The ONE definitive song from the decades of rock and roll

Goto page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7  Next
View previous topic :: View next topic
Author Message
Charicature




Age: 49
Location: Vermont
United States

  • #1
  • Posted: 11/22/2011 14:48
  • Post subject: The ONE definitive song from the decades of rock and roll
  • Reply with quote
Ripping this from another forum (and defining it a little better since they said "each decade" but think time began in 1950). Pick one song that you think best represents (that is, best represents the "look and feel" so to speak) each of the decades of rock and roll.

The list I quickly cobbled together:
1950s: Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley and the Comets
1960s: My Generation - The Who
1970s: Dancing Queen - ABBA
1980s: Material Girl - Madonna
1990s: Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
2000s: I really don't know.

the 2010s haven't progressed enough to really have a definitive song - who knows what shape the decade ultimately takes?

Post your lists, discuss...
_________________
<(: @ Smile>
Back to top
  • Visit poster's website
  • View user's profile
  • Send private message
cartoken
The Seer


Gender: Male
Age: 39
Location: Paris
France

  • #2
  • Posted: 11/22/2011 15:21
  • Post subject:
  • Reply with quote
kinda agree with your list Charicature. here's another one :

1950s: Little Richard - Tutti frutti
1960s: The Rolling Stones - Satisfaction
1970s: Sex Pistols - God Save The Queen
1980s: Mickael Jackson - Thriller
1990s: Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
2000s: Someday - The Strokes
Back to top
  • Visit poster's website
  • View user's profile
  • Send private message
  • Visit poster's website
Hayden




Location: CDMX
Canada

  • #3
  • Posted: 11/22/2011 15:46
  • Post subject:
  • Reply with quote
cartoken wrote:
kinda agree with your list Charicature. here's another one :

1950s: Little Richard - Tutti frutti
1960s: The Rolling Stones - Satisfaction
1970s: Sex Pistols - God Save The Queen
1980s: Mickael Jackson - Thriller
1990s: Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana


^ I would have that. No joke. The only one I didn't think of was Thriller, but I guess that works out better than "Sweet Child O' Mine"...

The 2000's choice was really weird though Think I wouldn't say Someday symbolized the 2000's at all. (Great song, and I know you like the Strokes, but I don't think it'd work).

2000's: White Stripes - Seven Nation Army or Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps
Back to top
  • Visit poster's website
  • View user's profile
  • Send private message
19loveless91
mag. druž. inf



Slovenia

  • #4
  • Posted: 11/22/2011 16:05
  • Post subject:
  • Reply with quote
@Charicature - When you say defining the decade of rock and roll, do you mean that these songs defined rock and roll in each decade? Or did you just use the "rock and roll" part instead of saying "music from 1950s onwards" - I'm curious because of your picks for 1970s and 80s (defined the decade perhaps, but not very RnR)
Can't think of any 1950s song, haven't really listened much of this decade.

As for others...
1960s - can a song from the 70s represent the 1960s? If yes, then I put Imagine here. If not, then God Only Knows. Satisfaction is also a great choice. Or maybe Like A Rolling Stone (and I'm not exactly a fan of the last two songs)

1970s - Stairway to Heaven - at least the early 70s and as defining of the classic rock. The defining song of the second half of the decade would for me be God Save the Queen.

1980s - With or Without You (or some sort of arena rock stuff, maybe even a heavy metal song). I would also mention Teen Age Riot by Sonic Youth as the defining song of alternative music of the decade. Good choice by cartoken as well.

1990s - Smells like teen spirit as mentioned, any song by Pavement would also do. Or even Paranoid Android.

2000s - Maps by Yeah Yeah Yeahs, White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Foxes. (and if we're talking mainstream, how about Crazy in Love)


Sorry, couldn't do just one song per decade Embarassed .. I'll think about it and come back. The ones above were from the top of my head.
Back to top
  • Visit poster's website
  • View user's profile
  • Send private message
alelsupreme
Awful.


Gender: Male
Age: 27
United Kingdom

  • #5
  • Posted: 11/22/2011 16:47
  • Post subject:
  • Reply with quote
50's: Roll Over Beethoven (the guitar riff from this has been nicked so many times it's not even funny)
Early 60's: I Want To Hold Your Hand - The Beatles
Middle 60's: God Only Knows - Beach Boys
Late 60's: Gimme Shelter - Rolling Stones/I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
Early 70's: Stairway To Heaven - Led Zeppelin
Mddle 70's: Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
Late 70's: God Save The Queen - Sex Pistols
Early 80's: Once In A Lifetime - Talking Heads/ Thriller - Michael Jackson
Middle 80's: Living On A Prayer - Bon Jovi (arena rock/hair metal was a big part of the 80's)
Late 80's: Straight Outta Compton - N.W.A
Early 90's: Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
Middle 90's: not sure, maybe Wonderwall - Oasis, to represnt britpop?
Late 90's: Paranoid Android - Radiohead
Early 00's: tie between Seven Nation Army/Crazy In Love

I copuldn't do just one song, for example in the early 80's that would mean ignoring either R&B/pop or new wave/post punk.
Middle 00's: Gold Digger - Kanye West
Late 00's: Time To Pretend - MGMT


Last edited by alelsupreme on 11/22/2011 16:50; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
  • Visit poster's website
  • View user's profile
  • Send private message
Polythene Pam





  • #6
  • Posted: 11/22/2011 16:50
  • Post subject:
  • Reply with quote
1950's Johnny B Goode
1960's Gimme Shelter
1970's Bohemian Rhapsody
1980's London Calling
1990's Smells Like Teen Spirit
2000's Seven Nation Army
Back to top
Chemical Smile




Guatemala

  • #7
  • Posted: 11/22/2011 16:54
  • Post subject:
  • Reply with quote
1950's: Chuck Berry - Johnny Be Good
1960's: The Beatles - A Day In The Life
1970's: Black Sabbath - Paranoid
1980's: The Pixies - Debaser
1990's: Smashing Pumpkins - 1979
2000's: White Stripes - 7 Nation Army
_________________
"Bunch of opinionated, hipster twats!"
Back to top
  • Visit poster's website
  • View user's profile
  • Send private message
Chemical Smile




Guatemala

  • #8
  • Posted: 11/22/2011 16:55
  • Post subject:
  • Reply with quote
Polythene Pam wrote:
1980's London Calling


Didn't London Calling come out at the tail-end of the '70's? Think
_________________
"Bunch of opinionated, hipster twats!"
Back to top
  • Visit poster's website
  • View user's profile
  • Send private message
Polythene Pam





  • #9
  • Posted: 11/22/2011 17:06
  • Post subject:
  • Reply with quote
Chemical Smile wrote:
Polythene Pam wrote:
1980's London Calling


Didn't London Calling come out at the tail-end of the '70's? Think


Yes but the the question was

Songs that defined a decade.
Back to top
Guest





  • #10
  • Posted: 11/22/2011 17:48
  • Post subject:
  • Reply with quote
I don't listen to '50s music to have an opinion on those, so I'll skip to the '60s.

1960s - Yellow Submarine: All right, it's certainly not my favorite Beatles song, and whether or not it's the "definitive" song of the '60s probably depends on your definition of the word "definitive", but to be totally honest I'm not sure the '60s ever spawned another song that was as infectiously singalongable as this one (I mean, come on, when was the last time you went to a party and heard this song come on and didn't subsequently hear everyone start singing drunkenly along?). Either way, this is one of the few songs from this decade that almost literally every single person will still recognize to this day, and for that reason I think it's worthy of this title.

1970s - Bohemian Rhapsody: Okay, so I'm a huge Queen junkie and don't think anything else even comes close. Either way, this is undeniably one of the most innovative songs of the decade, and will always be remembered as a classic.

1980s - Beat It: Is there really any room for debate here?

1990s - Smells like Teen Spirit: Once again, did it have much competition?

2000s - Seven Nation Army: Okay, now this just wasn't even fair...

Alright, the definitive songs from the last 3 decades is probably more debatable than I made it out to be. I just got lazy Very Happy
Back to top
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   This topic is locked: you cannot edit posts or make replies.
All times are GMT
Goto page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7  Next
Page 1 of 7


 

Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Similar Topics
Topic Author Forum
Sticky: Song Quote Suggestions JohnnyRocketFingers Suggestions
New Rock N Roll Happymeal Music
Rock & Roll R.I.P? badfaith Lounge
Best rock and roll language bobbyb5 Music
A Rock and Roll Christmas bobbyb5 Music

 
Back to Top