Update:
All done!
Good job everyone. Each of you who participated will get a bonus in his/her check this week!

Below are the opening lines to twenty genuine, certified Hit songs. Your task: name the song and the artist who performed the song.

Here we go!

1. Jessie is a friend Platosearwax
2. Girl, close your eyes, let that rhythm get into to you Paige
3. We don't need no education The Modesto Kid
4. Ooh my little pretty one, pretty one. shortstop
5. This thing called love RobC
6. Wait a minute baby, stay with me a while Paige
7. Young man, there's no need to feel down. Platosearwax
8. It's not far down to paradise matt m
9. Spring was never waiting for us, girl matt m
10. Is there nothing I can say, nothing I can do matt m
11. He came from somewhere back in her long ago matt m
12. Some say love, it is a river Platosearwax
13. Our love is alive and so we begin matt m
14. Here come the jesters, 1,2,3 Platosearwax
15. Your love is like a tidal wave, spinning over my head Platosearwax
16. When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful Platosearwax
17. Somebody's gonna hurt someone shortstop
18. Got a call from an old friend, we used to be real close ChrisR
19. We got somethin, we both know it, we don't talk too much about it Platosearwax
20. On a warn summer's evenin', on a train bound for nowhere matt m

Hints:

1. There is a theme here. Maybe even two themes, if you're being picky.
2. The themes are : 1980 and 1981.
3. 9. Not many songs mention 'cake'.
4. 10. Not many songs mention 'chargers'.

Leave your answers in comments. I’ll cross them off as people get them.

You can click here for the answers. But give it a good try, first!

It's been ages since we last did one of these. So, let's do one now!

The following are first lines to well-known^* songs. Name the song and artist.

1. If you're having trouble with your high school head AC/DC - "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" [Paige]
2. Company, always on the run Bad Company - "Bad Company" [Paige]
3. We-hell I see them every night in tight blue jeans Cyndi Lauper – "She Bop" [MikeJ]
4. They tell us that we lost our tails Devo - "Jocko Homo" [Platosearwax]
5. Oh it's funny to be seeing you after so long, girl - Elvis Costello - "Alison" [MikeJ]
6. Dreamed I was an Eskimo Frank Zappa - "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow" [Cris]
7. Do you have the time to listen to me whine - Green Day - "Basket Case" [MikeJ]
8. Hear the lonesome whippoorwill Hank Williams - "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" [Paige]
9. I'm trying to tell you something about my life Indigo Girls - "Closer to Fine" [Cris]
10. Sleep all day, out all night James Gang "Funk 49" [xjmueller]
11. They seek him here, they seek him there Kinks - "Dedicated Follower Of Fashion" [RobC]
12. Wanna tell you 'bout the girl I love Led Zeppelin - "Hey hey what can I do" [ellaesther]
13. Traveling in a fried-out combie Men at Work – "Down Under" [MikeJ]
14. Where it began, I can't begin to knowin - Neil Diamond - "Sweet Caroline" [Cris]
15. How many special people change? Oasis - "Champagne Supernova" [Atlantys]
16. "The problem is all inside your head", she said to me Paul Simon – "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" [MikeJ]
17. I've paid my dues, time after time Queen - "We Are The Champions" [Atlantys]
18. Her green plastic watering can, for her fake Chinese rubber plant Radiohead - "Fake Plastic Trees" [RobC]
19. Sweetness, sweetness, I was only joking Smiths – "Bigmouth Strikes Again" [MikeJ]
20. I don't want to work Todd Rundgren – "Bang on the Drum All Day" [MikeJ]
21. Is it getting better, or do you feel the same? U2 - "One" [MikeJ]
22. I get up, and nothing gets me down Van Halen - "Jump". [Modesto Kid]
23. Fall is here, hear the yell White Stripes - We're Going To Be Friends [dbati]
24. High climbs the summer sun, high climbs the corn XTC - "Love On A Farmboy's Wages" [Platosearwax]
25. When I heard the knock on the door, had to catch my breath
26. Clean shirt, new shoes ZZ Top - "Sharp Dressed Man" [MikeJ]

* : or maybe not so well-known.

Hint: there are 26 songs.

Leave your answers in comments. I’ll cross them off as people get them.

You can click here for the answers. But give it a good try, first!

Last night, instead of sleeping, I had a brilliant idea for a music quiz: for each of the numbers from one to ten, name a song where the very first word of the lyrics is that number - not a number in the title, not a mention in the chorus. The very first word spoken is the number. So, I tried to see if I could do it...

... I couldn't.

1. One (Is the Loneliest Number), Split Enz' "One Step Ahead", U2's "In The Name Of Love", etc..
2. Beatles' "Two Of Us", Beck's "Farewell Ride", etc.
3. "Three is a magic number", and Dylan's "Three Angels"
4. Leonard Cohen's "Dress Rehearsal Rag"
5. The Doors' "Five To One"
6. D-Devils "6th gate"
7. Dylan, Seven Days
8. Paige comes up with "Eight Miles High".
9. Sonny Boy Williamson - Temperature 110
10. The Cure's "10:15 Saturday Night", or Spoon's "10:20 AM"

Can any of you fill in the gaps ?

Still need 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9. Got em!

Each of the following is a first line from a certified Classic rock song (though not all are Classic Rock™). Without looking them up, how many can you identify ?

Leave your answers in comments, and I'll mark them off, as people get them - unclaimed are in red.

All done!

I must say I'm impressed. There are a few in there which I thought would be too obscure. But, no - you people got em. There is hope for humanity after all.

Now, we need to get more bands with names that start with "X", "Y" and "Z". I don't know how many more times I can use XTC, Yes, the Yardbirds and ZZ-Top...

1. I've been run down and I've been lied to nikkos
2. It's been such a long time Gary K
3. It's getting near dawn SolidPhil
4. Crack that whip nikkos
5. You got me runnin' goin' out of my mind Bobby L
6. Feeling down 'n' dirty, feeling kinda mean Gary K
7. Can you hear them, they talk about us Jim V
8. You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar Rob C
9. All you got is this moment, twenty-first century's yesterday Ugh
10. After all the jacks are in their boxes nikkos
11. I feel uptight on a Saturday night Gary K
12. Singing in the sunshine, laughing in the rain nikkos
13. If you like to gamble, I tell you I'm your man Rob C
14. I'm so happy, cause today I found my friends. Atlantys
15. Sittin' in the mornin' sun nikkos
16. The mama pajama rolled out of bed SolidPhil
17. Ooh, you make me live Gary K
18. Heard it from a friend who heard it from a friend who nikkos
19. Some people call me the space cowboy Rob C
20. It's alright if you love me, it's alright if you don't SolidPhil
21. If you twist and turn away Chris
22. When I'm a' walking, I strut my stuff nikkos
23. I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand nikkos
24. Never been near a university Bobby L
25. Cars and girls are easy come by in this day and age SolidPhil
26. Rumor spreadin' a-'round in that Texas town nikkos

Hints:
There are 26 of them.
None are newer than 91, and most are much older.

You can click here for the answers. But give it a good try, first!

It's been seven months since the last one, so here's a new Lyric Squiz.

Each of the following is the first line from a well-known song. Name the songs and the singer/band !

Post your answers in comments and I'll mark them off as people get them. [update: for the first time in the history of these quizzes, all songs have been claimed!]

1. What you want, Baby, I got [it] - [Ugh]
2. Some boys kiss me, some boys hug me - [Jennifer]
3. I went back to Ohio - [blue girl]
4. If you wake up and don't want to smile - [blue girl]
5. Southern trees bear strange fruit - [Kevin Wolf]
6. I'm saying all the things that I know you'll like, making good conversation - [charlie ]
7. Her hair is Harlowe gold - [blue girl]
8. They paved paradise, put up a parking lot - ["Me"]
9. Can you see them? They talk about us - [blue girl]
10. Lying in my bed I hear the clock tick, and think of you - [Jennifer]
11. What you gonna do when you get out of jail? I'm gonna have some fun! - [Will Divide ]
12. Oh, come on, come on, come on, come on! - [Ugh]
13. Mary Anne and Wanda were the best of friends! - [Jennifer]
14. When I met you in the restaurant - [Will Divide ]
15. If you change your mind, I'm the first in line - [anandamide]

Hint 1: All these songs were sung by, or made famous by, female singers.
Hint 2: Very few of them are recent.

You can click here for the answers. But give it a good try, first!

It's been a few months since the last one, so...

Each of the following is a first line from a certified Classic rock song (though not all are Classic Rockâ„¢). Without looking them up, how many can you identify ?

Updates
1. Bumped this to the top.
2. As people get them, I'll mark them off.
3. Marking unclaimed items in red.

1. Every time that I look in the mirror, Aerosmith- "Dream On"(BobbyL)
2. Wednesday morning at five o'clock as the day begins - Beatles, She's Leaving Home (CharleyCarp)
3. Some folks are born made to wave the flag - Creedence Clearwater Revival, Fortunate Son (CharleyCarp)
4. Please please tell me now - "Is There Something I Should Know" by Duran Duran (RobC)
5. There's talk on the street; it sounds so familiar - Eagles, New Kid in Town (CharleyCarp)
6. Wait a minute baby, stay with me awhile
7. We had broken up for good just an hour before
8. Saturday night I was downtown - Hollies, Long Cool Woman (CharleyCarp)
9. I'm standing here on the ground
10. You love her, but she loves him - J. Geils Band, Love Stinks (DaveC)
11. Girl I want to be with you all of the time - "All Day and All of the Night" by The Kinks (RobC)
12. Hey lady, you got the love I need - Led Zeppelin, Over the Hills and Far Away (CharleyCarp)
13. They told him don't you ever come around here
14. I wanna live, I wanna give - Neil Young, Heart of Gold (CharleyCarp)
15. Crazy, but that's how it goes - Ozzy Osborne, "Crazy Train" (BobbyL)
16. I am just a new boy, a stranger in this town
17. She keeps Moet and Chandon in her pretty cabinet - Queen- "Killer Queen" (BobbyL)
18. Hey ho, let's go - Ramones- "Blitzkrieg Bop" (BobbyL)
19. Way back when in 67 - Hey Nineteen, Steely Dan (Jigsaw)
20. Heard of a van that is loaded with weapons - "Life During Wartime" by Talking Heads (RobC)
21. See the stone set in your eyes - "With or Without You" by U2 (RobC)
22. Standing on the corner, suitcase in my hand - Velvet Underground - "Sweet Jane" (BobbyL)
23. What's with these homies, dissing my girl? - Weezer, 'Buddy Holly' (ChrisR)
24. Dear God, sorry to disturb you - Dear God, XTC (Jigsaw)
25. A man conceived a moment's answers to the dream
26. You didn't have to love me like you did - ZZ Top- "And I Thank You" (BobbyL)

Hints

• There are 26 songs.
• They are arranged in alphabetic order by band name, or artist's first name.
• The latest song is from the mid-90's. The earliest is from '67.

You can click here for the answers. But give it a good try, first!

Each of the following is a first line from a certified Classic rock song (though not all are Classic Rock ™). Without looking them up, how many can you identify ?

1. I lit out from Reno, I was trailed by twenty hounds
2. Hey, here is the story: forget about the trouble in life
3. After all the jacks are in their boxes
4. Well there's a light in your eye that keeps shining
5. She eyes me like a Pisces when I am weak
6. What a drag it is getting old
7. In the morning you go gunnin for the man who stole your water
8. Have you seen her? So fine and pretty
9. Half a mile from the county fair, and the rain came pouring down
10. Yesterday a morning came, a smile upon your face

Hint 1: These are listed in alphabetical order by artist.
Hint 2: They are all sung by men.
Hint 3: The newest song is from the mid-90's.

You can click here for the answers. But give it a good try, first!

These are the first lines from songs of varying popularity - some very popular, some somewhat obscure. Without looking them up, how many can you identify ?

1. Look out, Mama, there's a white boat comin' up the river
2. Well I never kept a dollar past sunset
3. I live my life like there's no tomorrow
4. Let's swim to the moon
5. Still, by the window pane
6. Rumour spreadin' around in that Texas town
7. Outside there's a box car waiting
8. When I'm out walking I strut my stuff
9. I went away to see an old friend of mine
10. Love, I get so lost sometimes
11. Extra credit: Said it's time to go, well alright

Hint: these are all from records I've already mentioned in my Top 100.

You can click here for the answers. But give it a good try, first!

Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!
Na na na, na na na, na na, na nah
(Oh yeah!)
Gonna feel real good now!
Yeah yeah! Yeah yeah! Yeah yeah!
Na na na, na na na, na na, na nah
(Ooooh...)
Oh no, no no...
I'm gonna make a change
It's gonna feel real good!
Come on!
(Change!...)

Without looking it up, what song are these lyrics from?

Answer, Below The More...

Continue reading →

These are the first lines from some relatively popular songs. Can you identify the songs (without looking them up) ?

1. Tin soldiers and Nixon coming
2. I walked along the avenue, I never thought I'd meet a girl like you
3. Loving you isn't the right thing to do
4. Tommy used to work on the docks
5. Don't think me unkind
6. I was tired of my lady, we'd been together too long
7. God money, I'll do anything for you
8. Old pirates, yes, they rob i
9. It's allright if you love me, it's allright if you don't
10. I met her in a club down in old Soho

One hint: they are all sung by men.

You can click here for the answers. But give it a good try, first!