Music Trivia Questions can uncover fascinating facts that even the most devoted fans might not know, adding a layer of excitement to any gathering.
With a mix of genres and eras, these questions will not only test your musical prowess but also provide interesting tidbits that can enhance your appreciation for the art form.
I present 105 challenging music quiz questions and their answers, designed to stump even the most knowledgeable music aficionados, and also challenge your memory and spark engaging conversations.
105 Music Trivia Questions and Answers
From the evolution of rock and roll to the intricate details of jazz improvisation, these music questions encourage us to delve into the stories behind the songs that have shaped our cultural fabric.
Engaging with trivia music can enhance social gatherings, transforming them into lively discussions about favourite artists and pivotal moments in music history.
- Question: What singer has had a Billboard No. 1 hit in each of the last four decades?
Answer: Mariah Carey - Question: What was Freddie Mercury‘s real name?
Answer: Farrokh Bulsara - Question: Who was the very first American Idol winner?
Answer: Kelly Clarkson - Question: Which member of the Avengers had a brief stint as a pop star?
Answer: Brie Larson - Question: What rock icon was the founder of The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Long-haired Men?
Answer: David Bowie - Question: Keith Moon and John Entwistle of The Who are said to have inspired the name of which other classic rock band?
Answer: Led Zeppelin - Question: In The Big Lebowski, The Dude can’t stand which band?
Answer: The Eagles - Question: Who founded Motown Records?
Answer: Berry Gordy - Question: Before Phil Collins, who was the lead singer of Genesis?
Answer: Peter Gabriel - Question: What was Madonna‘s first top 10 hit?
Answer: “Holiday” - Question: What rock star moonlights as a horror movie writer and director?
Answer: Rob Zombie - Question: What pop star wrote songs for Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears and Alice Cooper?
Answer: Kesha - Question: Before Bleachers and fun., Jack Antonoff fronted what band?
Answer: Steel Train - Question: Before Miley Cyrus recorded “Wrecking Ball,” it was offered to which singer?
Answer: Beyoncé - Question: Which artist’s entire 1985 Live Aid set consisted of just a single cover song?
Answer: Elvis Costello - Question: Who is Kendrick Lamar‘s diss track “Not Like Us” about?
Answer: Drake
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- Question: What artists made up the supergroup The Travelling Wilburys?
Answer: George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty and Bob Dylan - Question: Who was the first woman ever inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
Answer: Aretha Franklin - Question: Which famous acoustic artist tragically died in a plane crash while piloting his plane in 1997?
Answer: John Denver - Question: What film did The Clash’s Joe Strummer direct, starring some of his bandmates?
Answer: Cops and Robbers - Question: Eminem‘s 8 Mile is named after a road in which city?
Answer: Detroit - Question: Who was Marvin Gaye‘s duet partner?
Answer: Tammi Terrell - Question: Paul McCartney credits which artist with teaching him everything he knows?
Answer: Little Richard - Question: Paul McCartney and John Lennon wrote which Rolling Stones song?
Answer: “I Wanna Be Your Man” - Question: Which member of *NSYNC was a replacement for another who quit before they got big?
Answer: Lance Bass - Question: Believe it or not, Jimi Hendrix only had one Top 40 hit. Which song was it?
Answer: “All Along the Watchtower” - Question: Who is the only country artist to have a Top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for six straight decades?
Answer: Dolly Parton - Question: “The Day the Music Died” refers to the tragic deaths of which artists?
Answer: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper - Question: What singer is known as “The Vocal Bible”?
Answer: Brandy - Related: Best Rock Bands of All Time
- Question: Which classical composer was deaf?
Answer: Ludwig van Beethoven - Question: Art Garfunkel initially declined to sing one of Simon & Garfunkel’s biggest hits solo. Which song is it?
Answer: “Bridge Over Troubled Water” - Question: What was Elvis Presley‘s first No. 1 hit in the United States?
Answer: “Heartbreak Hotel” - Question: Van Halen famously banned what colour M&Ms in their rider?
Answer: Brown - Question: What other legendary vocalist is a cousin of Whitney Houston?
Answer: Dionne Warwick - Question: What book do The Police reference in “Don’t Stand So Close to Me”?
Answer: Lolita - Question: What video beat “Thriller” for Video of the Year at the first-ever MTV Video Music Awards?
Answer: The Cars, “You Might Think” - Question: Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl was formerly the drummer of which famous grunge band?
Answer: Nirvana - Question: Taylor Swift‘s Eras Tour is the highest-grossing concert tour by a woman. Who had the second-highest-grossing concert tour by a woman?
Answer: Pink
- Question: Which rock stars were known as “The Terror Twins”?
Answer: Steve Clark and Phil Collen of Def Leppard - Question: Prince introduced his iconic symbol on the cover of which single?
Answer: “1999” - Question: What did Stevie Ray Vaughan name his most beloved guitar?
Answer: Jimbo - Question: David Crosby says Who is the best singer of all time?
Answer: Bonnie Raitt - Question: Which astronomer is name-dropped in “Bohemian Rhapsody”?
Answer: Galileo - Question: Which Alanis Morissette song contains the phrase “jagged little pill” (the title of her debut album)?
Answer: “You Learn” - Question: Frank Sinatra changed the lyrics of “The Lady is a Tramp” to “The Lady is a” what?
Answer: “Champ” - Question: Who was the first lead guitarist of Metallica?
Answer: Dave Mustaine - Question: Where was Tupac Shakur born?
Answer: East Harlem, New York - Question: Missy Elliott references what infamous celebrity couple in “Let Me Fix My Weave”?
Answer: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez - Question: Who was the first woman to have four country albums reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200?
Answer: Carrie Underwood - Question: What singer was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou?
Answer: George Michael - Question: The Weeknd samples which ’80s megahit in “Blinding Lights”?
Answer: “Take On Me” by A-ha - Question: Which Super Bowl Halftime Show performer was upstaged by a dancing shark?
Answer: Katy Perry - Question: How many coaches (full and part-time) from The Voice have won Grammys?
Answer: 12 - Question: What does Lady Gaga affectionately call her fans?
Answer: Little Monsters - Question: As a child, what singer held the longest note ever on Star Search?
Answer: Usher
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- Question: “William Bowery” is a pseudonym for whom?
Answer: Joe Alwyn - Question: Cardi B starred on what reality show?
Answer: Love & Hip Hop - Question: What iconic Nashville club does Garth Brooks call “the beginning and the mecca, the end”?
Answer: Bluebird Cafe - Question: Though made most famous by Ike and Tina Turner, “Proud Mary” was first recorded by whom?
Answer: Creedence Clearwater Revival - Question: Who sang the SpongeBob SquarePants theme song for the movie?
Answer: Avril Lavigne - Question: What singer founded the MuttNation dog rescue organization?
Answer: Miranda Lambert - Question: What languages does Shakira speak?
Answer: English, Spanish, Arabic, French, Italian and Portuguese - Question: What one-hit wonder act is behind “Barbie Girl”?
Answer: Aqua - Question: Jared Leto is the frontman of what band?
Answer: 30 Seconds to Mars - Question: Who, to date, has won the most Grammys of all time?
Answer: Beyoncé - Question: Adele credits what political figure for making her career?
Answer: Sarah Palin - Question: George Harrison wrote what song for Eric Clapton about his sweet tooth.
Answer: “Savoy Truffle” - Question: What was the first rap single to hit the Billboard Top 40?
Answer: “Rapper’s Delight” by Sugarhill Gang - Question: Which guitar icon’s mom was a designer for the likes of John Lennon, Ringo Starr, David Bowie, Linda Ronstadt and The Pointer Sisters?
Answer: Slash - Question: What was the first music video to ever air on MTV?
Answer: “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles - Question: U2 wrote the song “Stuck in a Moment” about what late frontman?
Answer: Michael Hutchence of INXS - Related: Sex and the City Trivia
- Question: Which member of Kiss wore makeup to look like a cat?
Answer: Peter Criss - Question: What is Post Malone‘s favourite restaurant?
Answer: Olive Garden - Question: What rock singer testified before Congress about the Parents Music Resource Center?
Answer: Dee Snider of Twisted Sister - Question: Who are all of the original members of N.W.A.?
Answer: Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, DJ Yella, MC Ren and Eazy-E
- Question: The Wu-Tang Clan recommends protecting which body part?
Answer: Your neck - Question: What legendary pop group got their name from “Brothers Gibb”?
Answer: The Bee Gees - Question: Milli Vanilli were performing which of their hit songs when they were exposed for lip-syncing live?
Answer: “Girl You Know It’s True” - Question: What Rolling Stones song title is also a restaurant chain?
Answer: “Ruby Tuesday” - Question: Billie Eilish is obsessed with which classic TV show?
Answer: The Office - Question: Taylor Swift named her debut country single after which singer?
Answer: Tim McGraw - Question: Who produced Michael Jackson‘s Bad?
Answer: Quincy Jones - Question: What rockstar’s memoir is titled The Heroin Diaries?
Answer: Nikki Sixx - Question: What smells are described in “Don’t Stop Believin'”?
Answer: Wine and cheap perfume - Question: Jay-Z says he got his MBA from where?
Answer: The Marcy Projects - Question: Members of Wilson Phillips are the daughters of which music legends?
Answer: Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys and John and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas & The Papas - Question: John Mayer wrote a song about which law of physics?
Answer: “Gravity” - Question: Stephen Sondheim says his only autobiographical song is which?
Answer: “Opening Doors” from Merrily We Roll Along
- Question: Weird Al Yankovic mistakenly thought which artist gave his blessing for a parody?
Answer: Coolio - Question: Which Britney Spears songs have hit No. 1?
Answer: “…Baby One More Time” and “Womanizer” - Question: Sean “Diddy” Combs sent Da Band to walk 10 miles to get what iconic dessert?
Answer: Junior’s Cheesecake - Question: The “J” in Mary J. Blige stands for what?
Answer: Jane
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- Question: Which Marvel movie’s soundtrack won two Grammys?
Answer: Black Panther - Question: “Islands in the Stream” was originally written for what artist?
Answer: Marvin Gaye - Question: Paul McCartney is a fan of what song referencing his work?
Answer: “Black Beatles” - Question: Cher‘s first single referenced which rock star?
Answer: Ringo Starr - Question: The iconic CBGB stood for what?
Answer: “Country, Blue Grass and Blues” - Question: Who was Elton John’s longtime lyricist?
Answer: Bernie Taupin - Question: Which Backstreet Boys are first cousins?
Answer: Kevin Richardson and Brian Littrell - Question: What do Drake, Taylor Swift and The Beatles have in common?
Answer: They all replaced themselves at No. 1 on the Hot 100
- Question: What artists recorded two of their bestselling albums while they were behind bars?
Answer: Johnny Cash - Question: Which legendary artist wrote The Bangles’ hit song “Manic Monday”?
Answer: Prince - Question: Lizzo plays what instrument?
Answer: Flute - Question: Which member of The Runaways competed on Jeopardy!?
Answer: Jackie Fox - Question: Which rapper inspired an entire accredited course at Syracuse University called “Hip-Hop Eshu: Queen B***h 101”?
Answer: Lil’ Kim
Conclusion
Music Trivia Questions serve as a fantastic tool for entertainment and education, allowing you to explore various genres and artists while having fun with friends.
These questions can reveal surprising facts and foster deeper appreciation for the music we often take for granted. You’ll not only test your knowledge but also learn something new that you can share with others.
Trivia nights can become memorable experiences filled with laughter and camaraderie when infused with musical knowledge.