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Best Songs to Play From Each Decade

Here’s your chance to learn some of the most iconic songs from each decade!

Musicnotes

• 8 min read
Best Songs to Play From Each Decade

When looking for new repertoire, it’s always fun to visit past years for inspiration. Learning the most iconic songs from each decade is a great project for any musician, regardless of the instrument you play. How are iconic songs determined? These are the songs that were popular at the time and defined the mood of the era.

Here is a fantastic list of the top songs from each decade to get you started. While this list is by no means comprehensive, you will find plenty of styles and genres represented so there is something here to please just about everyone.

The 1930s

The Great Depression lasted from 1929 to 1939 and profoundly impacted the music being written and performed at that time. Because the reality of everyday life was so discouraging, people wanted their music to be more upbeat, cheerful, and hopeful. These trends especially show up in the popular genres of this decade, notably jazz, rhythm and blues, and early swing bands.

Along with the move towards uptempo jazz tunes, old-style crooners were still found all over the airwaves. One of the greats, Bing Crosby, performed the song that became the anthem of the era, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” With lyrics by the legendary Yip Harburg and music by Jay Gorney, this song was the most popular song of the time. Despite efforts by politicians to get it banned from the radio due to an “anti-capitalist” message, Bing Crosby’s rendition became the number-one selling record.

Additional best songs to learn come from the movies. Many of the most talented songwriters of the decade, such as Jerome Kern and Harold Arlen, were cranking out hits for Hollywood. Try “Over the Rainbow” as performed by Judy Garland, Glenn Miller’s rendition of “In the Mood,” or Fred Astaire’s performance of “The Way You Look Tonight.”

The 1940s

In 1941 the United States entered World War II. When discussing the songs from each decade, it’s impossible to ignore the impact of wars and social movements. WWII was the defining event of this decade and imprinted upon every art form, from music to visual art to the movies.

Much of this art was dedicated to rousing the morale of both the troops and the folks at home. The defining song of this decade, “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” composed by Don Ray and Hughie Prince and performed by The Andrews Sisters, fits into that category. Although the song was recorded before the war, its use in the movie Buck Privates, released in 1941, solidified its association with the war effort.

Other important tunes to consider from the ’40s include:

The 1950s

The victorious conclusion to the war and the economic prosperity that followed created an ebullient mood in the United States and abroad. Although the Korean War involved American troops from 1950-1953, it was the “forgotten war” and had little effect on the music of the decade.

The most important musical movement during this time was the transformation of jazz, rhythm and blues, gospel, and country music into something called rock ‘n’ roll. The song that defines this decade is Elvis Presley’s “Jailhouse Rock,” composed by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. It has all the components of early rock music, including a bluesy bass line and driving rhythms.

Another important ’50s rock song you could have in your repertoire includes Max C. Federman’s and James E. Myers’ “Rock Around the Clock,” as performed by Bill Haley & His Comets. Also take a look at “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry and another Presley hit, “Hound Dog,” by Lieber and Stoller. You will love the classic bass lines and driving drum beats that just scream, “1950s!”

The 1960s

The ’60s were a tumultuous time with major events such as the assassination of President Kennedy, the Vietnam War, and the Civil Rights movement. On the one hand, Americans were proud of technological achievements, such as man landing on the moon, but despairing of social problems such as race riots and inequality.

Of course, music reflected all of this turmoil. The British Invasion that brought British rock bands to the US also influenced the music being created in this decade. The Beatles‘ hit “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” written by Lennon and McCartney, is the defining song of the decade with its infectious optimism and escapism.

These additional key ’60s songs reveal the depth of style and content in this decade:

The 1970s

Just as the bell bottoms and macrame vests of the early ’70s transitioned to white disco suits, so did music, too, moving from the big rock band sounds of Creedence Clearwater Revival and the Eagles to the frothy dance tunes of the Bee Gees and Donna Summers. Songwriters struggled to capture the national mood conveyed by the end of the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal. Yet the defining song of this decade is the infectious disco number, “Night Fever,” composed and performed by The Bee Gees.

Stylistically, it can be hard to pin the ’70s down. The disco reign was brief but brilliant, serious rock bands such as Boston and Kansas were churning out epic albums, and Freddie Mercury was blurring boundaries with Queen. Of course, “Bohemian Rhapsody” is one of the crucial songs of the era.

For other tunes that represent the ’70s zeitgeist, take a look at Lennon and McCartney’s “Let It Be,” Led Zepplin’s “Stairway to Heaven,” written by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, and “American Pie” by Don McLean. And of course, no 1970s list would be complete with “Hotel California,” composed and performed by The Eagles. Each of these songs perfectly encapsulates a musical style and expression unique to this decade.

The 1980s

In the 1980s, we lost the hippies and their anti-establishment ideals to gain the yuppies with their embrace of materialism and business success. The fall of communism brought an end to the Cold War, which boosted optimism for the first time since the conclusion of WWII. Pop music reigned supreme, and the King of Pop was none other than Michael Jackson. His music crossed boundaries of race and genre, propelling his album “Thriller” into a musical juggernaut. It’s fitting that the most important song of the ’80s is his “Billie Jean.”

If you’d like to dip your toes into other iconic ’80s songs, try “Jump” by Van Halen, “Purple Rain” by Prince, or “With or Without You” by U2. For the real rockers out there, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts’ “I Love Rock and Roll” is the tune to play.

Those of you who play the guitar know that the 1980s ushered in an exciting time in guitar playing. Serious ax shredders moved their style away from the blues-rock origins and into new territory with hard rock, glam rock, and related genres. Leading the pack was Eddie Van Halen, although he was in good company with guitarists such as Slash, John Sykes, and Mick Mars.

If you’d like to try some easy ’80s songs to play on guitar, any of the tunes listed above are a good place to start. You can also get guitar charts from AC/DC, Metallica, and Rush for more inspiration. Search YouTube videos to learn how to play ’80s songs on guitar. There’s a lot of great information there for budding guitar players.

The 1990s

This decade had a few bumps and bruises due to race riots in Los Angeles and the Gulf War in Kuwait. Music reflected the troubled times with a new style out of Seattle known as Grunge. Bands such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam led the way with plenty of angsty lyrics and distorted guitar riffs. This murky, moody music seemed to fit the general feeling of cynicism and societal distrust. It even extended itself to fashion, as youth everywhere began dressing in the “grunge look.”

While the defining song of the decade must be “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana, after Kurt Cobain’s death in 1994, the way was open for other artists to find the limelight. Big-voiced chanteuses and metal bands moved to the fore, and an unexpected Spanish lounge act had a big hit. Additional ’90s songs to make the list include:

The 2000s

This decade wasn’t very old before the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, changed everything.  As musicians and artists of this era struggled to respond to the subsequent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, they managed to find hope and optimism in the election that brought the United States its first Black president.

This sharp dichotomy between the horrors of war and the hope for a better future is perfectly encapsulated in the music of the time. The most defining song, “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas, captures the optimism with a bright and infectious pop beat.

Other contenders for songs that define this decade come from the rap and hip hop genres. After years of languishing on the sidelines, these two genres moved into the mainstream in the early aughts. Consider adding “Lose Yourself” by Eminem, “Yeah!” by Usher, “Low” by Flo Rida, or “Hey Ya!” by Outkast to your sheet music collection.

The 2010s

The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq raged on and social issues, such as systemic racism and police brutality, became a part of the public consciousness. “This is America” by Childish Gambino is the defining song of the decade because it is a commentary on these problems and the struggles of the era.

New styles moved into the music scene, with K-Pop and EDM making their way onto playlists. In fact, for the first time in music history, music was easily accessible via streaming services, so playlists became a primary way to share your favorite tunes.

Of course, not everything was gloom and doom. If anything, this decade has more diversity in genre and style than any previous era. More defining songs from this decade that you can play include:

A great example of a more upbeat mood showed up with newcomer Meghan Trainor and her debut single “All About That Bass.” This hit tune defines the decade thanks to the way it blends such diverse styles as hip hop, doo-wop, and some retro R&B licks.

Conclusion

This is just a smattering of the best songs from each decade. Hopefully, this will encourage you to dig a little deeper and find even more representative tunes to add to your list. When you find a songwriter or performer you like, check into their creative background. For example, if you like Elvis Presley, listen to the music of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Little Richard, and Dean Martin. These are just some of the artists who influenced Elvis, and you may find inspiration there, too.

It’s exciting that there is such a rich music history available to performers today. Begin your exploration of the diverse genres, styles, and sounds and make them your own.