What is THE quintessential 70's song?

[drad_dog]

Aja by Steely Dan

[Richey84]

“More Than A Feeling”

[terentii]

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

[terentii]

@pulykamell

Maybe something by Captain and Tenille, but maybe something more obscure.

Muskrat Love? :dubious:

[Lemur866]

@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.

[terentii]

Disco Inferno

Rock the Boat

Alone Again, Naturally

Crocodile Rock

When Will I See You Again?

TSoP

Please Come to Boston

Kung Fu Fighting

[terentii]

@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:

[jerseymule]

James Brown: “Get Up Offa That Thing”

[chappachula]

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.

[terentii]

@chappachula

“I am woman, hear me …”

… roar."

I hate that song! :mad:

[WordMan]

@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

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

[billfish678]

Short People?

Like Disco Duck but vaguely respectable and actually intellectual IF you get it.

[Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew]

@terentii

Glen Miller Is Missing

Biba Nova

Ooh, a *Rock Follies *fan. Awesome!

[Lemur866]

@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

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.”

[WordMan]

@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.

[billfish678]

Can I steal that for my POF account?

[salinqmind]

I changed my mind.

ANYTHING by Elton John.

[drewder]

Fortunate Son, sure technically it was a 60s song but only by a few months.

[burpo_the_wonder_mutt]

Bad, Bad Leroy Brown

[Dendarii_Dame]

Bridge Over Troubled Waters or Born to Run