David K. Israel
Song stumper: “Rich Girl,” but correct, girl?
by David K. Israel - November 1, 2006 - 11:16 AM

bellezza1.jpgToday’s song stumper is multi-tiered. In order to win bragging rights, you must answer each tier correctly.
Question #1: Gwen Stefani released the single “Rich Girl” in 2005. Name the famous rapper who performs on the recording.

Question #2: “Rich Girl” riffed on a famous song from a Broadway musical. Name the song.

Question #3: Name the musical.

Question #4: Name the character in the musical that sings the song.

Question #5: Stefani’s version of the lyric differs by one word. What is that word?

Question #6: Which version of the lyric is grammatically correct?

Bonus Questions: Stefani’s “Rich Girl” was actually a remake. Who recorded the original and in what year? Was this lyric grammatically correct or not?

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Comments (13)

  1. #1 eve
    #2 If I were a rich man
    #3 Fiddler on the Roof
    #4 Tevia
    #5 was vs. were (and girl vs. man)
    #6 were (Fiddler version) is grammatically correct
    Bonus: Hall and Oates 1977

    posted by JenF on 11-1-2006 at 11:30 am

  2. 1. Eve
    2. “If I Were a Rich Man”
    3. Fiddler on the Roof
    4. Teyve
    5. “Girl”? Or do you mean “Was”, cause that counts as two…
    6. Fiddler’s version.

    I’m stumped on the bonus, but I think it was a reggae song…. Darn you Mental Floss! These quizzes ruin my self-esteem….

    posted by Lyssa on 11-1-2006 at 10:35 am

  3. JenF! Got ‘em all except the bonus! Though I think they have a song called Rich Girl, it’s not the one Stefani remade. (Oh, and it’s Tevye, not Tevia).

    So we need the bonus answer, still. And while we’re talking bonus: Fiddler on the Roof was itself remade or inspired by what author’s stories?

    posted by David on 11-1-2006 at 10:36 am

  4. Lyssa is headed in the right direction on the bonus! (Oh, and, sorry, yeah, of course man/girl… My bad.)

    posted by David on 11-1-2006 at 10:39 am

  5. Bonus answere may be Louchie Lou and Michie One

    posted by JenF on 11-1-2006 at 10:47 am

  6. That’s right Jen, but you didn’t answer the whole question…

    posted by David on 11-1-2006 at 11:01 am

  7. #1 Eve
    #2 “If I were a rich man”
    #3 Fiddler on the Roof
    #4 Tevye
    #5 Was & were
    #6 were
    Bonus: Michie One

    posted by Lauren on 11-1-2006 at 11:21 am

  8. Oh…if only I didn’t have school! I love Fiddler – I just saw a production this summer, put on by Broadway By the Bay.

    As for the other bonus question, which was, I believe, on the program when I first saw the show (as a high school production) a few years ago…wasn’t the story Tevye the Milkman, or something like that? I don’t remember the author…

    posted by Sammy on 11-1-2006 at 9:15 pm

  9. that’s right Sammy! written by Shalom Aleichem

    posted by David on 11-1-2006 at 9:28 pm

  10. I think the author to the story was Isaac Bashevis Singer, but I’m not 100% sure about it. It seems like I read that somewhere once.

    posted by Janel on 11-1-2006 at 9:32 pm

  11. 1. Eve
    2. “If I were a Rich Man”
    3. Fiddler on the Roof
    4. Tevye (Topol)
    5. “Girl” (obviously) and “Was”
    6. the musical’s version is grammatically correct.
    bonus: Hot Buttered?
    extra credit bonus: Jerome Robbins choreographed Fiddler on the Roof. He drew inspiration for the choreography from an extensive period of time living among Hasidic Jews in NYC. He is best known for his work as director/choreographer of West Side Story.

    posted by The omnipotent E on 11-2-2006 at 10:56 am

  12. the Louchie Lou and Michie One dancehall reggae version kicks gwen stefani’s butt, because it has way more soul, like the fiddler version. jews and blacks are cousins.

    http://tr.im/yOi3

    posted by johny radio on 9-15-2009 at 7:06 pm

  13. Louchie Lou and Michie One lyric:
    “rich is getting richer while the poor is getting stink
    And if me rich, Would I take a mon offa the streets
    And if me rich, would a build up a school and teach in a-it.”

    stefani lyric:
    “Think what that money could bring
    I’d buy everything
    Clean out Vivienne Westwood
    In my Galliano gown
    No, wouldn’t just have one hood
    A Hollywood mansion if I could
    Please book me first-class to my fancy house in London town.”

    posted by johny radio on 9-15-2009 at 7:20 pm

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