About This Quiz
The music of the 1970s changed the world. Rock stars started experimenting with sounds and lyrics. Pop stars wanted the world to dance. This decade brought us some of the greatest songs of the 20th century, and much of the music is still incredibly popular today.
One of the best parts about the music of the decade is the fact that it started to really branch off and turn into genres that changed the way people thought about music. There was now a clear split between pop and rock that allowed people to experience music based on their own personalities. Whether you had disco fever back then, or you can't stop revisiting the eclectic Led Zeppelin library to this day, it's clear that the music of the '70s is still a part of you today.
The fact that you're a fan of '70s music doesn't necessarily guarantee you a passing grade on this quiz. You have to know the names of the songs as well. Don't worry, though, this quiz is all about the A-sides ... the most popular songs on all of those records that you owned back in the day. What are you waiting for, play that funky music and start answering questions!
Although "Lean on Me" was remade by several artists, no one could touch the soulful and heartbreaking sounds that Bill Withers could produce. This 1972 classic was a simple song with a deep meaning.
Simon & Garfunkel were everyone's favorite "chill" music in the 1970s. Their folk rock was both poppy and bouncy. "Bridge Over Troubled Water" was a slow ballad from the duo that touched the hearts of '70s fading flower children.
Still considered one of the best love songs of all time, "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love Babe" holds its own as a timeless classic. Barry White's voice hits audiences in places they didn't even know that they had.
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Although the song "Rhinestone Cowboy" seems a little cheesy these days, it was a hit in the 1970s. The song had a country twang to it, but it also mixed in some of the rock and folk songs of the time.
"Stairway to Heaven" was the kind of song people were looking for in the early 1970s. It had multiple speeds, intense and poetic lyrics and an incomparable guitar riff that every guitarist attempts to master.
In an attempt to show men that it relationships didn't have to be forced, Carole King wrote about the fact that relationships don't have to last forever, and the most important thing is to recognize it.
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No one could deny Marvin Gaye's voice when this song came on the radio. "Let's Get It On" was the anthem for making love in the 1970s, and it set the mood for millions of people who listened to it.
For decades, the Beatles delivered some of the biggest hits the world has ever seen. Their library is so extensive, it can be difficult to remember every title in it. However, "The Long and Winding Road" is one of those songs big Beatles fans can name in a second.
In the mid-1970s, it didn't look like disco was going anywhere. Wild clothes, excellent hair and killer dance moves were all a part of this fad, and Wild Cherry knocked it out of the park with this song.
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Fleetwood Mac is one of those bands that everyone can listen to. "Go Your Own Way" is an inspirational song that shows people that they don't have to follow a path that was chosen for them, as long as they work hard.
Don McLean had some of the most heartfelt music of the 1970s. "American Pie" has two versions, one that is over eight minutes long, and another that is cut down for radio. If you have ever heard both, you know that the longer version is the best.
Of the most popular songs of the 1970s, "You're So Vain" is probably the closest to girl power available. It is a song sung by a woman, but it isn't about pining over lost love, it's about calling out the reason the relationship didn't work.
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Elton John loved to put on a show, and he really loved sequins (who could blame him). Women adored him and men loved his songs, and "Bennie and the Jets" was one of the most popular tracks from "Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road."
Any song that begins by describing a bullfrog is bound to have the '70s written all over it. "Joy To The World" was released in 1970, and showed fans that lyrics could be fun and imaginative and the music could still be great.
With about 100 lines of "Doo doo doo", this song may seems simple, but it's the other lyrics that really matter. It's several stories in one, kept in beat by an amazing drum and cymbal combination.
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One of the more controversial songs from the band Lynyrd Skynyrd was a huge hit in the 1970s. It was a stinging response to Lou Reed's "Southern Man," which took the South to task for various social attitudes.
As women began to understand their sexuality, music changed even more. Anita Ward brought this to a whole new level with "Ring My Bell" in 1979. The song is filled with innuendo and sexual overtones.
"Love Train" was one of the most popular dance songs of the 1970s. Not only did people want to dance to the fast beat, they also loved singing the song, because it had excellent lyrics.
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Political rock was essential to the social growth of the 1970s, and Pink Floyd brought it to light in a way that could be played on the radio with the album "The Wall". "Another Brick in the Wall" spoke of losing individuality through education.
By the end of the '70s, rock music was getting harder and harder, and no one could stop it. It was all about cars, beautiful women and doing the dirty. "My Sharona" encompasses this shift.
The 1970s showed us that men weren't the only ones who could be on the prowl for a good time at the clubs. Donna Summers made sure to incorporate these feelings in her songs throughout her career.
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From the 1960s to '70s, Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) was one of the most popular rock bands around. They were even inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 for their epic library of hits.
"Bohemian Rhapsody" was more than just a song, it was an experience. Though record producers wanted to deny it, it became a number-one single for the group. This timeless epic song is still considered one of the best today, and if it comes on while you're in the car, you're obligated to do the "Wayne's World" head thrash.
Rod Stewart was a huge hit with the ladies, and to be honest he still is. "Maggie May" was released on the record "Every Picture Tells a Story" in 1971 and has been well-loved ever since.
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Just eight months prior to the untimely death of Jim Morrison, The Doors recorded their final album with him, "L.A. Woman". "Riders On The Storm" is a song that lovers of the band still return to.
Anyone who liked a good road trip song could always turn to Boston for some of the best tracks for travel. Their sound was unparalleled, and their lyrics were as catchy as their beats.
Since history is bound to repeat itself from time to time, it's important that we look at the music from our past to learn a thing or two. A great place to start is The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again" song.
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If you aren't the biggest Three Dog Night fan in the world, you might not have gotten this one right. The song is pretty fast, and the lyrics do tend to blend together, but it's a great song from the '70s nonetheless.
In the early 1970s, you could find a lot of songs that seem almost cartoonish, but they still held substance. "Bad Bad Leroy Brown" was one of those songs. It was a pop-folk song that described one heck of a man.
Everyone loves the soundtrack from the film and musical "Grease". The best part about the movie is that we all got to see John Travolta take on the main character's role and sing some of the most important songs in the film.
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Lynyrd Skynyrd was a rock band that had so many different sounds, it's hard to keep track. "Free Bird" was a slow and emotional work that encompassed the temperature of social and domestic Southern living during the '70s.
For anyone who didn't grow up in the '70s, "Stayin' Alive" might be the epitome of disco music, but for those who frequented the dance clubs, this was just another song to get you to the Donna Summer songs.
While many know this song from the SNL skit about more cowbell, it's important to consider the lyrics to the song. It may seem a little creepy, but it was also intense. The song even drew the attention of John Carpenter, who used it in his hit horror film "Halloween" in 1978.
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Released in 1971, "Wild Horses" is a gorgeous song that speaks of love and want and passion. Many have tried to remake the classic, but few have actually succeeded in the nearly 50 years since its release.
While there are several songs that begin with "heart of ..." Blondie's "Heart of Glass" is both easy to dance to and emotional at the same time. It really expressed the feeling someone has when they let their emotions get the best of them.