MORE OSCAR, OSCAR...WHO GOT THE OSCAR

This past Sunday, the Screen Actors Guild Awards aired on TV.  Congrats to winners Jennifer Lawrence, Daniel Day Lewis and the cast of “Argo”.  There was a very nice tribute to Dick Van Dyke.  Too bad Mary Tyler Moore and Carl Reiner (the genius creator of “The Dick Van Dyke Show”) couldn’t make it due to illness.  Dick gave a wonderful acceptance speech after Alec Baldwin introduced him.  With the SAG Awards out of the way, we’ve still got the Grammy Awards on Sunday February 10th, plus the Academy Awards two weeks later on Sunday February 24th.  Yes, it’s awards season folks, so, this week, we’re asking questions about singers who’ve won Academy Awards.  This one should be ‘easy as Sunday morning’ (as The Commodores once sang).  You really shouldn’t have too many problems with this quiz, so have at it...

QUESTIONS:

1.  This performer is a quintuple threat – she’s a singer, actress, writer, producer and director.  Although not known for being a ‘funny girl’ (HINT ALERT), she’s certainly garnered her share of laughs in such recent movies as “Meet The Fockers”, “Little Fockers” and the relatively current “Guilt Trip” with Canadian Seth Rogan.  On Billboards’ Hot 100 chart, she’s hit # 1 a total of six times.  She went to high school in Brooklyn, New York with Neil Diamond and in 1978, she and Neil had a # 1 hit with “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers”.  She won her first Academy Award in 1969 for her film debut in a role she performed on Broadway.  The movie came out in 1968 and this artist has never looked back.  In fact, there’s not much this person can’t do, but the question is – can you guess her name?                                                                                                                        
2.  Now you might not initially think of this actor as a singer, but he’s won a Grammy Award and has released three albums, one of which made it to # 1 on Billboards’ Album chart.  He was born Eric Marlon Bishop in Texas in 1967, and was raised primarily by his grandmother.  His Academy Award was for portraying a real-life musical legend of the 1950’s and ‘60’s.  He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has appeared in films with Tom Cruise, Will Smith, Beyonce and Eddie Murphy and can currently be seen in Quentin Tarantino’s latest film, “Django Unchained”.  Who is this guy?       

3.  The third season of the TV show “American Idol” in 2004 was the first time the world got to experience the talents of this performer, although she didn’t win.  You see her on TV a lot these days in commercials for Weight Watchers.  In 2007, she won a ‘Best Supporting Actress’ Academy Award for her very first movie, which also starred the answer to question # 2.  The film was loosely based on the career of The Supremes.  Do you know who she is?

4.  Her mother was a Hollywood legend.  Her father was a famous film director.  And she didn’t do so bad herself either, co-starring in such hit films as “Arthur” and “New York, New York”.  She’s been married (and divorced) four times and is one of a select few talented celebrities who’ve won an Oscar, a Tony (Broadway), an Emmy (TV) and a Grammy Award.  Who is she?  

5.  This singer/actress was up against such heavy weight actresses as Meryl Streep and Glenn Close for the 1988 Academy Award for ‘Actress In A Leading Role”.  It was for her acting in a 1987 film, directed by Canadian Norman Jewison, that won her the award.  She’s also been at the top of the singles chart a total of five times.  Once with her then husband, and four times on her own.  Can you name this Academy Award winner who goes by one name? (OK that just gave it away).
   
ANSWERS

1.  It’s Barbra Streisand we’re talking about.  Babs tied for ‘Actress In A Leading Role’ (for 1968’s “Funny Girl”) with Katherine Hepburn (“Lion In Winter”).  It was only the second time in Oscar history that there was a tie.  Ms. Streisand is also the only female artist to have a Billboard # 1 album in five decades – the ‘60’s, ‘70’s, ‘80’s, ‘90’s and 2000’s.  Barbra has sold over 70 million albums in the U.S. alone.  She’s married to actor James Brolin (and step mother to his actor son Josh Brolin).                          

2.  Jamie Foxx is the correct answer.  His 2005 best ‘Actor In A Leading Role’ Oscar was for his portrayal of rhythm & blues legend Ray Charles in the 2004 film, “Ray”.  In winning, Jamie beat out the likes of Don Cheadle, Clint Eastwood and Leonardo DiCaprio.  The Foxx man was a regular cast member of “In Living Color” from 1991 and starred in his own series from 1996 until 2001, aptly enough called “The Jamie Foxx Show”.  His 1994 debut album was called “Peep This”.  In 2004, he was featured, along with Kanye West, on a # 1 hit on Billboards’ Hot 100 chart.  The song was “Slow Jamz” from rapper Twista.  The following year, 2005, Jamie released his second album, “Unpredictable” which rose to # 1 on Billboards’ Album chart, selling several million copies.  Jamie even has his own channel on Sirius/XM radio called ‘The Foxxhole’. 

3.  Jennifer Hudson won the ‘Best Supporting Actress’ Oscar in 2007 for 2006’s “Dreamgirls”, in  which she co-starred with Jamie Foxx, Beyonce and Eddie Murphy.  The following year, she won the Grammy Award for ‘Best R&B Album’ for her debut album, “Jennifer Hudson”.  Hudson will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame sometime this year.

4.  It was at the 45th annual Academy Awards ceremony held on March 27, 1973 that Lisa Minnelli won the Oscar as best ‘Actress In A Leading Role’ for her work in 1972’s “Cabaret”.   Joel Grey, her co-star also won for best ‘Actor In A Supporting Role’.  “Cabaret” took home additional Oscars that year for ‘Directing’, ‘Sound’, ‘Music (Scoring: Adaptation and Original Song Score)’, ‘Film Editing’ and ‘Cinematography’.  Interesting trivia fact – Liza’s role of Sally Bowles in “Cabaret” was originally offered to Barbra Streisand, who turned it down.          

5.  Cher is the correct answer.  1987’s “Moonstruck” was the movie.  Cher beat out fellow nominees Meryl Streep (“Ironweed”), Glenn Close (“Fatal attraction”), Holly Hunter (“Broadcast News”) and Sally Kirkland (“Anna”).  Cher’s “Moonstruck” co-star, Olympia Dukakis, also took home an Oscar for ‘Actress In A Supporting Role’.  Cher first hit the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart (and # 1) in 1965 with her then husband, Sonny Bono, with “I Got You Babe”.  As a solo performer, Cher hit # 1 four more times.  First with 1971’s “Gypsy’s, Tramps & Thieves”, then ’73’s “Half-Breed”, 1974’s “Dark Lady” and she hit # 1 one last time in 1999 with “Believe”.  Besides “Moonstruck”, Cher’s movie roles have included “Silkwood”, “Mask”, “Mermaids” and “Burlesque”. 

OSCAR, OSCAR...

The Golden Globe Awards are history for another year, which means that the Academy Awards are right around the corner in just about a month (February 24^th).  It’ll be interesting to watch, if only to see if host Seth McFarland (“Family Guy”, “American Dad” and “Ted”, one of last years’ hit movies) will insult all the stars in the auditorium.  You know he will.  No one will be safe from his zingers.  So to get you in the Oscar mood, we’ve got 5 Academy Awards music questions for you this time (and over the next couple of weeks as well).  You may not actually win a statue, but you’ll probably have fun.  And even if you don’t have a clue about the answer, these are multi-choice questions, so take a guess already.   

                                                       

QUESTIONS:

1.  This song won the Academy Award for ‘Best Original Song’ for 1941.  Is it: a. “The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B” from the motion picture “Buck Privates” (performed by the Andrews Sisters)  b. “Chattanooga Choo Choo” from “Sun Valley Serenade” or c. “The Last Time I Saw Paris” from “Lady Be Good” (sung in the film by actress Ann Sothern).  Your call, which one was the big winner that night?                                                                                                                     

2.  For the 51^st Academy Awards held in April of 1979, this song took home the Oscar for ‘Best Original Song’ of 1978.  Is it:  a. “Hopelessly Devoted To You” from the movie “Grease” (sung by Olivia Newton-John) b. “Last Dance” from “Thank God It’s Friday” (sung by Donna Summer) or c. “Ready To Take A Chance Again” from the Chevy Chase flick, “Foul Play” (sung by Barry Manilow)  

    

3.  Phil Collins has won his share of awards over the years, includes Grammys as well as Academy Award nominations, but did he take home the coveted ‘Best Song’ Oscar statue for 1999 at the 72^nd annual Oscar bash held in March of 2000?  Here are three choices.  Can you guess the correct winning song?  Is it:  a. “You’ll Be In My Heart” from the animated movie “Tarzan” (written and sung by Phil Collins) b. “Blame Canada” from “South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut” (sung by the movie’s cast) or c. “When She Loved Me” from “Toy Story 2 (written and sung by Randy Newman). 

4.  It was the 55^th annual Academy Awards held in Los Angeles on April 11, 1983 and one of the following three songs won the Oscar for ‘Best Song’ of 1982.  Can you guess the correct one?  Is it:  a. “Eye of The Tiger” from “Rocky III” (Sung by Survivor)  b. “It Might Be You” from “Tootsie” (sung by Stephen Bishop) or c. “Up Where We Belong” from “An Officer And A Gentleman” (sung by Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes). 

5.  In April of 1967, five songs were up for ‘Best Original Song From a Motion Picture” for 1966.  We won’t bore you with two of the five nominees – they didn’t stand a chance.  But of the remaining three, which won the golden statue?  a. “Alfie” from the movie “Alfie” (sung by Cher)  b. “Born Free” from the motion picture of the same name (performed by Matt Monroe) or c. “Georgy Girl” from “Georgy Girl” (sung by The Seekers).  

ANSWERS

1.  c. wins you the prize.  The music for “The Last Time I Saw Paris” was written by Jerome Kern with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II.  It was NOT written for the film, but had been published in 1940, the year before the film was released.  Jerome Kern, who had previously won an Academy Award for the song “The Way You Look Tonight” in 1936, was so upset about winning his Oscar for a song not specifically written for the movie that he petitioned the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to change the rules and since then, a song has to have been written specifically for a motion picture in order to be nominated.                      

2.  b. “Last Dance” took home the golden statue.  Donna Summer sang it in the movie and onto the charts, where it reached # 3 on Billboards’ Hot 100 chart.  Donna followed that hit up with 4 # 1’s – “MacArthur Park” in 1978, “Hot Stuff”, “Bad Girls” and “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)”, a duet with Barbra Streisand.  The last three all charted in 1979.

3.  a. Phil Collins was the winner with “You’ll Be In My Heart” from the Disney animated feature, “Tarzan”.  Although Phil had many # 1 hits throughout his career, this particular song only made it to # 21 on Billboards Hot 100 chart in 1999, although it spent 19 weeks at # 1 on Billboards Adult Contemporary Chart.  In 2006, when “Tarzan” was adapted for the Broadway stage, Phil contributed new songs to the production.  
  

4.  Any one of those three songs could easily have won an Academy Award, but c. is the answer we were looking for.  “Up Where We Belong” was co-written by Buffy Saint-Marie and Jack Nitzsche (music) with Will Jennings (lyrics).  Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes sang the song for the movie and had a # 1 hit on Billboards’ Hot 100 chart in November of 1982.  Five years later, Jennifer Warnes would be right back at the top of the charts (along with Bill Medley) for the song, “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life” from the movie “Dirty Dancing”.        

5.  b. is the correct answer.  For the movie, British singer Matt Monroe sang the title song, although his vocal version of “Born Free” didn’t make the charts in North America.  Pianist Roger Williams took his instrumental version of the song to # 7 on Billboards’ Hot 100 chart.   John Barry, the man who scored many James Bond films, wrote the music for “Born Free” with Don Black penning the lyrics.  Black and Barry also collaborated on the themes from three James Bond films, “Thunderball”, “Diamonds Are Forever” and “The Man With The Golden Gun”.  Black received his 2^nd Oscar nomination in 1970 (in collaboration with co-writer Elmer Bernstein) for the title song for the 1969 John Wayne film, “True Grit”.  His 3^rd nomination (along with co-writer Walter Scharf) was for the title song for the 1972 movie “Ben” (which Michael Jackson took to # 1 on the singles chart).  Black was later nominated for an Academy Award twice more.  He also wrote the words to Lulu’s 1967 # 1 hit, “To Sir With Love”.

BOND. JAMES BOND

For James Bond fans, there can never be enough movies about their favourite MI6 British agent with the license to kill.  We just celebrated James Bond’s 50^th anniversary last year and the latest film, “Skyfall”, the 23^rd movie in the series, is still in movie theatres.  Over the decades, we’ve had a half dozen actors portray 007.  Sean Connery was the first (and some say, the best), followed by George Lazenby (although he only starred in one Bond film, 1969’s “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”), Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig.  Many of the Bond theme songs have also done well on the music charts.  For this weeks’ quiz, we’re asking you to name some of those songs.  The first two Bond films, 1962’s “Dr. No” and “From Russia With Love” didn’t have any hits, but “Dr. No” did introduce that haunting guitar based instrumental theme.  Throughout the series, the Bond themes have been sung by many performers, including Madonna, Tom Jones, A-Ha, Sheryl Crowe, Rita Coolidge, Gladys Knight (without The Pips), Nancy Sinatra, Lulu, someone named Chris Cornell (who?) and of course Adele who sings the latest theme from “Skyfall”.  Naturally, I didn’t mention any of the artists who are in the following questions (I’m not giving up the answers that easily), but I’m sure you’ll be able to figure them all out without too many hints from me. Good luck.  

                                               

QUESTIONS:

1.  This James Bond theme went into the Top Ten in 1965.  It was sung by a British female singer who also sang the theme to 1971’s “Diamonds Are Forever” (although that song only made it to # 57) as well as the theme to “Moonraker”, but the less said about that theme, the better.  Sean Connery was still double 0 7 for this flick and the evil genius villain is trying to raid Fort Knox and take the ‘gold’ (OOOPS.  HINT ALERT).  See if you can put your ‘finger’ (HINT ALERT      # 2) on the name of this James Bond theme.                                                                                                                     

2.  Roger Moore played James Bond in his final 007 film.  It was the 14^th film in the series and a British group had a # 1 hit with their theme song from this Bond film.  C’mon, if you don’t have a clue, here’s a hint.  It’ll ‘kill’ you when you find out the answer.  So what’s the name of this Bond theme song as well as the name of the group who sang it?     

3.  In 1981, this beautiful Scottish born singer took her James Bond theme song to # 4 on the singles chart.  Roger Moore was James Bond once again in this, the 12^th Bond film.  Debbie Harry and Blondie turned down the opportunity to sing this theme which Harry and Blondie was nominated for an Academy Award for ‘Best Song’, although it didn’t win.  This singer was also on screen singing the theme during the opening credits.  She later worked with Prince and had a Top Ten hit with his song, “Sugar Walls”.  What’s the name of her Bond theme and who’s the singer? 

4.  This artist was used to having # 1 hits, but that didn’t happen with the theme from this James Bond film, even though it did make it to # 2.  It was the first Bond film to star Roger Moore and the 8^th one in the series.  This theme was the first true rock’n’roll song used in a Bond film to that time.  The musical score for the movie was composed by George Martin, who’d worked with the theme songs composer/singer for many years.  Who performed this theme and what was the name of the 1973 hit?       

5.  This 1977 James Bond theme song didn’t have the title of the movie in it, but it was a huge hit nonetheless, zooming up the charts to # 2 where it remained for 3 weeks.  The female singer of this theme was once married to James Taylor and had many other hits, including “You’re So Vain”, a # 1 hit in 1973.  The Bond film this song is from was the 10^th in the series and the third one for Roger Moore.  It also co-starred Beatle Ringo Starr’s future wife, Barbara Bach.  (HINT ALERT) You’d ‘better’ think long and hard about this one.  So what is the name of this James Bond song and its singer? 

ANSWERS

1.  Some of you probably didn’t need the two hints I gave you, for by now, you probably know that Shirley Bassey took the theme from “Goldfinger” to the # 8 spot on Billboards’ Hot 100 chart in March of 1965.  Shirley’s theme from “Diamonds Are Forever” made it to # 57 on the singles chart in 1972.                      

2.  Duran Duran were riding high on the singles chart during the 1980’s with such hits as “Hungry Like The Wolf”, “New Moon on Monday” and “The Reflex” (their first # 1).  In 1985, they had their second # 1 with the theme to “A View To A Kill”.  Sadly, it was to be their last # 1.               

3.  Sheena Easton sang the title song to “For Your Eyes Only” and it stayed at # 4 on Billboards’ Hot 100 chart for four weeks in October and the first week of November in 1981 after which it dropped out of the Top Ten.  It was Sheena’s 2^nd Top 5 hit in ’81.  She hit the top of the charts for two weeks in May that same year with her smash hit “Morning Train (Nine To Five)”.  Although the song was nominated for an Academy Award for ‘Best Song’ for 1981, it lost to “The Best That You Can Do” from “Arthur”. 

4.  “Live And Let Die” by Paul McCartney & Wings is the Bond theme we were looking for.  It was # 2 on the charts for 3 weeks in August of 1973.  The song was also nominated for an Academy Award for ‘Best Song’, but lost to “The Way We Were”, which was written by the late Marvin Hamlisch along with Marilyn and Alan Bergman.  Barbra Streisand, who co-starred in the movie with Robert Redford, had a # 1 chart hit with it in 1974.

5.  Marvin Hamlisch and Carol Bayer Sager wrote the song “Nobody Does It Better” for the 1977 James Bond film, “The Spy Who Loved Me”.  Carly Simon recorded it and it went to # 2 on Billboards’ Hot 100 singles chart for 3 weeks in October and November of ‘77.  Only Debbie Boone’s massive hit, “You Light Up My Life” kept it from the # 1 spot.  Once again, the song was nominated for an Academy Award, but was beaten out by, you guessed it, “You Light Up My Life”, from the movie of the same name, written by the films’ director Joe Brooks (Debbie Boone, by the way, did NOT sing the song in the movie.  That honour went to session singer Kasey Cisyk, who also appears as a bridesmaid in the film).  

ANOTHER YEAR OVER, A NEW ONE JUST BEGUN...

Well, the calendar made a drastic change.  2013 is a clean slate when anything can happen... hopefully, all for good.  For this weeks’ quiz, we’re taking you back to the beginning of various years to see how your memory holds up about songs that were # 1 during the first week of January.  See, all these songs were # 1.  It can’t get much easier than that...can it?  I didn’t think so.  If you’re not too exhausted from all the holiday partying, this should be a breeze (and not a frigid North wind either.  We’ve had plenty of that already, thank you very much). 

          

QUESTIONS:

1.  This January 1976 # 1 hit came from a group of four Scottish lads who took the world (and the record charts) by storm.  The specific song we’re looking for was # 1 for just one week, and in fact, it was this groups’ ONLY # 1 single, but they did chart 8 songs on Billboards Hot 100, including three Top Ten hits.  What’s the name of this group and what was their 1976 # 1 smash? (HINT:  How’s your spelling?)                                                                                                                  

2.  For the first week of January 1966, this song by an American duo knocked the Dave Clark Five from the top of the charts, but was itself knocked off one week later by The Beatles “We Can Work It Out”.  Both members of this duo had attended the same high school and started singing together.  Their first chart hit, called “Hey Schoolgirl” came in late 1957 when they recorded as Tom & Jerry.  It was 8 years before they next hit the charts, but that one was a doozie.  A # 1 smash around the world under their real last names.  Their career together lasted until the mid 1970’s when they broke up, then got back together a few years later for a one off reunion at New York’s Central Park.  Both performers went on to have successful solo careers, although only one of them would ever hit  # 1 again on the singles chart.  Can you name this duo and their January 1966 chart topper?   

3.  This Philadelphia duo was a hit making machine during the 1970’s and ‘80’s with songs like “Rich Girl”, “Kiss On My List”, Private Eyes”, “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)” – all # 1 songs.  Their next # 1 happened in 1982 and I’ll give you a couple of lines of lyrics, “The woman is wild, a she-cat by tamed by the purr of a Jaguar.  Money’s the matter.  If you’re in it for love, it ain’t gonna get too far.”  What’s the name of this # 1 smash?

4.  She’s one of the new judges for the 2013 edition of “American Idol”.  This # 1 hit, hit # 1 in the first week of January 1994 and stayed at the top of the singles chart for 4 weeks.  It’s just one of 15 # 1 hits this performer has had so far.  No one has ever had to ‘carry’ this performer.  So what’s the name of her 1994 # 1?  (HINT:  The song title is also the name of a sandwich)      

5.  This # 1 song was HUGE...remaining at the top of the singles chart for 14 consecutive weeks in 1992 and ‘93.  Country music legend Dolly Parton, who wrote it, originally had a # 1 hit with it on the country charts, but this singer took it to a whole other level.  It was featured in this performer’s debut movie and was a showstopper.  Sadly, this performer died in February of last year, but her memory and her music will be with us forever.  Who’s the performer and what’s the name of this smash # 1 hit?    

ANSWERS

1.  The Bay City Rollers had “Saturday Night”, their only # 1 hit, at the top of the singles chart for the first week in January 1976.  Who could ever forget the opening to that song? “S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y Night”.  Later that same year, the Rollers next hit, “Money Honey” stalled at # 9.  They didn’t hit the Top Ten again until ’77 with “You Made Me Believe In Magic”, which made it to    # 10.                    

2.  Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel had pretty much gone their separate ways before their song, “The Sounds of Silence” went to # 1.  They’d recorded the song, originally for their 1964 Columbia Records debut album, “Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.” which initially didn’t sell a lot of records.  Paul Simon was away in London, England performing wherever he could, when their producer Tom Wilson added drums, electric bass and electric guitars to the acoustic track without checking with either Paul or Art.  Columbia released the single and it shot to # 1, replacing the Dave Clark Five’s “Over And Over”.  After one week, The Beatles “We Can Work It Out” took the # 1 singles spot for the next two weeks, then “The Sounds Of Silence” leaped back on top for an additional week, only to be replaced by “We Can Work it Again” again.  Simon & Garfunkel had two more # 1 hits, “Mrs. Robinson” in 1968 and “Bridge Over troubled Water” in 1970.  As a solo artist, Paul Simon topped the singles chart only once with 1976’s “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover”.  Art Garfunkel had a successful acting career while continuing to record.           

3.  The song in question was “Maneater” from Daryl Hall & John Oates.  It had been # 1 for the last two weeks of 1982 and stayed there for the first week of ’83.

4.  Mariah Carey is the singer.  ”Hero” is the name of the song.  Her first # 1 was “Vision of Love” in 1990, followed by “Love Takes Time” that same year.  In ’91, she hit the top of the charts 3 more times with “Somemday”, “I Don’t Wanna Cry” and “Emotions”.  “Can’t Let Go’ hit # 1 in 1992 as did “Make It Happen” and “I’ll Be There”.  1993 saw two # 1’s, “Dreamlover” and “Hero”.  Then in ’95 came “Fantasy” and “One Sweet Day” followed by “Always Be My baby”, a # 1 hit in ’96, followed by the # 1 hit “Honey in ’97 and “My All” in ’98.  “Heartbreaker” was Mariah’s next # 1 in 1999 and the following year, came “Thank God I Found You” with Joe & 98.

 
5.  “I Will Always Love You” is the hit we were looking for.  Whitney Houston had the # 1 song on Billboards’ Hot 100 chart for 14 consecutive weeks at the end of 1992 and the first few