Music helps us connect with ourselves and others. We’re born searching for beats and rhythm. It becomes part of our life, sometimes without us noticing.
There are songs we’ve linked to our happiest memories, and some are so special that they’re not just ours, but of an entire generation.
The years go by, but these songs continue to serve as emblems of decades long gone. These tunes made us dance, fall in love, and served as the background to the biggest moments in our lives.
Here’s a list of the songs that brought people together at different moments in time:
Elvis Presley — “Heartbreak Hotel” (1956)
The fifties was a time of great changes in the US, whether they were social, political, economic, or cultural. The Post-World War Two youth searched for new ways to dance and entertain themselves. Elvis Presley became the icon of this decade by making everyone step out and move.
Country Joe and the Fish — “The Fish Cheer” (1969)
The Hippie movement of the sixties was a call to peace and a reclaiming of mutual respect and
love of nature. The military conflicts that unraveled at the same time were evidence of the humanitarian crisis the generation was experiencing. This song was played at Woodstock and sung by thousands of young people who begged for an end to the Vietnam War.
Led Zeppelin — “Black Dog” (1973)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtN8oBjMr_E
Even though the war created a unique counterculture in the US, across the pond, British rock was changing the game. Led Zepellin represented the rise of euphoric sounds and harmonious chaos. Their music made people scream, move, and reach the catharsis necessary to break boundaries.
Kraftwerk — “Trans Europe Express” (1977)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBGNlTPgQII
EDM is now one of the most consumed genres. Though its popularity is linked to technological innovations, it wasn’t as popular or accepted in decades prior to the new millennium. If it hadn’t been for the trailblazing role of Kraftwerk, we might have never reached the point where it’s impossible not to hear some electronic music.
Michael Jackson — “Thriller” (1982)
Pop culture comes from the word popular, meaning massive, and going against what the limited upper echelons consider chic. Michael Jackson was named “The King of Pop” because he did exactly that: he brought everyone into his musical kingdom, no matter their social or economic situation.
Queen — “We Are the Champions” (1985)
The show at Wembley Stadium is one of the top live performances in rock history. Queen became the voice of a generation marked by situations most chose to simply ignore: the AIDS epidemic, as well as the consequent blaming and negative view of the gay community. There was plenty of speculation surrounding lead singer Freddie Mercury’s sexuality, but even that did not slow down the band from leaving its mark in music history. And it was in those dark times that the LGBT community raised its voice for equality.
Vanilla Ice — “Ice Ice Baby” (1991)
It’s not just rock, pop, and electronic music that played their part within cultural movements that searched for social inclusion and for new horizons. Though racial segregation had always been a part of the American life, it was the peculiar rhymes, sounds, and movements created by African-Americans that changed the sound of what would become pop music today.
Gorillaz — “Clint Eastwood” (2001)
MTV was a big part of our growing up. Every afternoon we’d tune in to see what the top requested music videos were, or watch shows like Daria, Beavis and Butthead, among others. This band represented how the first decade of the new millennium would be taken over by online music. With its computer-generated band members, we as viewers were able to relate to the music made by the actual artists behind the whole project.
Carl Cox — “DJ Set” (2003)
It’s no secret that EDM has taken over the music scene in the last decade, making it representative of more than one generation. New sounds, mixes, as well as the creation of a whole visual experience surrounding the tunes, has made thousands of people come together at different festivals all over the world to dance for days.
Give us a shout if you feel there’s songs or artists we’ve missed!
Translated by María Suárez
