Adele’s appearance at First Avenue in Minneapolis will make her the first artist ever to play the House Prince Built while simultaneously having a No. 1 single and a No. 1 album. How much do you know about artists who have topped the Billboard charts?
With the 22-year stretch between “Good Vibrations” (1966) and “Kokomo” (1988), the Beach Boys set the record for longest gap between No. 1 hits. Not part of the comeback was former Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson. Which of these things has Brian Wilson not done in the years since “Good Vibrations”?
a. Performed a private nighttime show at Disney World for a group of young children who were allergic to sunlight, most of whom had no idea who he was and looked bored or terrified.
b. Hired a psychologist who, over the course of ten years, tried to take near-total control of Wilson’s life and music, ultimately being stripped of his clinical license and issued a restraining order to stay away from Wilson.
c. Fathered two-thirds of Wilson Phillips.
d. Joined the Traveling Wilburys.
Though Adele has had an album (21) simultaneously at the top of the US/UK charts, she’s never had a simultaneous US/UK No. 1 single. Which of these artists shares her plight?
a. Madonna
b. Hanson
c. the Monkees
d. Céline Dion
The Beatles hold the record for most No. 1 hits (20). Whom did John Lennon spark controversy in 1966 by saying the Beatles were bigger than?
a. Jesus
b. the Rolling Stones
c. Buddha
d. the Monkees
Tommy Dorsey had Billboard’s first No. 1 hit, with 1940’s “I’ll Never Smile Again” featuring vocals by Frank Sinatra. Elizabeth Taylor was eight years old at the time. According to Kitty Kelley’s biography His Way, what did Frank Sinatra do with Elizabeth Taylor years later?
a. Have an affair with her, then when she wanted to leave her husband and marry him, arrange for her to have an abortion instead.
b. Record an unreleased duet cover of “Stairway to Heaven.”
c. Force her to wear a Cleopatra costume while giving him head.
d. Break her nose in a jealous rage over her close relationship with Michael Jackson.
Despite selling 120 million albums worldwide, Bruce Springsteen has never had a No. 1 hit. Which 1984 No. 1 hit kept Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark” from rising to the top spot?
a. “Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run),” Billy Ocean
b. “Say Say Say,” Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney
c. “When Doves Cry,” Prince
d. “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” Wham!
Sometimes songs go back and forth, taking turns in the top slot. Which of these sequences has not happened?
a. “Firework” / “Grenade” / “Firework”/ “Grenade” (Katy Perry/Bruno Mars)
b. “Bad Girls” / “Good Times” / “Bad Girls” / “Good Times” (Donna Summer/Chic)
c. “E.T.” / “S&M” / “E.T.” (Katy Perry/Rihanna)
d. “I Knew I Loved You” / “Thank God I Found You” / “I Knew I Loved You” (Savage Garden/Mariah Carey)
Until 1998, to be eligible for the Billboard singles chart, songs had to be available for purchase as singles—album cuts, however popular, were excluded. Which of these 90s songs was not blocked from the No. 1 slot because of this rule?
a. No Doubt, “Don’t Speak”
b. Will Smith, “Men in Black”
c. Natalie Imbruglia, “Torn”
d. Notorious B.I.G., “Mo Money Mo Problems”
With a string of hits in 2010 and 2011, Katy Perry has become the first female artist since Mariah Carey (in 1990) to have four No. 1 hits from a single album. How did the blog The Superficial headline a series of unflattering photos of Perry’s husband Russell Brand in his tightie whities?
a. “If Russell Brand was your other option, you’d kiss a girl too”
b. “E.T., bone home”
c. “Russell Brand’s in a bikini bottom again”
d. “Katy Perry has sex with this”
Michael Jackson had 13 No. 1 singles. Which of these is not an authentic quote from the Jackson family’s 1989 appearance on Donohue, as published in the fanzine Jackson Action?
a. Audience member: “I was just curious about Janet Jackson was married to one of the DeBarge brothers. And there was a rumor that her parents were involved in that annulment. Is that true? Or was that her own decision?” Joe Jackson: “No, no.” Audience member: “And is she still seeing him?” [immediate cut to commercial break]
b. Caller: “I have a question for Randy.” Randy Jackson: “Yes.” Caller: “I’d like to know if he’s single, and is he looking for a girlfriend.” Randy Jackson: “Yes, I’m single.” Caller: “If I was your girlfriend, would we have to sleep with a chimpanzee in an oxygen tent?”
c. Jackie Jackson: “There’s a lot of rapping that are going on today. And it’s getting over real, real big today. But as long as it’s positive rap the kids can really adjust to, I’m for that.”
d. Jackie Jackson: “I used to get all the…” Tito Jackson: “Showers.” Jackie Jackson: “Showers. The droppings. The showers.” Donahue: “I think I know what you mean.”
Which artist said about the lyrics to his No. 1 hit song, “They’re beyond analysis. They’re poetry”?
a. Don McLean, “American Pie”
b. Lionel Richie, “Say You, Say Me”
c. Will Smith, “Getting’ Jiggy Wit It”
d. Kanye West, “Stronger”
For answers, click here.
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