Music Videos Quiz

Question 1

Which music channel launched on 1 August 1981 with the words 'Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll'?

Accepted Answer

MTV

Answer

VH1

Answer

BET

Answer

CMT

Question 2

Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' video (1983) is widely considered the greatest music video ever made. How long is it?

Accepted Answer

14 minutes

Answer

7 minutes

Answer

11 minutes

Answer

18 minutes

Question 3

Beyoncé's 'Lemonade' (2016) was notable for being what format?

Accepted Answer

A visual album — a cohesive 65-minute film combining music, poetry, and film narrative

Answer

A standard single release with accompanying video

Answer

A live concert film

Answer

A documentary about her life

Question 4

Gangnam Style by Psy (2012) became significant on YouTube because:

Accepted Answer

It was the first video to reach 1 billion, then 2 billion YouTube views

Answer

It was the first YouTube video to be removed for copyright

Answer

It was the first K-pop video on YouTube

Answer

YouTube was launched specifically to host it

Question 5

Which landmark music video directed by Spike Jonze featured the Fatboy Slim song 'Praise You' (1999)?

Accepted Answer

'Praise You' itself — filmed guerrilla-style in a mall

Answer

'Weapon of Choice' (also Spike Jonze/Fatboy Slim)

Answer

It was never made into a video

Answer

'Rockafeller Skank'

Question 6

OK Go are famous for elaborate music videos. Their video for 'Here It Goes Again' (2006) featured what simple but viral concept?

Accepted Answer

The band performing a choreographed dance routine on treadmills

Answer

Dominos falling for 4 minutes

Answer

A single unbroken take through a busy city

Answer

The band playing in zero gravity

Question 7

The most-viewed music video on YouTube of all time (as of 2024) is which song?

Accepted Answer

Baby Shark Dance — Pinkfong

Answer

Despacito — Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee

Answer

Shape of You — Ed Sheeran

Answer

See You Again — Wiz Khalifa

Question 8

Chris Cunningham directed the haunting video for Aphex Twin's 'Come to Daddy' (1997). This video is known for what disturbing imagery?

Accepted Answer

A monster emerging from a TV set to terrorise an old woman, with children bearing the face of Richard D. James

Answer

Nuclear explosions in slow motion

Answer

A robot performing surgery on a human

Answer

Abstract geometric shapes and strobe lighting only

Question 9

Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' (1991) was shot in a gymnasium. Who directed it?

Accepted Answer

Samuel Bayer

Answer

Mark Romanek

Answer

Anton Corbijn

Answer

David Fincher

Question 10

Peter Gabriel's 'Sledgehammer' (1986) used pioneering techniques. What was innovative about it?

Accepted Answer

It was made using stop-motion, pixilation, and claymation techniques by Aardman Animations — unprecedented at the time

Answer

It was the first CGI music video

Answer

It was the first music video broadcast in colour

Answer

Peter Gabriel wasn't actually in the video — it was entirely animated

Question 11

The White Stripes' 'Seven Nation Army' riff has become a global sporting chant. From which album does it come?

Accepted Answer

Elephant

Answer

White Blood Cells

Answer

De Stijl

Answer

Get Behind Me Satan

Question 12

Radiohead's 'Karma Police' (1997) video features a car chasing a man. What happens at the end?

Accepted Answer

The man sets fire to the petrol trail from the car, burning it

Answer

The man is caught by the police

Answer

The car mysteriously disappears

Answer

The man transforms into the band members

Question 13

Which artist's 2013 video for 'Wrecking Ball' caused immediate controversy for its imagery?

Accepted Answer

Miley Cyrus

Answer

Rihanna

Answer

Katy Perry

Answer

Lady Gaga

Question 14

What is a 'concept video' in music video terminology?

Accepted Answer

A video with no artist performance — purely narrative or abstract

Answer

A video filmed at a live concert

Answer

A video using CGI throughout

Answer

A series of connected videos telling a story across multiple songs

Question 15

Lady Gaga's 'Bad Romance' (2009) was directed by Francis Lawrence. What is the video's approximate budget?

Accepted Answer

$2.8 million

Answer

$100,000

Answer

$500,000

Answer

$1 million

Question 16

A-ha's 'Take On Me' (1985) featured a groundbreaking animation technique. What was it called?

Accepted Answer

Pencil sketch/live action hybrid (rotoscoped pencil animation)

Answer

Rotoscoping

Answer

Cel animation

Answer

Stop motion photography

Question 17

Which music video by Drake and Josh (2015) became famous for spawning thousands of internet memes?

Accepted Answer

Hotline Bling

Answer

Started from the Bottom

Answer

God's Plan

Answer

In My Feelings

Question 18

Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' (1975) is considered one of the first true music videos. Who directed it?

Accepted Answer

Bruce Gowers

Answer

Tim Pope

Answer

Anton Corbijn

Answer

Lester Bangs

Question 19

The video for Fatboy Slim's 'Weapon of Choice' (2001) starred which unexpected famous figure dancing?

Accepted Answer

Christopher Walken

Answer

Bill Murray

Answer

Steve Buscemi

Answer

John Malkovich

Question 20

Which music video channel, launched in 1985, was MTV's first sister channel and focused on older demographics?

Accepted Answer

VH1

Answer

CMT

Answer

BET

Answer

MuchMusic