# Songs that sound like a decade **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 19, 2015, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-a-decade/731719 "2015-09-19T00:36:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lubricious\_Integument](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/82dd89/32.png) [@Lubricious\_Integument](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lubricious_Integument)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-a-decade/731719/1 "2015-09-19T00:36:25Z")
Inspired by [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=768998) thread. Sometimes you hear a song and it makes you instantly think of a decade. Not an arbitrary 10-year period, but the 30s, 40s, etc. The song _sounds_ like the decade in your memory. 1970s: Sundown, Gordon Lightfoot. Nice slow pace, just like the days before all this PC (personal computer) crap. 1980s: Drive, The Cars. A more obscure one but nails the sound of the 80s is 1980s: The Brazilian, Genesis. Your examples? ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-a-decade/731719/2 "2015-09-19T02:44:28Z")
For Sixties: The Byrds “Turn Turn Turn” Seventies: England Dan and John Ford Coley’s "Really Love to See You Tonight Eighties: “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins Nineties: "What Is Love by Haddaway Two Thousands: “Hey Ya” by Outkast. I can give more examples for each decade but these are just songs really of their decade. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-a-decade/731719/3 "2015-09-19T02:45:30Z")
For Sixties: The Byrds “Turn Turn Turn” Seventies: England Dan and John Ford Coley’s "Really Love to See You Tonight Eighties: “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins Nineties: "What Is Love by Haddaway Two Thousands: “Hey Ya” by Outkast. I can give more examples for each decade but these are just songs really of their decade. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-a-decade/731719/4 "2015-09-19T04:47:38Z")
For the Sixties, I like Itchykoo Park. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-a-decade/731719/5 "2015-09-19T06:40:26Z")
Can’t quibble with the 60s-80s songs so far, but never having heard What is Love or Hey Ya, I’d like to instead nominate: 90s: Superman’s Dead by Our Lady Peace 00s: Float On by Modest Mouse ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-a-decade/731719/6 "2015-09-19T06:53:42Z")
70s Brown Sugar 80s When Doves Cry 90s Smells Like Teen Spirit 00s Lets Get the Party Started by Pinkor Tupacs Only God Can Judge Me ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-a-decade/731719/7 "2015-09-19T07:26:49Z")
These are before my time, but I’ll nominate… '40s: **In the Mood** , Glenn Miller '50s: **Splish Splash** , Bobby Darin '60s: **Incense and Peppermints** , Strawberry Alarm Clock ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-a-decade/731719/8 "2015-09-19T07:59:27Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7Y0ekr-3So) This Country Joe and the Fish song might be perfect for the 60s ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-a-decade/731719/9 "2015-09-19T08:05:35Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > These are before my time, but I’ll nominate… > > '40s: **In the Mood** , Glenn Miller It was recorded in 1939. I suppose some of its popularity spilled over into the forties. 20s: _Let’s Misbehave_ by Irving Aaronson and His Commanders 30s: _Sing, Sing, Sing_ by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra 40s: _Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy_ by The Andrews Sisters 50s: _Maybellene_ by Chuck Berry ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-a-decade/731719/10 "2015-09-19T09:06:33Z")
60s = The Mamas and the Papas, [California Dreaming](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-aK6JnyFmk) 70s = Abba, [Dancing Queen](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFrGuyw1V8s) 80s = Duran Duran, [The Reflex](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDnNF5cHCdo) 90s = REM, [Everybody Hurts](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijZRCIrTgQc) 00s = Justin Tiberlake, [SexyBack](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gOHvDP_vCs) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-a-decade/731719/11 "2015-09-19T16:15:57Z")
\*MacArthur Park Inna Gadda Davida Light My Fire\* Although I may have misunderstood the question. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-a-decade/731719/12 "2015-09-19T17:14:34Z")
Early 50s: Tennessee Waltz, Moments To Remember, and many others Late 50s: Heartbreak Hotel or Rock Around The Clock Mid 60s: I Want to Hold Your Hand Late 60s: Purple Haze 70s: Bohemian Rhapsody 80s: Everybody Wants To Rule The World (but really, there are dozens) 90s: Smells Like Teen Spirit ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-a-decade/731719/13 "2015-09-19T18:59:17Z")
The 60s: Incense and Peppermints The 70s: Disco Inferno The 80s: Borderline The 90s: Smells Like Teen Spirit The 2000s: All The Small Things The 2010s: Blank Space For most of these decades you could probably make separate Pop and Rock lists but some time in the 2000s Pop basically won. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-a-decade/731719/14 "2015-09-19T20:05:19Z")
60s - Sunshine Superman - Donovan 70s - You Turn Me On I’m a Radio - Joni Mitchell 80s - Stop Making Sense - Talking Heads 90s - Hallelujah - (Jeff Buckley version) ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-a-decade/731719/15 "2015-09-20T05:48:50Z")
'60s: The Rain, the Park, and Other Things - The Cowsills '70s: If You Leave Me Now - Chicago '80s: I Wonder if I Take You Home - Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Full Force '90s: In Bloom - Nirvana '00s: Umbrella - Rihanna '10s: can’t say, not enough perspective ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-a-decade/731719/16 "2015-09-20T06:11:56Z")
> [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](#): > > '10s: can’t say, not enough perspective No question, that song totally nails the '10s. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-a-decade/731719/17 "2015-09-20T19:35:03Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > No question, that song totally nails the '10s. The 10s for me is “Bicycle built for two” ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-a-decade/731719/18 "2015-09-20T20:54:30Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > The 10s for me is “Bicycle built for two” Either the teens, or 2001. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-a-decade/731719/19 "2015-09-21T05:11:40Z")
Pop music decades are rarely ten years. Musicians don’t count too well, which also explains some of the contracts… (Note: In just about every case, other songs were better. These songs just give the strongest possible form of a specific moment in a single piece of music.) The decade from 1967 to, maybe, 1973 or so: “San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)” - Scott McKenzie. The decade from 1991 to 1997: “Misery” - Soul Asylum. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-a-decade/731719/20 "2015-09-21T13:32:09Z")
> [@Lubricious\_Integument](#): > > Inspired by [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=768998) thread. > > Sometimes you hear a song and it makes you instantly think of a decade. Not an arbitrary 10-year period, but the 30s, 40s, etc. The song _sounds_ like the decade in your memory. > > 1970s: Sundown, Gordon Lightfoot. Nice slow pace, just like the days before all this PC (personal computer) crap. > > 1980s: Drive, The Cars. > > A more obscure one but nails the sound of the 80s is > > 1980s: The Brazilian, Genesis. > > Your examples? I have to disagree on The Brazilian. As a proggish instrumental done by serious craftsmen…I feel it kind of stands out on its own without any temporal attatchments. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-a-decade/731719.md?page=2)