Leisure Reading:
Hit Songs of the Decades
The most popular songs from various decades can often reveal a lot about the cultural and musical influences that significantly impacted them. Music is constantly and rapidly evolving, revolutionising into iconic trends of a particular decade.
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Numerous decades of music have become celebrated historical moments and part of a time capsule, reflecting the music industry that notably defined an era for what it is known today. This dedicated playlist offers music recommendations of various genres and suggestions of music tastes from the 1960s all the way to the 2020s.
Step back in time, with these wide-range genres of feel-good hit songs from across the decades. Diving into the melting pots of music and where sounds of all sorts have been eclectically blended together.
"Hey Jude" (1968) - The Beatles
- An ultimate classic and soothing reminder that we don't have to go through tough times alone.
- Hey Jude" by The Beatles resonates thought-provoking lyrics that are relatable to many people, as they deal with themes of comfort and support during difficult times.
- This 60s hit song's use of the famous 'na-na-na' chorus are memorable and musically distinctive elements of the song's popularity.
"Bohemian Rhapsody" (1975) - Queen
- An iconic hit song that combines all musical styles and genres into one epic nature song.
- Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen is widely known for its complex structure, which includes multiple sections and a range of different musical styles, such as theatrical, rock, opera and ballad.
- This 70s hit song truly embodies the talent and the drive-in pushing boundaries and creating a musical piece that brings us together, even 48 years later.
"Thriller" (1982) - Michael Jackson
- An incredibly upbeat, groovy and killer-move song that is the perfect hit for Halloween celebrations and dance parties.
- Michael Jackson's "Thriller" was well ahead of its time, with its infectious rhythm tied to the singer's voice brings the groovy fun and insane dance moves to this hit song.
- This 80s hit song constantly is a timeless quality song that easily make it recognisable across all generations and its status as Michael Jackson's signature hit singles.
"I Will Always Love You" (1992) - Whitney Houston
- Featuring one of the most powerful female voices in music, be swept along by this empowering anthem.
- Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" deliberately showcases the great singer's bulldozing sheer force of her diverse vocal range, becoming not just a hit but an unstoppable music phenomenon of this decade.
- This 90s hit song topped several musical charts and became one of the best selling songs of all time, building a dramatic and heartfelt climax naturally within a song.
"Where Is The Love?" (2003) - Black Eyed Peas
- With a chorus that's guaranteed to get stuck in your head, this track is all about rectifying some major real-world issues.
- Where Is The Love" by Black Eyed Peas notably represents exactly how the 2000s songs consist of. Using genres such as hip-hop, rap and R&B in addressing the realities of real life.
- This 00s hit song emphasises with its urgency and concerned with where the world is going with its corruption, bouncing between the genres of hip-hop and soul.
- Say hello and reach for those high notes and sing your heart out at the top of your lungs with this hit song.
- Hello" by Adele dominantly topped the musical charts across the globe, saying hello to herself from the other side of adulthood after the experiences of her youth.
- This 10s hit song is a massive and ambitious showcase of Adele's star and vocal power. This repeat-worthy song could easily go for an hour, and it still wouldn't be enough.
"Drivers License" (2021) - Olivia Rodrigo
- A major hit single that significantly revives pop culture with a slight twist of the trends of Gen Z edition.
- "Drivers License" by Olivia Rodrigo dominated TikTok and is a timeless musical piece, that sounds like something anyone would have downloaded onto their iPod Nanos. Creating the illusion of nostalgia that has an undeniable appeal in these early days of 2021.
- This 20s hit song has been praised for its clever use of imagery and storytelling, as well as its relatable themes of teenage angst and heartbreak.
Hit songs from various decades have become a representation of the way the music industry and musical trends have evolved throughout the years, gathering up sounds that shouldn't have worked together, but did, and did so in a way that was immensely celebrated.
Source: Vanity Fair, GQ