Home› Other Music

Songs that sum up a time period in history

hrd2imgnhrd2imgn Posts: 4,898
edited June 2021 in Other Music
So I am listening to the Crystals "Then he kissed me:  and it just sums up the romanticism of the era.  So what are songs that illustrate an era for you?

Buffalo Springfield "For What Its Worth"  vietnam era

Flock of Seagulls "I Ran" the 80s -Men without Hats "We can dance" (especially the fair video!)

Bee Gees "Stayin Alive"  70s disco

Add to the list, curious what songs immediately take you to a time in your head

Post edited by hrd2imgn on

Comments

  • 2-feign-reluctance2-feign-reluctance Posts: 23,306
    Billie Jean - 80s pop
    www.cluthelee.com
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,030
    The Sex Pistols, "God Save the Queen".  Though not the only song to do so, this one probably introduced more of the world to the punk era than any other.  Snide, snotty, seething, this is one of the greatest punk anthems.
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • PoncierPoncier Posts: 16,921
    hrd2imgn said:

    Buffalo Springfield "For What Its Worth"  vietnam era



    Before I clicked on the tread this is what popped into my head as the most obvious example.
    This weekend we rock Portland
  • tempo_n_groovetempo_n_groove Posts: 40,355
    What's Going On Marvin Gaye.

    California Uber Alles Dead Kennedys (Both versions)

    This Could Be Anywhere Dead Kennedys

    Allentown Bruce Springsteen

    I'll think of more.


  • hrd2imgnhrd2imgn Posts: 4,898
    edited May 2021
    Cruisin by Smokey Robinson


    Convertible, arm around your gal, Cali beach road

    Teen spirit- it is "The" grunge song
  • tempo_n_groovetempo_n_groove Posts: 40,355
    hrd2imgn said:
    Cruisin by Smokey Robinson


    Convertible, arm around your gal, Cali beach road

    Teen spirit- it is "The" grunge song
    The lyrics to teen spirit have zilch to do about the times though?
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,030
    Aren't we supposed to include the time period along with the song?
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • hrd2imgnhrd2imgn Posts: 4,898
    edited May 2021
    Time mention is your call,.more of the setting the song evokes over a specific time if you want.  No detention if you interpret differently :-)

    Smokey is 1960s even though the song is almost an 80s song.  I envision surf boards and beaches.

    Teen spirit as far as a sound, not the lyrical drivel.
    Post edited by hrd2imgn on
  • mr bunglemr bungle Posts: 1,345
    McCartney's Freedom right after 9/11 was great timing!
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,030
    Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are a-Changin'", released in 1964, was the one song that had the greatest wake-up call effect on much of the world at the time.  It was a song that linked that happy-go-lucky, seemingly carefree (but don't forget McCarthyism) 1950's with the turbulent and transitional mid to late 1960's. 
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • JeBurkhardtJeBurkhardt Posts: 4,857
    Neil Young's Ohio I think captured the feeling of the youth at the time. Already distrusting the establishment, the massacre at Kent State was unsettling and started to shift public perception of the war and the protests.
  • Spiritual_ChaosSpiritual_Chaos Posts: 30,523
    edited May 2021
    early to mid 2000s:

    https://youtu.be/CqS9iaaWflE
    "Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"
  • eddieceddiec Posts: 3,881
    Tears for Fears 'Everybody Wants to Rule the World'- the 80's

    'White Rabbit' just screams late 60's, (even if I wasn't there)


  • ZodZod Posts: 10,588
    Smells Like Teen Spirit.  Right back to the early 90s :)
  • tempo_n_groovetempo_n_groove Posts: 40,355
    Zod said:
    Smells Like Teen Spirit.  Right back to the early 90s :)
    That song screams 90's but the lyrics do not.
  • helplessdancerhelplessdancer Posts: 5,272
    fuk in rite on with the NY living with war. such a great record. then he toured it with CSNY... made that tour one of the best ever for me!

    my pick...it's always about california. it's the greatest state by a million miles. always has been.
    the 1960's were when the world also got turned on. california was the epicenter
    from wiki : The song became a signpost of the California sound, heralding the arrival of the nascent counterculture era.
    286,803,466 views
  • HobbesHobbes Posts: 6,423
    Not sure why some doubt the lyrics for Teen Spirit do not reflect the time. Dubbed an "anthem for apathetic kids." Seems spot on.

    Perhaps doubt is not the right word. A denial? Oh well, whatever.
  • cutzcutz Posts: 11,834
    tempo_n_groove said:
    What's Going On Marvin Gaye.

    California Uber Alles Dead Kennedys (Both versions)

    This Could Be Anywhere Dead Kennedys

    Allentown Bruce Springsteen

    I'll think of more.


    What's Going On is the song that I thought of too. 
  • cutzcutz Posts: 11,834
    Barry McGuire "Eve Of Destruction"  https://youtu.be/I98KeKV_F9g

    Sugar Hill Gang Rapper's Delight":  https://youtu.be/mcCK99wHrk0

    "Stairway To Heaven": https://youtu.be/xbhCPt6PZIU

    Public Enemy "Fight The Power"  https://youtu.be/mmo3HFa2vjg
  • tempo_n_groovetempo_n_groove Posts: 40,355
    Fight the power is a great one.  You can use it for a 89 and 1995!
  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 8,076
    We Didn’t Start The Fire is the perfect encapsulation of the second half of the 20th century. 
  • dankinddankind Posts: 20,839
    80s FM Radio:

    “I Want to Know What Love Is” — Foreigner
    “Wind of Change” — Scorpions
    “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” — U2
    I SAW PEARL JAM
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,030

    In the early day of the pandemic, Steve Wynn did a series of at-home shows (later accompanied by his wife, Linda Pitmon).  IN one of the first on-line performances, Steve introduced this song title as one that represented how so many of us were feeling at the time, "Tell Me When It's Over".  I don't have a link to that version, but this one is good!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qysdeH5LguM



    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • helplessdancerhelplessdancer Posts: 5,272
    80's pop defined for me.  men without hats


  • hrd2imgnhrd2imgn Posts: 4,898
    helplessdancer said:
    80's pop defined for me.  men without hats


    this video sums it up pretty well!  We can Dance, we can dance...
  • eeriepadaveeeriepadave Posts: 42,056
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMSYv_Z4SI8

    8/28/98- Camden, NJ
    10/31/09- Philly
    5/21/10- NYC
    9/2/12- Philly, PA
    7/19/13- Wrigley
    10/19/13- Brooklyn, NY
    10/21/13- Philly, PA
    10/22/13- Philly, PA
    10/27/13- Baltimore, MD
    4/28/16- Philly, PA
    4/29/16- Philly, PA
    5/1/16- NYC
    5/2/16- NYC
    9/2/18- Boston, MA
    9/4/18- Boston, MA
    9/14/22- Camden, NJ
    9/7/24- Philly, PA
    9/9/24- Philly, PA
    Tres Mts.- 3/23/11- Philly. PA
    Eddie Vedder- 6/25/11- Philly, PA
    RNDM- 3/9/16- Philly, PA
Sign In or Register to comment.