Can you match the hit song to its decade?

By: Isadora Teich
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Can you match the hit song to its decade?
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About This Quiz

Music is universal, and many songs have come out over the years that have become important to entire generations of people. Test your musical chops and see if you know when the hits came out with this HowStuffWorksQuiz!
"Let's Dance" by David Bowie was released in what decade?
1990s
1980s
1950s
2000s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This 1983 single was one of Bowie's most successful singles, off of an album which has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. It earned Bowie a Grammy nomination in 1984.

Britney Spears' "Oops!...I Did It Again" was popular during what decade?
2000s
1980s
1950s
2010s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This international hit was released in 2000. This song topped charts in over a dozen countries and remains one of the top-selling singles of all time.

When did the Maroon 5 song "Moves Like Jagger" top the charts?
2010s
1990s
1940s
1950s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This 2011 smash hit featured Christina Aguilera. It was Maroon 5's first No. 1 hit in four years and Aguilera's first hit in a decade.

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"Creep" by Radiohead attained success in the:
1980s
1940s
1990s
2010s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When originally released in 1992, this song underperformed. When rereleased in 1993 it became a global hit.

When did Elton John's "Candle in the Wind" chart?
1960s
1970s
1990s
1980s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

More than two billion people around the world watched Elton John sing this song at Princess Diana's funeral. It was No. 1 for 14 weeks in 1997 and sold more than 33 million copies.

During which decade was "Another Day In Paradise" by Phil Collins released?
1970s
1990s
1920s
1980s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This song, released in 1989, spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard chart. It features vocals by David Crosby.

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"Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry was released in the:
1970s
2000s
1890s
1930s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This song was released in 1976. It was inspired by the struggle the band faced wanting to play rock music in clubs at the height of the disco era.

"You're So Vain" by Carly Simon came out during which decade? ?
1920s
1950s
1970s
2000s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Carly Simon has never revealed who the subject of this 1973 song is. Many people have thought it's Mick Jagger, who sings backup vocals on the chart topper.

The song "Wonderwall" by Oasis debuted during which decade?
1950s
1990s
1930s
2000s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Wonderwall" was released in 1995. It topped charts around the world. It is a highly popular song and numerous artists have covered it, including Cat Power.

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When was "We Belong Together" by Mariah Carey released?
1980s
1950s
2000s
2010s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This was the biggest of all of Mariah Carey's 18 No. 1 hits. It charted for a total of 43 weeks.

"U Can't Touch This" was released during the:
1950s
2010s
1990s
1970s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This song by MC Hammer was co-written by Rick James. It charted in several countries and won numerous awards.

During which decade did Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" top the charts?
1990s
1980s
1910s
1950s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Billie Jean" was No. 1 for seven weeks in 1983. Many people don't know that this smash hit song was recorded in one take.

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"I Heard It Through The Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye was released in the:
1940s
1980s
1960s
2000s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A number of artists covered this Motown song, including Gladys Knight and the Pips and the Isley Brothers. It was Marvin Gaye's version that went straight to No. 1.

During which decade did Bruno Mars' "Just The Way You Are" top the charts?
1930s
1970s
1990s
2010s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This song topped the Hot 100 Chart for four weeks in 2010. It established Bruno Mars as a strong solo artist.

Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder recorded "Ebony and Ivory" during which decade?
1960s
1950s
1980s
2000s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The pair recorded this duet together on an island in the West Indies. It spent seven weeks as a No.1 hit in 1982.

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When was "I Love Rock 'n Roll" by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts released?
1910s
1930s
1980s
2000s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This chart topper was No. 1 for seven weeks in 1982. It was a song originally written by Jane Hooker and Alan Merrill, responding to the Rolling Stones' song "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)."

During which decade was "Gold Digger" by Kanye West a chart topper?
1980s
1950s
2000s
2010s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Kanye originally wrote this song from a female point of view, for a female rapper who rejected it. He took the rejected song, rewrote it for himself, featured Jamie Foxx, and it became his first No. 1 hit in 2005.

During which decade was "Tik Tok" by Ke$ha huge?
2010s
1990s
1970s
2000s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This song spent nine weeks as a No. 1 hit in 2010. It was the longest-running debut single for a lead artist in years.

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During what decade was the song "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees a hit?
1950s
2000s
1970s
1990s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This song was a No.1 hit for four weeks in 1978. It played in the trailer for the film "Saturday Night Fever."

When was "Family Affair" by Mary J Blige released?
1920s
2000s
1950s
2010s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This song was No. 1 on the Billboard chart for six weeks. Blige did not pay much attention to the charts and was shocked to learn that her song was doing so well.

Blondie's "Call Me" emerged during which decade?
2010s
1940s
1990s
1980s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This song was the theme for the movie "American Gigolo." It was Billboard's No. 1 song of 1980.

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During which decade did Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" strike gold?
1960s
2000s
1990s
1970s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This single went to No. 1 in 1992. It charted again following Whitney Houston's death in 2012.

In what decade was "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepson everywhere?
1980s
1950s
2000s
2010s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 2012 this catchy pop song was No. 1 for nine weeks. Carly Rae Jepson is the most successful hitmaking "Idol" finalist of all time, as she came in third place during the fifth season of "Canadian Idol."

During which decade did The Beatles hit "I Want To Hold Your Hand" emerge?
1960s
1950s
1980s
1970s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This was The Beatles' breakout song in the U.S. While they had already sold millions of records in the U.K., "I Want To Hold Your Hand" was given a spin for the first time by a Washington, D.C. DJ. The rest is history.

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Nickelback's "How You Remind Me" topped the charts in which decade?
1980s
1990s
1930s
2000s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Nickelback is one of the most-mocked acts out there. Despite this, it spent four weeks as a chart-topping band in 2001.

"Another One Bites The Dust" by Queen was released during the:
1960s
1990s
1980s
1950s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This 1980 chart topper was written by Queen bassist John Deacon. Many of the band's other hits were written by Freddie Mercury and Brian May.

During which decade was "Rolling In The Deep" by Adele everywhere?
2010s
1990s
1970s
2000s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This massively successful single cemented Adele as one of the modern greats of music. It was No. 1 for seven weeks in 2011.

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"Somebody That I Used To Know" by Gotye topped the charts during which decade?
1980s
1950s
2010s
1960s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This minimalistic duet with Kimbra has a unique and powerful song. It was the second song ever by a Belgian artist to take the No. 1 spot.

During which decade did "Every Breath You Take" by The Police get big?
2010s
1950s
1980s
1970s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This song had its heyday in 1983. While many people consider it a love song, it is actually from the perspective of an obsessive and jealous stalker.

"Hey Jude" by The Beatles was released during which decade?
1950s
1940s
1960s
1980s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This song was No. 1 for nine weeks in 1968. At just over seve minutes, it's the longest song to ever hold the top spot.

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"Thriller" by Michael Jackson was released during the:
1960s
2000s
1980s
1970s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

To date, the "Thriller" album is the best-selling album worldwide of all time. It was released in 1982 and by 1984 had sold about 65 million copies.

"Genie In A Bottle" by Christina Aguilera was released during the:
1980s
1960s
1990s
2010s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The single topped charts in over 20 countries and was certified platinum. Globally it sold over seven million copies.

"Violently Happy" by Bjork came out during which decade?
1970s
1990s
2010s
1950s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bjork broke through in the 1990s with several commercially successful songs and an avant-garde aesthetic. This song charted in both the U.S. and U.K.

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When did Shania Twain's "You're Still The One" come out?
1920s
2010s
1990s
1950s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This Shania Twain song peaked at No. 2 in 1988. It spent an impressive 42 weeks on the Hot 100 chart.

When did "Say You, Say Me" by Lionel Richie debut?
1940s
1980s
2000s
1960s
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lionel Richie composed this song for the 1985 "White Nights" film soundtrack. It took home the Oscar for Best Original Song.

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