Pop Music Quiz: How Much Do You Know About 2016?

Pop music quiz time! How much do you really know about the biggest hits of 2016? Take our fun quiz and find out!

Introduction

How well do you remember the biggest pop hits of 2016? Take this quiz to find out! Includes questions about songs, artists, and events from throughout the year.

2016 Pop Music Hits

“Work” by Rihanna

“Work” is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna for her eighth studio album, Anti (2016). The song was premiered on Rihanna’s official website on January 27, 2016, and was made available for digital download as the lead single from Anti the following day through Tidal. It was later released to mainstream radio on February 23, 2016. “Work” is a dancehall and R&B track written in the key of B♭ minor with a moderate tempo of 140 beats per minute. The song has two hooks: the first being “Work, work, work, work, work / It when you don’t wanna”, and the second being “All night long”. On February 24, 2016, a remix version featuring Canadian rapper Drake was made available worldwide. Commercially, “Work” peaked at number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and at number one on both the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and Rap Songs chart. It also reached number one in Canada and number three in both the United Kingdom and Australia.

“Formation” by Beyoncé

“Formation” is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé for her sixth studio album, Lemonade (2016). The song was released as the lead single from the album on February 6, 2016. “Formation” debuted and peaked at number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 following the release of Lemonade, becoming Beyoncé’s first solo Hot 100 top 10 since “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” in 2008 and her fourth overall including featured credits. The song is Beyoncé’s third all-time highest-peaking solo single in Canada, after “Irreplaceable” (2007) and “Crazy in Love” (2003).

“One Dance” by Drake

“One Dance” is a song by Canadian rapper Drake from his fourth studio album, Views (2016). The song features guest vocals from Wizkid and Kyla. It was released to contemporary hit radio on April 5, 2016, as the lead single from the album. “One Dance” peaked at number one in several countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom; in the latter country, it became Drake’s first number-one single as a lead artist. In the US, “One Dance” spent ten non-consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 – becoming both Drake and Wizkid’s first US number one single – and set a new record for most weeks spent at number one by a single in 2016. The song also won Drake his first Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Performance.

“Can’t Stop the Feeling!” by Justin Timberlake

“Can’t Stop the Feeling!” is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake for the soundtrack to the film Trolls (2016), composed by Timberlake, Max Martin and Shellback, with additional writing from Karl Johan Schuster. It was released on May 6, 2016, as the lead single from the soundtrack by RCA Records. The song peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top ten in many other countries.

2016 Pop Music Misses

It was a banner year for some truly terrible songs. Here are the worst of the worst. We’ve all been there. You’re in the car, singing at the top of your lungs to your favorite pop song, when suddenly the lyrics sink in and you realize just how awful they are.

“Miley Cyrus – Malibu”

“Malibu” is a song recorded by American singer Miley Cyrus as the lead single from her sixth studio album, Younger Now (2017). It was written by Cyrus, Oren Yoel and Ali Tamposi, produced by Cyrus and Yoel. The song is an ode to her fiancé Liam Hemsworth and their rekindled relationship, describing the effects that the coastline of Malibu has had on her since she moved there. “Malibu” was released to radio on May 11, 2017 as the first single from Younger Now.

“Katy Perry – Bon Appétit”

“Bon Appétit” is a song by American singer Katy Perry featuring rapper Migos, released as the second single from Perry’s fifth studio album, Witness, on April 28, 2017. The track was written by Perry, Migos, Darhyl “DJ” Camper Jr., Sarah Hudson and its producers Max Martin and Ali Payami. It was released to rhythmic and top 40 radio stations on May 16, 2017.

A tropical house and trap-influenced synth-pop song with a duration of three minutes and thirty-two seconds, “Bon Appétit” features a minimal production consisting of “bubbly” synths, electronic drums and moderate pulse. Its instrumentation consists of tempo-shifting rhythms and Indian couplets recited by group member Quavo. Lyrically, the song finds Perry being offered as a meal to be eaten by her partner.

Critical reception to “Bon Appétit” was mixed; some music critics deemed it as being unoriginal while others complimented its production and Perry’s vocal delivery. The single debuted at number 59 on the US Billboard Hot 100 following its first week of airplay. It also debuted at number 35 on the UK Singles Chart, giving Perry her fourteenth top 40 hit in the country. The song’s accompanying music video was released on May 12 and was directed by Diane Martel. It features Perry being prepared and served as a dish by chefs in a restaurant; upon release, it received criticism for its sexual imagery.

“Nick Jonas – Close”

Many folks in the music industry were not pleased with Nick Jonas’ new song “Close,” which was released in 2016. The song was criticized for its lyrics and catchiness.

Conclusion

Assuming you correctly answered at least 50% of the questions, you are a pop music aficionado! Well done! You managed to get more than half of the questions right, which means you know your stuff when it comes to popular music from 2016. Keep up the good work and you’ll be a quiz champion in no time!