# Songs that sound like they were made in the wrong decade **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 29, 2008, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-they-were-made-in-the-wrong-decade/465710 "2008-09-29T14:36:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ceejaytee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ceejaytee/32/2956_2.png) [@Ceejaytee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ceejaytee)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-they-were-made-in-the-wrong-decade/465710/21 "2008-09-29T19:33:50Z")
With one exception (a song with Jay-Z) Rafael Saadiq’s entire new album, The Way I See It, is channeling Motown, Stax and Atlantic recordings from the 60s & 70s. It’s fantastic. You can hear several cuts at his myspace page [http://www.myspace.com/raphaelsaadiq](http://www.myspace.com/raphaelsaadiq) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-they-were-made-in-the-wrong-decade/465710/22 "2008-09-29T19:50:08Z")
On her 1992 CD [Diva](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diva_(album)), Annie Lennox sings Durbin & Warren’s 1933 hit “Keep Young and Beautiful” [in the style of the 1920s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrpHbTZ_jL8). ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-they-were-made-in-the-wrong-decade/465710/23 "2008-09-29T19:59:41Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > On her 1992 CD [Diva](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diva_(album)), Annie Lennox sings Durbin & Warren’s 1933 hit “Keep Young and Beautiful” [in the style of the 1920s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrpHbTZ_jL8). Complete with scratchy-poppy vinyl sounds. I love that track! My nomination is “Winchester Cathedral”, released in 1966 by The New Vaudeville Band, but sounding like an early 20th Century song…probably 20s or 30s. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-they-were-made-in-the-wrong-decade/465710/24 "2008-09-29T20:02:18Z")
> [@Mahna\_Mahna](#): > > I’m totally loving that the current neo-soul revival… singers like Amy Winehouse, [Duffy](http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=KE2orthS3TQ) and [Jully Black](http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=eSlUe-bSEMg)all sound like they’d be perfectly at home in the golden era of Motown. I heard “Stepping Stone” (and a couple more sogs I forget the names of) by Duffy for the first time this weekend, and I totally agree. She sounds just like someone off my mom’s motown cds. There are entire subgenres of music that have an intentional throwback style. One is [Dance Punk](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Dance-punk_musical_groups) - bands like A Kiss Could Be Deadly, !!! and Death From Above 1979 . Another is [Post Punk Revival](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_punk_revival) - with bands like The Killers & The Rapture. A third - which includes the above mentioned Ladytron - is [Electroclash](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Electroclash_bands_and_artists). ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-they-were-made-in-the-wrong-decade/465710/25 "2008-09-29T20:07:35Z")
_That Thing You Do_ sounds like a 60’s pop tune. By design, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Stopfordia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Stopfordia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stopfordia)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-they-were-made-in-the-wrong-decade/465710/26 "2008-09-29T20:09:49Z")
The Dream Academy’s [Life in a Northern Town](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YablrXxFCc) - released in 1985, sounds very late 60s. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-they-were-made-in-the-wrong-decade/465710/27 "2008-09-30T00:07:07Z")
> [@neutron\_star](#): > > Yes please. Off-hand, below are some from my myspace friends list (sorry if you don’t have myspace and can’t hear the music - google them, I guess :)). There are a lot that incorporate newer electronic elements, some incorporate rock, some darker goth stuff. For the most part, though, each at least has some songs in their catalogs that have a very old-school feel. Bands I own stuff by and can vouch for: [Mesh](http://www.myspace.com/meshwecollide) [Anything Box](http://www.myspace.com/anythingbox) [The Echoing Green](http://www.myspace.com/echoinggreen) [Neuropa](http://www.myspace.com/neuropabiz) [Echo Image](http://www.myspace.com/echoimage) [Apoptygma Berzerk](http://www.myspace.com/apoptygmaberzerk) [Leiahdorus](http://www.myspace.com/leiahdorus) [Blaqk Audio](http://www.myspace.com/blaqkaudio) [Argyle Street](http://www.myspace.com/argylestreetmusic) [Freezepop](http://www.myspace.com/freezepop) [Iris](http://www.myspace.com/iris2) [Color Theory](http://www.myspace.com/colortheory) [Splendor Projekt](http://www.myspace.com/sprojekt) [De/Vision](http://www.myspace.com/devisionmusic) [Intuition](http://www.myspace.com/intuition2) [And One](http://www.myspace.com/andonefans) These I’ve only heard on myspace, so I can’t verify quality beyond what’s on there… [Adrenaline Sky](http://www.myspace.com/adrenalinesky) [The Low Technicians](http://www.myspace.com/lowtechnicians) [Canal Pop](http://www.myspace.com/canalpop) [Mark Nicholas / Cosmicity](http://www.myspace.com/marknicholasmusic) [Composure](http://www.myspace.com/composurebrokendoll) [Lavantgarde](http://www.myspace.com/lavantgardemusic) [StandArt](http://www.myspace.com/standart) Also, pretty much anything from the [A Different Drum](http://adifferentdrum.com/) label is very synthpoppy. Enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-they-were-made-in-the-wrong-decade/465710/28 "2008-09-30T12:07:22Z")
Oh wow. I didn’t know there was _that_ much! Thanks! And yeah, I’m on MySpace, so no problem there. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-they-were-made-in-the-wrong-decade/465710/29 "2008-09-30T12:11:44Z")
The **Dukes of Stratosphear** ’s 80’s album \*Psonic Psunspot \* (or the _Chips From The Chocolate Fireball_ CD comp)sounds exactly like a mid-late 60’s psychedelic pop album. **XTC** are some rather crafty fellows, eh? ---
**Author:** ![Time\_Like\_Tears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@Time\_Like\_Tears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Time_Like_Tears)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-they-were-made-in-the-wrong-decade/465710/30 "2008-09-30T17:26:52Z")
I gotta dig **Shiny Toy Guns** and their _We Are Pilots_ album. Good stuff, my favorite is [You Are The One](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxbWaMzsnJo), but I haven’t heard anything to dislike from them. ---
**Author:** ![ShakWave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f9b8f/32.png) [@ShakWave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShakWave)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-they-were-made-in-the-wrong-decade/465710/31 "2008-10-01T13:15:42Z")
> [@neutron\_star](#): > > Yes please. Try the song [This Heart Attack](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWaHdIIMRqc) by the Aussie band Faker ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-they-were-made-in-the-wrong-decade/465710/32 "2008-10-01T16:11:42Z")
For a while I was convinced [Voodoo Child](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FwEQKiMmLA) by Aussie band Rogue Trader was circa 1984. Even the video is retro. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-they-were-made-in-the-wrong-decade/465710/33 "2008-10-01T16:33:44Z")
> [@neutron\_star](#): > > I’ve recently fallen in love with [Black Kids](http://www.blackkidsmusic.com/), the lead singer of which sounds like he’s totally channeling Robert Smith. Thanks for the link! Never heard of this band and now I’m totally loving them. Your 100% on the channeling Robert Smith. Paralysed age has a Robert Smith-y thing going too. Their more on the goth side though. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-they-were-made-in-the-wrong-decade/465710/34 "2008-10-01T16:38:09Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > On her 1992 CD [Diva](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diva_(album)), Annie Lennox sings Durbin & Warren’s 1933 hit “Keep Young and Beautiful” [in the style of the 1920s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrpHbTZ_jL8). There’s a song (“Deep Water”) from the latest Portishead album that sounds very music hall-esque. It’s particularly jarring when set against the rest of the album…especially as the song directly leads into [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKm-OkHj-VM). Sloan’s first album sounded a bit grungy, so it fit its decade. Then they followed it up with “The 60’s Album” (aka _Twice Removed_), “The Early 70’s Album” (_One Chord to Another_), “The Late 70’s Album” (_Navy Blues_), and “The 80’s Album” (_Between the Bridges_), so they managed to hit every decade through the 90’s. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-they-were-made-in-the-wrong-decade/465710/35 "2008-10-01T18:36:54Z")
“Lovin U” by Alicia Keys from “Songs In A Minor” could be straight out of Motown, with Diana Ross singing lead and the Supremes singing backup. “Woman” by Wolfmother is straight out of the 70’s. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-they-were-made-in-the-wrong-decade/465710/36 "2008-10-01T18:42:36Z")
> [@Whiteknight](#): > > **I Believe in a Thing Called Love** by The Darkness. You can practically see Freddie Mercury walking toward the camera with shirt billowing against a backdrop of flames. This is what I came in to nominate. I was shocked to learn it was recorded in 2003- it just screams 80s. Have you seen [the music video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-4VOLeKBOw)? It’s everything you’d expect. > [@Laughing Lagomorph](#): > > Speaking of Queen I’ve always thought “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” sounded like it was from the 1950s (intentionally so, I believe). It does, doesn’t it? We swing dance to it occasionally. ---
**Author:** ![SpecialAgentJem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@SpecialAgentJem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpecialAgentJem)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-they-were-made-in-the-wrong-decade/465710/37 "2008-10-01T21:39:03Z")
I always thought a lot of Amy Winehouse stuff sounded like it was a blast from the past, mainly back to black and rehab. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-sound-like-they-were-made-in-the-wrong-decade/465710.md?page=1)