Name That Tune, Game One

Scraps January 4, 2008 93

UPDATE: Longer clips have been added for songs 1, 3, 9, and 13.

Hey folks. This is the first of a planned series of games of Name That Tune. Each of them is also a puzzle. Here’s how this one works:

I have uploaded twenty-one very brief song clips. Most of the songs are famous; none of them are obscure. They are drawn from a variety of styles and decades, from the 1950s to the present. It’s likely that you’ll find a few of them instantly recognizable, while a few others you won’t know at all (but other people will).

There are two parts to this game. The first is guessing the songs themselves. The second part is guessing the puzzle song (clip 21). The first letters of the names of the musicians for songs one through twenty spell a clue to the identity of song 21. (And if song 21 is guessed early, that ought to help nail down the rest of the songs.)

Some songs may go unguessed the first time round. If songs remain unguessed after a day, I’ll upload longer clips.

The Rules (subject to modification in future games):

  • Maximum 3 guesses between updates of the list, to give everyone a chance to play. (Updates will be made in the comments, filling in the spaces with the correct guesses so people can see the puzzle coming together.)
  • Clip 21 may only be guessed once between updates.
  • While I’m not going to be a stickler for spelling and punctuation, you must guess the correct musician and song title to a close approximation.

And here are the song clips:

  1. Clip 1
  2. Clip 2
  3. Clip 3
  4. Clip 4
  5. Clip 5
  6. Clip 6
  7. Clip 7
  8. Clip 8
  9. Clip 9
  10. Clip 10
  11. Clip 11
  12. Clip 12
  13. Clip 13
  14. Clip 14
  15. Clip 15
  16. Clip 16
  17. Clip 17
  18. Clip 18
  19. Clip 19
  20. Clip 20

And the Big Puzzle Clip:
Clip 21

If you’d prefer to download all the clips at once, we have a zip file and an rar file.

I suggest subscribing to the comments on the post (click on “Track Comments”) to more easily follow the progress of the game. Have fun!

  • http://www.drcastrato.blogspot.com drcastrato

    Wow, this is WAY harder than I thought. I'm gonna guess #4 is Broken Wings by Mr. Mister.

  • http://blatherwincerepeat.blogspot.com Gary Oxford

    #6 – “You're No Good” – Linda Rondstat
    #7 – “Hang on Sloopy” – The McCoys
    #12 – “Dance With Me” – Orleans
    #18 – “Tell Him” – The Exciters
    #19 – “Chuck E's in Love” – Rickie Lee Jones
    #20 – “Take Your Mama” – Scissor Sisters

  • http://www.deselbybowen.com/parlando/ Scraps

    All guesses so far are correct except “Hang On Sloopy”.

    Gary, there's a maximum of three guesses allowed between updates of the list.

  • WHarrisBullzEye

    6 – 19 are, for whatever reason, hung up in “buffering” mode, but I think #2 might be “Sweet Freedom,” by Michael McDonald.

  • http://www.deselbybowen.com/parlando/ Scraps

    Not “Sweet Freedom”.

  • http://blatherwincerepeat.blogspot.com Gary Oxford

    Sorry about my overzealousness. I'll calm it down next time.

  • http://www.bullz-eye.com DavidMedsker

    #2: “Breakin'” Ollie & Jerry
    #15: “Obsession,” Animotion

    That big drum bit on #5 is killing me…

  • http://www.deselbybowen.com/parlando/ Scraps

    No problem.

  • http://www.deselbybowen.com/parlando/ Scraps

    Those are both correct.

  • Pingback: parlando » name that tune game at popdose

  • panhandler

    I concur, with 110% surety. I must suck at music, because I only got this one and #15.

  • panhandler

    Definitely “Broken Wings.” 110% sure. I only got this and #15. I suck. (and I hope this doesn't double-post.)

  • http://www.deselbybowen.com/parlando/ Scraps

    [This comment was a lengthy mistake.]

  • http://www.jasonhare.com jasonhare

    Is #11 “Let It Whip” by Dazz Band?

  • suretytek

    #11 is Let it Whip by Dazz Band.

    This is pretty fun, thanks Scraps!

    Edit – drat, Jason beat me to it.

  • Doug

    This is way fun.
    #7 is Sherry by The Four Seasons.

  • Doug

    This is way fun.
    #7 is Sherry by The Four Seasons.

  • http://www.drcastrato.blogspot.com drcastrato

    My second guess is: #11 – Dazz Band “Let it Whip” ?

  • http://www.deselbybowen.com/parlando/ Scraps

    “Let It Whip” and “Sherry” are correct as well. Update to follow.

  • chmied01

    I thought for sure that #12 was Mamaloi by the Doobie Brothers, though that would have been a bit obscure. But when I cued up “Dance with me” by the Orleans it definitely has that riff in it about 12 seconds from the end.

    #10 sounds like Easy, by Lionel Ritchie

    Good Luck

  • http://www.deselbybowen.com/parlando/ Scraps

    Here's the update:
    <ol>
    <li> </li>
    <li>Ollie & Jerry, Breakin' (There's No Stopping Us) </li>
    <li> </li>
    <li>Mr. Mister, Broken Wings </li>
    <li> </li>
    <li>Linda Ronstadt, You're No Good </li>
    <li>Four Seasons, Sherry </li>
    <li> </li>
    <li> </li>
    <li> </li>
    <li>Dazz Band, Let It Whip </li>
    <li>Orleans, Dance With Me </li>
    <li> </li>
    <li> </li>
    <li>Animotion, Obsession </li>
    <li> </li>
    <li> </li>
    <li>Exciters, Tell Him </li>
    <li>Rickie Lee Jones, Chuck E's In Love </li>
    <li>Scissor Sisters, Take Your Mama Out </li>
    </ol>

    Everyone may make up to three guesses again (and one guess at the puzzle clip).

  • http://www.deselbybowen.com/parlando/ Scraps

    Let's try that again, without HTML:

    1.
    2. Ollie & Jerry, Breakin' (There's No Stopping Us)
    3.
    4. Mr. Mister, Broken Wings
    5.
    6. Linda Ronstadt, You're No Good
    7. Four Seasons, Sherry
    8.
    9.
    10.
    11. Dazz Band, Let It Whip
    12. Orleans, Dance With Me
    13.
    14.
    15. Animotion, Obsession
    16.
    17.
    18. Exciters, Tell Him
    19. Rickie Lee Jones, Chuck E's In Love
    20. Scissor Sisters, Take Your Mama Out

  • http://www.deselbybowen.com/parlando/ Scraps

    Not “Easy”.

  • http://blatherwincerepeat.blogspot.com Gary Oxford

    10. “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” – Elton John
    17. “Ball of Confusion” – The Temptations

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=679113018 MichaelWSP

    First, great idea. Thank you for the hard work necessary in setting this up.

    Secondly, anyone who knew any of these other than 12, 15 and 18. You all scare me. A LOT.

    That would be excellent.

  • http://www.deselbybowen.com/parlando/ Scraps

    “Ball of Confusion” is correct.

    “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” is not.

  • Doug

    The only other one I know is #10: Easy by The Commodores

  • http://www.deselbybowen.com/parlando/ Scraps

    Apparently #10 sounds a good deal like “Easy”, but it is not.

  • swede

    shine a light, rolling stones for #10?

  • http://www.deselbybowen.com/parlando/ Scraps

    Not “Shine a Light”.

  • Melz

    #10 is Goodbye Yellowbrick Road by Elton John

    #1 is I Could Fall In Love by Selena

  • http://www.deselbybowen.com/parlando/ Scraps

    “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” is correct! Gary Oxford's guess was close.

    Not “I Could Fall In Love”

  • http://didyouevernotice.tumblr.com didyouevernotice

    1. I'm So Happy That I Can't Stop Crying – Sting

  • Melz

    #8 is Waterfalls by TLC

  • http://www.deselbybowen.com/parlando/ Scraps

    Not “Waterfalls”.

    Not “I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying”.

  • http://www.deselbybowen.com/parlando/ Scraps

    I'll be away from my computer for a few hours, so here's another update.

    1.
    2. Ollie & Jerry, Breakin' (There's No Stopping Us)
    3.
    4. Mr. Mister, Broken Wings
    5.
    6. Linda Ronstadt, You're No Good
    7. Four Seasons, Sherry
    8.
    9.
    10. Elton John, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
    11. Dazz Band, Let It Whip
    12. Orleans, Dance With Me
    13.
    14.
    15. Animotion, Obsession
    16.
    17. Temptations, Ball of Confusion
    18. Exciters, Tell Him
    19. Rickie Lee Jones, Chuck E's In Love
    20. Scissor Sisters, Take Your Mama Out

    I'll check in before going to sleep. If there are songs remaining unguessed by morning, I'll post longer clips (probably by noon).

  • http://mostlymodernmedia.wordpress.com Beau

    First attempt before reading any updates:

    1. “Key Largo,” Bertie Higgins
    2. Something by the Jets
    3. no idea
    4. “Broken Wings,” Mr. Mister
    5. no idea
    6. “You're No Good,” Carly Simon
    7. no idea
    8. no idea
    9. “Papa's Got a Brand New Bag,” James Brown
    10. “Everything I Do, I Do It For You,” Bryan Adams
    11. “Cruel to be Kind,” Nick Lowe
    12. no idea
    13. no idea
    14. are you kidding me?
    15. “Stand Back,” Stevie Nicks
    16. what?
    17. The People's Court
    18. that song in all the ads
    19. “Let's Get It On,” Marvin Gaye
    20. no idea
    21. huh?

  • http://mostlymodernmedia.wordpress.com Beau

    Oh dear — I misunderstood the instructions. Sorry about that.

    I was only sure of #4 and #6 (though I see I got confused on the artist name for #6). The other guesses are basically jokes. At most, one of those is correct.

  • http://mostlymodernmedia.wordpress.com Beau

    So now that I've read everything, I'll submit two actual guesses. And I'll emphasize that they're GUESSES.

    1. “Key Largo,” Bertie Higgins
    9. “Papa's Got a Brand New Bag,” James Brown

    Can't believe I missed Animotion and the Dazz Band.

    Is it possible to delete my two previous comments?

  • http://nhmehta.blogspot.com Neel Mehta

    #4 sounds like both…

    Cruisin' by Smokey Robinson AND
    Show Me Love by Robyn

    … but is probably neither.

  • http://nhmehta.blogspot.com Neel Mehta

    Sorry, meant #8. This way I can be twice as wrong.

  • http://www.deselbybowen.com/parlando/ Scraps

    Well, “Show Me Love” is right!

  • MC_Snocap

    Samplers Delight!

    #9 = Lesley Gore, “It's My Party”?

  • MC_Snocap

    Aw, if #8 is Robyn, “L” can't be next. Sorry.

  • http://www.deselbybowen.com/parlando/ Scraps

    You're right: It's not Leslie Gore ( or any version of “It's My Party”).

  • Jeremy1Esq

    16 is Hip Hop Hooray by Naughty by Nature?

  • Jeremy1Esq

    5 is If you leave by OMD?

  • Jeremy1Esq

    2 is Crush on You by the Jets?

  • http://www.deselbybowen.com/parlando/ Scraps

    Not “Crush”, “If You Leave”, or “Hip Hip Hooray”, but one of those guesses is close.

  • http://www.bullz-eye.com DavidMedsker

    I'm convinced that #5 is an Aerosmith song. You can hear it in the drums. Is it “Cryin'”?

    All I know is the word “Freedom” is staring me dead in the face when I look at the letters of the artists. In fact, the clue looks like “Formal Freedom” something or other. And I swear #14 is an *NSync song. I've searched up and down but I haven't found it yet. But it's some boy pop song, that I know. Curse you, Scraps.