# 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:** 6
**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 9, 2016, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/101 "2016-03-09T16:49:43Z")
“Joy to the World” by Three Dog Night Can we go home now? ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/102 "2016-03-09T16:52:42Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > Theme from Taxi > > Theme from Shaft The theme from _Welcome Back Kotter_ tops them both ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/103 "2016-03-09T17:31:26Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > What do you mean by “Think ephemeral”? It’s a strange thing to say. Don’t you mean the opposite? > > I’m trying to figure out what the opposite song is of Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, cause that must be it. A 70s song that is the opposite of a ship that sinks. That would be a 70s song about a ship that floats down from outer space to earth. I nominate “Starman” by David Bowie (From Ziggy Stardust 1972) It’s a message about aliens who are ready to land their ships if young people can sparkle for them. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/104 "2016-03-09T17:47:42Z")
Over a hundred posts, and no one’s mentioned Maria Muldaur’s [_Midnight At The Oasis_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yNLUsCFV7M)? ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/105 "2016-03-10T04:10:33Z")
ooohhh! I just thought of another one! “Horse with no Name”, or anything else by America. Soft, mellow, laid-back,…but ,ya know,…deep, man, _deep._ You could look for meaning while you were passing the joint. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/106 "2016-03-10T05:08:38Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Nope. “Escape (The Pina Colada Song),” every copy of which should be tracked down, smashed into pieces, and then shoveled into a raging blast furnace! :mad: Ah, roller skating parties in seventh grade. Memories…! ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/107 "2016-03-10T07:15:14Z")
It’s got to be either “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl”) or “Afternoon Delight.” ---
**Author:** ![SantaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@SantaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SantaMan)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/108 "2016-03-10T07:32:56Z")
When I think 70’s, I think bell bottomed leisure suits and Disco! [Stayin’ Alive!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfwQ_7xqO7Y) ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/109 "2016-03-10T07:38:12Z")
Yeah, when I read the thread title the first song that came to mind was Stayin’ Alive. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/110 "2016-03-10T07:50:51Z")
Something by Boney M, Rasputin, Daddy Cool, that kind of thing. ---
**Author:** ![Waltzes\_with\_Cacti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90ced4/32.png) [@Waltzes\_with\_Cacti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waltzes_with_Cacti)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/111 "2016-03-10T07:56:13Z")
_Spill the Wine_ by Eric Burdon and War. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/112 "2016-03-10T10:51:12Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > And the king of them all: Seasons In The Sun. We had that 45 back in the 70’s. Have you ever heard the B-side? Jeezus Kripes! [_Put the bone in, she begged him once more_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_pX1-IxRBY) ---
**Author:** ![Kiber](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiber/32/317_2.png) [@Kiber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiber)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/113 "2016-03-10T12:14:31Z")
Almost anything by James Taylor, but I’ll go with - You’ve Got a Friend. Commodores - Brick House ---
**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 10, 2016, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/114 "2016-03-10T12:19:07Z")
There’s **got** to be a morning after! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/115 "2016-03-10T15:26:26Z")
> [@xizor](#): > > The theme from _Welcome Back Kotter_ tops them both This somehow reminds me of Dream Weaver and Dust in the Wind, also quintessential. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/116 "2016-03-10T16:00:08Z")
For me, it’s England Dan and John Ford Coley’s “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight.” It’s just so 70s. For the record, I really like the song. It’s mellow, fun to sing along with, the lyrics have a wonderful mondegreen, and it’s all cool, man. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/117 "2016-03-10T16:04:06Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > From the thread [six years ago,](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=557224) I quote myself: God, that’s an awful song. I had never heard it until a couple of months ago, but it’s just awful. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/118 "2016-03-10T18:28:51Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > We had that 45 back in the 70’s. Have you ever heard the B-side? Jeezus Kripes! > > [_Put the bone in, she begged him once more_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_pX1-IxRBY) What th… I… um… WHAT?? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/119 "2016-03-10T18:56:08Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > What th… I… um… WHAT?? Not only that, but remember Soul Asylum? They [covered that song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQpETfMifn8). ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263/120 "2016-03-10T19:17:39Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > What th… I… um… WHAT?? That is the proper reaction to hearing many songs from the seventies. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quintessential-70s-song/748263.md?page=7)