Can You Match The Pop Song To The Pop Star In 5 Minutes Or Less?
- by Marin Johnson
- – on
- in Entertainment
Can you name all of these hit songs in under 5 minutes? Challenge yourself with the ultimate music quiz from the 60s to 2017. Do you know your Lady Gaga from your Ke$ha, your Backstreet Boys from your NSYNC? Find out, and if you get a high score, you can even boast to your friends on Facebook and Twitter. There's something for everyone here, even the oldies you grew up with.
Do you remember What Does the Fox Say? We do. Have you heard Genie in a Bottle from back in 1999? Get ready for the throwback of your life. If that's too intense, get ready for the throwback of the next five minutes. If you love music videos, you have a leg up on the other players. If you have seen the real album covers, either as an icon on your computer or a real sleeve around an actual disc, you're already winning. If you sing karaoke or play Rock Band, you've already won.
Ready to take a stroll down musical memory lane? Scroll down to begin. Feel free to take a break if it gets too intense. We'll remember where you left off. Which song is your favorite? Tell us in the comments below.
What is Psy famous for?
Where did this guy come from? Suddenly in 2012, the YouTube charts were headed by none other than Psy, a breakthrough artist from South Korea. He presented a new look and a brand new dance style, and a catchy beat almost entirely in Korean. Americans can enjoy a handful of English phrases like "ey sexy lady" and "You know what I'm saying?" Which no, no Americans do not know what he is saying. It's actually a parody of high class Korean living, not that any of us could have guessed.
Who sings Wrecking Ball?
Who is the face behind this famous, or rather infamous, song? If it had been made by an artist who was wild from the start, maybe it wouldn't have been such a big deal, but the audience was used to a more innocent persona for the young star. They just weren't ready for their hero to be dangling from the ceiling in skimpy clothing. Can we blame them? Now that the drama is over, can you name who was the centerpiece of it?
Who's in Uptown Funk?
"Uptown Funk you up!" In the music video for this smash hit song, a group of wealthy ne'er do wells stomp around town in their expensive leather shoes and their large fitted jackets. They are what happens when the upper class takes over a low class piece of culture. The singer who is also known for The Lazy song is the face of uptown funk, even though the genre didn't exactly exist before him and no one has appeared to contest him for the role.
Which song is NOT by Britney Spears?
Do you love Britney spears enough to spot the misnomer? One of these songs does not belong to Britney Spears one bit and in fact is performed by two other pop legends: Lady Gaga and Beyonce. This pop idol's music has appeared everywhere from James Bond to South Park parodies. Her music has been making parents blush and teenagers squeal since 1999, and she's still appearing high on the charts with Scream & Shout along with will.i.am. Which song is NOT hers?
Who's does Thrift Shop?
In 2012, a hit song strolled in starting with the most obnoxious hook ever heard. What made it such a hit is probably the topic, something that everyone can relate to but that has never been featured in a popular song ever before: the joy of discovering cool clothes at a thrift store. A rich and popular rapper is leveling with his middle class audience to share something he has in common with the peasants: he loves buying big, furry coats from a thrift store on the cheap.
Which band made Feel Good Inc.?
A melancholy band with a variety of sounds came together to create a cartoon world, a future where buildings are constructed over the layers of garbage and roads are paved over the decay to hide the stench. A sad band of characters makes its way around this decaying world, singing their hearts out while leaning over the drums, bass, and guitar. Here, the bass player performs as if to herself blissfully on a floating island while the singer looks out in existential horror.
Find the Ke$ha song.
Which one is the real Ke$ha song? As we know from Funny or Die, Ke$ha's life was forever altered when her name was spelled using a dollar sign at a Shakey's Pizza Parlor. Now she can never be the good girl. She can only be the dirty, glittery girl down the alley. Each of her songs has a little bit of Ke$ha flavor to it. She carries confidence that we all wish we had wearing less clothes than we ever have.
Who sang I Want It That Way?
How well do you know your boy bands? Which one is responsible for this heart throb of a song? It can be difficult to tell what they mean by "I want it that way," but some have suggested that it has something to do with a "back door," whatever that means. "You are my fire, the one desire, you are, you are, you are, you are..." This song was an instant classic and is still a great serenade, especially if you want it that way.
Which band wrote Stairway to Heaven?
"And she's buying her stairway to Heaven." In the golden age of rock and roll thanks to The Beatles, artists wrote their own songs. This is not a Beatles song, but it may not have been allowed to be released if it weren't for The Beatles proving that artists can be more than just vessels for other people's words. This band had a wide musical palette from classic rock to heavy metal including The Immigrant Song and Whole Lotta Love.
Whose song is Shake it Off?
This famous singer was suffering a lot of backlash for showing her wild side. The audience wanted their innocent little farm girl back, but she had hit adulthood and wanted to show her true colors. "Haters gonna hate hate hate hate hate," "I go on too many dates, at least that's what people say," she sings, alluding to her attempt to break out of the country girl narrative. Then she explains her plan: "I keep cruising, can't stop won't stop grooving," "just shake it off."
Who is responsible for Baby?
"Baby baby baby ooh! Baby baby baby no!" This song set a spark not so much for the fans but for the ones who love to hate this Canadian artist. Maybe he started too young. Maybe he just struck the older audience as unlikable, but this artist just hasn't gotten as big as Michael Jackson and pretty much only has a following amongst preteen girls. What is the name of the artist who is eaten up by young fans and shunned by everyone else?
Which band wrote Wonderwall?
Have you been to a party and someone took out a guitar? What song did they play and why was it Wonderwall? There just isn't any getting away from this song. The band behind it is a group of modern British fans of The Beatles looking to bring a faint taste of Psychadelia into the classic 60s Beatles songs back when the world-changing pop rock band first got big. This British band weaves little Beatles references into their songs for those who look for them.
Whose song is Single Ladies?
Prepare to put your hands up and dance, at least if you're a single lady. After all, if they liked it then they should have put a ring on it. Which popular singing idol performs this catchy beat, including a must-see music video with a super fun dance routine? While the single guys might feel a little alienated by this one, it was a big hit that got a lot of women pumped to show off what they got on the dance floor.
Who is the star of Friday?
You probably tried to forget about this song, but here it is again just for you. Do you know the name of the rich kid who got her very own produced song despite having a voice that makes angels cry-- and not in a good way? Who is the infamous creator of a new kind of one hit wonder, the kind that will not and cannot ever go away no matter how much people pray? In all honesty, she was just a kid and we shouldn't be so hard on her. Peace.
Who sings E.T.?
This artist wrote E.T. about a relationship that changed the way she saw the world, expanding her understanding and making her ask questions about things she too for granted. Kanye West is in it too. While the singer appears in the music video, here is her alien form, able to float and twist around in the air in a strange but beautiful manner. Meanwhile, a certain someone is delivering the lines that make this pop song so full of meaning.
Who's under the mask in Poker Face?
A big change started brewing in 2008 when a certain artist showed up wearing rotating discs on stage. Her music is catchy and relatable but her costumes are out of this world. Since the moment this star was born, the music industry had to make a big change. Now the outfits pop stars rock the stage in must be unique but not weird, trendy but never been seen before, with no expenses spared. Who started this spectacular pop fashion racket?
Who sings the "cup song?"
This a capella song has been around since the 1930s but it was brought back in a big wave of copycat videos after a certain someone made it big again. In fact, it got so big that she earned her place as the star of Pitch Perfect. She even performs the cup song within the movie, becoming an instant hit herself in the fictional a capella group, the Bellas. Who is this breakout star who owes her fame to rocking a classic song?
Which one is NOT an Avril Lavigne song?
Spot the fraud! Which song is not an Avril Lavigne hit? This superstar of the early 2000s has her own punk twist to her pop music. She loves to show her tough side to the camera as she tells a different story with every song. Her hair has streaks of color, she wears hats backwards, and she dresses in clothes that make her look tough even if she is built like a pop star. Which song does she have nothing to do with?
Who wrote Gangsta's Paradise?
"As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I take a look at my life and realize there's nothin' left." This powerful song is about the catch 22 of growing up in an area ravaged by gangs and the reality that it is not so easy to leave. Despite its profound meaning to the artist, he allowed it to be warped into a Weird Al song, Amish Paradise. Do you know the writer and performer behind these powerful words?
Which boy band did Wouldn't it be Nice?
"Wouldn't it be nice if we were older and we didn't have to wait so long?" This song is from a nicer time, a more polite time in music in which it was very important for musical bands to stay away from swear words and suggestive themes, or else no kids would be allowed to listen to their music. The band, itself, did not write the song, but it was prepared with the boy band in mind. Who got to take it on stage?
Which band wrote Radioactive?
"Welcome to the new age, to the new age." "I'm radioactive, radioactive." This song looks into a grim future much like Fallout in which it is difficult to find clean water and food. Everything has a small dose of radiation in it, not enough to kill anyone but enough to give them a bad day. The music video has a different take featuring an underground stuffed animal fighting ring and psychic eddy bear powers. The song was covered beautifully by Pentatonix and Lindsey Sterling.
Find the Snoop Dogg song.
What is Snoop Dogg famous for? Can you find it in one of these four rap songs? Other Snoop Dogg songs include Gin & Juice, Young Wild and Free, and French Inhale. Are you detecting a pattern? Snoop Dogg is famous for employing a personal roller, whatever that means. He has also appeared in Mac & Devin got to High School, a movie about stoners in high school. Have you figured it out yet? Which one has Snoop Dogg's name all over it?
Find the Pink Floyd song.
To the right is the most iconic album cover of Pink Floyd, a band composed of Roger Waters, Syd Barrett, David Gilmour, and two others at different times. The band went through tough times. Syd Barrett lost his mind due to a combination of drugs and mental illness. This album was written in tribute to the person he was and the hard path that led him to the person he became. Pink Floyd is also famous for The Wall and Animals.
Who wrote You a Stupid Hoe?
Somebody is really passionate about farming equipment. This song does not have a whole lot of lyrics to it. With the help of her producers, this rap artist created a song all about her hatred for hoes, which can be difficult to understand given how practical and cheap these devices are. Maybe she had a bad day on a farm once? Maybe she stepped on one the wrong way and got hit in the face. Oh, you say it's about something else? Not farming equipment? Well, if you say so.
Who made What does the Fox Say?
A YouTube smash hit came out of the left field, from Norway specifically. Despite the geographical difference, fish still go blub and cats go meow, but there is one question left unanswered: What does the fox say? This song provides many suggestions as to what the fox may or may not say, then a fox puppet joins in at the very end to provide its own answer. "If meet a friendly horse, will you communicate by morse?" "You're my guardian angel, hiding deep in the woods. What is your sound?"
Who sings The Real Slim Shady?
Which rapper has a superhero persona? Specifically, which rapper has a persona that makes fun of himself as much as the entire comic book industry while also making both somehow endearing? Do you know who is behind this cute, bizarre twist to what was once a genre about boosting people up? Who is behind this strange twist to the rap universe and the sprouting of other oddly specific rap alter egos? Who could be behind this bizarre rap persona and its hit song?
Spot the Adele song.
Adele is not the flashy triple threat of the pop stage. She is a beautiful woman with a beautiful voice and a normal weight for an American. She will never be asked to wear a bikini on stage, but that's not her style. She is the star of thoughtful, emotional songs about love and loss, not glamorous stage performances. Which of these songs is something that Adele would perform for her audience? Which ones would she not touch with a ten foot pole?
Which band wrote Yellow Submarine?
"We all live on a yellow submarine, yellow submarine, yellow submarine." The creators of this Psychedelic song, album, and movie worked hard to make it happen. They came from a time when produced musicians did not write their own stuff, no matter how talented they may be. Little by little, this band proved what they were capable of and earned the right to create their own music from scratch. This is one of the results, a journey through a strange land on a yellow submarine.
Who made Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger?
"Work it harder, make it better, do it faster, makes us stronger," says a robot voice in this hit song. There are no acoustic instruments in sight, no unfilterd voices. The song highlights the mechanical side of produced pop music, the way in which each melody line, each catch, each hook, is made to be addictive to everyone who hears it in order to make massive profit. In the music video, the performers are unknowing slaves working to earn gold records for their unseen overlords. Subtle much?
Who did Thriller?
We may not love the singer so much anymore, but we can't help but dance to this unbelievably catchy Halloween song. "You try to scream but terror takes the sound before you make it. You start to freeze as horror looks you right between your eyes. You're paralyzed. 'Cause this is thriller, thriller night." Does it get any more classic than that? Who can name the brilliant pop idol behind this thrilling piece and the dance that makes it so iconic?
Find the Owl City song.
Owl City is a band created by Adam Young, a nervous person who expresses a difficulty with relating to others. He also struggles with insomnia, and explains that he wrote many of his songs as a means to help people (himself included) to fall asleep at night. Which of these four songs seems to be a means of coaxing someone to sleep? Which one is the most soothing of the four, the one that might have you slowly drifting into sleep?
Whose song is Genie in a Bottle?
This hit song may have made a recent reappearance with the Descendants cast, but it has been around since 1999. A certain pop star popped out with this song at the age of 19, delivering the very suggestive song with an alluring music video. The photo to the side isn't extremely related. It's the inside of Jeannie's bottle in I Dream of Jeannie from 1965. Still, the alluring character of Jeannie eventually gave rise to this highly suggestive song. Who sang it first?
Who made Royals?
"And we'll never be royals. It don't run in our blood. That kind of lux just ain't for us. We crave a different kind of buzz. Let me be your ruler, you can call me Queen B. And baby I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule. Let me live that fantasy." This song is a rejection of the Hollywood glamour style because it leaves ordinary people in the dust. The creator did very well for herself with this song, though, which adds a touch of irony.
Who wrote Titanium?
We may not know who sang it, but the writer and producer is a big name we just can't get away from. Not to worry, though. The producer's music is just amazingly good. Other songs from the same person (but different singers) are Hey Mama "Be my woman, girl, Ima be your man," She Wolf "I'm falling to pieces," and Where them Girls At. Can you put your finger on the name besides these four very different but similar musical pieces?
Who wrote Piano Man?
"Sing us a song, you're the piano man. Sing us a song tonight. Well, we're all in the mood for a melody and you've got us feelin' alright." Perhaps you have heard this song before, perhaps this is the first time you have really given it thought. This song is profoundly sad and sadly profound. It speaks of the lonely soul of the artist as they try to comfort those around them by baring their own souls. Which oldie but goodie musical performer is responsible for this deep yet underspoken song?
Which boy band did Bye Bye Bye?
Which boy band was seen dangling from the ceiling like puppets with a manipulative girlfriend literally pulling the strings? "Don't want to be a fool for you. Just another player in your game for two." "I want to see you out that door, baby. Bye bye bye." The impassioned lyrics of this song are made more tame by the playful, melodic singing that makes boy bands what they are. Can you name the band that is dangling from the ceiling to deliver this song?
Which band is responsible for Photograph?
"Look at this photograph. Every time I do it makes me laugh." Are you a fan of this song? Just glaze past this little description and move on. Somehow, a band that most people try very hard not to care about has embedded an ear worm deep into everyone's brains. This song has inadvertently turned into a minefield of memes. Just Google it and you will encounter the photograph being turned into a great many different things including, well, a graph.
Who sings Like a Virgin?
"Like a virgin touched for the very first time" quickly got turned into "Like a surgeon cutting for the very first time" thanks to Weird Al, but who created the more wholesome, more sensuous version? Who is the singer behind this true piece? "You're so fine and you're mine. I'll be yours 'till the end of time 'cause you made me feel, yeah, you made me feel I've nothing to hide." It is worlds away from the Weird Al version.
Who made Amish Paradise?
A certain someone is famous for bringing the kazoo and accordion into his musical creations. In concert, he will change in and out of several costumes in order to fit the theme of each wacky song. His other creations include "White and Nerdy," "Albuquerque," and "Smells Like Nirvana." He'll make fun of anything from the way someone sings to the safety precautions on an airplane. Who is making fun of the Amish lifestyle in this catchy parody song based on Gangsta's Paradise?
Who made Party Rock Anthem?
Do you remember when party rock was a genre? This band essentially invented it. Just two guys in goofy clothes and a rick producer uncle is all it takes, plus a creative idea and talent and good implementation. Okay, so a few more things are necessary to make this work out. Do you recognize the leopard print on the guy on the left? That is one of your best clues for figuring out who is behind the sunglasses emoji mask.
Who made Bangarang?
"Shout to all my lost boys, we rowdy." The word, "bangarang," is a made up code word between Peter Pan and all the other lost boys. This song, inspired by the tale of Peter Pan and the odd predicament of never growing up in a fantasy world without the concept of time. The music video is quite dark, really worth watching. It shows a group of clever thieves growing up to have a big, successful heist, but the weight on the conscience is not so light.
Find the Nirvana song.
Everybody loves Nirvana. Even toddlers love Nirvana, as seen in exhibit A. But has anyone actually heard their music? Can you spot the Nirvana song in this list of four? For context, here are some others. The most famous song by Nirvana is Smells Like Teen Spirit. They also wrote Heart-Shaped Box, In Bloom, and All Apologies: "What else should I be? All apologies. What else could I say? Everyone is gay." It may be a sort of coming out song with a reassuring refrain: "In the sun I feel as one."
Whose song is Hips Don't Lie?
"Oh baby when you talk like that, you make a woman go mad. So be wise and keep on reading the signs of my body." A certain very flexible someone sings and dances to this song in ways that most people cannot. She also has a music video called She Wolf, as seen here. Many of her songs are entirely or almost entirely in Spanish. "my hips don't lie and I'm starting to feel it's right." Who is singing these lyrics?
Which band is behind Bohemian Rhapsody?
"Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality," the song begins. "Mama, just killed a man, put a gun against his head, pulled my trigger, now he's dead. Mama, life had just begun, but now I've gone and thrown it all away." This rock and roll legend is a centerpiece of this highly successful band's expansive collection of music. It is the ultimate road trip song, the ultimate alarm clock noise, but who made it anyway?
Who is the artist behind What About Us?
"What about us? What about all the plans that ended in disaster? Oh, what about love? What about trust? What about us?" A certain star is left in the dust as her lover moves on but she finds herself unable to. The song goes back to the "what about us" motif just enough to drill a hole in the ear, but the sadness is still there. Whose sad, broken words are we listening to in this understated yet very repetitively stated love song?
Spot the Metallica song.
Can you spot the timeless song by Metallica? It is one part music, one part art, and two parts metal. Metallica does not just create the screaming, growling noises that have come to represent all types of metal music. There is a lot going on in the lyrics, both implicit and explicit. Can you spot the true Metallica song out of the four suggestions? Other Metallica songs include The Unforgiven, Master of Puppets, and For Whom the Bell Tolls. Which one is also theirs?
Which band made Just What I Needed?
Which band wants to remind everyone to let the good times roll? We would add lyrics, but the title is pretty much it. Other popular songs from this band include Just What I Needed: "I guess, you're just what I needed, I needed someone to feed. I guess, you're just what I needed, I needed someone to bleed," and Living in Stereo: "It's so easy to fly through the window. It's so easy to fool with the sound. It's so tough to get up."
Who made Space Oddity?
"Ground control to Major Tom, ground control to Major Tom." This song starts out innocently enough until Major Tom finds out there is no coming back to Earth for him. The way he copes is truly fascinating. "Here am I floating 'round my tin can far above the moon. Planet Earth is blue and there's nothing I can do," he says while ground control continues to hail and hail him. Who is the creator of this haunting rock and roll masterpiece?
Find the Sia song.
Sia sings her own songs but does not appear in her music videos. The reason becomes clear when we look at her photos. The child who has become the face of Sia, Maddie Ziegler, is profoundly impressive. She is an amazing dancer and can make many funny faces to go along with it. She is a charming face for Sia's fascinating music. While we are on the subject, which music does Sia create again? See if you can spot it below.
Who sings I Know You Want Me?
"One two three four uno do' tres cuatro. I know you want me. You know I want cha." The alluring but dangerous-sounding song was all over the dance floors in 2008. The voice in this song is the same one in Timber (aside from Ke$ha) and also the singer in Hey Ma. The bilingual star wears suits on stage when others wear tank tops. He always dresses up and always has his eyebrows ready for his trademark smirk. Who is he?