Last week, the future Mrs Japanese and I decided to play a game to whittle away the time during a long car journey. We decided to explain the first lines in a song as a brief synopsis, without using any of the actual lyrics.
These should be easy to guess, and additions are encouraged.
1. A gentleman addresses a married woman belonging to a fruit drink manufacturing business.
2. Set in the north of England, a jealous impresario recalls the moment he was first aquainted with a front-of-house employee at Revolution Bar. Sixty months later, things aren’t so promising.
3. A Rayleigh lies, temporarily out of action, upon the Moors, overlooking the city below. Our lonely narrator longs for a romantic liaison.
4. Two men meet in a pub which is far from empty. The latter of the two gentlemen is privately educated and a wine conniseur. He yearns for a career in the criminal underworld.
5. Between the hours of sunset and sunrise, two lovers are entwined in an intimate embrace. Anxious, the girl is keen to know if her feelings will be reciprocated the following day.
6. Our lusty narrator is equally impressed with the fashions of women on the Atlantic coast, as well as the vocal tones of those from the Confederate stages. He compares the latter to a punch from Joe Frazier.
They’re not that easy!
3. This Charming Man (Rayleigh’ threw me off a bit!)
4. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
6. California Girls
I think you mean 5 not 4!
Yep.
2. is Don’t You Want me by the Human League.
Hey Tony, how do you know the bar is called Revolution?
Unless….. you’re the geeezer in the story!
(Tony Japanese does sound like the name of a Billy Brightlights, now that I think of it).
1 Simon And Garfunkel – Mrs Robinson
….. and I was going to put “My Corona”
😀😀😀😀😀
1. Mrs. Robinson
Is No. 1 Mrs. Robinson?
You’re all very good. Just one more to get.
4? Blur’s Charmless Man surely.
Bingo!
4. Opportunities (let’s make lots of money) ?
Bugger – see above
Can I try to set some? I can? Cool …
1. You understand me? Nothing like this girl’s appearance had ever been been matched – certainly not at a voting booth.
2. Crockery is a timely casualty after post-ablution sibling arousal.
3. No one else likes you but shiny old me, which isn’t true, but it is.
4. Familiar with matters of the heart because both of us have boned up well.
5. Greetings young lady! What assistance do you need, young man?
is 5 House of Fun?
and is 3 Birdhouse In Your Soul?
Yes! And Yes! again
2. Parklife! Oh hang on, not sure I get this quiz.
It’s a good answer but it’s not right.
I’ll just tidy these up
1. I Saw Her Standing There
2. Party Fears Two
4. Never Gonna Give You Up
1) The narrator expresses wonderment at his encounter with a young lady from South West London.
2) A disagreement about release strategies.
3) A religious community heads out.
4) An intellectual pursuit is likened to a more physical, and deadlier, one.
Is 2 “Complete Control”?
4 is Chessboxin.
Yes and yes
is 3 “Onward Christian Soldiers”?
Afraid not!
Exodus?
Movement of Jah people!
2, 3 and 4 look a bit tricky, but 1 is definitely “Up the Junction” by Squeeze.
It is indeed. Just #3 to go!
I thought 3. would be something like Take the Skinheads Bowling, but it isn’t.
5) A state which is good at enjoying itself
6) A young man reports some unexpected naval traffic.
7) A man has recovered after a difficult time and is moving forward
8) A young lady is dabbling with the occult. This could cause trouble for me.
6, Otis Redding – Sittin On The Dock Of The Bay
I’m sorry, that’s a wrong answer. Never mind, look at what you could have won…
Blue Monday?
For number 6? I’d be intrigued to know how you came up with that! (it’s not Blue Monday)
“I see a ship in a harbour”
I’m being far too literal here
(and also, now realising my error, that isn’t the first line)
Is number 6 Neil Young’s Powderfinger?
It is! Good call
7. Unlike our privately-educated gentleman from ‘Charmless Man’ this foolish boy is no expert when it comes to sparkling wine. He covets the traits and material possessions of a male idol.
8. Ignoring advice dished out from others, our narrator is content with his life. He notices a Christian youth organisation clamouring for charitable donations to appease their love of Physics and warfare.
9. Throughout his life, our narrator has met more than enough nineteenth-century nurses, but only a slight smattering of Sherwood Forests finest. This displeases him.
10. Our indolent narrator regularly incurs the wrath of the Creation Records founder whilst they both work at a local variety store.
11. A lady recollects the time when she thought her lover was marvellous. Subsequent events made her realise he was a right-bastard.
12. Employment levels are falling in town, and there are seemingly no plans to reverse the trend. Meanwhile, an employee of the Fire Service has been dismissed – much to the resentment of his friends and family.
7. is David Watts
10 – Raspberry Beret innit? I’ve just spent ages trying to think of songs that namecheck an Alan…
10 Raspberry Beret?
12 Trumpton Riots?
11. Heart of Glass
9. Flag Day – The Housemartins
You are of course, all correct.
The only one that was left was 8. which is Going Underground.
GAH! I knew it was going to be the Boys Brigade, but my broken brain kept trying to fit that into the lyrics of Eton Rifles, and going, “nah, that’s not right…”
Mrs Robinson?
A pallid female with a single viridescent visual organ addresses our narrator in close proximity to a location renowned for a public execution two days before Easter Sunday.
Calvary Cross. Too easy.
Correct. Sorry it didn’t tax you sufficiently.
After dark, our narrator senses the impending arrival of something as yet undefined.
Night Comes In? Or In the Air Tonight?
Which?
Toss of a coin, but I’ll go with In the Air … because of the ‘it’.
You’re luck is in. Correct. I won’t ask the Face Value of the coin….
Our unmarried narrator invites us to observe his sole female significant other of whom, in the absence of other options, he is somewhat disparaging.
Breakfast in America?
Correct
Gentlemen, please enter the room and accept this tobacco product. I have every confidence in your future success.
Have a Cigar.
Yes
The thoroughfare and the shoreline are both deserted.
Boys of Summer. I’m on a roll!
Seated in a public green space while observing younger females in a manner which is likely to bring him to the attention of the authorities.
I’m graciously bowing out of your’s @Twilight-Alehouse . I suspect there’s too big an overlap in our collections to make it fair on everyone else.
I suspect you are right but it’s a fun way to kill a commute.
Aqualung?
Yep
I have about my person a specific amount of US currency but my aquaintance has yet to arrive.
Waiting for my man? (or is it “the man”? I can’t remember).
Can’t recall myself off hand but yes.
Our young narrator reminisces with an older acquaintance and detects certain similarities in their respective personal histories.
Neil Young – Old Man
Correct
The narrator asks for a watertight contract to be arranged.
He will be letting his lawyer see a copy, but hopes he doesn’t f*ck it up
A young man bemoans that he can find little enjoyment in the world
Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now?
Which would work, but is not the one I was thinking of
So, Yes (but also No)
(I cant get no) Satisfaction?
That’s the one!
She may not be a homosapien, but let the deity of your choice take care of her
The singer is told not to stop dressing up and revealing how attractive he appears to others
Prince Char-ming
Your parents claim I’m useless. That I’m low-class and unhygenic. I cannot now decide on a course of further action.
Can I try a few?
1. On an open-air encounter with lady with whom he had an intimate relationship at some unspecified time in the past. This chance meeting is pleasing to both parties.
2. Our narrator tells us that on the previous evening, his other half readied his travelling accoutrements to facilitate his early-morning schedule.
3. Vehicular and rail infrastructure, short journeys, flights.
4. It’s proving difficult to accept things as they are. It makes me uneasy and restless.
5. At this moment, due to weather conditions, it is difficult to make out distinct shapes outside, although the illuminations are plainly visible.
Hmmm . No.2 sounds a bit like Rocket Man by Bernie Taupin/Elton John.
Quite right
5. I can see clearly now?
‘fraid not Stevie. Think early ’80’s for that one.