Final Jeopardy: Billboard No. 1 Hits (5-18-23)
Today’s Final Jeopardy question (5/18/2023) in the category “Billboard No.1 Hits” was:
Billy Joel said, “I think the one time I didn’t write the music” before the lyrics was for this 1989 hit, “and I think it shows”
6x champ Ben Chan, a philosophy professor from Green Bay, WI, won $182,000 so far. In Game 7, his opponents are: John Groves, a legislative technical specialist orig. from Forteau, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada; and Kristen Beck, a physician from Seattle, WA.
Round 1 Categories: On a Visit to the State Capital – Restaurants – Magazines – The Arts – The World of Hanna-Barbera – Before & Actor
Ben found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “The Arts” under the $1,000 clue on the 4th pick of the round. He was in the lead with $1,800, nobody else was on the board. Ben bet $1,800 and went with Lucian Freud. That was WRONG.
Psychoanalysts used drawings by this painter in his own therapy sessions from 1939 to 1941 show
Ben finished in the lead with $7,800. John was second with $1,600. Kristen was last with $1,000. All clues were shown.
Round 2 Categories: International Movies? – Flags of Spanish-Speaking Nations – Organizations – It All Starts with “U” – History – Repeats Itself
Ben found the first Daily Double in “Organizations” under the $1,200 clue on the 9th pick of the round. He was in the lead with $17,800, $16,800 more than Kristen in second place. Ben bet $4,000 and he was RIGHT.
As the 1st president to address this group, Truman said we can’t afford “a leisurely attack upon prejudice & discrimination” show
Ben got the last Daily Double in “Repeats Itself” under the $1,200 clue with 10 clues left after it. He was in the lead with $26,200 now, $22,600 more than John in second place. Ben bet $800 and seemed flummoxed at first but it came to him just in time so he was RIGHT.
In an Ian Fleming tale, the title vehicle makes these 4 sounds after it is started for the first time show
Ben finished in the lead with a runaway $31,000. Kristen was second with $4,600. John was last with $4,400. All clues were shown.
TWO of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.
WHAT IS “WE DIDN’T START THE FIRE”?
Billy Joel’s 1989 No. 1 hit “We Didn’t Start the Fire” is a rapid fire retelling of newsworthy events during 40 years of the 20th century. Politics, movies and TV, sports and more are among the 118 references in the song. “Jeopardy” is not mentioned in the song, but Joel sings “Wheel of Fortune, Sally Ride, heavy metal, suicide” at 3:10 in the video. Much more “We Didn’t Start the Fire” trivia on SongFacts.
It’s a remarkable song, although Billy Joel has often said he’s not particularly fond of it. Maybe it was harder to set to music than his other hits. In an interview with Stephen Colbert, Joel named his Top 5 favorites of his own songs. Most surprising!
An old FJ! from 2009 (thanks, Rhonda!): 1989 NO. 1 HITS: The Billboard Book of No. 1 Hits says this song brought mail from history teachers who hailed it as an educational aid
John got it right. He bet $201 and finished with $4,601.
Kristen thought it was “Uptown Girl” from 1983. She lost $199 and finished with $4,401.
Ben got it right, too. He didn’t bet anything so he won the game with the $31,000 he already had. His 7-day total is $213,000.
A triple stumper from each round:
MAGAZINES ($800) Launched in 1937, this similar 4-letter magazine gave Life some stiff competition before ending its run in 1971
HISTORY ($800) In the 3rd century Ardashir became the king of Fars, & would found the Sasanian Empire, sometimes called the Second this empire
2 years ago: Only ONE of the players got this FJ in “Children’s Books”
The last book Dr.Seuss published in his lifetime, it climbs bestseller lists every spring show
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I’ve said it already, but, to expand – I don’t know if it is just his style, or if he’s really trying to recall the information. The Ian Fleming DD, that appeared to be a “light bulb” moment.
I mean, nothing succeeds like success, so, he’s got that. But, I don’t know.
I knew that DD right away, and was pretty sure he would miss it. So I think it really came to him at the last moment. But I’ve seen many contestants over the years who either pause before responding (maybe to think for a second if they’re right), or use an inflection that sounds as if they’re really guessing. Matt Amodio and Mattea Roach, two superb players, both do that at times.
Still trying to decipher Ben’s wagering strategy. He’s leaving a lot of money on the table. FJ turned out to be pretty easy, but he bet $0. And $800 on the last DD, which wasn’t too hard, although he barely got it out in time.
Why no one knew the state capital in the desert/Camelback Mtn is beyond me.
I’ll give them a pass on the Life magazine competitor; the pink mountain lion;
and the Gidget clue because those were all from my distant past. Although Ben’s likely old enough to have known them.
I believe Myrlie Evers was the speaker at my daughter’s HS graduation in 2004.
Nikki and I were speculating about Ben being the ONE to break Ken Jennings’ long-standing record. I said he could be on the show for the rest of the season. Nikki said then he’ll go on to become a Jeopardy! host and it will be the Ken & Ben Show. 🤣
Ben is an excellent player, but, imo, Ben is not in the same league as Ken Jenings and James Holzhauer. I think Ben will lose before game 30.