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About This Quiz
Some people stick with one style of music or artist, but we want to see how much you know about pop musicians in general. As a beginning hint, all the artists are found on Billboard’s All-Time Top 100 Artists list. If we give you just three of these artist’s songs, do you know who sang them? Find out how much of a music maven you are by taking this quiz.
Which artist sang “Thriller,†â€Beat It,†and “Badâ€?
Bob Seger.
Alan Jackson.
Michael Jackson.
As of 2017, Thriller hit 33x Platinum certified—currently the highest of any album ever. Bad hit 10x certified, making Michael Jackson one of just 22 artists to have multi-diamond albums.
Kid Rock.
Which artist sang “Umbrella,†“Disturbia,†and “Diamonds"?
Barbra Streisand.
Rihanna.
Umbrella,†“Disturbia,†and “Diamonds†all hit #1 on the Billboard charts. In all, Rihanna has had 11 songs reach #1.
Beyonce.
Aretha Franklin.
Which band sang “Stayin’ Alive,†“More Than a Woman,†and “How Deep Is Your Love?â€
The Bee Gees.
The soundtrack for "Saturday Night Fever," which contained many Bee Gees songs, broke many records, including the top-selling soundtrack. It was only supplanted fifteen years later by the soundtrack for "The Bodyguard."
The Beatles.
The Beach Boys.
Elvis Presley.
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Which artist sang “My Boo,†“DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love,†“No Limit�
Jay-Z.
Usher.
Usher Terry Raymond IV was born in Dallas, Texas, October 14, 1978. He began his career as a part of a church choir.
Tupac Shakur.
Beastie Boys.
“Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds,†“Come Together,†and “Let It Be†were sung by which band?
The Temptations.
The Beach Boys.
The Beatles.
2018 marks the Beatles's 45th anniversary for the release of Abbey Road - the last album on which all four Beatles participated before breaking up in 1969.
The Four Tops.
Which three songs did Stevie Wonder sing?
“Hello,†“Dancing on the Ceiling,†and “Say You, Say Me.â€
“I Just Called to Say I Love You,†“Superstition,†and “Part Time Lover.â€
Stevie Wonder received 25 Grammy awards during his career and won one Academy Award for, “I Just Called to Say I Love You,†which was in the movie, "The Woman in Red."
“ABC,†“I’ll Be There,†and “Rockin’ Robin.â€
“The Crying Game,†“Karma Chameleon,†and “Do you Really Want to Hurt Me.â€
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Which artist sang “Vogue,†“Like a Prayer,†and “4 Minutes�
Mary J. Blige.
Alicia Keys.
Carrie Underwood.
Madonna.
“I want to be like Gandhi and Martin Luther King and John Lennon, but I want to stay alive.†― Madonna, Sirus Satellite Radio, February 14, 2007
Which artist sang “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,†“I Will Always Love You,†and “When You Believe�
Mary J. Blige.
Whitney Houston.
Whitney Houston got the role of Sondra Huxtable on “The Cosby Show.†Despite the fact she hadn’t gotten a record deal, she turned the role down because she wanted to be free to tour when she became a singer.
Barbra Streisand.
Mariah Carey.
Which artist sang “All Shook Up,†“Jailhouse Rock,†and “Love Me Tender�
Neil Diamond.
Santana.
Marvin Gaye.
Elvis Presley.
Elvis Presley was more than just a musician with 18 #1 hits. He starred in 31 feature films, including "Jailhouse Rock," "Viva Las Vegas," and "Flaming Star."
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Which artist or band sang “Livin’ on a Prayer,†“Blaze of Glory,†and “Always�
Aerosmith.
Guns ‘n Roses
Metallica.
Bon Jovi.
Both of Jon Bon Jovi’s parents were Marines. He has lived in New Jersey most of his life, and has been married to Dorothea Hurley since 1989.
Which three songs did The Supremes sing?
“I Will Survive,†Endless Love,†and “The Boss.â€
“Love Child,†“You Keep Me Hanging On,†and “Stop! In the Name of Love.â€
The Supremes were the most successful female group of the 1960s. Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard formed the group, the Primettes, in their teens when they were living in Detroit’s Brewster housing project. They changed the name when Motown signed them in 1961.
“No More Drama,†“Mr. Wrong,†and “Family Affair.â€
“It’s So Easy,†“Don’t Know Much,†and “Poor, Poor Pitiful Me.â€
Which artist or band sang “25 or 6 to 4,†“Saturday in the Park,†and “You’re the Inspiration�
Chicago.
Chicago formed in 1967 when seven musicians created a rock band that used horns. In order to release a double album as their first endeavor, they had to take a cut in their royalties.
U2.
Steve Miller Band.
Perry Como.
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Which band sang “Honky Tonk Woman,†“Satisfaction,†and “Ruby Tuesday�
Black Sabbath.
Led Zeppelin.
The Rolling Stones.
The Rolling Stones were notable hotel room wreckers. When they went on their American tour in the summer of 1966, fourteen hotels refused to give them a room in New York City.
AC/DC.
Which artist sang “Emotions,†“Hero,†and “Always Be My Baby�
Celine Dion.
Barbra Streisand.
Mariah Carey.
“There is a light at the end of the tunnel… Hopefully, it’s not a freight train.†– Mariah Carey
Carole King.
Which band sang “Maneater,†“Private Eyes,†and “I Can Dream About You�
Van Halen.
Hall & Oates.
Daryl Hall and John Oates met at a hop that turned into a gang fight. Their working relationship has always been one guy backing the other up while he does his song, and they dislike that they are known as “Hall and Oates.†None of their albums use that combined name.
Def Leppard.
Journey.
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Which three songs did Olivia-Newton John sing?
“Send in the Clowns,†“The Way We Were,†and “Memory.â€
“It’s So Easy,†“Don’t Know Much,†and “Poor, Poor Pitiful Me.â€
“Summer Nights,†“Physical,†and “Hopelessly Devoted to You.â€
“[Gene Kelly] was lovely. I still can’t believe I danced with Gene Kelly. How lucky am I that I’ve been in movies where I’ve danced with two of the greatest dancers of all time – with Gene Kelly and John Travolta? I never would have thought that because I had two left feet growing up.†–Olivia Newton-John, People, August 5, 2015
“Almost Over You,†“One Man Woman,†and “For Your Eyes Only.â€
Which artist or band sang “Little Red Corvette,†“1999,†and “When Doves Cry�
Eagles.
Fleetwood Mac.
Billy Joel.
Prince.
Prince had 53 songs chart in the top 100. “When Doves Cry,†“Kiss,†“Let’s Go Crazy,†“Cream,†and “Batdance†(From Batman) were his only singles to reach #1.
Which artist sang “Forever Young,†“Sailing,†and “Rhythm of My Heart�
Josh Groban.
Paul Simon
Michael Bolton.
Rod Stewart.
Rod Stewart is obsessed with model trains. He has a 100-foot track based on the 1940s New York Central.
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Which artist sang “R-E-S-P-E-C-T,†“Think,†and “Chain of Fools�
Lady Gaga.
Aretha Franklin.
Aretha Franklin has a four-octave vocal range, and she can’t read music. Although she dropped out of high school, she obtained two honorary doctorates of music from Yale and Berkeley.
Alicia Keys.
Adele.
Which artist sang “Sussudio,†“In the Air Tonight,†and “A Groovy Kind of Love�
Phil Collins.
Phil Collins decided to stop touring in 2004 so he could spend more time with his two children. He had been on the road for 30 years.
James Taylor.
Eric Clapton.
John Denver.
Which three songs did Marvin Gaye sing?
“Scarborough Fair,†“Bridge Over Troubled Water,†and “Mrs. Robinson.â€
“Last Train to Clarksville,†“Daydream Believer,†and “Steppin’ Stone.â€
“I Heard It Through the Grapevine,†“Sexual Healing,†and “What’s Going On.â€
Gaye had much success as a love song artist during the ‘60s, but when his singing partner, Tammi Terrell, collapsed in his arms on stage and later died from a brain tumor, he took a year-long break from music and came back wanting to “touch people’s souls.†His father shot him in 1984 after an altercation when Marvin was high on cocaine and PCP.
“Yesterday, “ “Ebony & Ivory,†and “Say, Say, Say.â€
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Which artist sang “Dark Horse,†“Last Friday Night,†and “Firework�
Madonna.
P!nk.
Beyonce.
Katy Perry.
Katy Perry’s real name is Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson. She changed her name so she wouldn’t be confused with Kate Hudson.
Which artist or band sang “Kokomo,†“Surfin’ U. S. A.,†and “Good Vibrations�
Heart.
The Beach Boys.
Most of the original Beach Boys were brothers. Of the original members, Carl and Dennis Wilson both passed away. Bruce Johnston and Mike Love tour as The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson tours as a solo act, and Al Jardine tours with his own band.
Kenny G.
The Doobie Brothers.
Which artist or band sang “End of the Road,†“It’s so Hard to Say Goodbye,†and “Motownphilly�
Emenem.
Jay-Z.
Boyz II Men.
Boyz II Men achieved most of their #1 hits from 1992 to 1997, but they charted at total of 36 hits in the top 100. Their first hit, “Motownphilly,†reached #3.
Run DMC.
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Which artist sang “Dear John,†“You Belong With Me,†and “Style�
Taylor Swift.
Taylor Swift is one of the highest-paid women in music, according to Forbes. She made $170 million in 2016—more than double the second highest paid musician (Adele) in the same year.
Kelly Clarkson.
Miley Cyrus.
Carrie Underwood.
Which three songs did Billy Joel sing?
“Uptown Girl,†“We Didn’t Start the Fire,†and “Piano Man.â€
“I am, as I’ve said, merely competent, but in an age of incompetence, that makes me extraordinary.†– Billy Joel
“Mony, Mony,†“Cradle of Love,†and “Rebel Yell.â€
“Addicted to Love,†“Simply Irresistible,†and “I’ll Be your Baby Tonight.â€
“Riders in the Sky,†“Hurt,†and “Man in Black.â€
Which artist sang “The Gambler,†“Sweet Music Man,†and “Lucille�
Johnny Cash.
Kenny Rogers.
Kenny Rogers was first a jazz musician and then a psychedelic pop artist with The First Edition, before becoming a solo country artist. You can hear The First Edition’s 1968 one-hit wonder, “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)†in The Big Lebowski (1998) during Dude’s dream sequence.
George Strait.
Neil Diamond.
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Which artist sang “Gypsys, Tramps, and Thieves,†“Just Like Jesse James,†and “I Walk Alone�
Barbra Streisand.
Janet Jackson.
Cher.
Sonny Bono can be credited with discovering Cher, but Sonny and Cher only had one #1 hit, “I’ve Got You, Babe,†and four songs in the top 100. As a solo artist, Cher had four: “Believe,†“Dark Lady,†“Half-Breed,†and “Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves,†with 22 total top 100 chart hits.
Celine Dion.
Which artist or band sang “Summer of ’69,†“(Everything I Do) I Do It For You,†“Please Forgive Me�
John Denver.
Bryan Adams.
Bryan Adams’s father served in the British Army and Canadian Army before becoming a diplomat. Adams was born in Ontario, November 5, 1959.
Kenny G.
Foreigner.
Which artist sang “Jack and Diane,†“Small Town,†and “Hurt So Good�
John Mellencamp.
John Mellencamp’s first manager called him Johnny “Cougar†because he believed the name “Mellencamp†wouldn’t sell records. It took 14 years before Mellencamp finally sold enough records to reclaim his birth name.
Jethro Tull.
Michael Bolton.
Cat Stevens.
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Which three songs did Ray Charles sing?
“I Got You,†“Get Up Offa That Thing,†and “Please, Please, Please.â€
“Hit the Road, Jack,†“Shake Your Tail Feathers,†and “Georgia on My Mind.â€
“I can’t deal in clichés. The subject [of drugs] is too important. I can only tell you what happened to me—plain and simple. No one did it to me. I did it to myself. It wasn’t society that did it to me; it wasn’t a pusher; it wasn’t being blind or being black or being poor. It was all my doing.†–Ray Charles, Brother Ray: Ray Charles’ Own Story
“Ring of Fire,†“Folsom Prison Blues,†and “A Boy Named Sue.â€
“Tutti Frutti,†“Good Golly, Miss Molly,†and “Long Tall Sally.â€
Which artist sang “So What,†“Just Give Me a Reason,†and “Try�
Christina Aguilera.
Sia.
P!nk.
Alecia Beth Moore (born September 8, 1979) was named the #1 artist of the decade by Billboard in 2009. She has been married to Carey Hart since 2001 and has two children, Willow and Jameson.
Lil’ Kim.
Which artist or band sang “I Gotta Feeling,†“Pump It,†and “The Time (Dirty Bit)�
Busta Rhymes.
Will Smith.
The Black Eyed Peas.
The Black Eyed Peas began as a breakdancing crew but recorded their first record for Ruthless in 1992. Since they were not violent gangsta rappers, Ruthless shelved the record, since they did not know how to market it. It wasn’t until Fergie joined the group in 2003 that The Black Eyed Peas broke the top 40.
Shakira.
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Which three songs did Gloria Estefan sing?
“Just Another Day,†“Do You Believe in Us,†and “Angel.â€
“My Heart Will Go On,†“Because You Loved Me,†and “The Power of Love.â€
“Turn the Beat Around,†“Anything for You,†and “1-2-3.â€
Gloria Estefan’s father helped fight against Castro and was imprisoned in Cuba. Her family moved to Miami when she was only 2 years old.
“All I Have,†“I’m Real,†and “Ain’t It Funny.â€
Which band sang “Waterfalls,†“No Scrubs,†and “Unpretty�
Salt-N-Pepa.
Destiny’s Child.
En Vogue.
TLC.
Like many artists just starting out, TLC initially signed a contract that gave them only 7 percent royalties and charged travel expenses against those earnings. Top earners that year, who were selling the same number of albums, were making about 25 percent royalties and lesser acts were making 12- to 18 percent.
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