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Get ready for some awesome music trivia questions and answers. If you love music and you'd like to learn more about all kinds of different music, you'll have tons of fun with these music trivia questions.
Everyone loves music, and that's why these trivia questions are great conversation starters. You never know when music trivia might come in handy, and you can impress your friends with your extensive knowledge on the subject.
Meeting someone for the first time? Play a little music trivia and these icebreaker games will help you break free of that awkward stage. Soon enough, you'll be best pals - or even something more!
Even people from drastically different backgrounds can bond over their shared love of music. These are great questions to ask if you feel like you have nothing in common with someone - but you still want to form a connection.
Are you ready to begin? It's time to check out some music trivia questions and answers!
Contents
5 best music trivia questions and answers
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If you're aiming to choose only the very best music trivia questions, this is your chance.
1. International music sensation ABBA originate from which European country?
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Answer
Sweden
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Did you ever wonder how ABBA got its name? The word is actually an acronym containing the first letter of each of the band members' names.
2. What was the first music video played on MTV?
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Answer
Video Killed the Radio Star
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While video might have killed the radio star, MTV suffered the same fate, as many believe that YouTube killed MTV.
3. Who won American Idol season one?
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Answer
Kelly Clarkson
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Although Kelly Clarkson was the first to win, she certainly wasn't the last, as American Idol became one of the most successful reality shows ever.
4. Which Beatle had dyslexia?
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Answer
John Lennon
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The fact that John Lennon had dyslexia is somewhat ironic, seeing as he is considered one of the best songwriters of all time.
5. In what year did Elvis Presley die?
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Answer
28338
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The King may have been one of the most influential figures in history, but his later years were quite tragic as he suffered from various health issues.
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3 fun music trivia questions and answers
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If your main goal is simply to have fun with your trivia questions, then these fun trivia questions are for you.
6. In which of Britney’s video does she appear as a stewardess?
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Answer
Toxic
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While Britney's songs were catchy, her music videos were even more alluring. Many of her videos featured imaginative and daring themes.
7. Rap music originated in what country?
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Answer
USA
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While there is some debate as to the exact neighborhood that created rap, it is generally accepted that the genre began in New York City.
8. Which member of the Spice Girls was famous for her Union Jack dress?
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Answer
Geri Halliwell
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The Spice Girls gained international success and put the United Kingdom at the forefront of popular music (a feat not accomplished since the Beatles).
3 funny music trivia questions and answers
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Sometimes, the music industry can be pretty hilarious. Check out these funny trivia questions for a laugh.
9. Who adorned his last piano with 350 pounds of rhinestones?
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Answer
Liberace
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Liberace may have been alive during the modern era, but his affinity for lavish decorations would have put him right at home at the court of Louis XIV.
10. What rock group is immortalized on Butt-head's T-shirt?
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Answer
AC / DC
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Beavis and Butt-Head was one of the funniest shows on MTV back in the day, but Mike Judge continues to release new content.
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11. What rock group's only beardless member is Frank Beard?
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Answer
ZZ Top's
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ZZ Top might be famous for its members' bearded aesthetic, but the one man with the last name of "Beard" is ironically the only one to go clean-shaven!
3 easy music trivia questions and answers
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It's always a good idea to include a few easy trivia questions. It just makes things a little more fun.
12. Who rose to fame with the hit song I Kissed A Girl?
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Answer
Katy Perry
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Before achieving fame, Katy Perry was a little-known artist who performed at open mic sessions in bars and pubs. However, this hit changed all that...
13. Which rock band had a number one hit with “Don’t Stop Believin'” in 1981?
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Answer
Journey
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Although Journey has achieved widespread commercial success, their most prominent period was with lead singer Steve Perry, who left in 1987.
14. Which pop superstar debuted his signature “Moonwalk” dance in 1983?
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Answer
Michael Jackson
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Michael Jackson is multi-talented, but his dance moves never failed to drive people wild during concerts.
3 music trivia questions and answers for kids
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Children love music just as much as adults, and that's why it's important to check out this trivia for kids.
15. What is the name given to the person who directs the orchestra?
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Answer
Conductor
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It's easy to forget that music as we know it started with orchestral compositions. Slowly but surely, these masterpieces denigrated into pop music.
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16. Which percussion instrument is named after its shape?
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Answer
Triangle
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Although the triangle may seem like a relatively simple instrument, it's actually difficult to master - especially in the context of classical music.
17. Which country does the famous female singer Rihanna come from?
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Answer
Barbados
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Rihanna is without doubt one of the most famous musicians today, and she maintains strong ties with her native nation of Barbados.
3 music trivia questions and answers for adults
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Adults are just as crazy about music as teens and kids. Keep the older generations happy with these trivia questions for adults.
18. What did Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen lose in a 1984 auto accident?
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Answer
An arm
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If you were around during the 80s, you know all about this incident. Amazingly, Rick Allen taught himself how to play with one arm after the accident.
19. What Beatles single lasted longest on the charts, at 19 weeks?
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Answer
Hey Jude
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"Hey Jude" was actually written by Paul McCartney for Julian Lennon (John Lennon's son) after his parents' divorce.
20. Which country singer was known as ‘The Man in Black’?
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Answer
Johnny Cash
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Johnny Cash always wore black on stage, and he always began each concert with the simple line "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash."
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3 hard music trivia questions and answers
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If you really want to test your music knowledge, try these hard trivia questions.
21. Chopin was well known for his ballads. How many did he compose?
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Answer
4
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Chopin was an absolute master when it came to the piano. During the romantic era, he became known for his solo piano works.
22. Which group were fronted by Jon Bon Jovi?
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Answer
Bon Jovi
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Trick question! Many bands are actually named after their frontmen. Other examples include Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie.
23. Justin Bieber released the very popular Despacito in 2017 but what does the word 'despacito' actually mean?
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Answer
Slowly
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Despacito has become a meme, a legend, and one of the most popular tracks. The word "despacito" refers to the importance of not rushing things when making love...
3 random music trivia questions and answers
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If you want to keep your trivia night fresh and exciting, then why not mix things up with these random trivia questions and answers?
24. Which Elton John song did President Donald Trump use to nickname North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un?
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Answer
Rocket Man
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President Trump seems to have a knack for nicknames, and the moniker he chose for Kim Jon-Un referred to his continued testing of missiles.
25. Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, and Amy Winehouse all died at what age?
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Answer
27
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Strangely, there is a large group of musicians who have all passed away at 27. Conspiracy theorists call this the "27 Club."
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26. Which band’s name is also a reference to a large German airship, cylindrical in shape?
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Answer
Led Zeppelin
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By the time Led Zeppelin was formed, airships were very much out of style. However, in the early 20th century they were very much in vogue.
3 animal music trivia questions and answers
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Musicians make songs about all kinds of different topics, but animals are always a popular choice. Try these animal trivia questions if you're an animal lover.
27. Which was the first Ozzy Osbourne album to feature Jake E. Lee on guitar?
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Answer
Bark At The Moon
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After leaving Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne went on to experience a very successful solo career after teaming up with talented guitarists like Jake E. Lee.
28. "Hound Dog". Who sang it originally?
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Answer
Big Mama Thornton
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Many of Elvis' most famous tracks were actually covers of songs that had been recorded long before by other artists - "Hound Dog" is a notable example.
29. Who sang "Wild Horses" in 1971?
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Answer
The Rolling Stones
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Wild Horses was recorded while the Rolling Stones were on the road, and it alludes to the fact that they were "a million miles from where they wanted to be."
3 80s music trivia questions and answers
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If you loved the 80s, you'll love these 80s trivia questions and answers. Just try to get them all right!
30. On what date did MTV make its debut?
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Answer
29799
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MTV might be one of the most influential television stations in the music industry. Before MTV, we just didn't see music videos the same way.
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31. Who’s a breakthrough hit was the 1983 single “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”?
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Answer
Cyndi Lauper
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Girls Just Want to Have Fun is one of those tracks that has truly survived through the ages, and the song perfectly summed up Lauper's fun-loving personality.
32. Which “Material Girl” starred in the 1985 movie “Desperately Seeking Susan”?
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Answer
Madonna
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Madonna may have had her start in the 80s, but she continued to release hits throughout the next few decades.
3 bar music trivia questions and answers
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If you love listening to bar music, you'll love these bar trivia questions. Just try not to get any wrong!
33. What is the parent genre of lounge music?
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Answer
Jazz
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Jazz was a very influential genre, and it sparked the creation of many other types of music - even heavy metal!
34. Who is the most popular lounge singer?
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Answer
Frank Sinatra
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Frank Sinatra was a legendary singer, and he had many hits, including "Fly Me to the Moon." He stills sounds amazing to this day.
35. What's the other term for Muzak?
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Answer
Elevator music
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Elevator music might not be everyone's first choice in music, but it certainly makes for some funny movie scenes!
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3 movie trivia questions
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Music is incredibly important in most movies, as it helps set the mood. If you're a movie buff, you'll love these movie trivia questions.
36. Who sang the 1965 James Bond theme, Thunderball?
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Answer
Tom Jones
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The James Bond movies have a long history of including excellent theme songs, but it wasn't until Skyfall that the franchise won an Oscar for best original song.
37. What’s the name of the 1957 musical prison drama starring Elvis Presley?
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Answer
Jailhouse Rock
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Elvis was just as much of an actor as he was a musician. In fact, some say that he focused too much on his movie career.
38. The R. Kelly hit "I Believe I Can Fly" was from which movie?
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Answer
Space Jam
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Space Jam is an incredibly nostalgic movie, and for many young adults today, even the mention of the film takes them back to their childhoods.
3 music history trivia questions
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Do you love history AND music? If so, you'll get a kick out of these history trivia questions.
39. Which music group holds the record for the best-selling album in United Kingdom history?
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Answer
Queen
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Queen was led by Freddie Mercury, who was recently the subject of the biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody."
40. A chanting style of music was named after a sixth-century Roman Catholic pope and became the dominant form of singing in the Western Roman Catholic Church. Can you name it?
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Answer
Gregorian chant
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Gregorian chants are sung without accompaniment by musical instruments, and they are sung in Latin.
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41. The Baroque Period lasted from when until when?
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Answer
1600-1750
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The word Baroque comes from the Portuguese word "Barroco," which means "misshapen pearl." This era was famous for its gallantry.
3 Bible music trivia questions and answers
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Are you an expert on the bible? If so, you'll totally ace these Bible trivia questions and answers (about music).
42. In the song of Moses and the Lamb in the book of Revelation, God is described as the king of what?
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Answer
kings
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Although Moses is a central figure in the Bible, he is even more important in the religion of Judaism.
43. Against what army did Gideon's men blow trumpets and shout "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!"?
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Answer
Midianites
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Although Gideon used trumpets and torches to defeat his foes, the bible suggests that his true weapon was his belief in god.
44. With what instrument did Miriam lead the women out to sing to the Lord when the Israelites had crossed the Red Sea?
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Answer
Timbrels
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Funnily enough, some archaeologists believe that the red sea really did subside suddenly and that it might have happened during biblical times.
3 Halloween music trivia questions and answers
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Halloween is the time for spooky music and tons of candy. But it's also a great time for music, so fill out this music-related Halloween trivia.
45. “You try to scream, but terror takes the sound before you make it”
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Answer
Thriller
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Michael Jackson's Thriller may have been spooky, but that didn't dissuade over 100 million people from buying the record.
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46. Who created the Zombie Stomp?
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Answer
Ozzy Osbourne
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Ozzy Osbourne has always been somewhat obsessed with spooky imagery, but despite rumors, he has never been involved with Satanism.
47. What's the name of the composer who scored the series, "The X-Files"?
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Answer
Mark Snow
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The X-Files was an incredibly successful series, and many remember it from its characteristic theme tune.
3 thanksgiving music trivia questions and answers
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Thanksgiving is a time for family, but it's also a time for music. Test your knowledge with these Thanksgiving trivia questions.
48. Which popular Christmas song was written in the mid-19th century by James Pierpont originally as a Thanksgiving song?
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Answer
Jingle Bells
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Although the song "Jingle Bells" might seem synonymous with Christmas, the truth is that it was originally intended for Thanksgiving.
49. In the holiday song "Over the River and Through the Woods," where are they going?
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Answer
Grandmother's house
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Over the River and Through the Woods actually started off as a Thanksgiving poem by Lydia Maria Child.
50. The Thanksgiving song "Alice's Restaurant" involved?
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Answer
Garbage dumping
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Alice's Restaurant is a truly interesting Blues song, and it covers themes such as the Vietnam Draft.
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5 Christmas music trivia questions and answers
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Out of all the holidays, Christmas might have the most active musical traditions. After all, there are just so many different Christmas songs. Think you know them all? Then why not try these musical Christmas trivia questions?
51. What’s the most famous Christmas song of all time?
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Answer
White Christmas
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White Christmas (as sung by Bing Crosby) isn't just the most famous Christmas song of all time - it's actually the world's best-selling single, with 50 million copies sold worldwide. All versions of the song have sold more than 100 million units.
52. Who had a Billboard Hot 100 hit single with “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” in 1960?
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Answer
Brenda Lee
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Although Brenda Lee sung this song, it was actually Johnny Marks who wrote it. In the modern era, this song is the fourth-most-downloaded Christmas track in the world.
53. Which country singer first released “Jingle Bell Rock” in 1957?
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Answer
Bobby Helms
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There was a major authorship controversy surrounding "Jingle Bell Rock." Bobby Helms continued to dismiss claims made by Joseph Carleton Beal and James Ross Boothe, who said they had originally written the song.
54. Gene Autry had a 1949 Christmas number one with which popular song?
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Answer
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
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Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is probably one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time, and almost every child knows the lyrics to this jingle by heart.
55. Which singer had a huge hit with “Santa Baby” in 1953?
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Answer
Eartha Kitt
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Santa Baby was a highly controversial song when it was released in 1953. The satirical lyrics poke fun at Christmas, and they're sung by a woman who wants expensive things like yachts and sables.
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Downloadable and Printable List of Music Trivia Questions and Answer
Here is a downloadable and printable list of music trivia questions and answers (right-click the image and select Save Image As:..):
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How To Pick the Best music trivia questions and answers
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If you're making a list of potential trivia questions for an upcoming game or party, it makes sense to choose only the best ones. However, this isn't always easy. Choosing the best music trivia questions and answers is an art, and that's why you need to follow this simple guide.
1. Choose questions about different musical genres
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Very few people are experts on all musical genres. That's why it's a good idea to switch it up a little with your music trivia questions and answers. Don't just choose questions about rock, rap, or country.
Instead, mix it up and make sure that everyone has a chance to show off their expertise.
2. Choose Questions about modern music and the classics
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To make your trivia night even more interesting, make sure to choose questions that focus on both modern music and the classics. This is especially important if you're playing with a wide range of age groups. Older people might have no idea what's going on with modern music, while younger individuals probably feel the same about classics from decades past.
Even if you're playing with only young people, a few questions about older songs can make it more interesting and challenging.
3. Let other people choose questions
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If you're planning on having a trivia night with a ton of different people, let them all submit their own questions. This helps everyone participate, making it more fun.
Just make sure that the people who pick the questions write their name on the card so that everyone knows who wrote it. Obviously, the people who wrote the question shouldn't be allowed to answer it!
More Awesome Ice Breaker Games and Questions
Music trivia questions and answers are tons of fun, but they're hardly the only option. There are tons of other potential topics for icebreaker questions and trivia, and you can check out many other choices. Here are some more awesome ice breaker games and questions:
- Have you ever wondered what your friends will be like in a few years? Now's the time to speculate! With these "most likely to questions," you can figure out whether your friends are likely to become president... or an evil mastermind!
- Of all the fun games you can play with your friends, "never have I ever" is one of the most enjoyable. Check out these never have I ever questions for tons of ideas on how to make your next game even more awesome.
- If you're a teen and you're looking for trivia questions that are more in line with your hobbies and interests, then you might want to check out these icebreaker games for teens. No boomers allowed!
In Conclusion
Now that you've gone through a number of music trivia questions and answers, it's time to share them with your friends! Show off your newfound knowledge of music and impress everyone by asking them your favorite trivia questions from this list.
Or better yet, use these music trivia questions and answers as icebreaker games to make it less awkward when you meet new people. Before you know it, you'll be laughing together and bonding over your shared love of music.
These are great questions to ask in almost any situation, so don't be afraid to pull them out when you and your friends are feeling bored. Soon enough, you'll gain a reputation as the true music mastermind...
