By George!
We Sing the Songs
Easy Peasy
Musicals
April Showers and More
100

This George was a member of the Beatles.

Who is George Harrison? He wrote the tune “Something,” and he organized the Concert for Bangladesh.

100

They released their Abbey Road album in 1969.

Who are the Beatles? It was No. 1 in the United States, and it held that spot for 11 out of its 83 weeks on the charts.

100

This is a nickname for New Orleans.

What is “The Big Easy”? Some believe the nickname is intended to show its contrast with New York City, aka “The Big Apple.” NYC is considered a city that never sleeps, with a frenzied, fast-paced lifestyle, while New Orleans claims a more relaxed, laid-back vibe.

100

He has no heart in The Wizard of Oz.

Who is the Tin Man? Before the hit film version, there was a silent version. Oliver Hardy (of Laurel and Hardy) portrays the Tin Man in that version.

100

April showers are said to bring these.

What are May flowers? April is rainy, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association says June is the wettest month of the year in the United States.

200

This composer and pianist wrote the opera Porgy and Bess.

Who is George Gershwin? He also composed the songs “Someone to Watch over Me,” “Rhapsody in Blue,” “Embraceable You,” “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off,” and “They Can’t Take That Away from Me.”

200

Their hits include “Witchy Woman,” “Hotel California,” and “Desperado.”

Who are the Eagles? The band broke up in 1980 but reunited in 1994. The photo on their Hotel California album is of the Beverly Hills Hotel.

200

Finish the expression: “Easy come…”

What is “easy go”? The idiom dates to the 1800s, but the similar Chinese expression “quickly come, quickly go” dates to 400 BC.

200

She plays Mary Poppins in the film with the same name.

Who is Julie Andrews? Andrews was pregnant when she was cast, and they waited to start filming until after she gave birth.

200

On April 23, 1985, Coca-Cola released this disaster of a product to replace its legacy flagship beverage.

What is New Coke? We’ve all heard the marketing axiom “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” After 79 days, Coke held a press conference announcing the return of its original Coke formula and apologizing for its mistake.

300

This boxing heavyweight champion also sells a line of indoor grills.

Who is George Foreman? He also won an Olympic gold medal in boxing.

300

“I Write the Songs” is one of his hit songs.

Who is Barry Manilow? He co-wrote “Copacabana,” “Dancin’ Fool,” “It’s a Miracle,” and many more.

300

When someone is good-looking, people sometimes say they are easy on these.

What are the eyes? It means they’re aesthetically pleasing.

300

She stars in the 1972 film Cabaret as Sally Bowles.

Who is Liza Minnelli? The character was based on aspiring actress Jean Ross. Minnelli wanted to meet her, but Ross declined because she didn’t like her portrayal in the film.

300

April’s weather is the seasonal equivalent of this month’s weather in the southern hemisphere.

What is October? We associate the holidays with wintry weather, while many people south of the equator spend the holidays at the beach.

400

This is the author of the book Nineteen Eighty-Four.

Who is George Orwell? Orwell got arrested on purpose so he could relate to the people he associated with. He hoped to get a prison sentence, but he was released 48 hours later.

400

They recorded “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter” and “There’s a Kind of Hush.”

Who are Herman’s Hermits? They frequently hit the top of the charts from 1964 to 1967.

400

People who sail through life are said to live here.

What is Easy Street? This usually applies to financial matters. Those with no worries about finances live on Easy Street.

400

Tevye (TEV-ya) is the patriarch in this musical.

What is Fiddler on the Roof? Zero Mostel played Tevye in the original 1964 Broadway musical, and Topol (TOW-paal) plays him in the 1971 film.

400

On April 15, 1912, this ship sank.

What is the RMS Titanic? The ship was billed as unsinkable, but it sank on its inaugural voyage after hitting an iceberg.

500

He is known for his comedy routine Seven Dirty Words and his line “It’s a big club, and you ain’t in it.”

Who is George Carlin? “It’s a big club” has more meaning today than when he first uttered it, so you might hear it from people who have no idea where it originated.

500

This man co-wrote the song “Tutti Frutti” in 1955.

Who is Little Richard? He wrote the song while he was working as a dishwasher at a Greyhound bus station.

500

This is Rodney Dangerfield’s “easy” 1983 movie.

What is Easy Money? In Easy Money, Dangerfield plays a gambling addict who could inherit his mother-in-law’s fortune if he can change his ways.

500

“Getting to Know You” and “I Whistle a Happy Tune” are two songs from this Broadway production and film.

What is The King and I? Yul Brynner starred as King Mongkut (MAANG-kuht) of Siam in the original Broadway production and the 1956 film.

500

April is the fourth month on the Gregorian calendar; it was this month on the Roman republican calendar.

What is the second? In 1572, Pope Gregory adopted the Gregorian calendar because the first day of spring and Easter were falling too early in the year.