A project by the folks at

This is an experiment to identify generational gaps in music.

First, turn your audio on.

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We rebuilt a TikTok meme where teens test their knowledge of ’90s music.

Got it.

Let’s get your birth year.

I was born in the...

2010s
2000s
1990s
1980s
1970s
1960s
1950s
1940s
1930s

Looks like you have been here before. Is your birth year still ?

I was born in
Actually, I was born in the...
2010s
2000s
1990s
1980s
1970s
1960s
1950s
1940s
1930s

Last Question.

and your birth year was...

1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989

Last Question.

Test your music knowledge on which decade...

2000s
1990s
1980s
1970s
1960s

Playing hits from the 1990s

🤷 don’t know it
🤔 sounds familiar
🎵️ know it
🎤️ singing the lyrics
🤷 don’t know it
🤔 sounds familiar
🎵️ know it
🎤️ singing the lyrics
🤷 don’t know it
🤔 sounds familiar
🎵️ know it
🎤️ singing the lyrics
🤷 don’t know it
🤔 sounds familiar
🎵️ know it
🎤️ singing the lyrics
🤷 don’t know it
🤔 sounds familiar
🎵️ know it
🎤️ singing the lyrics
🤷 don’t know it
🤔 sounds familiar
🎵️ know it
🎤️ singing the lyrics
🤷 don’t know it
🤔 sounds familiar
🎵️ know it
🎤️ singing the lyrics
🤷 don’t know it
🤔 sounds familiar
🎵️ know it
🎤️ singing the lyrics
🤷 don’t know it
🤔 sounds familiar
🎵️ know it
🎤️ singing the lyrics
🤷 don’t know it
🤔 sounds familiar
🎵️ know it
🎤️ singing the lyrics
Quiz yourself on 10 more songs

Know

Boomers

Gen X

Millennials

Don’t
know

Gen Z

% of People Who Know this Song

You knew 5 of 10 songs, which were just added to the data points we have on how music fades from cultural knowledge.

First, here are all the songs you just listened to, all Billboard Hot 100 top 5 hits and massively popular in their day.

This project is inspired by a YouTube trend where Gen Z’ers film themselves listening to Queen, The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin for, astonishingly, the first time.

I want to quantify this: music that I assumed was culturally pervasive, but in actuality has no reason to be revered by folks outside my generation.

That is, should I be surprised that someone born in the 2000s has never heard my childhood anthem, “The Sign” by Ace of Base?

For example, you knew the song , but of recognize it.

For example, hasn’t been passed down to the younger generation: Gen Z doesn’t recognize it as well as Millennials.

This song came out in 1998. It’s been 30 years since its release. To someone under 20, it’s as old as a song from 1975 might seem to you. Even the most popular songs from history—the equivalent of “Hey Ya” by Outkast in 1975—might have faded in the same way as “Gettin’ Jiggy With it” by Will Smith.

Take a look yourself...here’s a sampling of top 3 hits from 1975: how many do you recognize?

This project is part of a series by The Pudding about

How Music Is Remembered

View Part 2

Defining the ’90s Music Canon

View Part 3

A Data-led Theory to Generationally Divide Dance Floors