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Musical Genres Quiz

Name the musical genre exemplified by each pair of musical acts.
I know this quiz is completely subjective, and that there are many correct answers. Unfortunately, we only take one. Sorry!
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Last updated: August 16, 2019
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First submittedMarch 5, 2012
Times taken55,884
Average score58.3%
Rating3.90
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Musical Acts
Genre
The Rolling Stones | The Who
Rock
Michael Jackson | Madonna
Pop
Miles Davis | Louis Armstrong
Jazz
Aretha Franklin | Al Green
Soul
Nirvana | Pearl Jam
Grunge
Bob Marley | Jimmy Cliff
Reggae
The Clash | The Ramones
Punk
Woody Guthrie | Joan Baez
Folk
Ludwig van Beethoven | W.A. Mozart
Classical
B.B. King | Muddy Waters
Blues
Garth Brooks | Dolly Parton
Country
Iron Maiden | Black Sabbath
Heavy Metal
Musical Acts
Genre
Bee Gees | Village People
Disco
Parliament | Sly and the Family Stone
Funk
D'Angelo | Luther Vandross
R&B
Alison Krauss | Ricky Skaggs
Bluegrass
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy | Glenn Miller
Swing
2Pac | Jay-Z
Rap
João Gilberto | Sérgio Mendes
Bossa Nova
Yanni | Enya
New Age
David Guetta | Calvin Harris
House
Scott Joplin | Jelly Roll Morton
Ragtime
Fela Kuti | Antibalas
Afrobeat
Exo | Girls' Generation
K-Pop
+3
Level 69
Mar 16, 2012
Shouldn't techno be accepted for house as well? I'm not sure.
+3
Level 20
Sep 13, 2012
Nope! Hahaha. I was happy to see Guetta identified as house. Techno is a whole 'nother ballgame.
+1
Level 14
Jul 7, 2012
What the heck is bossa nova?
+11
Level 75
May 23, 2014
It's a Brazilian fusion of samba and jazz. Back in the Dark Ages when I was young, Eydie Gorme had a hit called "Blame it on the Bossa Nova."
+1
Level 44
Jan 26, 2015
the most famous bossa nova song is call the Girl from Ipomema and is most famous for being sung by a woman who spoke no English.. in the original version, which everyoen has heard.. it is often called elevator music. lol

Anyways it was a fusion between jazz and samba music done down in Brazil .. most of the songs were sung in Portuguese .

+1
Level 21
Feb 21, 2015
theres a song called Soul Bossa Nova and i was thinking of it when i did this and got it because of Austin Powers.
+1
Level 67
Jan 27, 2023
Listen to Antonio Carlos Jobim, the album Stone Flower is amazing.
+4
Level 67
Nov 22, 2012
Please put in someone else for Disco. Ohio Players would be good, as would Earth Wind & Fire. While the Beegees may have sold a ton of records, they are parasites.
+6
Level 33
Jan 14, 2013
Your opinion Balty. Personally I think Earth Wind Fire suck the big one. (And whose ever heard of those other ones?) I'm not a big fan of the BeeGees either... But you know... it's your opinion - fine. Other people have different opinions. As Aretha would say - R E S P E C T
+1
Level 77
Sep 21, 2015
I've seen them at an airport once. Had to ask the guys asking for autographs who they were. Didn't quite dare marching in front of them asking "hey guys? are you famous for something?".
+7
Level 74
Oct 14, 2014
I'm not a huge fan of the Bee Gees either, but there's no doubting their extraordinary talent. They were not only responsible for their own considerable number of hits, but they wrote many of the hits recorded by other people at the time as well. And just look at the roll call of artists who have covered their songs - David Bowie, Brian Wilson, Faith No More, Madonna, Elton John, The Flaming Lips, Elvis, Pet Shop Boys, Janis Joplin, Paul Simon.....
+5
Level 88
Aug 16, 2019
Nobody admits to being a fan of a band that sold a trillion records in 1 year.
+1
Level 81
Jan 27, 2023
I will!

(Admittedly, mostly for their other, non-disco stuff though... 😆)

+3
Level 67
Jan 19, 2017
Ohio Players and Earth Wind and Fire are more R&B/ funk than disco. Thelma Houston, Donna Summer, Boney M are more disco. And Bee Gees are both pop (first half of their career) and disco (second half).
+2
Level 37
Jul 10, 2019
There would be no disco music without the BeeGees (and Donna Summer). Think of Saturday Night Fever and tell me which other group could be identified with Disco.
+2
Level 70
Aug 17, 2019
There are a lot stronger opinions here about disco than I would have ever imagined. I didn't realize people still had opinions about it. Thought it was just sort of a thing that happened and the world moved on like Crocodile Dundee or the Crystal Pepsi.
+3
Level 63
Sep 5, 2019
I can't believe that Rick Dees wasn't included for Disco. Makes you wonder why he even bothered to record "Disco Duck".
+1
Level 66
Sep 5, 2019
He obviously did that to get on this quiz ( whoever he is)
+1
Level 84
Sep 28, 2020
I still have strong opinions about Crocodile Dundee.
+1
Level 72
Sep 5, 2019
yeah, I thought so too, but about the Village People. They don't even have what makes disco sound disco in their music. The BeeGees are a good example, but should have someone a bit more influential as the second example, like Earth Wind and Fire or Gloria Gaynor or someone. Even KC and the Sunshine Band would be better.
+1
Level 63
Sep 7, 2019
Disco sucks
+1
Level 18
Jul 26, 2014
It doesnt accept Dance for Disco.
+10
Level 69
Aug 16, 2019
There’s a very obvious reason for that…
+2
Level 27
Apr 7, 2016
david guetta is not house
+2
Level 67
Jan 19, 2017
I've never heard of Afrobeat - the genre is commonly know as Afrojazz. Please accept that as an answer.
+3
Level 44
Dec 5, 2019
dont be salty, afrobeat is the perfectly exact terminology.
+2
Level 45
Feb 12, 2017
Classic should be accepted for classic c'mon lol
+4
Level 82
Mar 30, 2019
Classic what? Do you mean classical? Not the same thing.
+1
Level 66
Sep 5, 2019
classical what?
+4
Level 82
Sep 5, 2019
Classical music
+1
Level 87
Mar 25, 2017
Nirvana should also be considered "alternative"
+9
Level 88
Aug 16, 2019
Alternative is a catch all that means absolutely nothing.
+1
Level 69
Aug 16, 2019
It used to!!
+1
Level 67
Jan 27, 2023
A lot of these genres are catch alls anyway. There is little in common between the music of Al Green and Aretha Franklin.
+1
Level 69
Sep 5, 2019
nah, definitely a grunge band
+12
Level 83
Sep 17, 2017
All these arguments, and nobody's mentioned the fact that Beethoven was both a Classical and Romantic composer... or possibly neither.
+9
Level 83
Jul 26, 2018
And to be perfectly honest, the lack of pre-20th century musicians here is striking, given that there is more variation between modern classical and Baroque, say, than any given pair of 20th century genres.
+6
Level 74
Apr 7, 2019
I just commented on that. And while some of his work may be classical I think he is most known for his latter work.

It seems the word "Classical" is used in vague way to describe everything before XX century.

+2
Level 71
Apr 2, 2018
What about 'Skiffle'...... Lonnie Donegan and 'The Rock Island Line'....... those were the days.
+1
Level 67
Jan 27, 2023
I have heard of him from the podcast 500 Songs
+4
Level 74
Apr 7, 2019
by accepting that Beethoven is Classical you agree that Michael Jackson is just Disco, Iron maiden is Rock and so on. Just put Mozart there so Old Ludwig can rest in peace again.
+3
Level 66
Sep 5, 2019
Or perhaps roll over.
+6
Level 78
May 1, 2019
How about New Wave?
+6
Level 69
Aug 16, 2019
New Wave would be a great addition! I’d expect Depeche Mode to be the first clue, with perhaps New Order, Duran Duran, the Cure, or Tears for Fears filling in for the other?

While I’m in suggestion mode, here’s a few more ideas:

Ska (Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The Specials, Madness, No Doubt)

Industrial (Nine Inch Nails, Ministry, Front 242, Skinny Puppy) – Yeah, I know this list is a bit dated, but does “Industrial” even exist as a genre anymore? I also realize I covered a few subgenres, but an answer like “Industrial Dance” or “Industrial Metal” would just be too obscure.

Celtic (The Chieftains, The Corrs, Clannad, or if you wanted to go nuts and include a Celtic Punk clue, The Pogues or the Dropkick Murphys)

Opera (Luciano Pavarotti, Maria Callas, Plácido Domingo, Jessye Norman)

Comedy / Novelty / Parody (Weird Al Yankovic, Tim Minchin, They Might Be Giants)

Easy Listening / Adult Contemporary (Barry Manilow, The Carpenters, Neil Diamond)

+1
Level 82
Aug 17, 2019
Nine Inch Nails, though sometimes filed under "Industrial" in the early 90s, really transcends genre.
+1
Level 66
Sep 5, 2019
Ska yes, industrial maybe though you can make it fall under other genres, celtic could be seen as folk (though I do make the distinction myself, but usually say irish music) opera yes, comedy what? that is not a genre, then lovesongs would be a genre too...., easy listening I can't comment on, I guess it means something different than I thought.
+1
Level 76
Jul 10, 2019
Does swing not actually fall under jazz? I was considering to put it, but then didn't because I thought it'd be just a subcategory of jazz.
+1
Level 67
Sep 5, 2019
No, they are not really related. They both traditionally feature more brass than other common genres, but from a musical standpoint, they don't have a lot in common. Jazz is really its own thing.
+2
Level 32
Jul 10, 2019
Please accept EDM for David Guetta. House is a type of EDM.
+2
Level ∞
Aug 16, 2019
This will work now.
+6
Level 88
Aug 16, 2019
Why isn't big band accepted for swing?
+1
Level 74
Aug 18, 2019
Because swing refers to the off-beat rhythm. Plenty of small swing combos.
+1
Level 82
Sep 5, 2019
My grandmother liked big band music. I might be mistaken but to my ear this was completely different from swing music.
+2
Level 72
Sep 5, 2019
Seconded! Both artists show up when you google big band artists. Big band should definitely be excepted even if it isn't the answer that is displayed.
+1
Level 85
Aug 17, 2019
Fun quiz! Also try Music Genres of the World!
+1
Level 76
Aug 17, 2019
Glad to see you had Scott Joplin listed as a clue. I like his music
+1
Level 29
Aug 20, 2019
Thousands of bizarre mini genres I never heard of (wtf is "Ragtime", "Bluegrass", "K-Pop" or "Bossa Nova"?) but only "Heavy Metal"... What about Thrash, Death, Black, Viking, Doom... ?
+2
Level 76
Aug 25, 2019
Metal should simply have its own quiz.
+5
Level 76
Aug 25, 2019
+1
Level 71
Sep 8, 2019
Me too :) https://www.jetpunk.com/user-quizzes/148687/metal-subgenres
+1
Level 66
Aug 29, 2019
What on earth is the difference between Black Metal, Doom Metal, and Death Metal?
+2
Level 71
Sep 8, 2019
Black metal is typically very atmospheric (especially the more ambient/folky side of the genre such as Moonsorrow and Myrkur) with harsh vocals; doom metal is slower, more melodic, and somewhat bluesy (Black Sabbath are often classed as doom metal); and death metal is harsher and often more technical.
+6
Level 67
Sep 5, 2019
K-Pop is Korean pop, which has a distinct sound and has recently become very popular in the West. Bluegrass, Ragtime, and Bossa Nova are well-established and distinct sounds that have been around for quite a long time. Bossa nova has kind of a coffee shop feel, but it can be very good when done well. Bluegrass is pretty unique to the southeastern US and it's not that interesting, but it's fun to sit in and play because it's so simple. Ragtime was huge in the early 20th century, but no one listens to it now. Scott Joplin (named in the clue) is far and away the most famous ragtime player. You've heard his song "The Entertainer" ten million times. I guarantee it. It's the song that ice cream men play from their trucks and it is the soundtrack to a lot of old silent films and cartoons. Google and give it a listen. You'll recognize it right away.
+4
Level 66
Sep 5, 2019
Bluegrass is not unique to the (southeast) of the Us, though its roots lie there. Every country that has blues bands and bluesfestival also has bluegrass. And I find it very interesting actually. It can really express primal moods and feelings. In contrast to most popsongs. Just strip all fakery and dance barefoot to the sound of a fiddle haha.
+2
Level 34
Sep 5, 2019
How did K-Pop get such a low score? It's everywhere
+3
Level 89
Sep 5, 2019
If the clues had been BTS or Blackpink, they'd probably be higher.
+1
Level 58
Sep 6, 2019
nice quiz! but please accept Bossa for Bossa Nova
+2
Level 63
Sep 7, 2019
Where was Jefferson Airplane or Grateful Dead: PSYCHEDELIC!
+1
Level 47
Sep 7, 2019
I'd like to see J-pop or alternative on this quiz, also can you accept electronic for house?
+1
Level 46
Oct 19, 2019
You left out the best music genre---Doo-wop!
+1
Level 68
Nov 28, 2019
Are hard rock and heavy metal not the same?
+2
Level 18
Feb 21, 2020
I like it. I tried "electronic," "electronica," "electrodance," "dance," "techno," etc., for about two minutes before I finally stumbled on the correct answer. I honestly don't know the subtle differences between these styles. It's just funny that the most simple answer was the correct one after all of that.
+1
Level 62
Sep 26, 2020
How dare you mention Bossa Nova with naming the father of this genre, Antonio Carlos Jobim?
+1
Level 67
Jan 27, 2023
The Rolling Stones are an RnB band. Of course that term meant something different in the 60s. The Who were are a rock n roll band back in the 60s, then they became 'rock'. The genre became white.
+1
Level 67
May 14, 2023
18/24, fun. Missed folk, bluegrass, swing, bossa nova since I group that with jazz, new age, and afrobeat