Fixed array and random numbers in an SQL query - sql

Question

What's the easiest way to select one of five fixed strings returned in an SQL Server query, randomly?
I.e. the equivalent of:
function randomColumn() {
var values = ['apple', 'banana', 'orange', 'cherry', 'lemon'];
var idx = Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);
return values[idx];
}
I need to change my existing SQL script to have a certain column return one of these values, without the need to change my client code.
Do I need to create a temp table?
I'm using SQL Server 2008 R2.

Answer 1

You don't need a temporary table for a few strings, you can create the result on the fly:
select str
from (
select 0 as id, 'apple' as str
union all
select 1, 'banana'
union all
select 2, 'orange'
union all
select 3, 'cherry'
union all
select 4, 'lemon'
) x
where id = floor(rand() * 5)

Answer 2

select top 1 Value
from Table1
order by newid()
SQL Fiddle Example

Answer 3

Select 'apple' values
INTO #tmp
UNION ALL
Select'banana' values
UNION ALL
Select 'orange' values
.
.
.
select top 1 values
from #tmp
order by newid()
OR
ALTER TABLE #tmp
ADD id BIGINT IDENTITY(1,1)
DECLARE #rand BIGINT
SET #rand=rand()*4
select top 1 values
from #tmp
where id=#rand

Answer 4

DECLARE #ListofIDs TABLE(IDs VARCHAR(100), ID INT IDENTITY(1,1));
INSERT INTO #ListofIDs
SELECT 'a'
UNION ALL
SELECT 'b'
UNION ALL
SELECT '20'
UNION ALL
SELECT 'c'
UNION ALL
SELECT '30'
UNION ALL
SELECT 'd';
SELECT * FROM #ListofIDs;
SELECT Ids from #ListofIDs where ID=1+ CONVERT(INT, (5)*RAND())