Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Boomers’ Favorite Tunes?
Baby boomers were born between 1946 and 1964, so they certainly have a leg up when it comes to recalling music from the ’60s and ’70s. We bet Gen Z’ers couldn’t name the singer behind “Son of a Preacher Man” or “What’s Up Pussycat.” Take this quiz to test your knowledge of the jams that baby boomers played on repeat.
What song competition launched ABBA’s career?
A. Eurovision Song Contest
B. Star Search
C. The Gong Show
D. New Faces
Answer: Eurovision Song Contest
In 1974, ABBA became the first Swedish group to win the Eurovision Song Contest. They went on to become one of the best-selling music artists of all time with 200 million records sold!
Before Lady Gaga, this singer played the lead in A Star Is Born
A. Barbra Streisand
B. Kate Bush
C. Joni Mitchell
D. Patti Smith
Answer: Barbra Streisand
The 1976 rendition of
A Star Is Born
starred Barbra Streisand opposite Kris Kristofferson. At the time, Streisand had already won five Grammys, two of which were for her debut album!
What was the name of Bob Marley’s band?
A. Bob Marley and the Wailers
B. One Love
C. Feel Alright
D. Bob Marley and the Rastas
Answer: Bob Marley and the Wailers
Bob Marley cofounded Bob Marley and the Wailers in 1963. The group released their debut album, The Wailing Wailers, two years later. The album featured the hit “One Love/ People Get Ready.”
Which of the following is NOT a song by The Beatles
A. Hey Jude
B. Something
C. Penny Lane
D. Imagine
Answer: Imagine
That was a trick question! Imagine was a song by Beatle’s frontman John Lennon. It was on his solo album of the same name, which debuted a year after the band split.
Which of the following is NOT a song by Aretha Franklin?
A. I’m Coming Out
B. A Natural Woman
C. Think
D. Day Dreaming
Answer: I’m Coming Out
Songs like “Think,” “A Natural Woman,” and “Day Dreaming” contributed to Aretha Franklin becoming known as the “Queen of Soul.” “I’m Coming Out” was another famous song, but it was sung by Diana Ross.
What was The Beach Boys’ first hit?
A. “Surfin’ U.S.A.”
B. “Good Vibrations”
C. “I Get Around”
D. “California Girls”
Answer: “Surfin’ U.S.A.”
The Beach Boys gained a national-wide audience with their first hit, “Surfin’ U.S.A.” The band went on to sell more than 100 million records, and they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.
Who sang “Son of a Preacher Man”?
A. Dusty Springfield
B. Janis Joplin
C. Peggy Lee
D. Joni Mitchell
Answer: Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield’s song “Son of a Preacher Man” became an international hit following its 1968 debut. It peaked at number 10 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and at number 9 in the UK.
What is the name of Bruce Springsteen’s backing band?
A. E Street Band
B. Born to Run
C. The Boss
D. The Phillies
Answer: E Street Band
The E Street Band has been Bruce Springsteen’s primary backing band since 1972 and their name has often appeared on Springsteen concert bills. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.
AC/DC formed in what country?
A. Australia
B. Ireland
C. Canada
D. Scotland
Answer: Australia
AC/DC formed in Sydney, Australia back in 1973, but founders Malcolm and Angus Young were actually born in Scotland. They went on to become internationally known, selling more than 200 million records!
Who was the “Queen of Disco”?
A. Donna Summer
B. Gloria Gaynor
C. Diana Ross
D. Thelma Houston
Answer: Donna Summer
Donna Summer gained international recognition in the ’70s with hits like “Love to Love You Baby” and “Last Dance.” She won 5 Grammys and became known as the “Queen of Disco.”
This song was just a commercial ad before The Carpenters picked it up
A. We’ve Only Just Begun
B. Top of the World
C. For All We Know
D. Jambalaya
Answer: We’ve Only Just Begun
“We’ve Only Just Begun” first reached audiences as part of a commercial for Crocker National Bank. Richard Carpenter saw the ad and decided to record the song with his sister, turning it into a smash hit!
Which of the following was NOT a 1977 hit?
A. “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”
B. “Blinded By The Light”
C. “Dancing Queen”
D. “Hotel California”
Answer: “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”
“Wouldn’t It Be Nice” was one of several hits that The Beach Boys released in the ’60s. In 1977, the band released the album Love You, which peaked at number 53 on the Billboard chart.
Which Elvis Presley song had a movie of the same name?
A. All of these
B. “Jailhouse Rock”
C. “Love Me Tender”
D. “Loving You”
Answer: All of these
Though Elvis is largely known for his music, the King was also a movie star. He was in 31 films, many of which shared names with his songs or albums.
This ’70s band shared its name with a common kitchen staple
A. Bread
B. Ketchup
C. Butter
D. Bananas
Answer: Bread
Bread was a soft rock band that had 13 singles appear on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1970 and 1977. One of these was “Sweet Surrender,” which is fittingly the name of a bakery in Bakersfield, California.
Olivia Newton-John won Best Female Country Vocal Performance for what song?
A. “Let Me Be There”
B. “Please Mr. Please”
C. “Banks of the Ohio”
D. “A Little More Love”
Answer: “Let Me Be There”
Though Olivia Newton-John isn’t generally known for having a country style, her song “Let Me Be There” won the 1974 Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.
Led Zeppelin mentions what mythical land in “Immigrant Song”?
A. Valhalla
B. Agartha
C. Lemuria
D. Tartarus
Answer: Valhalla
In “Immigrant Song,” Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant sings, “Valhalla, I’m coming.” According to Norse mythology, Valhalla is the majestic place where soldiers go if they died in combat.
Which of the following lead singers was also a drummer?
A. Karen Carpenter
B. Debbie Harry
C. Stevie Nicks
D. Ann Wilson
Answer: Karen Carpenter
Karen Carpenter not only sang, but she also played the drums for many of The Carpenters’ songs. Karen had taught herself how to play the drums in high school and could play complex time signatures just a year into her practice.
Art Garfunkel’s hit “Bright Eyes” was featured in what 1970s animated film?
A. Watership Down
B. The Lord of the Rings
C. Snoopy, Come Home
D. The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie
Answer: Watership Down
Almost a decade after his split from bandmate Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel released the hit single, “Bright Eyes.” The song reached number 1 in the UK and was featured in the 1978 animated film Watership Down.
Who was NOT originally a member of The Beatles?
A. Ringo Starr
B. Paul McCartney
C. John Lennon
D. George Harrison
Answer: Ringo Starr
The Beatle’s original drummer was Pete Best, who was dismissed from the band in 1962, at which point Ringo Starr stepped in to fill his place. Best later got the nickname “the Fifth Beatle.”
Who sang the theme song of the James Bond film Thunderball?
A. Tom Jones
B. Dean Martin
C. Johnny Mathis
D. Tony Bennett
Answer: Tom Jones
Tom Jones had multiple hits in the mid-sixties, but perhaps his most well-known single was “What’s New Pussycat?”, the theme song for the 1965 James Bond film Thunderball.
