General Awareness

Popular Music Trivia

3,059 Questions

Popular music trivia tests knowledge of global chart-topping songs, iconic music videos, and award-winning soundtracks. Questions cover various genres, famous artists, and cultural themes prevalent in modern music. This section is ideal for improving general knowledge for state level exams and trivia competitions.

Chart-topping hit songsMusic video conceptsFilm and television soundtracksAward-winning compositionsMusical genres and styles

Popular Music Trivia Questions

Multiple choice

In the music video for "Thriller", what did Michael Jackson's zombies wear?

  1. White suits

  2. Black ties

  3. Fedora hats

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Michael Jackson's zombies in the "Thriller" music video were instantly recognizable with their white suits, black ties, and fedora hats, creating a haunting and unforgettable visual.

Multiple choice

Who received the Juno Award for Dance Recording of the Year in 2011?

  1. Deadmau5 - "Some Chords"

  2. MSTRKRFT - "Fist of God"

  3. Crystal Castles - "Not in Love"

  4. Skrillex - "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites"
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Deadmau5 won the Juno Award for Dance Recording of the Year in 2011 for his song "Some Chords".

Multiple choice

What was the first commercially successful music recording?

  1. The Laughing Song

  2. Au Clair de la Lune

  3. The Blue Danube

  4. The Star-Spangled Banner
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Au Clair de la Lune was recorded by Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville in 1860 using his phonautograph.

Multiple choice

Which Salsa song is considered the 'National Anthem of Salsa'?

  1. El Cantante

  2. La Vida es un Carnaval

  3. Oye Como Va

  4. Guantanamera
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

El Cantante by Hector Lavoe is considered the 'National Anthem of Salsa' due to its popularity and iconic status.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of an urban music video?

  1. Thriller by Michael Jackson

  2. Vogue by Madonna

  3. Gangsta's Paradise by Coolio

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Thriller by Michael Jackson, Vogue by Madonna, and Gangsta's Paradise by Coolio are all examples of urban music videos.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of an urban music video?

  1. Thriller by Michael Jackson

  2. Vogue by Madonna

  3. Gangsta's Paradise by Coolio

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Thriller by Michael Jackson, Vogue by Madonna, and Gangsta's Paradise by Coolio are all examples of urban music videos.

Multiple choice

Which song holds the record for the longest time spent at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart?

  1. Old Town Road

  2. Despacito

  3. Shape of You

  4. One Sweet Day
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

One Sweet Day by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men spent 16 weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1995-1996.

Multiple choice

Which song was the first to reach one billion views on YouTube?

  1. Gangnam Style

  2. Despacito

  3. See You Again

  4. Shape of You
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Gangnam Style by Psy was the first song to reach one billion views on YouTube in 2012.

Multiple choice

Which song was the first to reach one million downloads in the United States?

  1. I Gotta Feeling

  2. Poker Face

  3. Just Dance

  4. Love Story
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

I Gotta Feeling by The Black Eyed Peas was the first song to reach one million downloads in the United States in 2009.

Multiple choice

Which song was the first to reach one billion views on Vevo?

  1. Gangnam Style

  2. Despacito

  3. See You Again

  4. Shape of You
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Gangnam Style by Psy was the first song to reach one billion views on Vevo in 2012.

Multiple choice

Which charity single was released in 2017 to raise funds for the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire?

  1. Bridge Over Troubled Water

  2. Imagine

  3. Stronger Together

  4. Bridge Over Troubled Water
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A,D Correct answer
Explanation

Bridge Over Troubled Water was a charity single recorded by various artists, including Simon Cowell, Robbie Williams, and Rita Ora.

Multiple choice

Which charity single holds the record for the highest first-week sales in the UK?

  1. Do They Know It's Christmas?

  2. We Are the World

  3. Heal the World

  4. Live Aid
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Do They Know It's Christmas? sold over 1.3 million copies in its first week in the UK, setting a record at the time.

Multiple choice

Which charity single has been certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)?

  1. Do They Know It's Christmas?

  2. We Are the World

  3. Heal the World

  4. Live Aid
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

We Are the World was certified diamond by the RIAA in 1999, indicating sales of over 10 million copies in the United States.

Multiple choice

Which charity single has been listed in the Guinness World Records as the best-selling charity single of all time?

  1. Do They Know It's Christmas?

  2. We Are the World

  3. Heal the World

  4. Live Aid
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

We Are the World has been listed in the Guinness World Records as the best-selling charity single of all time, with sales of over 20 million copies worldwide.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a famous Big Band song?

  1. In the Mood

  2. Sing, Sing, Sing

  3. Moonlight Serenade

  4. Stairway to Heaven
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Stairway to Heaven is a song by the rock band Led Zeppelin, while the other options are all famous Big Band songs.