IT'S time to put 2006 in a big box and tie a pretty ribbon around it. Were you paying attention to what was going on in the world of pop? Or did you spend the year downloading as much music as you could get your greedy mitts on instead? It's time to find out with Discotheque's seasonal quiz, a test of your wits, your memory and your ability to keep up with strange flights of fancy. Happy holidays!
A simple one to start: When was the last time you listened to 2FM?
(a) Today. Look, I work for RTÉ, I don't really have a choice in the matter, OK?
(b) Yesterday. I was looking for Radio One, but tuned into the wrong station. Took me a while to realise it.
(c) I haven't listened to 2FM since they took Gareth O'Callaghan off the air.
(d) I am a teenager, I have never listened to 2FM.
Which of the following ingredients were stuffed into Pat Shortt's Jumbo Breakfast Roll?
(a) Mushrooms
(b) Beans
(c) Two puddings, one black and white
(d) Liver
NME launched an Irish edition in October. The first cover featured the "biggest new band in Ireland". Who was it?
(a) Director (8,000 sales and counting)
(b) The Blizzards (3,000 sales and counting)
(c) The Immediate (2,000 sales and counting)
(d) Humanzi (600 sales and, er, not counting)
U2 sued their ex-stylist to recover several items of Bono's clothing, including which of the following items?
(a) Y-fronts
(b) Sweatshirt
(c) High heels
(d) Monogrammed lilac-coloured handkerchief (used)
It was another quiet year for rock'n'roll at Slane Castle. Who should headline the spiritual home of the Irish festival experience in 2007?
(a) AC/DC
(b) Scooter
(c) Damien Rice
(d) The Irish Wedding Fair
Dublin indie station Phantom FM finally went on the legal airwaves in 2006. What was the first tune spun?
(a) Boomtown Rats' Rat Trap
(b) Smashing Pumpkins' Today
(c) The Blood Arm's Stay Put!
(d) U2's Beautiful Day
Who or what are the Hard Working Class Heroes?
(a) A skiffle band from Crumlin
(b) The new name for The Thrills
(c) An Irish new bands fest
(d) A Limerick gang
Which of the following bands made a successful comeback in 2006?
(a) Bananarama
(b) Ghost of an American Airman
(c) Take That
(d) My Little Funhouse
What was the title of the DVD released by Dublin indie scene animated funnymen Eyebrowy?
(a) Here's One We Drew Earlier
(b) Eyebrowy Salutes the Majesty of Jason Byrne
(c) I Prefer The Early Stuff
(d) Paddy Casey Ha Ha Ha
Leagues O'Toole wrote a stonking great, must-read book on which infamous Irish act?
(a) Cypress, Mine!
(b) Moving Hearts
(c) Mama's Boys
(d) Planxty
Oxegen 2006 will be remembered for what?
(a) The price of the kebabs
(b) The Who's cover version of The Hucklebuck
(c) The post-event coverage of what happened or did not happen on Campsite A
(d) The "no socks" rule introduced backstage
How many times did The Stunning reform in 2006?
(a) Once
(b) Twice
(c) Three times
(d) What, The Stunning split up?
There were a couple of Bud Rising festivals during the year, but which of the following right-on acts did not take the corporate dollar?
(a) Daft Punk
(b) Radiohead
(c) Morrissey
(d) The Raconteurs
Speaking of Bud Rising, why aren't ticket prices for the shows lower because of the sponsorship?
(a) Dude, it's a chance to see such quality acts so quit griping.
(b) The beer money pays for Morrissey's trousers.
(c) All that branding and those beermats turned the right way up don't come cheap, you know.
(d) It's bloody Rip-Off Ireland again. Do you have a number for Eddie Hobbs?
How many singer-songwriters does it take to change a lightbulb?
(a) One
(b) Two
(c) Six
(d) You're stuck for a question, aren't you?
And, the final question, what does Discotheque want for Christmas?
(a) World peace
(b) The new Arcade Fire album
(c) A crate of Old Jamaican Ginger Beer
(d) A pair of socks
