About This Quiz
While both bands hailed from the United Kingdom and were part of the so-called "British Invasion" of the United States in the 1960s, their trajectories couldn't be more different.
Almost unbelievably, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and the rest of The Rolling Stones are still touring over 50 years after they formed, in 1962. In fact, in 2019, they began yet another tour, "No Filter," and they were still selling-out stadiums worldwide. Their longevity speaks to how much their music has been appreciated for decades (and generations) of listeners.
In contrast, the Beatles released their last album in 1970, and only toured through the 1960s. In fact, they only released 12 studio albums, but are still one of the most loved bands of all time.
Both bands deeply influenced how people worldwide experienced popular music. Whether it was the way that The Rolling Stones made an indelible mark on the genre of rock'n'roll, or the way the Beatles experimented with sound and expectations with albums like, "The White Album," it's impossible to overstate their influence on pop culture and music.
If you consider yourself a devoted fan of either of these bands, take this quiz to find out how well you can identify each band with only song lyrics to guide your choice!
Bette Midler did a cover version of the 1978 song, “Beast of Burden,” in 1983, and Mick Jagger had a cameo appearance in her video. The song was from the album, "Some Girls."
For "Gimme Shelter," vocalist Merry Clayton was called in the middle of the night to join Mick Jagger and Keith Richards in the studio, and took her place in musical history in just three short takes. It was partly inspired by the turmoil of the late 1960s, including the war in Vietnam.
"Some Girls," a song by The Stones' Keith Richards, was reportedly written about the band's groupies and the band members' perpetual battle to remember their names. It's also the name of the 1978 album.
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The Rolling Stones song, "Mother's Little Helper," focuses on the use of Valium by housewives in the 1960s. It was released as a single in 1966, and the B-side was "Lady Jane."
"Can't Buy Me Love" was Paul McCartney's attempt to write a "bluesy mode." It was The Beatles' sixth single. It was also on the album, "A Hard Day's Night."
The Beatles’ George Harrison wrote “Here Comes the Sun” in Eric Clapton’s garden using one of Clapton’s acoustic guitars. It was on the 1969 album, "Abbey Road."
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Paul McCartney claimed that while he was touring Paris with The Beatles, he tumbled out of bed and the lyrics for “Yesterday” popped into his head. It is believed to have been performed over seven million times in the past century--a statistic compiled by BMI (Broadcast Music Incorporated.)
"Angie" is one of the most popular ballads The Rolling Stones put out. It was released in 1973, and topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, among many other music charts worldwide.
It's true, as Mick Jagger famously sings, "You Can't Always Get What You Want." But even a passing knowledge of The Rolling Stones would probably net you a correct answer on this one. Rolling Stone magazine called it the 100th best song of all time.
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If you had the song titles along with the lyrics, this would have been an easy matchup. It's from the Rolling Stones song, "Ain't Too Proud to Beg." It was originally written (and released) by The Temptations in 1966.
Aretha Franklin was actually first to release “Let It Be” in January 1970, two months before The Beatles released their version. It was also the title track of their final album.
"In My Life" was, according to an interview with Playboy in 1980, the first song John Lennon wrote about his life. It was released by The Beatles in 1965.
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The 1968 Beatles song, "Dear Prudence," is about Mia Farrow's sister, Prudence. A successful cover of the song was released by Siouxsie and the Banshees in 1983.
The Beatles didn’t play any of the string instruments on “Eleanor Rigby.” The now-indelible refrains were played by a string octet that included four violinists, two cellists and two members who played violas.
Rolling Stones’ guitarist Brian Jones played the sitar on the hit, “Paint it Black.” It was released on the U.S. version of the 1966 album, "Aftermath," but not the U.K. version of the same album.
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Microsoft reportedly paid $3 million to use the 1981 song, “Start Me Up,” for their Windows ’95 advertising campaign, although rumors once had the figure as high as $14 million. It was on the album, "Tattoo You."
“Sympathy for the Devil” perpetuated the titillating image of the Stones as bad boys, as opposed to the clean-cut Beatles. It was great marketing for the band. It was the first track on the album, "Beggars Banquet," released in 1968.
Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards woke up in a hotel room with the guitar riff from “Can’t Get No Satisfaction” playing in his head. He quickly recorded it on a portable tape deck before catching a few more winks.
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John Lennon told an interviewer in 1980 that the positive lyrics of "We Can Work It Out" were the Paul McCartney elements, and the more impatient words were his. It was released in 1965.
John Lennon came up with “Come Together” while trying to write a campaign song for Timothy Leary’s unsuccessful California gubernatorial run. It was the first trick on "Abbey Road."
"Wild Horses" remains one of the most popular songs at The Rolling Stones live shows. It's so popular that over 100 different popular artists have made it part of their concert set lists at various times since it was released in 1971 .
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John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote “Love Me Do” when they were 17 and 16, respectively. They made time for songwriting by skipping school. This song was their very first single.
The song, “Hey Jude,” was written by Paul McCartney for John Lennon’s 5-year old son, Julian, when the boy’s parents—John and Cynthia Lennon—were divorcing. It's often considered one of the best songs of all time by music critics.
The Beatles tune, "With a Little Help From My Friends," was written by Lennon and McCartney and sung by Ringo Starr for the album, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." In 1968, it won Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards.
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The Beatles' song, "She Loves You," with its "yeah, yeah, yeah" hook, was one of the biggest hits of 1963. It was written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon.
"Please Please Me," by The Beatles was, according to John Lennon, an attempt to write a Roy Orbison song. It's also the name (and on) the Beatles' first studio album.
"Ruby Tuesday" was written by Keith Richards and was released by The Rolling Stones in 1967. It was included on the U.S. version of the album, "Between the Buttons."
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The 1963 hit, “Twist and Shout,” returned to the charts 23 years later at No. 23. It was the same year the song was used in the popular movies: “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “Back To School."
The sound of rain was mentioned in The Rolling Stones tune, "As Tears Go By." It was first released by British artist, Marianne Faithful, in 1964. The Rolling Stones released their version the following year.
"Emotional Rescue" appears on The Rolling Stones album of the same name, released in 1980. It was their 17th U.S. studio album.
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