Questions that are too esoteric for Only Connect

By | April 14, 2010

Right, the fact is I’ve got three out of four in my head, and overnight I intend on thinking of a fourth one. Let’s hope I can find one! This is a music question by the way.

  • Glory Days, by Pulp
  • Three Lions, by Skinner, Baddiel and The Lightning Seeds

Giveaway clue in the morning.

Nobody? How about:

  • Theme from Give Us a Clue, Alan Braden

Alright, final clue so we can move on:

  • 99 Luftballons, by Nena

And David B has got it! They are all tunes that have been at one point or another redone with different lyrics, by the same artists.

Join us next time for a game of Questions That Are A Bit Too Esoteric For Only Connect!

29 thoughts on “Questions that are too esoteric for Only Connect

    1. Brig Bother Post author

      Absolutely right.

      Glory Days was an album track redone as a B-Side (Cocaine Socialism), the rest are pretty self explanatory I think.

      I wasn’t sure I was thrilled by the 99 Luftballon clue, but actually now I think it’s quite a good one-pointer.

      Reply
      1. David B

        There are hundreds of hymns you could have used as a clue. Or “O Christmas Tree” vs. “The Red Flag”. Or the national anthems of UK and Lichtenstein.

        Reply
          1. Tom Scott

            Arguably, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” if you count Dizzee Rascal’s rap as a significant-enough change in lyrics, and Band Aid/Band Aid 20 as the same artist.

          2. Jennifer Turner

            Hmmmm. The Divine Comedy had “Sweden”, re-written as “The Heart Of Rock ‘n’ Roll”, which would fit. Neither was exactly a classic.

            Having grown up in an era when Fats Domino still got played unironically on Radio 1, I always thought “Blueberry Hill” and “Ain’t That A Shame” sounded suspiciously similar…

  1. Des Elmes

    Mind if I throw in two questions of my own?

    Clement VIII, Innocent XII, Leo XIII, John Paul II

    James Buchanan, Rutherford B. Hayes, Grover Cleveland, Dwight D. Eisenhower

    Reply
    1. Iain Weaver

      Trying not to give the answer away, here…… Would Alexander VI have been on the first list in the recent past? And is the second list complete, at least for now?

      I do think the second set is very impressive – as the thread title suggests, perhaps too hard for broadcast.

      Reply
      1. Des Elmes

        Yes, Alexander VI would have been in the first set at some point in the past.

        And the second set is indeed complete for now – and thanks for saying it is very impressive, Iain.

        Reply
          1. Des Elmes

            This may or may not be too big a hint, but the answer to the first set would also apply to Sylvester II, Paschal II, Innocent III, Boniface VIII and Boniface IX.

            And as regards Grover Cleveland in the second set, I should probably have pointed out that the answer only applies for his second term and not his first.

          2. Des Elmes

            Alright then.

            The popes in the first set were all in office at the start of a century – 17th, 18th, 20th and 21st respectively – as were all the others that were subsequently mentioned.

            (There was no pope at the start of the 19th, as the conclave that elected Pius VII was still taking place.)

            The successors of the presidents in the second set were all assassinated – and as I said, I probably should have pointed out that in the case of Grover Cleveland, only his second term applies.

            I think Iain knew the answers already.

  2. Chris M. Dickson

    What’s the way too esoteric connection between these? For one point:

    Gold sovereigns
    Cacti
    Grip tape
    Mystery briefcases

    Bonus items that fit the clue as freebies: Magnifying glasses, lumberjack shirts.

    Reply
    1. Jennifer Turner

      Things in some TV opening sequence or other? (I always guess this for every random list of things, though.)

      Reply
      1. Chris M. Dickson

        …for said smoothies have an ingredients list including all the fruit in the relevant drinks, alongside one item whose existence as part of the drink is explicitly denied.

        The connection between ihe items on my list is that they are these celebrated non-ingredients.

        It’s funny in context, but perhaps you’d have to see it.

        Reply
  3. David B

    Here’s a far too esoteric sequence – I’ll actually give you four clues and you tell me the fifth:

    Hip hop dancer
    Roadworks engineer
    Secretary
    Nightclub dancer
    ?

    Reply
      1. Brig Bother Post author

        I think it’s people in the opening sequence of Everybody’s Equal, for those playing along at home.

        Reply
        1. Chris M. Dickson

          I am charmed that when you look up Everybody’s Equal on YouTube then one of the related videos is to the opening sequence of Que le meilleur gagne, the French show that inspired it. That’s smart – smarter than I would expect YouTube to be.

          Reply
    1. David B

      By a matter of seconds, Brig gets in the right answer first. Points to you!

      Reply

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