Think music buffs know everything? Guess again.

For pop music fans, nothing’s worse than confidently naming a one-hit wonder only to they’re completely wrong.

It happens to everyone – that awkward moment when friends laugh because you’ve mixed up Justin Timberlake with Justin Bieber, or claimed Beyoncé sang that Taylor Swift hit. The embarrassment stings.

But here’s something unexpected: even the most dedicated listeners only recognize about 60% of chart-toppers from the last decade. That’s right – most self-proclaimed experts are failing their own pop quiz without realizing it.

This test will separate the casual listeners from the true aficionados.

No more pretending to know lyrics or band members. It’s time to find out if you’re actually the pop music genius you claim to be.

History of Pop-Music

Pop music has altered dramatically since its emergence in the 1950s, from simple melodies on AM radio to today’s complex digital productions.

What began with Elvis Presley and The Beatles breaking boundaries eventually splintered into countless sub-genres spanning disco, synthpop, boy bands, and hip-hop-infused tracks.

Through each decade, pop absorbed elements from rock, R&B, electronic, and global sounds, constantly reinventing itself while maintaining its core appeal—catchy hooks and relatable lyrics.

The chart below shows key moments that shaped what we now call pop music.

1950s Pop Music Trivia

1. Who is known as the “King of Rock and Roll”?
Elvis Presley

2. Which Chuck Berry song is considered one of the most influential rock ‘n’ roll songs of all time?
Johnny B. Goode

3. What famous music TV show debuted in 1952 and featured performances from top pop artists?
American Bandstand

4. Which doo-wop group released the hit song “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” in 1956?
Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers

5. Who originally recorded the song “Blue Suede Shoes,” later made famous by Elvis Presley?
Carl Perkins

6. What was the first rock ‘n’ roll song to hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts?
“Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley & His Comets

7. Which singer had a hit with “Peggy Sue” before his tragic death in a plane crash?
Buddy Holly

8. What was the name of the backing band for Elvis Presley?
The Blue Moon Boys

9. Which 1950s crooner is known for the song “Chances Are”?
Johnny Mathis

10. What Little Richard song features the famous lyrics “A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-lop-bam-boom”?
Tutti Frutti

11. Who released the hit single “Only You (And You Alone)” in 1955?
The Platters

12. Which singer-songwriter was known for pioneering the “teen idol” craze in the late 1950s?
Paul Anka

13. Which song by Ritchie Valens was inspired by a traditional Mexican folk song?
La Bamba

14. Who sang “At the Hop,” a 1950s hit about a high school dance?
Danny & The Juniors

15. What instrument did Jerry Lee Lewis famously play in his rock ‘n’ roll performances?
Piano

16. Which famous pop song from the 1950s begins with the lyrics “You ain’t nothing but a hound dog”?
“Hound Dog” by Elvis Presley

17. What was the name of Buddy Holly’s band?
The Crickets

18. Which 1957 song by Sam Cooke became one of his most iconic hits?
You Send Me

19. Which female artist had a major hit with “Lipstick on Your Collar” in 1959?
Connie Francis

20. What was the name of the record label that helped launch Elvis Presley’s career?
Sun Records

1960s Pop Music Trivia

21. Which British band led the “British Invasion” of the U.S. in the 1960s?
The Beatles

22. Who sang the classic song “I Want to Hold Your Hand”?
The Beatles

23. Which Motown group had hits with “Stop! In the Name of Love” and “Baby Love”?
The Supremes

24. What famous music festival took place in 1969 and became a cultural landmark?
Woodstock

25. Who wrote and performed the 1968 hit “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay”?
Otis Redding

26. Which Beach Boys album, released in 1966, is considered one of the greatest of all time?
Pet Sounds

27. Which folk singer wrote the protest song “Blowin’ in the Wind”?
Bob Dylan

28. What Rolling Stones song features the famous lyrics “I can’t get no satisfaction”?
(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction

29. Who was known as the “Queen of Soul” during the 1960s?
Aretha Franklin

30. Which group had a hit with “California Dreamin’” in 1965?
The Mamas & The Papas

31. What famous Beatles song begins with the lyrics “Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away”?
Yesterday

32. Which Motown singer released “My Girl” in 1965?
The Temptations

33. Which artist recorded the 1967 psychedelic hit “Purple Haze”?
Jimi Hendrix

34. Which band released the song “Good Vibrations” in 1966?
The Beach Boys

35. Which 1960s singer had a hit with “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’”?
Nancy Sinatra

36. Which artist released the hit song “Respect” in 1967?
Aretha Franklin

37. Which songwriting duo wrote many hits for The Supremes and other Motown artists?
Holland-Dozier-Holland

38. Which song by The Beatles was their last single before breaking up?
Let It Be

39. Which folk-rock duo had a hit with “Mrs. Robinson”?
Simon & Garfunkel

40. Who was the lead singer of The Doors?
Jim Morrison

41. Which singer recorded the song “Piece of My Heart”?
Janis Joplin

1970s Pop Music Trivia

42. Which Swedish band became one of the biggest pop acts of the 1970s with hits like Dancing Queen?
ABBA

43. What was the name of the Bee Gees album that became the soundtrack for Saturday Night Fever?
Saturday Night Fever

44. Which singer-songwriter released the iconic album Tapestry in 1971?
Carole King

45. Which Queen song, released in 1975, features opera-like segments and became a legendary rock anthem?
Bohemian Rhapsody

46. What Elton John song begins with the lyrics “It’s a little bit funny, this feeling inside”?
Your Song

47. Which 1970s pop duo was known for hits like Close to You and We’ve Only Just Begun?
The Carpenters

48. Which song by Gloria Gaynor became an anthem of resilience in the 1970s?
I Will Survive

49. Which rock band released Hotel California in 1976?
Eagles

50. Who had a hit with Maggie May in 1971?
Rod Stewart

51. Which 1978 hit by The Village People became a party anthem?
Y.M.C.A.

52. What Fleetwood Mac album, featuring Go Your Own Way and Dreams, became one of the best-selling albums of all time?
Rumours

53. Which disco queen released Hot Stuff and Last Dance?
Donna Summer

54. Which singer released Piano Man in 1973?
Billy Joel

55. Who had a huge hit with Staying Alive in 1977?
Bee Gees

56. Which 1970s artist was known for the hit Superstition?
Stevie Wonder

57. Which folk singer released Take Me Home, Country Roads in 1971?
John Denver

58. Which band had a hit with We Are Family in 1979?
Sister Sledge

59. Which pop singer released I Write the Songs in 1975?
Barry Manilow

60. What 1976 hit by KISS became an anthem for rock fans?
Rock and Roll All Nite

61. Which female pop artist released You’re So Vain in 1972?
Carly Simon

62. Which British singer had a 1970s hit with American Woman?
Lenny Kravitz (originally by The Guess Who)

1980s Pop Music Trivia

63. Which pop legend released Thriller in 1982, the best-selling album of all time?
Michael Jackson

64. Who is known as the Queen of Pop and released Like a Virgin in 1984?
Madonna

65. Which 1981 song by Journey became an anthem and is often played at sporting events?
Don’t Stop Believin’

66. What music television channel launched on August 1, 1981?
MTV

67. Which British band had a hit with Take on Me in 1985?
a-ha

68. What was the name of Prince’s 1984 album and film that featured the hit Purple Rain?
Purple Rain

69. Who sang Sweet Child o’ Mine in 1987?
Guns N’ Roses

70. Which group sang Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go?
Wham!

71. Which 1980s band sang Everybody Wants to Rule the World?
Tears for Fears

72. What was the name of the hit duet between Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney in 1983?
Say Say Say

73. Who performed the song Girls Just Want to Have Fun in 1983?
Cyndi Lauper

74. Which artist released the hit Careless Whisper in 1984?
George Michael

75. Which song by Bon Jovi features the lyrics “Woah-oh, we’re halfway there”?
Livin’ on a Prayer

76. Who had a hit with Every Breath You Take in 1983?
The Police

77. Which song by Whitney Houston became a massive hit in 1987?
I Wanna Dance with Somebody

78. Which song was the theme for the 1983 movie Flashdance?
Flashdance… What a Feeling by Irene Cara

79. Which female pop icon released Like a Prayer in 1989?
Madonna

80. Which 1984 song by Van Halen features an iconic synthesizer intro?
Jump

81. Which song by a Norwegian band featured a groundbreaking animated music video in 1985?
Take on Me by a-ha

82. Which artist released Billie Jean in 1983?
Michael Jackson

83. Which song by Lionel Richie was a big hit in the 1980s and featured a music video with a blind woman sculpting a bust?
Hello

1990s Pop Music Trivia

84. Which boy band had a massive hit with I Want It That Way in 1999?
Backstreet Boys

85. Who released the album …Baby One More Time in 1999?
Britney Spears

86. Which female artist became famous in the 1990s with hits like Genie in a Bottle?
Christina Aguilera

87. What was the name of Mariah Carey’s holiday hit released in 1994?
All I Want for Christmas Is You

88. Which group sang the hit Waterfalls in 1995?
TLC

89. Which pop diva released the song My Heart Will Go On for the Titanic soundtrack in 1997?
Celine Dion

90. Which 1990s Latin pop star had hits like Livin’ la Vida Loca?
Ricky Martin

91. Which Canadian singer released the hit You Oughta Know in 1995?
Alanis Morissette

92. Which British girl group became a global phenomenon with Wannabe in 1996?
Spice Girls

93. Which song by Will Smith was the theme for the 1997 film Men in Black?
Men in Black

94. Which boy band featured Justin Timberlake and had hits like Bye Bye Bye?
NSYNC

95. Which 1990 song by Madonna was inspired by a classic movie star?
Vogue

96. Which hit by MC Hammer became a cultural phenomenon in 1990?
U Can’t Touch This

97. Which alternative rock band had a massive hit with Smells Like Teen Spirit in 1991?
Nirvana

98. Which singer made a big impact in the 1990s with the album Jagged Little Pill?
Alanis Morissette

99. Which Ricky Martin song was performed at the 1998 FIFA World Cup?
The Cup of Life

100. Who released the song Believe, which popularized Auto-Tune, in 1998?
Cher

101. Which singer had a hit with I Will Always Love You in 1992?
Whitney Houston

102. Which 1997 pop song by Hanson became a worldwide hit?
MMMBop

103. Which female rapper had a 1997 hit with The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)?
Missy Elliott

104. Which R&B group released No Scrubs in 1999?
TLC

105. Which Latin pop star had a hit with If You Had My Love in 1999?
Jennifer Lopez

106. Which boy band debuted in 1993 with their self-titled album featuring Step by Step?
New Kids on the Block

2000s Pop Music Trivia

107. Which pop star performed the 2001 hit Whenever, Wherever?
Shakira

108. Who released the hit Crazy in Love in 2003?
Beyoncé

109. Which song by OutKast featured the catchy lyrics “Shake it like a Polaroid picture”?
Hey Ya!

110. Which American Idol winner had a huge hit with Since U Been Gone in 2004?
Kelly Clarkson

111. Which Black Eyed Peas song was a massive club hit in 2009?
I Gotta Feeling

112. Which rapper and singer released Gold Digger featuring Jamie Foxx in 2005?
Kanye West

113. Which pop artist debuted in 2008 with Just Dance?
Lady Gaga

114. Who sang Hips Don’t Lie in 2006?
Shakira

115. Which artist released the emotional hit Apologize in 2007 with Timbaland?
OneRepublic

116. Which R&B artist released the song Yeah! featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris in 2004?
Usher

117. Which pop singer had a hit with Toxic in 2003?
Britney Spears

118. Which country-pop singer released Teardrops on My Guitar in 2006?
Taylor Swift

119. Which hip-hop song by Eminem won an Oscar for Best Original Song in 2003?
Lose Yourself

120. Which artist released the hit Umbrella in 2007?
Rihanna

121. Who had a massive hit with Poker Face in 2008?
Lady Gaga

122. Which Justin Timberlake song had the lyric “I’m bringing sexy back”?
SexyBack

123. Which Katy Perry song topped the charts in 2008?
I Kissed a Girl

124. Which Coldplay song became a global anthem in 2008?
Viva La Vida

125. Which Alicia Keys song featured the line “Concrete jungle where dreams are made of” in 2009?
Empire State of Mind (with Jay-Z)

126. Which rapper and producer released Stronger in 2007, which sampled Daft Punk?
Kanye West

127. Who released the hit Hollaback Girl in 2005?
Gwen Stefani

128. Which Canadian singer had a hit with Complicated in 2002?
Avril Lavigne

129. Which song by Flo Rida featured Kesha and became a club anthem in 2009?
Right Round

130. Which pop artist sang So What in 2008?
P!nk

2010s Pop Music Trivia

131. Which pop artist released the hit Rolling in the Deep in 2011?
Adele

132. Which song by Gotye, featuring Kimbra, became a global hit in 2011?
Somebody That I Used to Know

133. Which artist performed Call Me Maybe in 2012?
Carly Rae Jepsen

134. Which South Korean artist took the world by storm with Gangnam Style in 2012?
PSY

135. Which artist released the song We Found Love featuring Calvin Harris in 2011?
Rihanna

136. Which song by Fun. featured the lyrics “Tonight, we are young”?
We Are Young

137. Which One Direction song became their breakthrough hit in 2011?
What Makes You Beautiful

138. Which Disney star-turned-pop artist released Wrecking Ball in 2013?
Miley Cyrus

139. Which artist had a hit with Blurred Lines in 2013?
Robin Thicke

140. Which Taylor Swift song, released in 2014, featured a catchy chorus about shaking off negativity?
Shake It Off

141. Which pop duo released the hit Closer in 2016?
The Chainsmokers

142. Which singer released Hotline Bling in 2015?
Drake

143. Which Ed Sheeran song became a wedding favorite in 2017?
Perfect

144. Which song by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, featuring Justin Bieber, became a global hit in 2017?
Despacito

145. Which Billie Eilish song made her a household name in 2019?
Bad Guy

146. Which Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper duet from A Star Is Born won an Academy Award?
Shallow

147. Which K-pop group became an international sensation with hits like Boy With Luv and DNA?
BTS

148. Which rapper had a massive hit with God’s Plan in 2018?
Drake

149. Which pop artist released Thank U, Next in 2018?
Ariana Grande

150. Which Lil Nas X song broke records after its release in 2019?
Old Town Road

151. Which singer had a hit with Truth Hurts in 2019?
Lizzo

152. Which Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello duet became a chart-topping hit in 2019?
Señorita

153. Which 2015 hit by Justin Bieber featured tropical house influences?
Sorry

154. Which Weeknd song was a massive hit in 2015 and helped define his career?
Can’t Feel My Face

155. Which song by Post Malone became a viral sensation in 2018?
Rockstar

156. Which 2016 hit by Sia featured dancer Maddie Ziegler in its music video?
Cheap Thrills

157. Which Harry Styles song became a major solo hit in 2017?
Sign of the Times

158. Which Dua Lipa song encouraged listeners to follow “New Rules” in 2017?
New Rules

2020s Pop Music Trivia

159. Which TikTok-fueled hit by Doja Cat topped the charts in 2020?
Say So

160. Which song by Olivia Rodrigo became a massive heartbreak anthem in 2021?
Drivers License

161. Which BTS song, released in 2020, became their first all-English hit?
Dynamite

162. Which Weeknd song became one of the biggest hits of 2020?
Blinding Lights

163. Which pop star released the folklore and evermore albums in 2020?
Taylor Swift

164. Which TikTok sensation and singer had a hit with Build a Bitch in 2021?
Bella Poarch

165. Which Justin Bieber song, featuring Daniel Caesar and Giveon, became a hit in 2021?
Peaches

166. Which Billie Eilish album, released in 2021, featured the title track Happier Than Ever?
Happier Than Ever

167. Which rapper released the viral hit Industry Baby featuring Jack Harlow?
Lil Nas X

168. Which pop star released the hit Levitating in 2020?
Dua Lipa

169. Which song by Måneskin, originally released in Italian, became an international hit in 2021?
Beggin’

170. Which artist had a viral moment with the song Heat Waves in 2021?
Glass Animals

171. Which K-pop girl group released Pink Venom in 2022?
BLACKPINK

172. Which song by Harry Styles became a No. 1 hit in 2022?
As It Was

173. Which Steve Lacy song gained massive popularity on TikTok in 2022?
Bad Habit

174. Which Miley Cyrus song, released in 2023, became an empowerment anthem?
Flowers

175. Which pop star released the album SOS in 2022, featuring the hit Kill Bill?
SZA

176. Which Taylor Swift song from the Midnights album became a major hit in 2022?
Anti-Hero

177. Which Nigerian artist had a global hit with Calm Down featuring Selena Gomez?
Rema

178. Which Bad Bunny song became a Latin pop hit in 2022?
Tití Me Preguntó

179. Which Sam Smith and Kim Petras song became a viral hit in 2022?
Unholy

180. Which song by Morgan Wallen became a crossover country-pop hit in 2023?
Last Night

181. Which singer had a hit with Vampire in 2023?
Olivia Rodrigo

182. Which R&B artist had a viral hit with Snooze in 2023?
SZA

183. Which Barbie movie soundtrack song by Billie Eilish became a big hit in 2023?
What Was I Made For?

184. Which artist released the album Cowboy Carter in 2024, blending country and pop?
Beyoncé

185. Which viral TikTok song by Benson Boone became a chart hit in 2024?
Beautiful Things

186. Which song by Taylor Swift was rumored to be about Joe Alwyn in 2024?
So Long, London

187. Which artist performed at the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show?
Usher

The Bottom Line

So what makes someone a true pop music expert?

It’s not just memorizing artist names or release dates—it’s understanding how this ever-changing genre has evolved across decades while maintaining its core appeal: connecting with listeners through catchy, relatable music.

From Elvis’s hip-swinging rebellion to BTS’s global phenomenon status, pop music continues to change while reflecting the culture and technology of its time.

If you aced our quiz or found gaps in your knowledge, the beauty of pop music lies in its accessibility to everyone.

Want to expand your pop expertise?

Start by finding artists from decades you’re less familiar with. Listen to iconic albums from start to finish.

Follow how production techniques have changed. Most importantly, stay curious—because pop music never stands still, and neither should your musical education.