (…)
26. By the Time I Get to Phoenix
27. Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy
28. I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, referring to that portion of Tennessee which is covered in flowerbeds.
29. Arlington
This was definitely tougher.
01. Hmmm… the only Waylon song I can think of about a place is Luckenbach, TX… but that’s not this one.
02. The Battle of New Orleans
03. Beer in Mexico
04.
05. Um, no idea. Please Come to Boston, By the Time I Get to Phoenix. There are a ton of “place” songs.
06.
07. Detroit City?
08. The Beaches of Cheyenne
09.
10. Lousiana Woman, Mississippi Man (Took a minute. Plus I get to spell M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I)
11. Kentucky Gambler
12.
13. Wrong Side of Memphis
14.
15. If You’re Gonna Play In Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle In the Band)
16. Oh, Atlanta
17. Pecos Promanade
18. Cincinnati, Ohio
19. Lubbock or Leave It (I’m startin’ to get cocky.)
20. The Devil Went Down to Georgia
21. Lousiana Saturday Night
22. Whoever’s In New England
23. El Paso?
24. A Little Past Little Rock
25.
26. By the Time I Get to Phoenix (Ah, there it is.)
27.
28.
29. Arlington (My favorite Trace number is “I’m Tryin’”
Whew! Done. Good quiz, I’m hoping to hit 20. Thanks again for the hard work you put into making these. They are an enjoyable work break on Wednesday mornings!
1.
2. Battle of New Orleans
3. Beer in Mexico
4. Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone
5. Streets of Baltimore
6.
7. Detroit City
8. Beaches of Cheyenne
9.
10. Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man
11.
12.
13. Wrong Side of Memphis
14.
15. If You’re Gonna Play in Texas You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band
16.
17. San Antonio Stroll
18. Cincinnati, Ohio
19. Lubbock or Leave it
20. Devil went down to Georgia
21. Louisiana Saturday Night
22. Whoever’s in New England
23. El Paso
24. Little Past Little Rock
25.
26. By the Time I get to Phoenix
27.
28.
29. Arlington
Excellent theme, but this one’s hard. Clearly that was the idea :).
1. Can’t remember this one
2. Tha Battle Of New Orleans
3. Most of Kenny’s recent material merges into one long song about a beach. You can’t ecxepect people to remember individual songs.
4. Is Anybody Going To San Antone
5. Streets Of Baltimore
6. City Of New Orleans?
7.Detroit City
8. The Beaches Of Cheyenne
9. T For Texas?
10. Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man
11. I feel I know this, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.
12. England Swings?
13. The Wrong Side Of Memphis
14. Pass
15. If You’re Gonna Play In Texas (You Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band)
16. ???
17. San Antonio Stroll.
18. Cincinnati, Ohio.
19. Lubbock Or Leave It.
20. The Devil Went Down To Georgia.
21. Louisiana Sauturday Night.
22. Whoever’s In New England.
23. Another I know I know…
24. A Little Past Little Rock.
25. Fujiyama Mama.
26. By The time I Get To Phoenix.
27. Pass
28. Rocky Top?
29. Arlington
Here’s my best shot …
1. (no idea)
2. The Battle of New Orleans
3. Beer in Mexico
4. Is Anybody Going to San Antone
5. (no idea)
6. Wabash Cannonball
7. Detroit City
8. The Beaches of Cheyenne
9. (no idea)
10. Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man
11. (no idea)
12. (no idea)
13. Wrong Side of Memphis
14. (no idea)
15. If You’re Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle In the Band)
16. Oh Atlanta
17. San Antonio Stroll
18. Cincinnati Ohio
19. Lubbock (something)
20. The Devil Went Down to Georgia
21. Louisiana Saturday Night
22. Whoever’s In New England
23. El Paso
24. A Little Past Little Rock
25. (no idea)
26. By the Time I Get to Phoenix
27. (no idea)
28. Rocky Top
29. Arlington
1. Cindy to see New Orleans?
2. Battle of New Orleans
3. Beer In Mexico?
4. i never listened to much Charley Pride … *hangs head in shame*
5. this one I know … love the Statlers. ‘New York City’
6. Engine 143
7. Detroit City?
8. Beaches of Cheyenne
9. i feel bad for not knowing this …
10. Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man (i like ‘After The Fire Is Gone’ better)
11. Ramblin Fever?
12. I know this … I think it’s about England … the British invasion and all that.
13. Wrong Side of Memphis
14. nope.
15. If You’re Gonna Play In Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle In The Band) … also possibly the longest song title ever
16. Oh, Atlanta … i hear you callin’, i’m comin back to you one fine day (good song)
17. Pecos Promenade
18. sounds familiar …
19. Lubbock Or Leave It
20. Devil Went Down to Georgia
21. Louisiana Saturday Night … i had think about that for a second. then it hit me.
22. Whoever’s In New England
23. El Paso
24. Little Past Little Rock
25. Wanda Jackson is that woman that growls a lot right? … no idea on the song title.
26. By The Time I Get To Phoenix … Reba does this one too.
27. damn, i so know this … i keep thinking ‘Get Rhythm’, but that’s Johnny Cash … i give up.
28. Rocky Top?
29. Arlington
… Tough quiz this week.
1. Amanda?
2. The Battle Of New Orleans
3. Beer In Mexico
4. Is Anyone Going To San Antone
5. ?
6. Wabash Cannonball
7. Detroit City
8. Beaches Of Cheyenne
9. ?
10. Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man
11. Kern County?
12. England Swings
13. Wrong Side Of Memphis
14. ?
15. If You’re Gonna Play In Texas
16. Broadway
17. San Antonio Stroll
18. ?
19. Lubbock Or Leave It
20. The Devil Went Down To Georgia
21. Louisiana Saturday Night
22. Whoever’s In New England
23. El Paso
24. A Little Past Little Rock
25. ?
26. By The Time I Get To Phoenix
27. ?
28. ?
29. Arlington
1. Lonesome, Ornery, & Mean? (I know it mentions Shreveport)
2. Battle of New Orleans
3. Beer In Mexico
4. Is Anybody Goin’ To San Antone
5. Streets of Baltimore
6. Wabash Cannonball
7. Detroit City (I nearly put “Detroit Rock City”…)
8. Beaches of Cheyenne
9. T For Texas?
10. Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man
11. Big City?
12. England Swings
13. Wrong Side of Memphis (Disclosure: looked at back of Trisha Yearwood cd)
14. Music Makin’ Mama From Memphis (Disclosure: looked at back of “The Essential Hank Snow”; I would never have gotten this on my own)
15. If You’re Gonna Play In Texas
16. Oh Atlanta?
17. San Antonio Stroll
18. Cincinnati, Ohio
19. Lubbock Or Leave It
20. Devil Went Down To Georgia
21. Louisiana Saturday Night
22. Whoever’s In New England
23. El Paso
24. A Little Past Little Rock
25. Fujiyama Mama (I wouldn’t have remembered this if I hadn’t been getting reaquainted with her due to RnR Hall of Fame induction; I have this 45!)
26. By The Time I Get To Phoenix
27. Rocky Top
29. Arlington
Most enjoyable one yet!
2. New Orleans
6. Wabash Cannonball
7. Green Green grass of Home
8. Beaches of Cheyenne
10 Mississippi Woman, Louisiana Man
13 Wrong side of Memphis
15 Dixieland Delight
17 San Antonio Stroll
20 Devil went down to Georgia
22 Whoevers in New England
23 El Paso
26 By the time I get to Phoenix
1. Cedartown, Georgia
2. Battle of New Orleans
3. Beer in Mexico
4. Is anyone going to San Antone
5.
6.
7.
8. Beaches of Cheyenne
9.
10. Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man
11.
12.
13. Wrong Side of Memphis
14.
15.
16.
17. San Antonio Stroll
18. Cincinnati, Ohio
19.
20.
21.
22. Whoever’s in New England
23. El Paso
24. A Little Past Little Rock
25.
26.
27.
28. Rocky Top
29. Arlington
Tough, diverse. I love that you included Cedartown Gal.
1. Cedartown Gal – “cuz that Cedartown Gal ain’t breathin’” love that song.
2. Battle of New Orleans
3. Beer in Mexico
4. Anybody Goin’ to San Antone
5.
6.
7. Detroit City
8. Beaches of Cheyenne
9. T for Texas
10. Louisianna Woman, Mississippi Man
11. Kentucky Gambler
12. England Swings or as Roger says Eng-a-land
13. Wrong Side of Memphis
14.
15. If You’re Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)
16.
17.
18.
19. Is it about being proud of being from Texas. It’s not called FUTK is it? FUTX?
20. The Devil Went Down to Georgia
21. Louisianna Saturday Night – belly full of beer and a possum in a sack = FUN
22. When Whoever’s In New England’s Though with You.
23. El Paso
24. Little Past Little Rock
25.
26. Wichita Lineman (guess)
27.
28. Rocky Top
29. Arlington
I completely forgot about this one this week…
Oops, I guess I did not know #5.
Definitely the toughest quiz yet. I keep learning new things too. Cool.
Well, I missed this one, but I would have gotten 6 or 7…