Which current songs could have charted in any era?

[tacomalo]

As I listen to contemporary radio, I always wonder which songs on today's pop charts would have been hits in any era...or at least the golden era of the top 40--which I consider the late 60s to the late 80s.

On the current charts, I think there are several. For example, "Hey There Delilah" reminds me of a late '60s/early '70s sound--but has enough of a timeless quality that it would have worked in the '80s as well.

I think "Home" by Daughtry would have done well also, particulary in the mid '70s. I think most of Maroon 5's work and Nickelback would have done well throughout the era, and Pink would have been huge in the '80s.

Would love to hear other opinions...

PS--I'm confident Seacrest would have not made it out of a 1000 watt station during the golden era!

[mstgator]

"Rehab" by Amy Winehouse could've been a big British Invasion-era hit (lyrics excluded).

[Deleted]

If you change the music a little, Big Girls Don't Cry could have.

[Topay]

^ I thought "Big Girls Don't Cry" WAS a hit in another era...

couldn't resist.

[tacomalo]

mstgator said:

"Rehab" by Amy Winehouse could've been a big British Invasion-era hit (lyrics excluded).

I can't resist being funny either...when it comes to Amy Winehouse "I say no, no, no!"

[mkarns]

Fast forwarding a year to this week's chart, I'd say that Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love" has something of a classic soul feel to it that could have been a hit in the 1970s. Kid Rock's "All Summer Long" reminds me of a Bob Seger hit from the 70s or 80s. 3 Doors Down and Gavin DeGraw have hits that, like most of their songs, could have done well at almost any time from at least the 1970s on.

Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl" and Metro Station's "Shake It" could have fit well in the 1980s, though the title/lyrics of the Perry hit might have been a problem then.

[mstgator]

Aug 7, 2008 17:59:52 GMT -5 mkarns said:

Kid Rock's "All Summer Long" reminds me of a Bob Seger hit from the 70s or 80s.

Probably doesn't hurt that the song is basically two memorable hits from the '70s thrown together ("Werewolves of London" meets "Sweet Home Alabama").

[JessieLou]

Good topic!

Although it wasn't a single, I think "Heaven On Earth" by Britney Spears would've charted in the 80's. So would "Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)" by Ashlee Simpson.

I definitely agree wbout "Big Girls Don't Cry". That song sounds straight out of the 90's. I think "Fergalicious" would've charted in the 80's with different lyrics... though to be fair it actually did. (JJ Fad - Supersonic)

EDIT: "Disturbia" by Rihanna would've definitely charted in the 80's IMO!

[nenad]

"Shake It" by "Metro Station" - I think, it would perfectly fit into the 80's radio.

...and Daughtry's "What about now?" (which will probably enter Top 40 within next few weeks) would have been a hit in both the 80's and 90's.

And while jessieLou thinks that "Disturbia" would've charted in the 80's, I think that Rihannas "Take a bow" is more of a retro style.

[laura]

Replying to jessielou's comment about "Disturbia", the song makes me think of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" (the song, not the album) because of the words and the vibe. It also makes me think of "Self Control" by Laura Branigan.