General knowledge · 15 questions

Music through the decades quiz

Fifteen questions covering six decades of music. Works well as a round in a bigger quiz, or on its own with the radio off.

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Question 1 of 15

Which band released the album 'Abbey Road'?

Who is known as the 'Queen of Soul'?

Which Queen song famously has no chorus?

Nirvana's breakthrough album was called what?

Which two bands were pitched against each other in the 1995 'Battle of Britpop'?

Who wrote and originally recorded 'I Will Always Love You'?

Which instrument does a timpanist play?

Which artist released the album '21'?

What was Michael Jackson's best-selling album?

Which country does ABBA come from?

Which rapper's real name is Marshall Mathers?

How many strings does a standard bass guitar have?

Which festival takes place at Worthy Farm in Somerset?

Which band's members are named Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr?

Which of these is a tempo marking meaning 'slow'?

Which band released the album 'Abbey Road'?

Did you know? The famous cover photograph was taken at a pedestrian crossing outside the studio.

Did you know? Aretha Franklin's recording of 'Respect' became an anthem of the civil rights and women's movements.

Did you know? The song moves through several contrasting sections, including an operatic passage.

Did you know? The album's success helped bring grunge into the mainstream.

Did you know? Both bands released new singles on the same day in August 1995.

Did you know? Dolly Parton released it in 1974; Whitney Houston's version came in 1992.

Did you know? Timpani can be tuned to specific musical pitches.

Did you know? The album's title refers to Adele's age when she wrote it.

Did you know? The album includes the hits 'Beat It' and 'Billie Jean'.

Did you know? ABBA's name is formed from the first letters of its four members' names.

Did you know? Eminem's stage name is based on the pronunciation of his initials, M and M.

Did you know? The standard four-string bass is tuned an octave lower than a guitar's lowest four strings.

Did you know? Glastonbury Festival began in 1970, the day after Jimi Hendrix died.

Did you know? U2 formed in Dublin while its members were still teenagers.

Did you know? Allegro, presto and vivace all mean varying degrees of fast.

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1. Which band released the album 'Abbey Road'?
- A. The Rolling Stones
- B. The Beatles (answer)
- C. The Kinks
- D. The Who
The famous cover photograph was taken at a pedestrian crossing outside the studio.
2. Who is known as the 'Queen of Soul'?
- A. Diana Ross
- B. Tina Turner
- C. Aretha Franklin (answer)
- D. Nina Simone
Aretha Franklin's recording of 'Respect' became an anthem of the civil rights and women's movements.
3. Which Queen song famously has no chorus?
- A. We Will Rock You
- B. Bohemian Rhapsody (answer)
- C. Somebody To Love
- D. Radio Ga Ga
The song moves through several contrasting sections, including an operatic passage.
4. Nirvana's breakthrough album was called what?
- A. Bleach
- B. In Utero
- C. Nevermind (answer)
- D. Incesticide
The album's success helped bring grunge into the mainstream.
5. Which two bands were pitched against each other in the 1995 'Battle of Britpop'?
- A. Blur and Oasis (answer)
- B. Pulp and Suede
- C. Supergrass and Ash
- D. Verve and Travis
Both bands released new singles on the same day in August 1995.
6. Who wrote and originally recorded 'I Will Always Love You'?
- A. Whitney Houston
- B. Dolly Parton (answer)
- C. Carole King
- D. Loretta Lynn
Dolly Parton released it in 1974; Whitney Houston's version came in 1992.
7. Which instrument does a timpanist play?
- A. Kettle drums (answer)
- B. Cymbals
- C. Triangle
- D. Xylophone
Timpani can be tuned to specific musical pitches.
8. Which artist released the album '21'?
- A. Amy Winehouse
- B. Adele (answer)
- C. Duffy
- D. Florence Welch
The album's title refers to Adele's age when she wrote it.
9. What was Michael Jackson's best-selling album?
- A. Bad
- B. Off The Wall
- C. Thriller (answer)
- D. Dangerous
The album includes the hits 'Beat It' and 'Billie Jean'.
10. Which country does ABBA come from?
- A. Norway
- B. Denmark
- C. Sweden (answer)
- D. Finland
ABBA's name is formed from the first letters of its four members' names.
11. Which rapper's real name is Marshall Mathers?
- A. Jay-Z
- B. Eminem (answer)
- C. Nas
- D. Dr Dre
Eminem's stage name is based on the pronunciation of his initials, M and M.
12. How many strings does a standard bass guitar have?
- A. Four (answer)
- B. Five
- C. Six
- D. Seven
The standard four-string bass is tuned an octave lower than a guitar's lowest four strings.
13. Which festival takes place at Worthy Farm in Somerset?
- A. Reading
- B. Glastonbury (answer)
- C. Latitude
- D. Download
Glastonbury Festival began in 1970, the day after Jimi Hendrix died.
14. Which band's members are named Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr?
- A. Coldplay
- B. R.E.M.
- C. U2 (answer)
- D. Simple Minds
U2 formed in Dublin while its members were still teenagers.
15. Which of these is a tempo marking meaning 'slow'?
- A. Allegro
- B. Presto
- C. Largo (answer)
- D. Vivace
Allegro, presto and vivace all mean varying degrees of fast.

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