Can You Name These Songs If We Mess Up the Lyrics?

By: Alex Wittman
Estimated Completion Time
8 min
Can You Name These Songs If We Mess Up the Lyrics?
Image: Island / Lizard King

About This Quiz

Music is life, and anyone who doesn't agree can GTFO. Okay, that was a little much, but what we mean is this challenging-AF quiz is for real music fans only.

You may think you know the top bops of the 1990s, 2000s and today, but we've gone and messed the lyrics all the way up. Some of these songs are barely recognizable! Do you think you can still name them? Prove it.

If you know The Killers are singing about a kiss (not a fish) in "Mr. Brightside" and what Cardi B does now instead of dancing, then this quiz is for you. Put all those hours of listening to Spotify to good use and see how many of these songs you can name (even with our cray-AF lyrics).

When you get your score (and after making a lit playlist of all these bops we've reminded you about), pass this quiz along to everyone in your crew. The highest score among your BFFs gets aux cord privileges for life.

So, are you in? Do you think you've got what it takes? Peep our messed-up song lyrics and see how many of these iconic songs you can name!Ā Ā 


Poker Face by Lady Gaga
Streamline / KonLive / Cherrytree / Interscope
"Can't read my / Can't read my / No, he can't read my broker case (She is gonna let nobody)." Try to focus. What song is this?
"Hot N Cold" by Katy Perry
"Poker Face" by Lady Gaga
"Love Lockdown" by Kanye West
"Damaged" by Danity Kane
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Remember that, like, year when Lady Gaga's music was everywhere? We couldn't go anywhere (we mean ANYWHERE) without hearing "Poker Face," "Bad Romance" or "Alejandro." What a time to be alive.

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bad guy by Billie Eilish
Darkroom / Interscope
"So you're a tough guy / Like it really rough guy / Just can't get enough chai / Better just say goodbye." Our remix was fire. What's the name of this song?
"Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye
"boyfriend" by Ariana Grande and Social House
"Party Rock Anthem" by LMFAO
"bad guy" by Billie Eilish
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Move over, Justin Bieber, and somebody put us on a remix with Billie Eilish. From her bold fashion choices to her idgaf lyrics, Billie marches to the beat of her own drum, and we are so here for it.

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Empire State of Mind by Alicia Keys and Jay-Z
Roc Nation / Atlantic
"In San Francisco / Concrete jungle where dreams are made of / There's nothin' you can't do." What song is this?
"Empire State of Mind" by Alicia Keys and Jay-Z
"Stereo Hearts" by Gym Class Heroes
"How to Love" by Lil Wayne
"All the Small Things" by Blink 182
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Wrong coast, my dude. In "Empire State of Mind," Alicia Keys and Jay-Z are obv singing about New York City. Don't get it twisted. San Francisco may have its fair share of concrete, but it's nothing like the jungle that is NYC.

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Shake It Off by Taylor Swift
Big Machine / Republic
"Cause the slayers gonna slay, slay, slay, slay, slay / And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate." You def know this one, but what is the name?
"Stay With Me" by Sam Smith
"Fancy" by Iggy Azalea
"Boom Clap" by Charli XCX
"Shake It Off" by Taylor Swift
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you didn't get this one right, just shake it off, bruh. The old Taylor can't come to the phone right now; she's busy AF making music and smashing records. We very much want to be a part of this narrative.

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I Kissed A Girl by Katy Perry
Capitol
"I kissed a squirrel and I liked it / Eat with a Chinese chopstick." That's twisted, bruh. Can you name this song?
"Disturbia" by Rihanna
"Womanizer" by Britney Spears
"When I Grow Up" by The Pussycat Dolls
"I Kissed A Girl" by Katy Perry
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Long before her feud with fellow singer Taylor Swift, Katy Perry kissed a girl (not a squirrel). Apparently, she liked it! It might have had something to do with her cherry chapstick (not Chinese chopstick).

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I Want It That Way by Backstreet Boys
Jive
"Tell me why / Ain't nothin' but an earthquake / Tell me why / Ain't nothin' but the ground shake." Okay, for real, what song is this?
"No Scrubs" by TLC
"I Want It That Way" by Backstreet Boys
"Scar Tissue" by Red Hot Chili Peppers
"Summer Girls" by LFO
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

What's worse: an earthquake or a mistake? We guess it depends on the mistake. It would be a pretty big mistake to sleep on this iconic bop by Backstreet Boys. This boy band low-key made our little hearts ache back in the day.

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Engagement ring
PeopleImages/E+/GettyImages
"'Cause if you like it, then you shoulda put some bling on it / If you like it, then you shoulda put some bling on it." We messed up these lyrics good, but can you still guess the song?
"4 Minutes" by Madonna
"So What" by Pink
"Just Dance" by Lady Gaga
"Single Ladies" by BeyoncƩ
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

BeyoncƩ was actually pretty specific about the type of bling she thought you shoulda put on it. In perhaps the most popular #girlsnightout song of all time, Queen Bey tells the dudes, if they're really into a woman, they should present them with a dripping ring. YKTV, marriage or whatever.

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Your Body is a Wonderland by John Mayer
Columbia
"One mile to every inch of / Dolphins have a dorsal fin / One pair of candy lips and / Your troublesome lung." Such a moment! Can you name this song?
"Since U Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson
"Drop It Like It's Hot" by Snoop Dogg
"Hips Don't Lie" by Shakira
"Your Body is a Wonderland" by John Mayer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lol, we can't stop laughing about "troublesome lung." That sounds like something you should def get checked out. No wonder the real John Mayer lyrics are "bubblegum tongue." But we suppose that could be a potential medical condition in its own right!

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Hey Ya! by Outkast
LaFace / Arista
"Shake it, shake it, shake it, suga! / Shake it like an Instagram picture!" OOF, it's barely distinguishable, but what song is this?
"Umbrella" by Rihanna
"Hey Ya!" by Outkast
"Hollaback Girl" by Gwen Stefani
"Boom Boom Pow" by Black Eyed Peas
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Instagram was, like, not even a thing when Outkast released "Hey Ya!" back in 2003. The group was actually telling us to "shake it like a Polaroid picture." All this talk of Polaroids has us feeling nostalgic.

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Baby Got Back by Sir Mix-a-Lot
Def American
"I like peanuts and I can not lie / You other brothers can't deny." Can you name this song, my dude?
"Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-a-Lot
"It Was a Good Day" by Ice Cube
"Jump Around" by House of Pain
"Juicy" by The Notorious B.I.G.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mom may have grounded us when she caught us listening to Sir Mix-a-Lot's "Baby Got Back." We didn't know what half the lyrics meant when we memorized it with our BFFs, but hey, "I like big butts" was funny AF.

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I Gotta Feeling by The Black Eyed Peas
Interscope
"I gottta feeling that tonight's gonna be lit AF / That tonight's gonna be a good night." What song is this?
"I Gotta Feeling" by The Black Eyed Peas
"Party in the U.S.A" by Miley Cyrus
"Good Girls Go Bad" by Cobra Starship
"Fireflies" by Owl City
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

We hope the night exceeded the Black Eyed Peas' expectations and was, in fact, lit AF. However, they'd only been hoping for a "good night" in "I Gotta Feeling." This bop is one of those that will, for sure, get stuck in your head. Sorry!

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All Star by Smashmouth
Interscope
"Hey now, play your guitar, get your game on, go play / Hey now, you're a sock czar, get the show on, get paid." Okay, what song is this?
"Wild Wild West" by Will Smith
"Livin' la Vida Loca" by Ricky Martin
"What's My Age Again" by Blink 182
"All Star" by Smashmouth
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The song "All Star" was the, for real, all star of the soundtrack for the movie "Shrek." Please, PLZ tell us you remember "Shrek"?! Princess Fiona was a big mood, and Donkey for sure cracked us up. Hey, does anyone know if "Shrek" is on Netflix?

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Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus
RCA
"I came in tryna get it all / I never hit so hard in love / All I wanted was to break your walls / All you ever did was call me thirsty." Lol, those new lyrics have us shook. What's this song called?
"We Found Love" by Rihanna
"Wrecking Ball" by Miley Cyrus
"Shape of You" by Ed Sheeran
"Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

We've low-key listened to "Wrecking Ball" after a breakup (possibly on repeat). Do you think Liam Hemsworth listened to Miley's bop after the two recently split? OOF, we really thought they were gonna make it.

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Genie in a Bottle by Christina Aguilera
RCA
"If you wanna be with me / Baby, there's a price to pay / I'm a beanie on a hipster / Did you order GrubHub today?" Can you name this bop, bruh?
"Have You Ever" by Brandy
"Lucky" Britney Spears
"Believe" by Cher
"Genie in a Bottle" by Christina Aguilera
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Now, this song really takes us back to the much simpler time that was 1999. Were you Team Christina or Team Britney? Tbh, we were more Team Britney, but "Genie in a Bottle" was a total banger.

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Stronger by Kanye West
Roc-A-Fella / Def Jam
"Let's get lost tonight / You could be my tasty soy sauce tonight / Play secretary, I'm the boss tonight." Yee, can you name this song?
"Crank That (Soulja Boy)" by Soulja Boy
"This Is Why I'm Hot" by MIMS
"Kiss Kiss" by Chris Brown
"Stronger" by Kanye West
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lol, forget the sushi, my dude. Kanye West is def not rapping about soy sauce in "Stronger." His iconic lyrics actually go: "You can be my black Kate Moss tonight." Hmmm, we wonder what Kim K thinks about those lyrics.

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Rolling in the Deep by Adele
XL
"We could've had it all / Driving in my Jeep." Ah, can you name this bop?
"Hot in Herre" by Nelly
"Rolling in the Deep" by Adele
"Paper Planes" by M.I.A.
"How You Remind Me" by Nickelback
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If she's driving in a Jeep, then it's def on the right side of the road. Get it? Because Adele is British? For real, though, this song is "Rolling in the Deep." Whether you drive a Jeep or not, listening to this iconic breakup song in the car is a big mood.

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What Do You Mean? by Justin Bieber
Def Jam
"When you nod your head yes / But you wanna say no / You are a KWEEN! Hey." You're slaying, we swear. Can you name this song?
"Can't Feel My Face" by The Weeknd
"What Do You Mean?" by Justin Bieber
"Cheerleader" by Omi
"Drag Me Down" by One Direction
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

One minute he had an adorable little bowl cut, and the next, he was married to Hailey Baldwin. We're talking about the Biebs, of course. Justin has a ton of bops to his name, and "What Do You Mean?" is no exception.

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Bye Bye Bye by NSYNC
Jive
"I know that I can't take no more / It ain't no lie / I want to see you dip right now / Baby, bye bye bye." Can you name this song?
"The Real Slim Shady" by Eminem
"It Wasn't Me" by Shaggy
"Bye Bye Bye" by NSYNC
"Oops...I Did It Again" by Britney Spears
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Okay, we could def be songwriters because our modern translations for these slightly older bops are on point. In 2000, NSYNC wanted to see you "out that door" aka to dip. Can Scooter Braun just give us a contract to sign already?

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Baby One More Time by Britney Spears
Jive
"My phoniness is spilling tea (and I) / I must confess I still believe (still believe)." What is this absolute mood of a song?
"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith
"...Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears
"One Week" by Barenaked Ladies
"Closing Time" by Semisonic
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Do you need us to give you a sign? "Hit me, baby, one more time." In what has to be one of the most iconic music videos ever, Britney Spears rocked a school uniform for "...Baby One More Time." Of all the Britney personas, this was def one of our faves.

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Closer by The Chainsmokers
Disruptor / Columbia
"So baby, pull me closer like a lucky four-leaf clover / That I know you wanna hoard / Bite that tattoo on your shoulder." Just concentrate! What song is this?
"Closer" by The Chainsmokers
"I Took a Pill in Ibiza" by Mike Posner
"Work from Home" by Fifth Harmony
"Treat You Better" by Shawn Mendes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Of course, my dude. This is "Closer" by The Chainsmokers. The band had a good thing going on their own, but then, getting Halsey on this track took this bop to the next level. That woman is a KWEEN.

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Waterfalls by TLC
LaFace / Arista
"Don't go racing down the halls / Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to." Big mood right here, but what song is this?
"MMMBop" by Hanson
"Always Be My Baby" by Mariah Carey
"Waterfalls" by TLC
"Bills, Bills, Bills" by Destiny's Child
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This song has had a major revival on Instagram. You can't seriously post a picture of a waterfall without TLC's lyrics: "Don't go chasing waterfalls." This bop lives on in Instagram captions across the internet.

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Yeah! by Usher
Arista
"I'm in the club riding ponies, try'na get a lil' V-L / Keep it down on the low key, 'cause you know how it feels." You've got this, fam, what song is this?
"Happy" by Pharrell Williams
"Yeah!" by Usher
"One Dance" by Drake
"Gold Digger" by Kayne West
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This one was probably a little challenging because the most well-known lyrics in Usher's "Yeah!" are, well: "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeahhhhh." "In the club riding ponies?" Smh. Usher was actually "in the club with his homies." Lil Jon was one of them!

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Mr. Brightside by The Killers
Island / Lizard King
"It started out with a fish / How did it end up like this? / It was only a fish, it was only a fish." Doing great, my dude! What is this song?
"Mr. Brightside" by The Killers
"Crazy in Love" by BeyoncƩ
"In Da Club" by 50 Cent
"Picture" by Kid Rock
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sea creatures aside, "Mr. Brightside" is actually about how "it started out with a kiss." The Killers are obv puzzled about how it ended up, but can you imagine how much more cray things would have been if it started out with a fish?!

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Lose Yourself by Eminem
Aftermath / Shady / Interscope
"His palms are sweaty, real freak, drives a Chevy / There's vomit on his sweater already, Auntie Betty." Can you name this song?
"Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous" by Good Charlotte
"Work It" by Missy Elliot
"Complicated" by Avril Lavigne
"Lose Yourself" by Eminem
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

We can't help but get hype when we hear "Lose Yourself." We grew up nowhere near 8 Mile Road (yuh, like the movie!), but we've had this classic Eminem song memorized since middle school. Oh, and that "vomit on his sweater already"? OOF, he barfed up "Mom's spaghetti."

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Moves like Jagger by Maroon 5
A&M Octone
"I'll show you all the moves with swagger / I've got the moves with swagger." What song is this, fam?
"Born This Way" by Lady Gaga
"Moves like Jagger" by Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera
"Give Me Everything" by Pitbull
"Sexy and I Know It" by LMFAO
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Maroon 5's frontman, Adam Levine, obv moves with swagger (hello, tatts), but this song's lyrics match its title: "Moves like Jagger." That's a reference to the Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger, if you didn't know.

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Juice by Lizzo
Atlantic
"It ain't my fault that I'm out here eatin' mousse / Gotta blame it on the moose / Gotta blame it on my Bruce, baby." We finna play this bop rn, so can you name this song?
"Only Girl (In the World)" by Rihanna
"Juice" by Lizzo
"Love the Way You Lie" by Eminem
"Lover" by Taylor Swift
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

We may or may not have spent five minutes coming up with words that rhyme with "juice." Not bad, eh? 2019 has been the year of Lizzo, and we are living for our kween. Between "Juice," "Truth Hurts" and "Soulmate," it's hard to choose our fave bop.

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Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars
Elektra/Atlantic
"When I see outer space / There's not a thing that isn't strange 'cause it's amazing / Just with all the stars." Focus here, brah, what song is this?
"Like a G6" by Far East Movement
"Just the Way You Are" by Bruno Mars
"Your Love is My Drug" by Kesha
"Airplanes" by B.o.B.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Tbh, we actually think our messed-up version of Bruno Mars' "Just the Way You Are" is pretty lit. This bop played on the radio all the time back in 2010. Do you remember the radio?

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SexyBack by Justin Timberlake
Jive / Zomba
"I'm bringin' flexy back (yeah) / Them not-swol boys don't know how to act (yeah)." We're kinda living for these way wrong lyrics, but do you know what song it is?
"Dani California" by Red Hot Chili Peppers
"Smack That" by Akon
"SexyBack" by Justin Timberlake
"Promiscuous" by Nelly Furtado
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This 2000s bop really takes us back. Tbh, we still can't listen to Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack" without wanting to bust a move. Our messed-up lyrics could be the next great workout song, don't you think?

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Wannabe by Spice Girls
Virgin
"Yo, I'll tell you how to flaunt, how to really, really flaunt / So tell me how you flaunt, how you really, really flaunt." Come on, bruh, what song is this?
"California Love" by Tupac Shakur
"No Diggity" by Blackstreet
"If Your Girl Only Knew" by Aaliyah
"Wannabe" by Spice Girls
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Yaas, the freaking Spice Girls! Posh, Sporty and the like will tell you what they WANT ... what they really, really want. It's one of our faves for karaoke, and we can't believe "Wannabe" came out all the way back in 1996. Classic AF.

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Thank U, Next by Ariana Grande
Republic
"One taught me love / One taught me patience / And one taught me pain / Now, I'm out here grazing." Keep up the good twerk! What is this song?
"Thank U, Next" by Ariana Grande
"Girls Like You" by Maroon 5
"Happier" by Masrshmello
"I Like It" by Cardi B
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This is THE Ariana Grande we're talking about here, not some farm animal. She's SO AMAZING, not out here GRAZING. Wait, do you remember when she was engaged to Pete Davidson for, like, 30 seconds? That was weird.

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Sucker by Jonas Brothers
Republic
"Imma a pucker for you / You say the word and I'll selfie right now, fam / Imma pucker for you, yeah." Yikes, it's tough, but can you name this song?
"ME!" by Taylor Swift
"Truth Hurts" by Lizzo
"Talk" by Khalid
"Sucker" by Jonas Brothers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Okay, maybe not THAT tough. This song is "Sucker" by Jonas Brothers. We were big excited when the band got back together and announced they had new music. Maybe being married to Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) low-key inspired Joe Jonas.

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Shallow by Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga
Interscope
"I'm off the deep end, watch as I dive in / It's quite possible I'll smash into the ground." Even with messed-up lyrics, this song is still a mood. Can you name it?
"Shallow" by Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga
"Nice For What" by Drake
"No Tears Left to Cry" by Ariana Grande
"Going Bad" by Meek Mill
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Talk about basically changing the whole song! Lady Gaga isn't going to smash into the ground. Naw, her lyrics with Bradley Cooper actually go: "I'll never meet the ground." Gaga's chemistry with Bradley in "A Star is Born" had us shook.

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In My Feelings by Drake
Young Money / Cash Money / Republic
"Kiki, do you love me? Are you hiding? / Say you won't make me take an L for my pride, ye." Yaas, can you name this song?
"Without Me" by Halsey
"Sunflower" by Post Malone
"In My Feelings" by Drake
"High Hopes" by Panic! at the Disco
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Drake, if you're taking this quiz rn, please tell us: Who TF is Kiki?! It's been a minute since all those "In My Feelings" challenge videos (which were big dangerous, btw), but this song is still such a mood.

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Wonderwall by Oasis
Creation
"Backbeat, ice cream is a treat / That the fire in your heart is out." Can you name this song?
"Wonderwall" by Oasis
"Gangsta's Paradise" by Coolio
"This Ain't a Love Song" by Bon Jovi
"You Are Not Alone" by Michael Jackson
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Yes, ice cream is most def a delish treat, but that's not what Oasis was singing about in "Wonderwall." This song is kinda old or whatever, but there's never a bad time to listen to it. It's basically life.

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Bodak Yellow by Cardi B
Atlantic
"Look, I don't dance now / I make funny grooves." Don't take an L here; what song is this?
"No Guidance" by Chris Brown
"Old Town Road" by Lil Nas
"SeƱorita" by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello
"Bodak Yellow" by Cardi B
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There's nothing funny (but, like, maybe groovy) about Cardi B's "Bodak Yellow." Our fave rapper, mommy to baby Kulture and wife to Offset is #GOALS with her money moves. We want to party with Cardi.

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You Got:
/35
Island / Lizard King