This week, all the lyrics in The Nickel Quiz are by a single artist or band. We’re keeping the name of this artist or band a secret. If you can determine just one song’s original artist or band, that’s an automatic five points. Well, actually it’s six points. The year each song was released has been included in parenthesis as a bonus clue.

As usual, scoring is on the honor system (do not Ask Jeeves):

• Mystery Artist: 5 points
• Correct Song Title: 1 point
• Maximum Score: 10 points

If you like this week’s quiz, or have an idea for a future theme, let me know by commenting on this post, via our Twitter feed, or on our Facebook page. Feel free to share this post to your friends on social media.

1. A simple prop to occupy my time. (1987)
2. Carry a compass to help you along. (1989)
3. Put it in your heart where tomorrow shines. (1991)
4. When you’re sure you’ve had enough of this life, well hang on. (1993)
5. The tables have turned, the whole world hinges on your swings. (1995)

[Difficulty: ♫  /  What’s the frequency, Daniel?]

Answers to The Nickel Quiz #28: Time:

1. “Time Is On My Side” (The Rolling Stones)
2. “Time of the Season” (The Zombies)
3. “Time In a Bottle” (Jim Croce)
4. “Time Passages” (Al Stewart)
5. “Time After Time” (Cyndi Lauper)

In this final Nickel Quiz of 2016, we could have quizzed you on songs from the previous twenty-seven weeks. Instead, this one’s simply about time.

You’ll find the word time in each song title. The year that each song was released is listed after the lyric as an extra clue. And, as usual, scoring is on the honor system (no Binging or Googling):

• Correct Artist: 1 point
• Correct Song Title: 1 point
• Maximum Score: 10 points

If you like this week’s quiz, or have an idea for a future theme, let us know by commenting on this post, via our Twitter feed, or on our Facebook page. Feel free to share this post to your friends on social media.

1. You’re searching for good times, but just wait and see. You’ll come running back. (1964)
2. In this time, give it to me easy, and let me try with pleasured hands. (1969)
3. But there never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do, once you find them. (1973)
4. It’s just a game that you play. (1978)
5. Secrets stolen from deep inside. The drum beats out of time. (1984)

[Difficulty: ♫♫♫  /  Take as long as you need]

Answers to The Nickel Quiz #27: Xmas:

1. “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” (Meredith Wilson)
2. “Please Come Home For Christmas” (Charles Brown)
3. “Wonderful Christmastime” (Paul McCartney and Wings)
4. “Christmas Wrapping” (The Waitresses)
5. “All I Want For Christmas Is You” (Mariah Carey)

In this week’s Nickel Quiz, it’s snowing outside, there are presents beneath a splendidly decorated tree, and the Christmas songs are playing at full volume (if only to piss off the neighbors who didn’t bake you any cookies this year)!

Each song is this week’s quiz is a popular holiday song and we’re looking for the original artist. The year that each song was released is listed after the lyric as an extra clue. And, as usual, scoring is on the honor system (no Binging or Googling):

• Correct Artist: 1 point
• Correct Song Title: 1 point
• Maximum Score: 10 points

If you like this week’s quiz, or have an idea for a future theme, let us know by commenting on this post, via our Twitter feed, or on our Facebook page. Feel free to share this post to your friends on social media.

1. There’s a tree in the Grand Hotel, one in the park as well, the sturdy kind that doesn’t mind the snow. (1951)
2. Friends and relations send salutations, sure as the stars shine above. (1960)
3. The word is out about the town to lift a glass, ahhh, don’t look down. (1979)
4. I just need to catch my breath, Christmas by myself this year. (1981)
5. Santa Claus won’t make me happy with a toy on Christmas Day. (1994)

[Difficulty: ♫♫♫  /  Watch out for those reindeer, Grandma!]

Answers to The Nickel Quiz #26: Rhyme Time:

1. “Mellow Yellow” (Donovan)
2. “Hanky Panky” (Tommy James and the Shondells)
3. “Money Honey” (The Bay City Rollers)
4. “Eye In The Sky” (The Alan Parsons Project)
5. “Achy Breaky Heart” (Billy Ray Cyrus)

In this week’s Nickel Quiz, we’re getting our rhyme on! Each song’s title will contain two words that rhyme. The year that each song was released is listed after the lyric as an extra clue. And, as usual, scoring is on the honor system (no Binging or Googling):

• Correct Artist: 1 point
• Correct Song Title: 1 point
• Maximum Score: 10 points

If you like this week’s quiz, or have an idea for a future theme, let us know by commenting on this post, via our Twitter feed, or on our Facebook page. Feel free to share this post to your friends on social media.

1. Electrical banana is gonna be a sudden craze. (1966)
2. I saw her walking on down the line, you know I saw her for the very first time. (1966)
3. Living, like a princess with a frown; Giving, I can’t afford a crown. (1976)
4. I don’t need to see anymore to know that I can read your mind. (1982)
5. You can tell your Ma, I moved to Arkansas. (1992)

[Difficulty: ♫♫♫  /  You’ll need more than luck, Chuck!]

Answers to The Nickel Quiz #25: Mystery Artist I:

1. “Taxi” (Harry Chapin)
2. “W.O.L.D.” (Harry Chapin)
3. “Cat’s In The Cradle” (Harry Chapin)
4. “Dance Band On The Titanic” (Harry Chapin)
5. “Sequel” (Harry Chapin)

This week, all the lyrics in The Nickel Quiz are by a single artist. We’re keeping the name of this artist a secret. If you can determine just one song’s original artist, that’s an automatic five points. Well, actually it’s six points. The year each song was released has been included in parenthesis as a bonus clue.

As usual, scoring is on the honor system (do not Ask Jeeves):

• Mystery Artist: 5 points
• Correct Song Title: 1 point
• Maximum Score: 10 points

If you like this week’s quiz, or have an idea for a future theme, let me know by commenting on this post, via our Twitter feed, or on our Facebook page. Feel free to share this post to your friends on social media.

1. She took off to find the footlights; I took off for the sky. (1972)
2. The bright good morning voice who’s heard but never seen, feeling all of 45 going on 15. (1974)
3. Little boy blue and the man in the moon. (1974)
4. I was strummin’ in the middle with this dude on the fiddle and we were three days out from land. (1977)
5. Ten years ago, it was the front seat, drivin’ stoned and feelin’ no pain. (1980)

[Difficulty: ♫♫  /  Where would you like to go?]

Answers to The Nickel Quiz #24: Get On With It:

1. “Get Back” (The Beatles)
2. “Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car” (Billy Ocean)
3. “Get On Your Feet” (Gloria Estefan)
4. “Get Over It” (The Eagles)
5. “Get On Your Boots” (U2)

In this week’s Nickel Quiz, each of the song titles will “get” something. So what are you waiting for? Get on with it!

The year that each song was released is listed after the lyric as an extra clue. And, as usual, scoring is on the honor system (no Binging or Googling):

• Correct Artist: 1 point
• Correct Song Title: 1 point
• Maximum Score: 10 points

If you like this week’s quiz, or have an idea for a future theme, let us know by commenting on this post, via our Twitter feed, or on our Facebook page. Feel free to share this post to your friends on social media.

1. Sweet Loretta Martin thought she was a woman, but she was another man. (1969)
2. Hey Cinderella, step in your shoe. I’ll be your non-stop lover. Get it while you can. (1988)
3. I think it’s true that we’ve all been through some nasty weather. (1989)
4. The more I think about it, ol’ Billy was right: Let’s kill all the lawyers, kill ’em tonight. (1994)
5. Never seen a moon like this. Can you see it too? (2009)

[Difficulty: ♫♫♫♫  /  What are you waiting for? Christmas?]

Answers to The Nickel Quiz #23: Black Friday:

1. “Paint It, Black” (The Rolling Stones)
2. “Friday On My Mind” (The Easybeats)
3. “Black Betty” (Ram Jam)
4. “Back In Black” (AC/DC)
5. “Friday I’m In Love” (The Cure)

Happy Thanksgiving!

In this week’s Nickel Quiz, each of the song titles will contain one of the two words in the theme, Black Friday.

The year that each song was released is listed after the lyric as an extra clue. And, as usual, scoring is on the honor system (no Binging or Googling):

• Correct Artist: 1 point
• Correct Song Title: 1 point
• Maximum Score: 10 points

If you like this week’s quiz, or have an idea for a future theme, let us know by commenting on this post, via our Twitter feed, or on our Facebook page. Feel free to share this post to your friends on social media.

1. I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes. I have to turn my head until my darkness goes. (1966)
2. Gonna have fun in the city. Be with my girl, she’s so pretty. (1967)
3. Said it weren’t none of mine, bamma-lam, the damn thing gone blind, bamma-lam. (1977)
4. I’m let loose from the noose that’s kept me hanging around. (1981)
5. Monday, you can hold your head. Tuesday, Wednesday, stay in bed. (1992)

[Difficulty: ♫♫  /  Nothing to do but feed all the kangaroos]

Answers to The Nickel Quiz #22: Mystery Theme II (Each song was at #1 on Billboard on November 16th of its release year):

1. “Deep Purple” (Nino Temple & April Stevens)
2. “Whatever Gets You Thru The Night” (John Lennon with the Plastic Ono Band)
3. “Lady” (Kenny Rogers)
4. “We Built This City” (Starship)
5. “I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)” (Meat Loaf)

Once again, we’re keeping the theme of the The Nickel Quiz a secret. If you can determine a few of the song titles and original artists for the five lyrics below, you may be able to determine the motif that ties these songs together.

As usual, scoring is on the honor system (do not Ask Jeeves):

• Correct Artist: 1 point
• Correct Song Title: 1 point
• Mystery Theme: 5 points
• Maximum Score: 15 points

If you like this week’s quiz, or have an idea for a future theme, let us know by commenting on this post, via our Twitter feed, or on our Facebook page. Feel free to share this post to your friends on social media.

1. In the still of the night, once again I hold you tight. Though you’ve gone, your love lives on when moonlight beams. (1963)
2. Don’t need a sword to cut through flowers. (1974)
3. You have gone and made me such a fool. I’m so lost in your love. (1980)
4. Marconi plays the mamba, listen to the radio. (1985)
5. And some days it don’t come easy, and some days it don’t come hard. Some days it don’t come at all. (1993)

[Difficulty: ♫♫♫  /  Wouldn’t you like to know?]

Answers to The Nickel Quiz #21: One-Hit Wonders:

1. “Green Tambourine” (originally by The Lemon Pipers, #1 on February 3rd, 1968)
2. “In the Year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus)” (originally by Zager & Evans, #1 on July 12, 1969)
3. “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” (originally by Vicki Lawrence, #1 on April 7, 1973)
4. “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” (originally by Bobby McFerrin, #1 on September 24, 1988)
5. “Tubthumping” (originally by Chumbawamba, #6 on November 29, 1997)

In this week’s Nickel Quiz, the songs are the only hit by the artists.

The year that each song was released is listed after the lyric as an extra clue. And, as usual, scoring is on the honor system (no Binging or Googling):

• Correct Artist: 1 point
• Correct Song Title: 1 point
• Maximum Score: 10 points

If you like this week’s quiz, or have an idea for a future theme, let us know by commenting on this post, via our Twitter feed, or on our Facebook page. Feel free to share this post to your friends on social media.

1. Watch the jingle jangle start to shine. Reflections of the music that is mine. (1968)
2. Now it’s been ten thousand years, man has cried a billion tears. (1969)
3. So he went home and finally found the only thing Papa had left him and that was a gun. (1973)
4. The landlord say your rent is late. He may have to litigate. (1988)
5. He drinks a whiskey drink. He drinks a vodka drink. He drinks a lager drink. He drinks a cider drink. (1997)

[Difficulty: ♫♫♫♫  /  One and done]

Answers to The Nickel Quiz #20: Home:

1. “Our House” (originally by Madness)
2. “Dancing on the Ceiling” (originally by Lionel Richie)
3. “Burning Down the House” (originally by Talking Heads)
4. “Toys in the Attic” (originally by Aerosmith)
5. “Sweet Home Alabama” (originally by Lynyrd Skynyrd)

It’s November and November is all about Homecoming. The titles in this week’s Nickel Quiz contain home-y words.

The year that each song was released is listed after the lyric as an extra clue. And, as usual, scoring is on the honor system (no Binging or Googling):

• Correct Artist: 1 point
• Correct Song Title: 1 point
• Maximum Score: 10 points

If you like this week’s quiz, or have an idea for a future theme, let us know by commenting on this post, via our Twitter feed, or on our Facebook page. Feel free to share this post to your friends on social media.

1. Sister’s sighing in her sleep. Brother’s got a date to keep. He can’t hang around. (1983)
2. The people startin’ a climb the walls, ooh, it looks like everybody is having a ball. (1985)
3. Here’s your ticket, pack your bag, time for jumping overboard. (1983)
4. Voices scream / Nothing seen / Real’s the dream (1975)
5. I hope Neil Young will remember, a Southern man don’t need him around anyhow. (1974)

[Difficulty: ♫♫  /  A discouraging word, seldom heard]

Answers to The Nickel Quiz #19: About a Boy:

1. “Brian Wilson” (originally by Barenaked Ladies)
2. “Levon” (originally by Elton John)
3. “Vincent” (originally by Don McLean)
4. “Ziggy Stardust” (originally by David Bowie)
5. “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” (originally by Paul McCartney & Wings)