# What is THE quintessential 70's song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 8, 2016, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263 "2016-03-08T06:36:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [March 8, 2016, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/41 "2016-03-08T17:28:09Z")
Aja by Steely Dan ---
**Author:** ![Richey84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Richey84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richey84)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/42 "2016-03-08T17:33:35Z")
“More Than A Feeling” ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/43 "2016-03-08T18:00:09Z")
If I Can’t Have You Manhattan Skyline If You Want My Body Heart of Glass Sultans of Swing Nobody Does It Better Me and You and a Dog Named Boo ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/44 "2016-03-08T18:02:07Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Maybe something by Captain and Tenille, but maybe something more obscure. Muskrat Love? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/45 "2016-03-08T18:13:40Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > No, I understand what he’s saying. He’s looking for an ephemeral song that could only be recorded and chart in the 70s–a disposable song that is tied to the decade and is largely forgotten today but was a hit back then that exemplified the 70s. You know, something like, I don’t know, “Pac Man Fever” for the early 80s, but maybe not quite that much of a novelty song. > > I wasn’t really around in the 70s, so I don’t have a good answer. Maybe something by Captain and Tenille, but maybe something more obscure. Right. It can’t be a timeless song that is played every Friday night by 100 cover bands in various bars across America. It has to be a song that could only have been a hit in the 70s, and that no bar band would ever cover in the 1980s, or 90s, or 00s, or 10s. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/46 "2016-03-08T18:15:29Z")
Disco Inferno Rock the Boat Alone Again, Naturally Crocodile Rock When Will I See You Again? TSoP Please Come to Boston Kung Fu Fighting ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/47 "2016-03-08T18:16:29Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > It has to be a song that could only have been a hit in the 70s, and that no bar band would ever cover in the 1980s, or 90s, or 00s, or 10s. My Girl, Bill? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![jerseymule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jerseymule/32/3155_2.png) [@jerseymule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerseymule)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/48 "2016-03-08T18:21:10Z")
James Brown: “Get Up Offa That Thing” ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/49 "2016-03-08T18:21:38Z")
Anything by Carol King or Carly Simon. Maybe “It’s too late, baby”, or “You’re so vain” Or maybe Helen Reddy’s “I am woman, hear me on…” Note: The OP asked for a _Quinessential_ 70’s song. Not the _best_ 70’s song. 🙂 My suggestions are songs that scream “oooh–it must be the 1970’s!!! --an independent female singer!!”. They could not have been written in the 60’s, and by the 80’s they were already old and dated. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/50 "2016-03-08T18:25:33Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > “I am woman, hear me …” … roar." I **hate** that song! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/51 "2016-03-08T18:30:28Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Right. It can’t be a timeless song that is played every Friday night by 100 cover bands in various bars across America. It has to be a song that could only have been a hit in the 70s, and that no bar band would ever cover in the 1980s, or 90s, or 00s, or 10s. As this thread evolves to focus on more pure '70’s-ness, I have to go with **Looking Glass - Brandy** : [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=39Z80oHUZOw](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=39Z80oHUZOw) It is mentioned in a list upthread, but for quintessential '70’s cheese, it is hard to do better. Stuff like Disco Duck, The Streak and Kung Fu fighting were intentionally silly/capitalizing on a trend, like Gangam Style more recently. Drivel like Seasons in the Sun, The Night the Lights Went out in Georgia, Billy, Don’t Be a Hero, etc. - I don’t know - Brandy has a story that I thought was cooler when I was a kid singing along 😉 ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/52 "2016-03-08T18:36:40Z")
Short People? Like Disco Duck but vaguely respectable and actually intellectual IF you get it. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/53 "2016-03-08T18:37:14Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Glen Miller Is Missing > > Biba Nova Ooh, a \*Rock Follies \*fan. Awesome! ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/54 "2016-03-08T18:42:27Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > As this thread evolves to focus on more pure '70’s-ness, I have to go with **Looking Glass - Brandy** : [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=39Z80oHUZOw](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=39Z80oHUZOw) > > It is mentioned in a list upthread, but for quintessential '70’s cheese, it is hard to do better. Stuff like Disco Duck, The Streak and Kung Fu fighting were intentionally silly/capitalizing on a trend, like Gangam Style more recently. Drivel like Seasons in the Sun, The Night the Lights Went out in Georgia, Billy, Don’t Be a Hero, etc. - I don’t know - Brandy has a story that I thought was cooler when I was a kid singing along 😉 Brandy is a great choice, because it has a quintessential 70s theme: “Hey babe, you’re great and all, but don’t expect me to, like, stick around. I’m a rambler. Next time I’m back in town I’ll be happy to fuck you, for sure, but I’ve also gotta fuck some girls down in New Orleans, or California, or wherever.” ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/55 "2016-03-08T18:47:36Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Brandy is a great choice, because it has a quintessential 70s theme: “Hey babe, you’re great and all, but don’t expect me to, like, stick around. I’m a rambler. Next time I’m back in town I’ll be happy to fuck you, for sure, but I’ve also gotta fuck some girls down in New Orleans, or California, or wherever.” Oh yeah, baby - it really sounds like William Shatner / Captain Kirk should be singing it. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/56 "2016-03-08T18:48:05Z")
Can I steal that for my POF account? ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/57 "2016-03-08T18:54:58Z")
I changed my mind. ANYTHING by Elton John. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/58 "2016-03-08T18:55:17Z")
Fortunate Son, sure technically it was a 60s song but only by a few months. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/59 "2016-03-08T18:58:05Z")
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/60 "2016-03-08T19:16:45Z")
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