# Most dated song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 20, 2013, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-dated-song/656181 "2013-04-20T01:42:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-dated-song/656181/81 "2014-02-16T21:16:01Z")
> [@Steken](#): > > I hear the “69” in the title isn’t a reference to 1969. In an attempt to sound bad-ass Bryan Adams says it’s about the sexual position, but it really isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-dated-song/656181/82 "2014-02-16T21:24:37Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Assuming that’s a cover of the Doors song, it was appropriate at least in the late 60s and, what, the early 80s? I looked it up because I didn’t know the Doors also had a song called that. Anyway, it’s a case of two songs with the same name but different otherwise. Doors “Twentieth Century Fox” (Morrison, Krieger, Manzarek, Densmore) 1967 38 Special “Twentieth Century Fox” (Barnes, Carlisi, Van Zant, Steele) 1984 ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-dated-song/656181/83 "2014-02-16T21:33:34Z")
I thought that Ryan Adams recorded “Summer of '69.” Y’know, if he didn’t make such a stink about it people wouldn’t troll him about it, though I wonder how many tickets he sold to hecklers. I know I was tempted. ---
**Author:** ![Steken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Steken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steken)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-dated-song/656181/84 "2014-02-16T22:03:19Z")
> [@Nobody](#): > > In an attempt to sound bad-ass Bryan Adams says it’s about the sexual position, but it really isn’t. Well, the song can’t exactly be autobiographical either. Dude was ten years old in ‘69. He probably wasn’t rockin’ out with his guitar until his fingers bled _that_ early. But of course “it was the summer / the summer / the summer of seventy-nine” would fuck up the metre. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-dated-song/656181/85 "2014-02-17T00:36:54Z")
The End of the Innocence, by Don Henley. Very Reagan-specific lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-dated-song/656181/86 "2014-02-17T05:37:32Z")
> [@Steken](#): > > Well, the song can’t exactly be autobiographical either. Dude was ten years old in ‘69. He probably wasn’t rockin’ out with his guitar until his fingers bled _that_ early. > > But of course “it was the summer / the summer / the summer of seventy-nine” would fuck up the metre. There’s been threads on it before, but yeah, it’s not autobiographical. > [@cmkeller](#): > > The End of the Innocence, by Don Henley. Very Reagan-specific lyrics. I’m not very good at subtleties and undertones in music, books, movies, etc… What’s Reaganesque about the song? ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-dated-song/656181/87 "2014-02-17T05:47:34Z")
> [@Nobody](#): > > There’s been threads on it before, but yeah, it’s not autobiographical. > > I’m not very good at subtleties and undertones in music, books, movies, etc… > What’s Reaganesque about the song [The End of the Innocence]? The references to Iran-Contra and the “tired old man we’ve elected King” line. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-dated-song/656181/88 "2014-02-17T07:18:46Z")
Two last things, then I’ll shut up. 😃 First, it’s funny mentioning Reagan since it came out in 1989 after Bush the elder was elected. Second… > [@NDP](#): > > The references to Iran-Contra and the “tired old man we’ve elected King” line. O’ beautiful, for spacious skies But now those skies are threatening They’re beating plowshares into swords For this tired old man that we elected king Armchair warriors often fail And we’ve been poisoned by these fairy tales The lawyers clean up all details Since daddy had to lie Actually refers to Iran Contra? ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-dated-song/656181/89 "2014-02-17T08:31:18Z")
> [@Nobody](#): > > Two last things, then I’ll shut up. 😃 > > First, it’s funny mentioning Reagan since it came out in 1989 after Bush the elder was elected. Second… > > O’ beautiful, for spacious skies > But now those skies are threatening > They’re beating plowshares into swords > For this tired old man that we elected king > Armchair warriors often fail > And we’ve been poisoned by these fairy tales > The lawyers clean up all details > Since daddy had to lie > > Actually refers to Iran Contra? That’s how I’ve always understood it. Also, while the song came out in 1989, Henley wrote it when Reagan was still in office and Iran Contra was a fresh memory. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-dated-song/656181/90 "2014-02-17T08:40:11Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > That’s how I’ve always understood it. > > Also, while the song came out in 1989, Henley wrote it when Reagan was still in office and Iran Contra was a fresh memory. I never knew that. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-dated-song/656181/91 "2014-02-17T23:42:33Z")
Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin—“[Soixante-neuf, année érotique](http://www.jukebox.fr/jane-birkin/clip,69-annee-erotique,vkfml.html)” ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-dated-song/656181/92 "2014-02-18T00:50:38Z")
> [@Nobody](#): > > I never knew that. Thanks. Henley wrote the lyrics. Bruce Hornsby wrote the music. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-dated-song/656181/93 "2014-02-18T04:39:53Z")
> [@Truman\_Burbank](#): > > Henley wrote the lyrics. Bruce Hornsby wrote the music. Guess that’s why it’s piano heavy.🆒 ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-dated-song/656181/94 "2014-02-18T06:52:42Z")
> [@Steken](#): > > Well, the song can’t exactly be autobiographical either. Dude was ten years old in ‘69. He probably wasn’t rockin’ out with his guitar until his fingers bled _that_ early. > > But of course “it was the summer / the summer / the summer of seventy-nine” would fuck up the metre. They asked this question in Blender magazine (RIP) a few years ago. Adams claimed it was a reference to the sex position. Jim Vallance, his older cowriter, claims it was about Vallance’s teenage memories and that Adams never even mentioned the sexual angle. Believe who you want. ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-dated-song/656181/95 "2014-02-18T11:47:52Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > Melanie’s _(I Got a Brand New Pair of Rollerskates, You Got a) Brand New Key_. I don’t even know what a rollerskate key does. Supposedly there’s some other meanings to the song too… The secondary meaning is about skates. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-dated-song/656181/96 "2014-02-18T12:03:35Z")
Neil Young-“After the Gold Rush” _Look at Mother Nature on the run in the 1970’s._ ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-dated-song/656181/97 "2014-02-18T13:39:30Z")
Nervous Norvus’ [“Dig”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgZW0mI17i0) (about hep cats) is heavily tied to the 1950s, not to mention sounding as though it was brought to earth by a UFO. \*Norvus is best known for the even more bizarre “Transfusion”. ---
**Author:** ![jrsone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jrsone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jrsone)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-dated-song/656181/98 "2014-02-18T15:29:11Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > [We Care A Lot](http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=d1g9PFtSCKw&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dd1g9PFtSCKw) by Faith No More. Without looking, you can probably guess what year it came out in. I’m not the biggest Chuck Mosley-era Faith No More fan, but I do like that song. Patton has done his take on it and he does good with it, so it’s cheesy fun. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-dated-song/656181.md?page=4)