Some things were better in the 70’s?

[ArloFlynn]

I have just had a look – online – at the NME music lists of previous year’s. Good stuff if you like lists.
Some things sprang out at me for 2019 & 1979.
I know 14/40 bands from 2019, but only 3 songs, and only 1 of those can I recall the tune of. The remainder I have never heard of.

40 year gap..

I know 37/40 bands from 1979, 34 songs I know well. Bizarrely I heard 2 of them tonight on 6 music.
17. The Pictures On The Wall - Echo & The Bunnymen
35. Where’s Bill Grundy Now - TV Personalities

I am not saying there’s no good music around today. I hear plenty, unfortunately not much of it for me, is 'a keeper'. And as to whether I will still be able to recall it immediately and hum or sing along in another 40 years? I doubt it very much!
Thinking about it? In another 40 years I will be in my 90’s!

In 1979 we had ‘Singles’, in 2019 we have ‘Songs’. We had music newspapers with journalists promoting music, now some online crud and bloggers promoting themselves.

So, were some things better in the 70’s?


1979 NME Singles

1. Eton Rifles - The Jam
2. Gangsters - The Specials
3. London Calling -The Clash
4. I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
5. Strange Town - The Jam
6. Message In A Bottle - The Police
7. Oliver's Army - Elvis Costello
8. Spacer - Sheila B Devotion
9. Shake Your Body - The Jacksons
10. Memories - Public Image Ltd.
11. Death Disco - Public Image Ltd.
12. My Feet Keep Dancing - Chic
13. Rock Lobster - The B52's
14. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
15. Making Plans For Nigel - Xtc
16. Queen Of Hearts - Dave Edmunds
17. The Pictures On The Wall - Echo & The Bunnymen
18. Life During Wartime - Talking Heads
19. She's Beyond Good & Evil - The Pop Group
20. Boogie Wonderland - Earth Wind And Fire
21. Rowche Rumble - The Fall
22. Living On The Front Line - Eddie Grant
23. The Prince - Madness
24. Boys Don't Cry - The Cure
25. Touch - Lori & The Chameleons
26. Transmission - Joy Division
27. Get Over You - The Undertones
28. Memphis Tennessee - Silicone Teens
29. On My Radio - Selector
30. Pop Music - M
31. Girls Talk - Dave Edmunds
32. Heart Of Glass - Blondie
33. We Are Family - Sister Sledge
34. Stop Your Sobbing - Pretenders
35. Where’s Bill Grundy Now - Tv Personalities
36. Saturday Night Beneath The Plastic Palms - Leighton Buzzards
37. Time Goes By So Slow - Distractions
38. Protection - Graham Parker
39. A Message To You Rudi - The Specials
40. Electricity - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark


]NME Top 50 songs of 2019

1. Mura Masa ft. slowthai - Deal Wiv It
2. Billie Eilish - Bad Guy
3. Georgia - About Work The Dancefloor
4. Lil Nas X - Old Town Road
5. Fontaines D.C. - Big
6. Sharon Van Etten - Seventeen
7. The 1975 - People
8. Girl In Red - dead girl in the pool
9. Little Simz - Boss
10. AJ Tracey - Ladbroke Grove
11. Foals - In Degrees
12. Post Malone - Circles
13. Tyler - The Creator - Earfquake
14. Clairo - Bags
15. Daphni - Sizzling
16. Slipknot - Unsainted
17. Dua Lipa - Dont Start Now
18. Michael Kiwanuka - You Ain’t The Problem
19. Lana Del Rey - Love Song
20. The Chemical Brothers - Got To Keep On
21. FKA Twigs - Cellophane
22. King Princess - Hit The Back
23. Squid - Houseplants
24. Sunflower Bean - King Of The Dudes
25. Tierra Whack - Only Child
26. Beabadoobee - I Wish I Was Stephen Malkmus
27. Lizzo - Juice
28. Solange - Binz
29. Normani - Motivation
30. Dave - Location
31. Mark Ronson ft. Lykke Li - Late Night Feelings
32. Haim - Summer Girl
33. Bring Me The Horizon - Nihilist Blues
34. Anderson .Paak - King James
35. DIIV - Blankenship
36. Metronomy - Salted Caramel Ice Cream
37. Rico Nasty ft. EarthGang - Big Titties
38. Rosalia - Millionària
39. Amyl And The Sniffers - Monsoon Rock
40. Stormzy - Vossi Bop
41. Coldplay - Orphans
42. Little Simz - Selfish
43. Tyler - The Creator - I Think
44. Charli XCX & Christine & The Queens - Gone
45. Kanye West - Follow God
46. Tame Impala - Patience
47. Vampire Weekend - Harmony Hall
48. Iggy Pop - James Bond
49. BTS ft. Halsey - Boy With Luv
50. Caroline Polachek - So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings

Here looking for the 20's

[CN211276]

I am familiar with most of the ones from the 1979 list. I am not familiar with any from the 2019 list. I think that forty years ago my parents would have said the same thing in comparison with 1939.

[ArloFlynn]

Yes, too right! My dad laughed his socks off to punk rock.

Kevin.

[NSNO2021]

Something to be said for both lists, given how subjective music is I wouldn't want to take the easy option of saying it was better in my youth (79ish) although 79 did produce some stand out music

[karatestu]

Turn that racket down !!!

It is my view that music has nowhere to go now, it has mostly all been done. What new styles are we going to see ?

I occasionally come across something new that is interesting but it's never mainstream (Here comes the comet) .

[CN211276]

I agree about everything being done before, but there are bands around doing what was done before very well.

I remember my parents reaction to the glam rock I was heavily into. "Pansies, boys looking like girls". Some memorable appearance on Top of the pops, T.Rex, The Sweet, Bowie, Roxy Music, Queen. Those were the days.

[Grumpytim]

What amuses me about the 79 list is stuff that in 79 I would have sworn I loathed, I now look upon with fondness more for the memories they bring back.
In terms of the 19 list all I can do is quote Paul Simon with Every generation throws a hero up the pop charts. Its right that I don't know much about current yoof music, its for current yoofs - young and old.

[Fretless]

25 - 'Touch' by Lori and the Chameleons.

Still have that single!!!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xZG1s2fNBOY

About half of the 79 list is stuff I regularly play. The 2019 list has 1 song I know (Foals).

Hopelessly out of touch.

[Classicrock]

There is a notable difference between these charts which time may tell different (though i doubt it). 1979 is full of Classic tracks that aren't ' classic rock'. Some of them felt like classics at the time and they still get regular airplay on radio. Most of the current chart is confined to Yoof radio stations ( R1 I would think). I'm sure I have heard a few of these tracks and don't know the title. Anything from Lana Del Ray is worth a listen (no 19). I am puzzled by how they compile this chart as the bigger and better Mark Ronson hit (judging by radio) is not Lykke Li but 'Nothing Breaks like A Heart' with Miley Cyrus. That one would stand up in any chart incl 1979. 1979 chart is actual sales v 2019 being a variety of sources incl streaming I suggest. Is that 2019 top 50 even a decent reputation of what is popular?

[savvypaul]

Several of those in the 1979 list meant a lot to me.

99% of those in the 2019 list were meant for someone else (as they should be).