Michael Jackson Songs Quiz: Billie Jean, Beat It and Bad
This Michael Jackson songs quiz covers the King of Pop's greatest music, from the Jackson 5 and his solo hit Ben to Off the Wall, Billie Jean, Beat It with Eddie Van Halen's guitar solo, the Thriller video directed by John Landis, Bad, Smooth Criminal, Black or White, Scream and the 2026 film Michael. Fifteen questions.
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🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 15 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds
Jackson 5
Which song was the Jackson 5's first number one hit in 1969-70?
Early solo
Michael's 1972 solo hit Ben was about what?
Off the Wall
Which song from Off the Wall became Michael's first solo number one as an adult in 1979?
Beat It
Which famous rock guitarist played the solo on Beat It?
Thriller
Who directed the famous 14-minute music video for Thriller?
Thriller
Which horror film actor performs the spooky spoken part at the end of Thriller?
Bad
Who directed the music video for Bad, filmed in a New York subway station?
Bad
What record did the 1987 album Bad set on the Billboard Hot 100?
Smooth Criminal
What famous move does Michael perform in the Smooth Criminal video?
Black or White
The 1991 video for Black or White was famous for which new visual effect?
Man in the Mirror
Who co-wrote Man in the Mirror with Glen Ballard?
Scream
The 1995 video for Scream, a duet with Janet Jackson, is known for being what?
Remember the Time
The video for Remember the Time is set in which ancient civilization?
Earth Song
In which country was Earth Song a huge Christmas number one in 1995?
Film
Which actor, Michael's nephew, played him in the 2026 biopic Michael?
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Explanations: answer key for all 15 questions
- Q1: Which song was the Jackson 5's first number one hit in 1969-70?
Answer: I Want You Back
I Want You Back topped the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1970. ABC and I'll Be There followed later that year.
- Q2: Michael's 1972 solo hit Ben was about what?
Answer: A pet rat
Ben was the theme song of a horror film about a boy and his pet rat. It became Michael's first solo number one.
- Q3: Which song from Off the Wall became Michael's first solo number one as an adult in 1979?
Answer: Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Michael wrote the song himself. Its disco groove and falsetto helped launch his solo superstardom.
- Q4: Which famous rock guitarist played the solo on Beat It?
Answer: Eddie Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen recorded the solo for free as a favor. The song mixed rock and pop and reached number one.
- Q5: Who directed the famous 14-minute music video for Thriller?
Answer: John Landis
John Landis had directed the horror comedy An American Werewolf in London. The video was the first to be added to the US National Film Registry.
- Q6: Which horror film actor performs the spooky spoken part at the end of Thriller?
Answer: Vincent Price
Vincent Price recorded his famous rap with its evil laugh. He was a legend of classic horror films.
- Q7: Who directed the music video for Bad, filmed in a New York subway station?
Answer: Martin Scorsese
Martin Scorsese directed the 18-minute short film. A young Wesley Snipes appeared as a rival.
- Q8: What record did the 1987 album Bad set on the Billboard Hot 100?
Answer: First album with five number one singles
Five singles from Bad reached number one, including Man in the Mirror and The Way You Make Me Feel.
- Q9: What famous move does Michael perform in the Smooth Criminal video?
Answer: A gravity-defying forward lean
He leaned forward at a 45-degree angle. He later patented special shoes that hooked into the stage to perform it live.
- Q10: The 1991 video for Black or White was famous for which new visual effect?
Answer: Morphing faces
The video showed people of different backgrounds morphing into each other. It premiered to a huge TV audience.
- Q11: Who co-wrote Man in the Mirror with Glen Ballard?
Answer: Siedah Garrett
Siedah Garrett also sang the duet I Just Can't Stop Loving You with Michael. Man in the Mirror is about changing yourself to change the world.
- Q12: The 1995 video for Scream, a duet with Janet Jackson, is known for being what?
Answer: One of the most expensive music videos ever made
It reportedly cost about 7 million dollars. The black and white video showed the siblings in a spaceship.
- Q13: The video for Remember the Time is set in which ancient civilization?
Answer: Ancient Egypt
It starred Eddie Murphy and Iman as an Egyptian royal couple. Basketball star Magic Johnson also appeared.
- Q14: In which country was Earth Song a huge Christmas number one in 1995?
Answer: The United Kingdom
Earth Song was about the environment and animal welfare. It was one of his biggest UK hits.
- Q15: Which actor, Michael's nephew, played him in the 2026 biopic Michael?
Answer: Jaafar Jackson
Jaafar Jackson is the son of Jermaine Jackson. The film set an opening weekend record for a music biopic.
Michael Jackson Songs Quiz – The Music of the King of Pop
Michael Jackson recorded some of the most famous songs in pop history. He began as the young lead singer of the Jackson 5, whose first Motown singles, starting with I Want You Back, all reached number one. His solo song Ben, about a pet rat, became his first number one as a solo artist.
As an adult he teamed up with producer Quincy Jones. Off the Wall in 1979 brought Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough and Rock with You. Thriller followed with Billie Jean, Beat It, featuring Eddie Van Halen, and the title track, whose John Landis video included Vincent Price's spooky voice.
Bad in 1987 became the first album with five number one singles, and its title video was directed by Martin Scorsese. In the 1990s he released Black or White, with its groundbreaking morphing effects, Remember the Time, Scream with his sister Janet and the environmental anthem Earth Song.
His music continues to find new fans. The 2026 biopic Michael, starring his nephew Jaafar Jackson, broke the opening weekend record for a music biopic and sent many classic songs back up the charts.
What This Quiz Teaches
- The Jackson 5 and Ben
- Off the Wall
- Billie Jean, Beat It and Thriller
- Bad and Smooth Criminal
- His 1990s hits and videos
- The 2026 film Michael
Quick Facts About Michael Jackson's Songs
- He wrote many of his biggest hits himself.
- He often beatboxed song ideas into a tape recorder.
- Thriller won eight Grammy Awards in one night in 1984.
- He had 13 solo number one singles in the US.
- His music videos helped make MTV a global force.
- Many of his songs are still popular at parties and weddings.
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