Even The Biggest Music Fans Can't Pass This Beatles Song Quiz
- by Lucas Wesley
- – on
- in Entertainment
With an estimated 500 million records sold worldwide, and 20 number one hits on the American Billboard chart, most music fans agree The Beatles will forever remain the most successful band in history. Indeed, it’s hard to imagine any artists coming near the fame once enjoyed by these four lads from Liverpool. It would also be a herculean task for future musicians to create even half as many classic songs John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr produced during their eight years together in the studio.
Having reached a level of global fame, just about every human being blessed with the ability to hear Beatles songs has surely listened to a bunch of them. Even the rare person who isn’t much of a Beatles fan can’t escape their biggest tunes on classic rock radio, let alone as the background music playing in stores and malls. Whether you like The Beatles or not, the fact of the matter is in order to consider yourself a true music fan, you need to know a good deal about their catalogue. Sure, everyone can hum along to a song or two, but only the experts have all the details on what the Beatles sang, who wrote the songs, and which artists kept them famous through cover versions for years to come. Keep reading to relive the mania and try our Beatles song quiz.
What color submarine does Ringo Starr sing about?
Due to its bouncy nature and cartoonish lyrics, the first Beatles song many children are introduced to is all about a man who sailed the seas. Well, technically, it’s not about the man himself, but rather a tale he told a young Ringo Starr about his magical mystery life in a certain undersea boat. Naturally, this man’s existence wasn’t the typical experience for people living in submarines, as it seemed mostly to be filled with family sing-alongs about their present location. What color was this uniquely wonderful vessel?
Which fictional band was the focus of a Beatles song and album?
So popular were The Beatles at their peak that the only way for them to have any competition was for them to invent fictional counterparts. Not that they hid their identities in any way, except to wear bombastic and colorful bandleader outfits on the artwork for the album they named after this meta-band. Still, they went through great lengths to make it seems like the real deal, writing a tune about the act that introduced their lead singer, Billy Shears, who followed it up with another big hit of his own. What was the song, album, and band called?
Which of the following ‘60s pop songs did The Beatles not write and record?
During the 1960s, there’s really no arguing that The Beatles were the most successful band in the world. At their peak, the group would regularly occupy multiple slots on the Billboard top 100 songs chart, with some Beatles songs only failing to number one because another, more popular Beatles song was already taking that spot. With their influence this widespread, it’s easy to mistake just about any song from the era as something they may have written. Which of these pop hits did the Beatles have nothing to do with?
Finish the lyric: “And in the end, the love you take is equal to…”
After a long reflecting journey through the career of The Beatles, it feels as though the only appropriate way to end things is with “The End” itself. Appearing as the final official track on Abbey Road, the last album they recorded (though not the last they released), in many respects, this was the group’s final recorded statement to the world, and the ultimate line perfectly summed up everything the group had attempted to achieve over the past decade. In the end, what did Paul McCartney famously suggest “the love you take” is forever equal to?
Which Beatle had a solo hit with “Imagine?”
Sadly, due to personal issues, pop music’s greatest foursome fell apart in 1970, as The Beatles went their separate ways. There was a plus side, however, in that this meant there were now four outrageously talented solo acts, all ready to release incredible music on their own. John, Paul, George, and Ringo each went on to achieve a cavalcade of number one songs after the group broke up. “Imagine” wasn’t technically amongst them, only hitting number three on the Billboard charts, but it still became arguably the most iconic of all Beatles solo songs. Which one of them sang it?
Who are the credited writers on most of The Beatles songs?
Coming to prominence in the 1960s, The Beatles played an integral role in the transition between pop bands having songs written for them and groups starting to their own tunes. As the most popular band of the era, whatever the Beatles did set the example all others had to follow, and they had been penning their hits from the very beginning. While the Fab Four also recorded a fair number of cover tunes early on, the vast majority of their songs were originals credited to a songwriting duo within the group. Who were they?
Finish the lyrics: “It’s been a hard day’s night, and I’ve been…”
Naturally talented as they were, even The Beatles had to put in a great deal of work to achieve their fame. Popular lore dictates that Ringo Starr once reflected on a daylong studio session by saying it had been “a hard day’s…night,” as he looked up and realized it was dark outside. Always creative, Ringo’s pals John and Paul immediately got to work writing a song about his goofy turn of phrase, and it became such a huge hit they also named a movie after it. In the song, why do they say the day was so hard?
Which song was released first, “I Want to Hold Your Hand” or “I Am the Walrus?”
Anyone who knows anything about The Beatles is likely well aware there are two distinct phases of their career. Half was filled with light, catchy pop hits that made them international stars. In due time, though, the group started getting a little bored with modern trends, and started experimenting with more creative and artistic ideas. The catch is that they were so famous their experimental songs still hit number one on the charts, loosening the definition of what a pop song even was. Do you know which of these two iconic songs became a hit during that first era?
Which TV show used a cover of “With A Little Help From My Friends” as its theme song?
From the 1980s to the early ‘90s, a person didn’t even need to own a radio to hear a Beatles song at least once a week. All they needed was a television that could access the major networks, as an extremely popular sitcom was using an old Ringo Starr classic for its theme song. The only catch is that Ringo wasn’t singing, with the show’s producers preferring the bombastic and soulful cover rendition performed by Joe Cocker. What show used Billy Shears’s ode to friendship during its opening?
Finish the lyric: “Let me take you down ‘cause I’m going to Strawberry Fields...”
Almost immediately after John Lennon started experimenting with psychedelic lyrics, he dove headfirst into idea and defined an entire genre with “Strawberry Fields Forever.” According to popular music lore, hearing this song made Beatles rival Brian Wilson pull over his car to the side of the road and weep, knowing Lennon had truly transcended pop music in a way he couldn’t. Part of the song’s mystique was the ethereal and resonant lyrics, transporting listeners to a world where there’s nothing to get hung about. Do you know what they are?
Is “Revolution 9” a cover?
Sparse, disjointed, and more of a musical pastiche than a real song, “Revolution 9” is probably the most divisive piece of music The Beatles ever recorded. Appearing on their self-titled “White Album,” this alternative version of a song about rebellion was a long avant-garde experiment that some fans to this day feel didn’t fit The Beatles general aesthetic. This was of no concern to John Lennon, though, who had been influenced by his new wife Yoko Ono to start seriously stretching the boundaries of pop music. Was she the also one who really recorded this song first?
Finish the lyrics: “Eight days a week is not enough…”
Given how much money The Beatles were making and the level of fame they achieved, it probably felt to them like there was never enough time to get everything done. That would explain “Eight Days a Week,” a song that suggests even adding a whole new day to the calendar wouldn’t be enough for them. They weren’t singing a meta-song about life in the recording studio, though, but rather a love song about the nature of romance. In that context, what required more than eight days?
Which rocker had a number one hit with “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds?”
Wearing overtly psychedelic influences on its sleeves, “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” is one of the most controversial songs The Beatles ever released. Thanks to the trippy title, many fans viewed it as an ode to LSD, a drug with which the group was known to experiment. According to John Lennon, though, it was just about a picture his son Julian drew in school. Whatever the case, it was an extremely popular song, and another performer actually made even bigger, bringing it to number one on the Billboard charts. Who was it?
Is “Twist and Shout” a cover?
Despite the significant number of cover songs The Beatles recorded throughout their career, for the most part, the group chose their own compositions when it came to releasing singles. Even with their B-Sides, Lennon and McCartney wanted their names on record to further their reputation as autonomous rock geniuses. That said, in extremely rare cases, the group pieced together a cover that was so outrageously good radio stations around the world couldn’t help but play it no matter who the writer was. Is “Twist and Shout” an original, or was it simply their most successful cover?
True or False: The Beatles wrote “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.”
Being the most popular and successful songwriting duo in the world, there were obviously countless bands contemporary to The Beatles wishing Paul McCartney and John Lennon would write them a hit. Believe it or not, this duo somehow found the time in their extremely busy schedules to pen a few songs for bands they viewed as both friends and rivals. A slow and celebratory dirge, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” by The Rolling Stones almost sounds like it could be one of those borrowed compositions. Was it?
Finish the lyric: “She loves you…”
Each song The Beatles brought to number one was iconic in it’s own way, but “She Loves You” deserves special distinction as perhaps the first true sign these kids were going to be legends. With 3.5 million copies sold in four short weeks, “She Loves You” was the fastest selling song in history at the time, quickly turning it into the group’s signature tune for the first half of their careers. A big part of the equation was the brilliantly simplistic and powerfully catchy chorus. Do you know it?
True or False: The Beatles wrote “Let It Be.”
Soft, reflective, and thought provoking, “Let It Be” was in many respects a more spiritual song than average for a Beatles hit. While the tune still went number one, it’s less likely to show up on pop radio than some of their earlier classics, if only because it doesn’t sound quite as mainstream. That said, the song is truly beautiful, explaining why so many fans cite it as a favorite regardless of it’s uniqueness in their oeuvre. Is part of the reason it sounds less poppy than usual for a Paul McCartney tune the fact he didn’t write it?
Which Beatles song did The Rolling Stones record first?
From the very beginning of The Beatles rise, there were always traditional rock and roll fans who preferred the work of their top rivals, The Rolling Stones. Starting their careers at roughly the same time, the Beatles and the Stones were neck and neck with number one hits, regularly pushing each other off the Billboard charts. Despite this, the groups were relatively peaceful with one another, and The Beatles once even wrote a song specifically for The Stones, knowing it better suited Mick Jagger and company’s sensibilities than their own. What tune was it?
Is “All You Need Is Love” a cover?
If any one song could double as The Beatles mantra, it’s “All You Need Is Love.” Recorded later in their careers, this tune summed up every message they had attempted imparting to the world all with one very simple, succinct message. Of course, anyone who has ever heard the song is well aware it wasn’t 100% original, opening with the intro to “La Marseillaise,” the French national anthem. Did they write the rest of the song, or was the whole thing a take on traditional tunes?
Who recorded “You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me” first?
Across their first several albums, The Beatles typically included a cover song or two per release. Obviously, they infused the old classics with their own energy and style, making legendary songs hits all over again through their influence. One of the most popular tunes they gave their spin on was the Motown classic “You’ve Really Got a Hold On Me,” which has been covered by dozens of artists, always to decent success. While the Beatles version may be the best known through their association, who originally wrote the song?
Who originally performed “Rock and Roll Music?”
Despite their omnipresence on classic rock radio stations, The Beatles didn’t exactly create “rock and roll music” in the traditional sense. Sure, the tenants of rock were all present, but they had evolved significantly from the days of Elvis Presley and Little Richard, adding strong pop sensibilities to their jangling guitars. That said, the Fab Four always loved the traditional rock that set the tone for their rise, recording many old hits and even making new tribute songs to the genre. Was “Rock and Roll Music” an original example, or did someone else write it?
What Beatles song did U2 cover on Rattle and Hum?
After The Beatles broke up, just about every band in the world has desperately chased after the fame they once had. Few have been more open and honest about these goals than U2, especially in the words of lead singer Bono. While not quite as universally loved as The Beatles, there’s no denying U2 are likewise massively successful, certainly following The Beatles in terms of ambition if not outright success. To tribute the band that so clearly inspired them, U2 released a Beatles cover on their 1988 album Rattle and Hum. What was it?
Which of the following songs did Ringo Starr not sing?
Fairly or not, Ringo Starr has been forever cursed with a reputation as the least important member of The Beatles. John Lennon once even infamously claimed Ringo wasn’t even the best drummer in the group, suggesting he was basically just there to fill out the ranks. Of course, that was a massive exaggeration, as Ringo’s light-hearted persona had as much to do with the group’s image as the songs his friends were writing. Proving this, several songs Ringo sang remain some of the most popular the group wrote to this day. Which of these tunes wasn’t one of them?
Is “Act Naturally” a cover?
Speaking of Ringo Starr’s simplistic, peaceful nature, one of the first songs that showcased this style was “Act Naturally.” Accurately predicting the skills Ringo portrayed in future Beatles films, the song is all about how the singer is a simple, sad, lonely man, who knows he’s going to be a fantastic actor so long as he’s hired to play that sort of role. Presumably, Ringo was just goofing around in a self-deprecating manner considering how often he smiles, but even so, it became one of his signature hits. Did The Beatles write it, or was it a cover?
Which ‘80s metal band covered “Helter Skelter?”
Rollicking, powerful, and almost proto-metal, “Helter Skelter” rocked harder than anything else The Beatles recorded as a group. Unfortunately, thanks to the efforts of serial criminal Charles Manson, the message of the tune had been viciously obscured past it’s original intentions. Luckily, many fans can still acknowledge the song didn’t mean anything close to what Manson interpreted as meaning, but was simply a bad ass rock song only the heaviest guitarists should attempt to play. Which of these metal bands covered it on their second album?
True or False: The Beatles wrote “You Keep Me Hangin’ On.”
Right before the rise of The Beatles, the most popular sensation in American music was girl groups like The Ronettes, Crystals, and Shirelles. Early on in their careers, the Fab Four made it clear they were big fans of this music by covering songs like “Boys” and “Please Mr. Postman.” While the genre gradually faded out of prominence as the Beatles got famous, select acts like The Supremes kept it going through rollicking hits including “You Keep Me Hangin’ On.” Is part of what made them withstand the test of time the fact Paul McCartney was writing their hits?
Which Beatles song did Elliott Smith cover?
As The Beatles career progressed and their songs became increasingly experimental, it became incredibly hard for a single musician to cover their work. Not even the four lads from Liverpool were enough, as many of their songs required gigantic studio productions with countless session musicians and hours of layered overdubbing. Despite this, a few vanguard guitarists have done their best to take on these ornate tunes all by themselves, including singer-songwriter Elliott Smith. Which Beatles song did he record for the American Beauty soundtrack?
What Beatles song was a #1 hit for the most consecutive weeks?
At this point in the quiz, it should go without saying that The Beatles wrote an incredible number of hits throughout their careers. It’s already been stated they had 20 number one hits on the American Billboard chart, and almost every country that keeps track of these things has reported similar numbers. Of course, some of these songs remained on the Billboard charts for longer than others, with a couple merely holding that number one slot for a single week or two. Which one was there the longest?
Which ‘90s hip hop group covered “Norwegian Wood?”
Without any question, The Beatles were one of the most influential rock and pop bands in history, but even the Fab Four had limits to how much they innovated. While the Fab Four tried their hand at almost every genre that existed during their era, new forms of music cropped up later that they never could have predicted. In particular, most rap is as far removed from The Beatles as pop music can be, with very few hip hop covers of their work finding fame. A few do exist, though, including which duo’s cover of “Norwegian Wood?”
True or False: The Beatles wrote “Good Vibrations.”
On the subject of The Beach Boys, the American surfing enthusiasts were arguably The Beatles number two rivals in 1960s pop music next to The Rolling Stones. Of course, much like the relationship between the Beatles and the Stones, the Fab Four were largely cordial with their American counterparts, happily allowing the group to cover a number of their tunes for The Beach Boys’ Party! album. With notably more psychedelic and experimental tones than the average Beach Boys song about fun in the sun, did The Beatles also write “Good Vibrations” for them?
Which Beatles song did Michael Jackson cover?
If there was any one musician who could singlehandedly come anywhere near The Beatles’s fame, it was Michael Jackson. In the early 1980s, Jackson reached that rarefied level only the Fab Four had previously attained when he released Thriller, the highest selling individual album in history. Jackson remained a huge star for decades after that, eventually making so much money he was able to buy the rights to The Beatles catalogue when they were put up for sale. MJ could’ve covered any of their tunes after this, but he only chose to release one of them. Which song was it?
What iconic rock star once covered “Across the Universe?”
Soft, peaceful, and downright life affirming, John Lennon once described “Across the Universe” as his best and most poetic lyrical achievement. Taking a mantra learned through Transcendental Meditation and combining it with the simple English of “nothing’s gonna change my world,” Lennon created an anthem for normalcy and happiness that remains heavily covered to this day. No matter how many times someone new records it for a movie, though, most music fans will probably agree the best cover of this track was performed by one of Lennon’s legendary friends. Who was it?
Which Beatles song did Prince perform at the 2004 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony?
Virtually every Beatles song features the guitar, but few of them actually contained guitar solos. Three of the four members would later prove themselves brilliant guitar wizards, able to shred away on the axe with the best of them, but they rarely did so on record. Only a couple of their tunes showcase any sort of “solos” in the traditional sense, and even in the best example of this, the original work was arguably eclipsed by Prince at the 2004 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony. What song did His Royal Badness cover?
Which of the following songs was not turned into a movie?
In addition to being the biggest musical stars on the planet in the 1960s, The Beatles somehow also found the time to star in two live action movies. There was also a animated TV series about their fictional antics, along with a full length cartoon film where they went an epic inter-dimensional adventure, and finally a feature documentary. The TV show was simply named after the group, but the films shared titles with the band’s most iconic number one hit songs. Which of these tunes didn’t become a movie?
What Beatles song has been recorded the most times?
Given the sheer number of questions on this list about cover songs, it should at this point be evident that The Beatles music has survived long past the shelf life of the group that first recorded it. There will probably never be a point when up and coming musicians don’t attempt at least one Beatles cover in the oeuvre during live performances, and such is the strength of these tunes that most of them will sound just as beautiful as the originals. With over 2,000 versions on record by various acts, which Beatles song has been covered most of all?