General Awareness

Popular Music Trivia

3,302 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

Which musical is based on the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm?

  1. Sweeney Todd

  2. Into the Woods

  3. Sunday in the Park with George

  4. Merrily We Roll Along
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Into the Woods is a musical based on the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm.

Multiple choice

Which musical is based on the play (\"Merrily We Roll Along\") by George Furth?

  1. Sweeney Todd

  2. Into the Woods

  3. Sunday in the Park with George

  4. Merrily We Roll Along
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Merrily We Roll Along is a musical based on the 1934 play of the same name by George Furth.

Multiple choice

Which music video was the first to be aired on MTV?

  1. Video Killed the Radio Star

  2. Thriller

  3. Like a Prayer

  4. Smells Like Teen Spirit
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star" was the first music video to be aired on MTV when the channel launched on August 1, 1981.

Multiple choice

Which music video was directed by Spike Jonze?

  1. Smells Like Teen Spirit

  2. Thriller

  3. Like a Prayer

  4. Weapon of Choice
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Spike Jonze directed the music video for Fatboy Slim's "Weapon of Choice", which features Christopher Walken dancing around a hotel room.

Multiple choice

Which music video was the most expensive ever made?

  1. Thriller

  2. Like a Prayer

  3. Scream

  4. Bedtime Stories
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Michael Jackson's "Scream" music video, directed by Mark Romanek, is the most expensive music video ever made, with a budget of $7 million.

Multiple choice

Which music video featured a cameo appearance by Michael Jackson?

  1. Thriller

  2. Like a Prayer

  3. Scream

  4. They Don't Care About Us
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Michael Jackson made a cameo appearance in the music video for his song "They Don't Care About Us", directed by Spike Lee.

Multiple choice

Which music video was the first to win a Grammy Award?

  1. Thriller

  2. Like a Prayer

  3. Scream

  4. Weapon of Choice
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Michael Jackson's "Thriller" music video was the first to win a Grammy Award, in 1984.

Multiple choice

Which music video was the most viewed on YouTube in 2021?

  1. Despacito

  2. Shape of You

  3. Gangnam Style

  4. Baby Shark Dance
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The "Baby Shark Dance" music video was the most viewed on YouTube in 2021, with over 10 billion views.

Multiple choice

Which music video was the first to feature computer-generated imagery (CGI)?

  1. Thriller

  2. Like a Prayer

  3. Scream

  4. Take On Me
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

a-ha's "Take On Me" music video was the first to feature computer-generated imagery (CGI).

Multiple choice

Which music video was the most expensive ever made by a female artist?

  1. Like a Prayer

  2. Scream

  3. Bedtime Stories

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

Beyoncé's "Formation" music video is the most expensive ever made by a female artist, with a budget of $5 million.

Multiple choice

Which Indi-pop song became a global hit and was featured in the 2012 film "The Dictator"?

  1. "Chammak Challo" by Akon

  2. "Senorita" by Enrique Iglesias

  3. "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi

  4. "Gangnam Style" by Psy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

"Chammak Challo" by Akon, featuring vocals by Hamsika Iyer, became a global hit and was featured in the film "The Dictator," showcasing the reach of Indi-pop beyond Indian borders.

Multiple choice

Which song by Madonna was released in 1984 and became her first number-one hit in the United States?

  1. Like a Virgin

  2. Material Girl

  3. Papa Don't Preach

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

Like a Virgin was released in 1984 and topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for six weeks.

Multiple choice

Which song by Prince was released in 1984 and became his signature song?

  1. Purple Rain

  2. When Doves Cry

  3. Let's Go Crazy

  4. I Would Die 4 U
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Purple Rain was released in 1984 and won an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Multiple choice

Which song by Whitney Houston was released in 1985 and became her first number-one hit in the United States?

  1. Saving All My Love for You

  2. How Will I Know

  3. Greatest Love of All

  4. I Wanna Dance with Somebody
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Saving All My Love for You was released in 1985 and topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for three weeks.

Multiple choice

Which song by Bruce Springsteen was released in 1984 and became his first number-one hit in the United States?

  1. Born in the U.S.A.

  2. Dancing in the Dark

  3. Cover Me

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

Born in the U.S.A. was released in 1984 and topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for seven weeks.