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Guess the Artist: Test Your Music Trivia Skills

Think you can guess the music artist? Challenge yourself now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for music quiz with iconic song lyrics on golden yellow background

This Guess the Artist quiz helps you name the singer or band from famous lyrics and quick clues. Play at your own pace, track your score, and pick up a fun fact or two along the way. When you finish, keep the vibe going with more song trivia.

When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me is the opening line of which iconic bands song?
The Beatles
Elvis Presley
Queen
Bob Dylan
This lyric opens the Beatles 1970 song Let It Be, written by Paul McCartney and featuring a memorable piano melody. It was released as a single and later became the title track of their final studio album. Let It Be topped charts around the world and remains one of the bands most enduring hits. .
Just a small-town girl, living in a lonely world is the first line of which rock bands signature song?
Journey
Foreigner
Bon Jovi
REO Speedwagon
These lyrics open Journeys 1981 classic Dont Stop Believin, which became one of the best-selling catalog tracks in rock history. Written by Steve Perry, Neal Schon, and Jonathan Cain, it has been featured in countless movies, shows, and sporting events. Its iconic piano intro and uplifting message helped cement its status as a rock anthem. .
Which band asks Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? in the opening of their operatic rock masterpiece?
Led Zeppelin
The Beatles
Pink Floyd
Queen
Queens 1975 epic Bohemian Rhapsody begins with these famous lines, written by Freddie Mercury. The song defied conventions with its multi-part structure and operatic backing vocals. It became one of the bands signature tracks and a landmark in rock music. .
Load up on guns, bring your friends is the opening lyric to which grunge bands breakout hit?
Soundgarden
Alice In Chains
Pearl Jam
Nirvana
This line starts Nirvanas 1991 anthem Smells Like Teen Spirit, written by Kurt Cobain. The song propelled the band to international fame and defined the grunge movement of the early 90s. Its opening riff and raw intensity remain legendary in rock history. .
Who sings I stay out too late, got nothing in my brain in a #1 pop hit from 2014?
Taylor Swift
Selena Gomez
Katy Perry
Ariana Grande
These lyrics open Taylor Swifts 2014 single Shake It Off, which became her third US #1 hit. The song marked a departure into pop for Swift and features an upbeat, danceable production. It remains one of her most-streamed tracks. .
Who encourages you with Cause baby, youre a firework in a 2010 empowerment anthem?
Katy Perry
Lady Gaga
Rihanna
Miley Cyrus
Katy Perrys 2010 hit Firework features this uplifting chorus and became a global smash. Written by Perry along with Dr. Luke and Max Martin, the song encourages listeners to embrace their own worth. It earned multi-platinum certifications worldwide. .
Which vocalist sings Hello from the other side, I mustve called a thousand times?
Lana Del Rey
Sia
Adele
Beyonc
Adeles 2015 ballad Hello begins with this plaintive refrain and became a record-breaking single worldwide. It topped charts in over 30 countries and won multiple Grammy Awards. The song showcased her powerful vocals and emotional lyricism. .
Who famously croons Were no strangers to love, you know the rules and so do I?
Elton John
Rick Astley
Billy Joel
George Michael
Rick Astleys 1987 hit Never Gonna Give You Up kicks off with these lyrics. The song became one of the defining tracks of the 80s and later inspired the Rickrolling internet meme. It reached number one in 25 countries. .
If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends is from which 90s pop groups debut single?
Backstreet Boys
TLC
Spice Girls
NSYNC
Spice Girls 1996 debut Wannabe starts with this catchy line. The song spent seven weeks at UK #1 and became a global phenomenon, defining the girl-power movement. It remains one of the best-selling singles by a female group. .
Which pop star opens her 1998 hit with My loneliness is killin me?
Britney Spears
Madonna
Christina Aguilera
Janet Jackson
Britney Spears debut single Baby One More Time begins with this line. Released in 1998, it became a global smash and launched her career. The song topped charts in 14 countries and is frequently cited among the best pop singles of the 90s. .
Billie Jean is not my lover, shes just a girl who claims that I am the one is sung by which King of Pop?
Prince
Michael Jackson
Stevie Wonder
James Brown
Michael Jacksons 1982 single Billie Jean features this famous opening line. Produced by Quincy Jones for the album Thriller, it became one of Jacksons signature songs and a defining moment in pop music. The track topped the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks. .
Who begins their 2000 hit with the apology Im sorry Ms. Jackson, I am for real?
Salt-N-Pepa
Outkast
Wu-Tang Clan
The Fugees
Outkasts 2000 single Ms. Jackson addresses Andr 3000s apology to singer Erykah Badus mother. The song appeared on their Grammy-winning album Stankonia and became one of the duos biggest hits. It won the Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Top Artists from Lyrics -

    Guess the artist by matching iconic song lyrics to the correct musician, sharpening your lyrical recognition skills.

  2. Recall Iconic Song Verses -

    Retrieve famous lines and connect them to their original performers in our guess the music artist quiz.

  3. Analyze Artist Styles -

    Examine lyrical patterns to infer the unique styles and signatures of various musicians.

  4. Track Your Quiz Performance -

    Monitor your score, review correct answers, and identify areas for improvement in the guess the artist challenge.

  5. Compare Scores with Friends -

    Engage with peers by sharing results and see who can guess the musician more accurately.

  6. Enhance Genre Knowledge -

    Explore a diverse range of music genres and expand your familiarity with artists across the musical spectrum.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Lyric Themes & Signature Phrases -

    Spot recurring motifs like heartbreak, empowerment, or social commentary in an artist's catalog to narrow down your guesses. Use the mnemonic "BELLS" (Ballads, Empowerment, Love, Loss, Social issues) to categorize lyrics quickly. According to Oxford Music Online, artists often revisit these core themes across multiple albums.

  2. Vocal Timbre & Delivery -

    Identify an artist by their unique vocal color - raspy, airy, nasal or mellifluous tones can be dead giveaways. Berklee College of Music suggests profiling timbre with the "SSN" method: Strength, Smoothness, Nasality. For example, Adele's rich mezzo-soprano and Billie Eilish's whispery register are instantly recognizable.

  3. Rhythmic & Melodic Hooks -

    Lock onto short, catchy motifs that recur in an artist's hits - these hooks often live in the first 30 seconds of a track. Try the "3-1-2" trick: listen for a phrase that appears three times on beats 1, 3, and 5 to cement it in your memory. Oxford Music Online highlights that rhythmic signatures like syncopated claps or melodic leaps can pinpoint artists across genres.

  4. Production Layers & Instrumentation -

    Listen for signature production elements - 808 bass hits, vinyl crackle, side-chain ducking or lush string arrangements - that producers often reuse. Sound on Sound magazine reports that these studio fingerprints can be as telling as a vocal style. Noticing a hallmark synth patch or a trademark guitar tone will accelerate your guess.

  5. Historical & Cultural Context -

    Contextual clues like era references or cultural nods can instantly narrow your field: disco slang likely points to the '70s, while emoji-filled lyrics scream modern pop. Use the "ERA" framework (Event, Reference, Attitude) to match time periods swiftly. UCLA's Ethnomusicology Department emphasizes that understanding an artist's social backdrop boosts recognition accuracy.

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