Our Quiz Master John Chaneski has some answers to classic songs in this week’s puzzle about song titles in question form. For example, the answer “Because they’re too dumb to stay out of it” answers the musical question from Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?” This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Song Title Word Game”
You’re listening to A Way with Words. I’m Martha Barnette.
And I’m Grant Barrett, and with us is John Chaneski, our quiz master. Hello, John.
Yo!
Hi, Grant. Hi, Martha.
How’s it going?
What’s cooking, dude?
You know, it’s time for another episode of The Musical Question.
Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do.
I’ll give you clues beginning with the artist and the year of release for a song,
And then sort of a cheeky answer to the song title, because the title is a question.
For example, Johnny Mathis covered this 1967 hit by the Young Rascals.
The answer is, you can’t be.
Nothing in life is certain.
Are you sure?
Close.
Sure.
I have no idea.
How can I be sure you love me?
That’s it.
Except for the you love me part, which is wrong.
How can I be sure?
It’s how can I be sure.
How can I be sure?
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I do remember that.
Let’s try this first one.
Now, some of these may sound obscure, but I think I’ll give you enough clues so you can get it.
Augie Rios and the Mark Jeffrey Orchestra had a seasonal hit with this song in 1958.
Now, the answer is,
El hombre gordo está en el polo norte con los duendes.
So, something about where’s Santa Claus and the elves?
Well, it was…
¿Dónde está?
Yeah, go.
Oh, is that it?
That’s it.
¿Dónde está Santa Claus?
That’s it.
¿Dónde está Santa Claus?
¿Qué sé yo?
Oh, mamacita, ¿dónde está Santa Claus?
They still play it every year around somewhere near the end of the year or somewhere.
Oh, okay.
Do they?
I’ve never heard that song.
I don’t.
I can’t place it, no.
It’s one of my favorites.
It’s 1956, and Frankie Lyman and the teenagers are asking a question.
Listen carefully to the answer, which is, because they are too dumb to stay out of it.
Why do fools fall in love?
That’s right.
Why do fools fall in love?
Let’s try this.
This was a hit for The Who in 1978.
The answer?
Puzzle Guy John Chaneski.
Who are you?
Who are you?
Who am I?
Who are you?
Who are you?
Right.
All you CSI fans out there.
Now, this next song was never a hit, but when Florence Reese wrote it in 1931,
It became popular among people in a certain industry.
The answer?
I’m a union man, through and through.
Which side are you on?
Which side are you on?
Yes.
Okay.
That’s the answer, huh?
Dispute between miners and mine owners.
And she wrote the song, Which Side Are You On?
Which became a perennial, well, perennial, but a folk classic.
Okay.
Very good.
This Bee Gees hit from 1971 might make you think the answer is bypass surgery.
But I think the answer most people might offer is time and lots of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.
Oh, perfect.
I know this one.
Yes.
How do you mend a broken heart?
Yes.
How do you mend a broken heart?
This song was a hit for Whitney Houston in 1987.
The answer is, yes, that’s right, not quite everything.
Or is it her big one?
Yeah.
The one that Dolly Parton did originally?
Didn’t we almost have it all?
Oh, there we go.
Yes, didn’t we almost have it all?
That was not the one that Dolly Parton did.
No.
No, that was I Always Love You.
Yes.
I Always Love You, right.
Okay, here’s the last one.
Okay.
In 1960, you could have given Elvis Presley an answer, just a little.
Why don’t you come on over?
We’ll hang out and have some Ben & Jerry’s.
That’s the second time you’ve mentioned Ben & Jerry’s in a clue.
That’s true.
Looking for sponsorship.
What can I say?
What’s the hint?
Hint, hint.
How about Are You Lonesome Tonight?
That’s it.
Are You Lonesome Tonight?
Are You Lonesome Tonight?
Come on over with PB&J and banana.
He liked banana and peanut butter, right?
Is the torture over?
The torture is over.
But you guys were fantastic.
You guys were really good.
We’re free of our chains.
It was fun.
It was fun.
It was fun.
It was fun.
I’ll give you that.
Yes, it was.
I tease.
John, thanks so much.
Thank you, Martha.
Thank you, Grant.
Thanks, buddy.
Bye-bye.
If you want to talk language with us, give us a call, 877-929-9673.
Or if you’re lonesome tonight, send us an email, words at waywordradio.
Transcription by CastingWords
