# Songs known today which will still be played in 50 years? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [December 21, 2024, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-known-today-which-will-still-be-played-in-50-years/1011989 "2024-12-21T20:12:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MiddleAmerica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@MiddleAmerica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MiddleAmerica)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-known-today-which-will-still-be-played-in-50-years/1011989/21 "2024-12-23T20:22:53Z")
New member, just joined moments ago. Interesting site. While I agree that most folks seem to like the music they grew up with, there are exceptions … like me. I am a 75 year old retired mostly amateur musician who grew up in the '60’s, but my favorite music is primarily from the 1920’s to the early 1960’s. In my opinion, most of the lyrics in those days were more witty and complex, and the music more sophisticated. Much of that music still seems fresh today, but I understand that opinions differ. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-known-today-which-will-still-be-played-in-50-years/1011989/22 "2024-12-23T22:07:13Z")
Fifty years of music is not that long a time. People still listen to a ton of bands and songs from before 1974. For specific once-popular genres and styles, some people will still like them and some won’t. Hiphop and rap will be “oldie stations” in fifty years and the folks who like it when they are twenty will like it when they are seventy because that is how liking music often works. But their kids won’t. Availability was once a barrier to obscure music. This has obviously not been the case since the days of Napster. So good music is even less ephemeral. ---
**Author:** ![Noelq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noelq/32/16438_2.png) [@Noelq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noelq)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-known-today-which-will-still-be-played-in-50-years/1011989/23 "2024-12-23T22:33:06Z")
I’d bet dollars to doughnuts that Taylor Swift songs will still be remembered. Light, catchy, pop fare. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-known-today-which-will-still-be-played-in-50-years/1011989/24 "2024-12-23T22:38:44Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > On the other hand… there’s Rap? I don’t really get that… will anyone be performing ‘classic rap’ in 50 years? Interesting that you should ask. Last week I heard someone online going on about “old school” rap. Not knowing the difference, I google OS rap and played a couple. I juxtaposed that with playing some more current selections. I honestly couldn’t tell much, if any, difference. Certainly not as much as between the Beatles and Van Halen, for example. Of course I’m sure it will be pointed out that it reflects more about my lack of a discerning ear than actual rap, but that’s where I’m at on it. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-known-today-which-will-still-be-played-in-50-years/1011989/25 "2024-12-23T23:00:23Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > In contrast, the best showtunes by (say) Gershwin and Cole Porter are probably going to be played for many decades to come. Part of that is because they’re _showtunes_, and the shows keep being revived. Shows on Broadway right now include _Gypsy. Cabaret_ and _Chicago_. They youngest of those three is 49 years old. For that matter, _Show Boat_ first hit Broadway in 1927 and is still performed. The great showtunes stay in the public consciousness because they’re continually exposed to a new audience, just like Disney films. Christmas music goes through the same recycling. Even more, it’s often the original recordings of Bing Crosby, Gene Autry, etc. that get played again and again. If I had to bet money on one song that will still be known in 50 years, it would be _All I Want for Christmas Is You_ - which is already 30 years old! ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2024, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-known-today-which-will-still-be-played-in-50-years/1011989/26 "2024-12-23T23:59:30Z")
> [@Noelq](#): > > I’d bet dollars to doughnuts that Taylor Swift songs will still be remembered. Light, catchy, pop fare. More importantly there are currently a vast number of fans in their 20’s (or younger) that find deep emotional connection to Taylor Swift’s music. In 50 years they’ll b in their 70’s (the Zoomers?) but those songs will still have deep meaning for them. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2024, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-known-today-which-will-still-be-played-in-50-years/1011989/27 "2024-12-24T02:19:16Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I only know this song because of an episode of a show called _Millennium_ created by the Chris Carter and starring Lance Henriksen that aired in the late 1990s. Same here! I didn’t even know what I was watching at the time; I was just channel flipping and ended up mesmerized by the show’s music and creepy atmosphere. It was only a decade or two later that I was able to find the name of the song and the TV show with some judicious Googling. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2024, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-known-today-which-will-still-be-played-in-50-years/1011989/28 "2024-12-24T02:59:05Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > Hiphop and rap will be “oldie stations” in fifty years and the folks who like it when they are twenty will like it when they are seventy because that is how liking music often works. But their kids won’t. Classic hip-hop is a thing and there are radio stations dedicated to it today. The Sugar Hill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” turned 45 this year. A lot of hits by artists and groups like Run DMC, Slick Rick, The Fat Boys, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, etc., etc. are older than some of the songs I used to hear on the oldies station in Dallas, 98.7 K-Luv, back when I was a teen. “I Get Around” by the Beach Boys turned 30 the year I graduated high school. “Parents Just Don’t Understand” by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince turned 26 this year. > [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > Availability was once a barrier to obscure music. This has obviously not been the case since the days of Napster. So good music is even less ephemeral. This is really the truth. I’ve been able to look up more half-remembered songs than I can think of. A lot of them were songs that played on the oldies stations when I was growing up that just isn’t played on any radio station here in Little Rock. (I think I mentioned our radio stations are terrible.) I’m sure someone will be listening to The Beatles fifty years from now. But by then, The Beatles will have ceased to have been a group for a little over a hundred years. Will we still need them? Will we still feed them? When they’re 100 years old? They might have a niche audience and show up in movies set during the 60s and 70s, but that’s about it I suspect. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2024, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-known-today-which-will-still-be-played-in-50-years/1011989/29 "2024-12-24T07:22:55Z")
Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/F1mqrCTFoz4/maxresdefault.jpg "Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time (Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1mqrCTFoz4&t=1/) ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2024, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-known-today-which-will-still-be-played-in-50-years/1011989/30 "2024-12-24T13:33:32Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Not knowing the difference, I google OS rap and played a couple. I juxtaposed that with playing some more current selections. I honestly couldn’t tell much, if any, difference. You couldn’t tell the difference between old school flow and modern rap’s use of triplets? Here, [listen to Snoop highlighting what’s different](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0OdmRtuQew) ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2024, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-known-today-which-will-still-be-played-in-50-years/1011989/31 "2024-12-24T19:02:38Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > The list of the top played artists on Spotify doesn’t include a “classic” act until #51: Queen. The next one is #67 with The Beatles. Nirvana #154, Pink Floyd #210, etc. do we know how old the avg/median user of spotify is? — 'd be interesting to know… chatgpt sugarcoats its ignorance with an unhelpful “18-34” followed by weasel-words (mostly, highly, typically, likely, core-group) ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2024, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-known-today-which-will-still-be-played-in-50-years/1011989/32 "2024-12-24T19:14:28Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper I must admit to a nostalgic liking for that! Something about the minimal production: just what is needed and no frills. There were a few other songs that had a similarly minimal approach around the same time: e.g. Brass in pocket, by the Pretenders. Different for Girls by Joe Jackson. Damn, I’m showing my age. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2024, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-known-today-which-will-still-be-played-in-50-years/1011989/33 "2024-12-24T19:25:18Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > If I had to bet money on one song that will still be known in 50 years, it would be _All I Want for Christmas Is You_ - which is already 30 years old! My money is on Wham! - Last X-mas … just turned 40 and will probably never go away (feel about that what you need to feel ;-)) … And Wham’s Last-Xmas seem to outlast “Do they know its x-mas time”, which kept LX-m from being number one … ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2024, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-known-today-which-will-still-be-played-in-50-years/1011989/34 "2024-12-24T20:26:32Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > do we know how old the avg/median user of spotify is? Stat I saw [most often](https://whatsthebigdata.com/spotify-statistics/) was that ~26% are in the 18-25 range and ~29% in the 26-35 range with a 56/44 Female/Male breakdown. However, I assume that also depends on what you classify as a “user” – anyone with an account? Active listener? I [found this bit](https://www.comscore.com/Insights/Blog/Who-is-today-s-Spotify-Consumer) which seemed more relevant: > The Spotify audience is largely made up of young adults, both male and female, who are likely to be living with their families. Consumers between the ages of 18-24 years old were 85% more likely than the average user to visit Spotify in January 2023. ---
**Author:** ![Moonrise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonrise/32/14764_2.png) [@Moonrise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonrise)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2024, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-known-today-which-will-still-be-played-in-50-years/1011989/35 "2024-12-25T08:29:15Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > You couldn’t tell the difference between old school flow and modern rap’s use of triplets? Here, [listen to Snoop highlighting what’s different](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0OdmRtuQew) Modern rap’s flow seems much more rhythmically complex to me indeed, and the background textures sound more synthetic compared to old school rap’s samples of real songs. But I’m a very casual listener at best. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2024, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-known-today-which-will-still-be-played-in-50-years/1011989/36 "2024-12-25T09:14:40Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > The list of the top played artists on Spotify doesn’t include a “classic” act until #51: Queen. The next one is #67 with The Beatles. Nirvana #154, Pink Floyd #210, etc. Perhaps this is because the “classics” still exist in large numbers in the form of physical media - records, CDs and the like. I’ve digitised my Queen CDs\*, so I when I want to listen to Queen, I won’t stream it - I have locally saved files. So perhaps the streaming statistics are underreporting the actual amount that people listen to the classics. \*) Yes, I know, sound on CDs is already digital, so turning them into an MP3 is not “digitising” it. You know what I mean. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2024, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-known-today-which-will-still-be-played-in-50-years/1011989/37 "2024-12-25T13:50:59Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > I must admit to a nostalgic liking for that! Something about the minimal production: just what is needed and no frills. It’s an excellent song, one I do think will endure. I have mentioned in the past when people made comparisons between Cyndi and Madonna that I think Time After Time will be known long after all of Madonna’s works have been forgotten. It has a much broader appeal in both the lyrics, the music, and Cyndi’s rendition. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2024, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-known-today-which-will-still-be-played-in-50-years/1011989/38 "2024-12-25T14:27:57Z")
> [@Schnitte](#): > > Perhaps this is because the “classics” still exist in large numbers in the form of physical media - records, CDs and the like. It feels unlikely that this is happening in any great numbers. I also own tons of old CDs that I’ve converted into .mp3 files. I don’t really listen to those files these days because that’s quite literally what I’m paying the streaming service for. I have the music on my drive and copied onto USB sticks but, since I’ve had a car capable of playing via my phone, they’re essentially obsolete aside from a few edge cases. Unfortunately, not much recent data on this. In 2016, the number of people listening to music via streaming was 41% and 20% for digital files. So already 2:1. I have to assume that, nine years later and with the practical death of the CD and collapse of the “purchased digital single” market, it’s only gotten much worse for local digital files. In any event, I have to assume that the Bad Bunny fan who is also a big The Who fan but _only_ via non-streaming means is enough of a rarity to not matter. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2024, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-known-today-which-will-still-be-played-in-50-years/1011989/39 "2024-12-25T14:28:25Z")
I have linked to this article before, but it seems fitting here. Mr. Gioia looks for objective data and keeps a subjective perspective. He may be right: > **[How Long Does Pop Culture Stardom Last?](https://www.honest-broker.com/p/how-long-does-pop-culture-stardom?utm_source=publication-search)** > > I have a hunch that even huge stars are forgotten after 80 years—but does the data back that up? On the other hand, when I made a poll about his exampe half of the answers in this board were positive: they could identify Benny Goodman after more than 80 years. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2024, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-known-today-which-will-still-be-played-in-50-years/1011989/40 "2024-12-25T22:29:44Z")
Right Said Fred’s “I’m Too Sexy” is of the ages. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-known-today-which-will-still-be-played-in-50-years/1011989.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-known-today-which-will-still-be-played-in-50-years/1011989.md?page=3)