Music has always been a part of home with the radio playing every morning. We all had our different tastes in music. Mum loving the sixties, my dad loving old Bollywood classics, my sister bringing in tunes of the 70s. I for one mostly imbibed all the tunes that came in until much later where I developed my own unique taste in music. I thought it would be fun to take one iconic song from each decade in music history. Is it the one that set you in a good mood, got your feet tapping or made you reminisce of better days? Let’s look at Decades of Pop: Unforgettable Hits That Shaped Music History.
The Swinging Sixties
“Hey Jude” by The Beatles (1968)
The Beatles a band for every age. There’s no one who hasn’t heard The Beatles, the most influential band of all times.
American Songwriter.com says Musically, ‘Hey Jude’ has a particularly disparate beginning and end. Starting off as a harmless piano ballad, it soon becomes a rock tune, and finishes with a glorious clamor of “nah nah nahs,” horns, and strings. This final bit pushed the song well beyond the time constraints of a typical Beatles song, let alone commercial radio. Its amazing energy, rousing vibe, and universal appeal make “Hey Jude” one for the ages.
I particularly remember a beautiful wedding I attended and all the friends of the bride and groom gathered around with Hey Jude playing loud. It brought out a message for them; don’t carry the world on your shoulder. The Beatles really knew how to take a sad song and make it better.
The Disco Fever of the Seventies
Song: “Stayin’ Alive” by Bee Gees (1977)
Well you can tell by the way I use my walk, how many of you have got up to dance to that pulsating disco beat. My feet would not want to stop to dance on that song.
‘Stayin’ Alive’ is a 1977 disco single written by the Bee Gees which peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained there for four weeks. It was released as part of the 1977 soundtrack album Saturday Night Fever in which it famously depicts John Travolta strutting down the streets of Brooklyn, New York City. [Genius]
This song became the anthem of the era and the most recognizable songs of The Bee Gees.
The Electric Eighties
“Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson (1983)
The 80s when I was born music was everywhere and soon with the advent of MTV we could enjoy music along with the coolest videos. Michael Jackson invaded our screens, leading the way with the longest cinematic music videos. ‘Billie Jean’ with its infectious beat and cool lyrics make this a timeless 80’s classic.
‘Billie Jean’ won two Grammys – one for Best R&B Male Vocal Performance and one for Best Rhythm and Blues Song blending together beautifully funk and disco with rock and pop.
The ’90s: A Decade of Diversity
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana (1991)
I remember this song for the cheerleaders because I would refuse to watch the video. A cult song raging in the 90’s it was rebellious and bold something that the 90s were all about.
‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ is a song by the American rock band Nirvana. It is the opening track and lead single from the band’s second album, Nevermind(1991), released on DGC Records. The unexpected success of the song propelled Nevermind to the top of several albums charts at the start of 1992, an event often marked as the point when grunge entered the mainstream.
The Turn of the Millennium
Song: “Hips Don’t Lie” by Shakira (2006)
I never really knew she could dance like this make a man want to speak Spanish; these lyrics were on everyone’s lips. Shakira’s rhythmic dance performance and Spanish beats made it a sensation. How many of you took up salsa and belly dancing after that song was released? The song had global appeal, was an instant chart topper and it seemed to be the only song playing in clubs well you may think not, but hips don’t lie.
The Roaring Twenty-Tens
“Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran (2017)
Sheeran sings about meeting someone at a bar and falling in love with her; in this song where love is portrayed more on the physical than the emotional. Ed Sheeran crafted relatable lyrics that speak to his audience at once making him popular.
While it was Ed Sheeran’s fresh talent that made him rise to fame, ‘Shape of you’ was the key to his success.
The Present: A Fusion of Sounds
“Last Train Home” by John Mayer (2021)
To try and wrap up with the present music sounds I would like to end with my personal favorite John Mayer. ‘Last Train Home’ giving off an 80’s vibe with a music video set at a train station, filled with keyboard tunes that remind of Toto and John on the guitar himself. The song instantly became popular for it was like the music that Mayer listened to in the 80s. It was like hitting the rewind button to the sound of the 80s.
Music Thrills
‘Hey Jude’ with its powerful lyrics stormed the sixties, The Bee Gees gave us a disco beat ‘Staying Alive’ that we still dance to, ‘Billie Jean’ with its clever compositions and a story to tell took over the electric eighties, Nirvana with its grunge sound created a cult in the 90s with ‘Smells like Teen Spirit’ then sway with ‘Hips don’t lie’ and Shakira’s powerhouse performance, a groovy ‘Shape of you’ by Ed Sheeran in the twenty-tens and to culminate with a ‘Last Train Home’ by the guitar God John Mayer in the now in the present. Music has journeyed through various genres and amazing artists and the torch will be carried on for music is life.
These were the Decades of Pop: Unforgettable Hits That Shaped Music History. Now hop on in. It’s your turn to share your favorite pop songs from different decades in the post comments.
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