Can We Guess How Old You Are Based on the Music You Hate?

By: Emily Maggrett
Estimated Completion Time
6 min
Can We Guess How Old You Are Based on the Music You Hate?
Image: ARK Music Factory

About This Quiz

Every generation has a type of music that they simply can't stand. Stereotypically, baby boomers loathe rap, while Gen Xers groan at the very mention of '70s soft rock. While they don't like admitting it, older millennials stereotypically are annoyed by dubstep, whereas younger millennials either love SoundCloud mumble rap or think it's amateurish and awful. 

So ... where do you stand? And what does that say about your age? Keep in mind, music micro-trends have a big impact on some groups of people while totally passing by others. For instance, folks who graduated high school in the late '90s probably have vivid memories of the United States' brief flirtation with British trip-hop, while people who are in high school now wouldn't know the difference between Jamiroquai and Portishead. Most teenagers today have strong opinions about Shawn Mendes vs. Troye Sivan, but their parents likely think that both singers look a lot like David Cassidy. 

Do you think you're an exception to these generational rules? Prove it by taking this quiz! Tell us how you feel about FKA Twigs, Bob Seger, Skrillex and Eminem, and we'll tell you exactly how old you are. We know you're dying to see if we can get it right, so come on: let's play!

1 - Ariana Grande
Republic
In your opinion, who's the most irritating pop diva of all time?
Meghan Trainor
Ariana Grande
Britney Spears
Madonna

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3 -"Fancy" by Iggy Azalea
Def Jam/Virgin EMI
You're dancing at a club when the DJ starts spinning a very dumb track. What is it?
"Fancy" by Iggy Azalea
"Cotton Eye Joe" by Rednex
"What Is Love" by Haddaway
"You Should Be Dancing" by the Bee Gees

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29 - Taylor Swift
Republic/Taylor Swift Productions
How do you ACTUALLY feel about Taylor Swift?
OMG, I love her!
She's a tryhard, but some of her music is okay.
Her smug facial expressions drive me nuts.
She reminds me of Olivia Newton-John.

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30 - "London Bridge" by Fergie
A&M/will.i.am
In your opinion, what's the worst song of all time?
"Friday" by Rebecca Black
"Miracles" by the Insane Clown Posse
"Baby I'm-A Want You" by Bread
"London Bridge" by Fergie

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7 - "Lemonade" Beyoncé
Parkwood/Columbia
Which version of Beyoncé is your least favorite Beyoncé?
"Destiny's Child" Beyoncé
"Sasha Fierce" Beyoncé
"Single Ladies" Beyoncé
"Lemonade" Beyoncé

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2 - "FEFE" by 6ix9ine
ScumGang/TenThousand Projects
Let's say that you're shopping at the mall when an absolutely terrible song starts playing. It's so bad, in fact, that you leave the store. Now ... which song did you imagine hearing?
"FEFE" by 6ix9ine
"Bangarang" by Skrillex
"I Don't Want to Wait" by Paula Cole
"(You’re) Having My Baby” by Paul Anka

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5 - Aerosmith
Geffen
You're in an elevator. What DON'T you want to hear?
Smooth jazz
Aerosmith
ABBA
Instrumental Beatles covers

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6 - Kanye West
Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam
In your opinion, which of these rappers is totally overrated?
Post Malone
Eminem
Kanye West
All rap is overrated.

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8 - dubstep
agrobacter/E+/Getty Images
The most attractive person you've ever met invites you to a dubstep concert. You say ... ?
"Sounds great!"
"I don't normally listen to dubstep, but that sounds like fun."
"Er ... what about a nice, quiet dinner instead?"
"Are you kidding me???? Dubstep?"

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9 - "With Arms Wide Open" by Creed
Wind-up
What's the worst metal song of all time?
"Zombie" by Bad Wolves
"With Arms Wide Open" by Creed
"Enter Sandman" by Metallica
"Beth" by KISS

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10 - "Shout Out To My Ex" by Little Mix
Syco
You're at a wedding. A certain pop hit comes on. As everyone else dances, you shake your head in disgust. What's the song?
"Shout Out to My Ex" by Little Mix
"Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)" by The Offspring
"Honky Tonk Badonkadonk" by Trace Adkins
"Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton

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11 - Lily Allen
Regal
Which female singer-songwriter could you totally do without?
FKA Twigs
Lily Allen
Sarah McLachlan
Joan Baez

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12 - Madonna "reinvented" techno
EDM
Musical fads come and go (on the radio at least, if not in our hearts). In your opinion, which one of these short-lived musical revivals actually sucked?
When Miley Cyrus went back to her country roots
When Madonna "reinvented" herself as a techno artist
The return of ska in the '90s
'80s doo-wop

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13 - "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion
Columbia/Epic
Which one of these love songs is the absolute worst?
"Tell Me Something I Don't Know" by Selena Gomez
"When I Look At You" by Emalkay
"My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion
"You're Beautiful" by James Blunt

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4 - Christian Pop
Centricity Music
Can you name a genre of music so bad, you'd move if your neighbor liked to play it?
Glitch Hop
Acid House
Christian Pop
Gangster Rap

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14 - Backstreet Boys
Jive
Your partner is going to see their favorite boy band in concert. You're dreading going with them. Which of these bands is playing?
BTS
Backstreet Boys
Boyz II Men
The Beach Boys

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15 - "Shape of You" by Ed Sheerhan
Asylum/Atlantic
Can you name the whiniest song of all time?
"Shape of You" by Ed Sheeran
"I Will Possess Your Heart" by Death Cab for Cutie
"One Week" by Barenaked Ladies
"All By Myself" by Eric Carmen

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16 - Kacey Musgraves
MCA Nashville
You either really love country music, or you really hate it. In your opinion, what's the worst kind of country?
I agree with the Dixie Chicks politically, but don't think their music is very "good."
I don't like that Kacey Musgraves pop country nonsense.
Reba McEntire, Billy Ray Cyrus ... I can't stand '80s country.
Bluegrass is extraordinarily annoying to me.

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17 - Dave Matthews
RCA
"[Name of band or musician] sucks." Can you complete this sentence?
"The Pussycat Dolls suck."
"Dave Matthews sucks."
"Ashlee Simpson sucks."
"Plastic Ono Band sucks."

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18 - "Ex-Girlfriend" by No Doubt
Interscope
You've just been dumped. Which song should your roommate NOT play to comfort you?
"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" by Taylor Swift
"Ex-Girlfriend" by No Doubt
"(I've Had) The Time of My Life" by Jennifer Warnes and Bill Medley
"The Boys" by Nicki Minaj ft. Cassie

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19 - Michael Bublé
143/Reprise
Some people adore male crooners. Others wish they could banish all male crooners to the woods. Which of these croonsters makes your skin crawl the most?
Robin Thicke
Michael Bublé
Barry Manilow
James Taylor

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20 - "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus
Hollywood
With graduation coming up, your high school is having students vote on which song they want to hear at commencement. Which of these songs would you vote against?
"The Climb" by Miley Cyrus
"I Will Remember You" by Sarah McLachlan
"Hero" by Mariah Carey
"True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper

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21 - grunge
Trauma/Interscope/Atlantic
How do you feel about grunge?
I was a little kid when it was popular, so I don't care about it.
It was the soundtrack of my teens, man!
I still play in a grunge-y dad band, actually.
Lotta noise with no point, if you ask me.

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22 - Korn
Roadrunner/Elektra
Believe it or not, some people actually like rap metal. In your opinion, which rap metal group needs to stop "making" "music"?
Jason Aldean
Limp Bizkit
Korn
Faith No More

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23 - "Clocks" by Coldplay
Parlophone
Imagine that your child is learning to play guitar. Which song do you hope they DON'T have to practice?
"Clocks" by Coldplay
"Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol
"What's Up" by 4 Non Blondes
"Leaving on a Jet Plane" by John Denver

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24 - Katy Perry
Capitol
Because you killed it at a series of dance auditions, ALL these musicians want you to be in their music videos. Which one would you say no to?
30 Odd Foot of Grunts (Russell Crowe's band)
Smash Mouth
Katy Perry
This is my big break, so I'm saying yes to everybody!

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25 - "My Humps" by the Black Eyed Peas
A&M/will.i.am
If you HAD to decide which of these hip-hop songs is the most annoying, which one would you pick?
"Anaconda" by Nicki Minaj
"My Humps" by the Black Eyed Peas
"Jump Around" by House of Pain
"Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang

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26 - chillwave
Eleonora Cecchini/Moment/Getty Images
You're at a party. Someone says, "Hey, let's listen to chillwave." You say ... ?
"Sure, sounds good."
"Yeah, fine."
"What the heck is chillwave?"
"You know what, I don't know what that is, and I don't care. Go ahead and play it. I'm just excited to be at an actual party."

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27 - "Butterfly" by Crazy Town
Columbia
For Valentine's Day, your partner brings you flowers, cleans your house and cooks you dinner. The stage is set for romance ... then they put on a song that's an utter deal-breaker. What is it?
"Fireflies" by Owl City
"Butterfly" by Crazy Town
"The Christmas Shoes" by NewSong
"More Than a Feeling" by Boston

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28 - Bob Dylan
Columbia
Which male singer-songwriter do you consider less than ... good?
Bob Dylan
Bob Seger
Billy Joel
Donovan

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You Got: