1. What was the first popular song you memorized, and how old were you? (Vaguely, if you can't remember if it was before or after your birthday that year.)
Sneaky Snake by Tom T. Hall. I must have been about 3 years old, but I have an old cassette tape that proves I knew that song back to front.
2. What was the hardest song you ever memorized and why do you think it was hard?
Hotel California by The Eagles. I was very young when I memorized this, and it was hard for me because I didn't understand some of the words or the imagery of the lyrics. When I was a young shaver, I had no idea "warm smell of Colitas rising up through the air" meant "it smells like Marijuana".
3. Do you still remember them?
Yes, for Hotel California. Now, it's one of the easiest songs. I used to be able to rattle off the beginning part of Rosetta Stoned by TOOL. Uff-da.