Guess the Year: Music History Challenge

Think you know your music history? Ready to test how well you can place songs in their era?


This musical time machine challenges you to guess exactly when famous songs were released. No peeking at the answers until you've written down your guesses!

How To Play...

  • For each song, write down the year you think it was released
  • Score yourself:
  • Exact year = 3 points
  • Within 1 year = 2 points
  • Within 2 years =  1 point
  • Check the answers at the end - add up your points to see how you did!

Classic Rock

  • "Stairway to Heaven" - Led Zeppelin


  • "Bohemian Rhapsody" - Queen

  • "Hotel California" - Eagles


  • "Sweet Child O' Mine" - Guns N' Roses


  • "Sweet Home Alabama" - Lynyrd Skynyrd

Pop Hits

  • "Like a Virgin" - Madonna


  • "Billie Jean" - Michael Jackson

  • "I Want It That Way" - Backstreet Boys


  • "...Baby One More Time" - Britney Spears

  • "Shape of You" - Ed Sheeran

The Alternative Scene

  • "Smells Like Teen Spirit" - Nirvana


  • "Creep" - Radiohead

  • "Mr. Brightside" - The Killers


  • "Seven Nation Army" - The White Stripes


  • "Yellow" - Coldplay

One Hit Wonders

  • "Macarena" - Los Del Rio


  • "Take On Me" - a-ha

  • "Come On Eileen" - Dexys Midnight Runners


  • "Mambo No. 5" - Lou Bega


  • "Somebody That I Used To Know" - Gotye

Finished? Let's see how you did!

Scroll down to see the answers...

  • Classic Rock

    • "Stairway to Heaven" - Led Zeppelin (1971)
    • "Bohemian Rhapsody" - Queen (1975)
    • "Hotel California" - Eagles (1976)
    • "Sweet Child O' Mine" - Guns N' Roses (1987)
    • "Sweet Home Alabama" - Lynyrd Skynyrd (1974)
  • Pop Hits

    • "Like a Virgin" - Madonna (1984)
    • "Billie Jean" - Michael Jackson (1983)
    • "I Want It That Way" - Backstreet Boys (1999)
    • "...Baby One More Time" - Britney Spears (1998)
    • "Shape of You" - Ed Sheeran (2017)
  • The Alternative Scene

    • "Smells Like Teen Spirit" - Nirvana (1991)
    • "Creep" - Radiohead (1992)
    • "Mr. Brightside" - The Killers (2003)
    • "Seven Nation Army" - The White Stripes (2003)
    • "Yellow" - Coldplay (2000)
  • One Hit Wonders

    • "Macarena" - Los Del Rio (1996)
    • "Take On Me" - a-ha (1985)
    • "Come On Eileen" - Dexys Midnight Runners (1982)
    • "Mambo No. 5" - Lou Bega (1999)
    • "Somebody That I Used To Know" - Gotye (2011)

How did you score?

A black and white drawing of a broken heart on a white background.

0-10 points


Music Time Traveler
(Needs some calibration!)

A black and white drawing of a smiley face on a white background.

11-25 points


Casual Music Historian

A black and white drawing of a heart with a face on it.

26-40 points


Serious Music Buff

A black and white drawing of a hand making a rock and roll sign.

0-10 points


Human Musical Encyclopedia

A black and white drawing of a broken heart on a white background.

0-10 points


Music Time Traveler
(Needs some calibration!)

A black and white drawing of a smiley face on a white background.

11-25 points


Casual Music Historian

A black and white drawing of a heart with a face on it.

26-40 points


Serious Music Buff

A black and white drawing of a hand making a rock and roll sign.

41+ points


Human Musical Encyclopedia


The trickiest ones? Many people place "Stairway to Heaven" later than 1971, and are surprised that "Mr. Brightside" came out as far back as 2003...


How did you do?

Challenge your friends to beat your score!

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