Evolution of music

[GMDino]

Just a video I came across on how #1 songs have changed since 1968.

[Goalpost]

Can't believe Baby Got Back/I like Big Butts isn't in there.

[fredtoast]

Some changes driven specifically by technology instead of just changes in tastes.

[GMDino]

(05-01-2018, 12:44 PM)Goalpost Wrote: Can't believe Baby Got Back/I like Big Butts isn't in there.

It wasn't #1 for the entire year.

It was #2 though!

https://www.webcitation.org/5mpzL5EW5?url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1992

[GMDino]

(05-01-2018, 05:32 PM)fredtoast Wrote: Some changes driven specifically by technology instead of just changes in tastes.

Aye....still interesting (to me at least) to see the changes mashed together.

[Bengalzona]

Just realized that I must have completely stopped listening to pop music 20 years ago or so.

I think the changes between 1948 and 1968 were actually more rapid and dramatic.

Here is the Billboard #1 songs for each year:

1948 - Pee Wee Hunt - Twelfth Street Rag
1949 - Vaughn Monroe - Riders in the Sky
1950 - Gordon Jenkins and the Weavers - Goodnight Irene
1951 - Nat King Cole - Too Young
1952 - Leroy Anderson - Blue Tango
1953 - Percy Faith - Song from the Moulin Rouge
1954 - Kitty Kallen - Little Things Mean a Lot
1955 - Perez Prado - Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White
1956 - Elvis Presley - Heartbreak Hotel
1957 - Elvis Presley - All Shook Up
1958 - Domenico Modugno - Volare
1959 - Johnny Horton - The Battle of New Orleans
1950 - Percy Faith - Theme from a "Summer Place"
1961 - Bobby Lewis - Tossin' and Turnin'
1962 - Mr. Acker Bilk - Stranger on the Shore
1963 - Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs - Sugar Shack
1964 - Beatles - I want to hold your hand
1965 - Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs - Wooly Bully
1966 - Sgt. Barry Sadler - The Ballad of the Green Berets
1967 - Lulu - To Sir with Love

I realize most reading probably aren't real familiar with some of these. But what really stands out during the time period is the competing genres: country and western, jazz, pseudo-classical instrumental, early rock, British Invasion, etc. There was an explosion of different styles after the war.

And also, if you look at other top twenty hits in each of these years, I think you'll find most of these were sort of 'meh' in comparison to some of the other songs. These were the 'safe choices'. Other genres such as Motown, folk, etc. were producing much more memorable songs. But they weren't universally accepted by the majority of society during the times. Rap is similar in this way.