Music Trivia Quiz

Think you know Music? Here are 50 Music trivia questions with answers — then play them live against real players in the free Triviarena quiz app.

1. I Wanna Be Rich was a huge hit song for this group in 1990.
   • Tears for Fears
   • Poison
   • Calloway
   • Midnight Oil
   Answer: Calloway
2. One Love, One Heart. Lets get together and feel alright. The lyrics and music of this song brings to ones inner eye the beauty of the island of Jamaica. Yet examine closely the lyrics of One Love , and you will find the concern this artist had for the poor and repressed people of Jamaica. Who is this artist that helped bring reggae music to the attention of the world?
   • Al Anderson
   • Peter Tosh
   • Bunny Wailer
   • Bob Marley
   Answer: Bob Marley
3. Liam Howlett founded which electronic music group in 1990?
   • The Chemical Brothers
   • Infected Mushroom
   • The Crystal Method
   • The Prodigy
   Answer: The Prodigy
4. What urban legend did Phil Collins power ballad In the Air Tonight start?
   • That Phil Collins witnessed the drowning of a person
   • That Phil Collins wanted to become a detective
   • That Phil Collins attempted suicide
   • That Phil Collins was mentally unstable
   Answer: That Phil Collins witnessed the drowning of a person
5. The first track of Linkin Parks album Reanimation is entitled Opening. Which two members of Linkin Park perform on this track?
   • Rob Bourdon and Chester Bennington
   • Dave Phoenix Farrell and Mike Shinoda
   • Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda
   • Joe Hahn and Brad Delson
   Answer: Dave Phoenix Farrell and Mike Shinoda
6. Rihanna has been criticized by the people of her native country, Barbados, as well as by others, for which of the following?
   • Her outfits
   • Her lack of talent
   • Her being ashamed to be a native of Barbados
   • Her lack of education
   Answer: Her outfits
7. You Make Me Feel Like Dancing was a huge dance hit for this singer in the year 1977.
   • Marvin Gaye
   • Alan ODay
   • Leo Sayer
   • Stevie Wonder
   Answer: Leo Sayer
8. Which of these musicians was not a member of Nirvana?
   • Dave Foster
   • Buzz Osbourne
   • Chad Channing
   • Dale Crover
   Answer: Buzz Osbourne
9. Which of these artists does the following quote belong to: Jazz came to America three hundred years ago in chains.?
   • Benny Green
   • Clark Terry
   • Paul Whiteman
   • Wynton Marsalis
   Answer: Paul Whiteman
10. What was Amy Winehouse's 2006 Grammy-sweeping album with 'Rehab'?
    • Frank
    • Back to Black
    • Lioness
    • Body and Soul
    Answer: Back to Black
11. Complete this phrase form the Doors song, When the musics over. For music is your:
    • Ticket to freedom
    • Special friend
    • Only hope
    • Means of escape
    Answer: Special friend
12. Which composer wrote the “Requiem in D minor”?
    • Bach
    • Brahms
    • Haydn
    • Mozart
    Answer: Mozart
13. For which of these American Presidents did Barbra Streisand campaign?
    • George W. Bush
    • George H. W. Bush
    • Bill Clinton
    • Barack Obama
    Answer: Bill Clinton
14. The members of the 1980s new wave group Thompson Twins are actually not twins at all.
    • False
    • True
    Answer: True
15. What was Pink Floyds first album?
    • A Saucerful of Secrets
    • Meddle
    • The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
    • Ummagumma
    Answer: The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
16. According to the singer she likes a good beer buzz early in the morning. She is in a bar facing a giant car wash with Billy or Buds but Hey, this aint no disco.
    • Sunset and Vine
    • Beverly Hillz
    • Hollywood
    • L. A.
    Answer: L. A.
17. Which song from the 1987 album Kick includes the following lyrics?
    • New Sensation
    • Original Sin
    • Beautiful Girl
    • Shine Like It Does
    Answer: New Sensation
18. Over the Hills and Far Away, a song by Gary Moore, was covered by Finnish band Nightwish.
    • False
    • True
    Answer: True
19. Complete the title of Kelly Clarksons 2005 song: Behind These .......... Eyes
    • Hazel
    • Almond
    • Chocolate
    • Olive
    Answer: Hazel
20. What instrument is Red Hot Chili Peppers founding member Flea famous for playing?
    • Bass guitar
    • Drums
    • Lead vocals
    • Keyboards
    Answer: Bass guitar
    Flea (Michael Balzary) is the band's iconic bassist, known for his signature slap bass style that helped define their sound.
21. This hip-hop artist has been an Army soldier, thief, pimp, and successful actor. One of his biggest hits was for the 1988 film, Colors.
    • Ice-T
    • Warren G
    • Kool Moe Dee
    • Biz Markie
    Answer: Ice-T
22. John Kay was frontman of which rock n roll band, famous in the 1960s and 1970s?
    • Procol Harum
    • The Doors
    • The Band
    • Steppenwolf
    Answer: Steppenwolf
23. Which of the following actresses portrayed the American Presidents daughter in the 2004 movie First Daughter?
    • Amerie
    • Katie Holmes
    • Natalie Portman
    • Scarlett Johansson
    Answer: Katie Holmes
24. Reinventing the Steel, Far Beyond Driven and Cowboys From Hell are albums by this band.
    • Pantera
    • Pro-Pain
    • Primal Scream
    • Powerman 5000
    Answer: Pantera
25. Which of these performers does the following quote belong to: Without Elvis, none of us could have made it. ?
    • Marvin Gaye
    • Little Richard
    • Lou Reed
    • Buddy Holly
    Answer: Buddy Holly
26. What is the first movie directed by Barbra Streisand, in 1983?
    • The Way We Were
    • Yentl
    • The Mirror Has Two Faces
    • The Prince of Tides
    Answer: Yentl
27. Which famous composer was a pupil of Franz Joseph Haydn in the early 1790s?
    • Ludwig van Beethoven
    • Antonio Vivaldi
    • Franz Schubert
    • Johann Sebastian Bach
    Answer: Ludwig van Beethoven
    Beethoven traveled to Vienna to study under Haydn, who taught the young composer counterpoint.
28. Which lead single from Metallica's 1991 album is about nightmares and all that come with them?
    • Sad but True
    • The Unforgiven
    • Enter Sandman
    • Wherever I May Roam
    Answer: Enter Sandman
    The hit song 'Enter Sandman' famously deals with the theme of nightmares and childhood fears.
29. All the Roadrunning is a collaborative album by Elton John and Emmylou Harris.
    • False
    • True
    Answer: False
30. Temple of the Dog is a grunge supergroup, formed after the death of Andrew Wood of Mother Love Bone, by his former roommate. Members of which 2 Seattle groups were in the band?
    • Soundgarden and Alice in Chains
    • Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains
    • Nirvana and Soundgarden
    • Pearl Jam and Soungarden
    Answer: Pearl Jam and Soungarden
31. Which Disney character would NOT be whistling this song?
    • Bashful
    • Abu
    • Happy
    • Doc
    Answer: Abu
32. When did The Beatles release the LP "Please Please Me"?
    • 1969
    • 1960
    • 1963
    • 1970
    Answer: 1963
33. What is the name of this song which contains the following lyrics: ...we can go slow or make it go faster down through the woods and out to the pasture long as Im with you it really dont matter climb up in my lap and drive if you want to girl you know you got me to hold on to we can go to town..
    • What You Wanna Do
    • Bright Red Cadillac
    • None of these
    • Big Green Tractor
    Answer: Big Green Tractor
34. Which one is not a precursor of the modern violin?
    • Lira da braccio
    • Rebec
    • Rebab
    • Celesta
    Answer: Celesta
35. Phil Lesh, a member of The Grateful Dead, was a graduate of what high school?
    • Gunn High School (Palo Alto, CA)
    • Berkeley High School
    • Palo Alto High School
    • Mt. Tamalpais High School (Marin County, CA)
    Answer: Berkeley High School
36. What artist won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1985?
    • Tina Turner for Whats Love Got to Do with It
    • Cyndi Lauper for Girls Just Want to Have Fun
    • Chicago for Hard Habit to Break
    • Bruce Springsteen for Dancing in the Dark
    Answer: Tina Turner for Whats Love Got to Do with It
37. Genre: Punk
    • The Ramones
    • The Sex Pistols
    • Black Flag
    • New York Dolls
    Answer: The Ramones
38. After nearly 5 months off for medical reasons surrounding Jerry, the Grateful Dead performed here on December 15th 1986.
    • Oakland Coliseum
    • R.F.K. Stadium
    • Greek Theatre
    • Winterland
    Answer: Oakland Coliseum
39. In 2011, the Backstreet Boys embarked on a famous joint tour with which other major boy band?
    • New Kids on the Block
    • *NSYNC
    • Boyz II Men
    • Westlife
    Answer: New Kids on the Block
    In 2011, the Backstreet Boys joined forces with New Kids on the Block for a highly successful supergroup tour under the name NKOTBSB.
40. This RB and dance music singer recorded her first album at the age of 12. The album, produced and arranged by Van McCoy featured the disco tune When Youre Young and in Love.
    • Cyndi Lauper
    • Stacy Lattisaw
    • Stacy Q
    • Pebbles
    Answer: Stacy Lattisaw
41. Which Rammstein song begins with the words “We keep the tempo”?
    • No desire
    • My part
    • I want
    • Links 2 3 4
    Answer: Links 2 3 4
42. The lyrics may not be earth shattering but its hard not to turn up the radio and hit the road when the song with these lyrics blares on the radio:
    • Jan and Dean
    • The Beach Boys
    • The Go-Gos
    • The Beatles
    Answer: The Beach Boys
43. What is rapper and producer Timbalands real first name?
    • Thomas
    • Timothy
    • Tom
    • Matthew
    Answer: Timothy
44. What is the title of the popular song released in 1986 by Modern Talking?
    • Brother Louie
    • Brother Dewy
    • Mother Dewy
    • Mother Louie
    Answer: Brother Louie
45. I say That Rock Wont Roll you say ________.
    • Keith Urban
    • Waylon Jennings
    • Diamond Rio
    • Restless Heart
    Answer: Restless Heart
46. This former Goodwill Ambassador for the American Heart Association was bet by his good friend DJ Murray the K that he could not write a song beginning with the words, splish splash.
    • Bobby Rydell
    • Bobby Goldsborro
    • Bobby Darin
    • Bobby Gentry
    Answer: Bobby Darin
47. Which 1981 album by The Police features 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic'?
    • Ghost in the Machine
    • Synchronicity
    • Outlandos d'Amour
    • Reggatta de Blanc
    Answer: Ghost in the Machine
    The hit single was released on their fourth studio album, 'Ghost in the Machine', in 1981.
48. In 1982, this band released the song heard in the sound clip, a fusion of southern rock and bluegrass which incorporates characters from 19th century American literature (including Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn and Rip Van Winkle).
    • Oak Ridge Boys
    • Statler Brothers
    • Brooks Dunn
    • Alabama
    Answer: Alabama
49. Was an autopsy performed on The Big Bopper?
    • No
    • Yes
    Answer: Yes
50. What was the first instrument that musician Richie Sambora learned to play?
    • saxophone
    • accordion
    • tambourine
    • organ
    Answer: accordion