this post was submitted on 07 Jul 2024
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Not just a song that can be found in the archives, but one that almost everyone can hum, even today.

(Somebody asked what was meant by "today's...." Throw whatever you want out, somebody tossed out "Love me tender" as being a tune from in the 1860s.)

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[–] [email protected] 34 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (3 children)

One thing people might not realise, is that memorable old music can come and go. Until someone recorded a successful rendition in the 60's, Cannon in D had been forgotten for centuries. Now it's almost synonymous with wedding music, and seems completely timeless.

It's possible everyone will be crazy about 1919's El sombrero de tres picos in 2450, and (with this all being indistinct distant history) will picture us in 2024 playing it on boombox at a 2050's-style holo-orgy.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Tell me more about these 2050's Holo-Orgies

[–] [email protected] 8 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Busy. I'll get back to you about it in 30 years or so. /s

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Will they be included with a Canadian residency or will it only be for CanadaPlus?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Hmm. Well, I haven't gotten any invites to orgies. The only possible, logical reason is that it's a plus-premium thing.

On a serious note, if anyone's an American who's serious about relocating to Canada and not just memeing, I'd get moving on it now. We have a massive housing shortage, and things would get sticky politically if there was a big wave of people pushing prices up even more.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago (3 children)

I think having a dance associated with the song is integral to the staying power of a song. The Twist, Hokey Pokey, Electric Slide, all great contenders.

But time will prove that the champion is The Macarena, by Los Del Rio.

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[–] [email protected] 28 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Belgian techno anthem Pump Up the Jam by Technotronic is one for the ages. Some say it has always been with us.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago

Good one, I kinda thought Salt-n-Pepa's Push It had a little more staying power though.

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 4 months ago (2 children)

You won't like the answer, but I'll tell you anyway.

It's The Macarena, by Los Del Rio.

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[–] [email protected] 16 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Not sure about today's, but I think the one from the 18th century is Ah! vous dirai-je, maman, better known in English as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star or the alphabet song.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago

I never knew twinkle twinkle little star and the alphabet song were put to the same melody. Thank you!

[–] [email protected] 14 points 4 months ago (6 children)

7 nation army by the white stripes. It gets played after a goal is scored in football stadiums across the world.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 months ago

Yeah, choosing something that will end up in the background of a lot of archives and memories is probably as good a strategy as any.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I have a feeling that this will be one that everyone knows, but doesn't know the title of, like Power House by Raymond Scott.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago

We will rock you by Queen another contender for similar reasons.

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 4 months ago (4 children)

Happy Birthday, Pop Goes the Weasel, Auld Lang Syne, Here Comes the Bride are obviously here to stay. Lots of Christmas music has potential as well: Jingle Bells, and POSSIBLY Feliz Navidad by JosΓ© Feliciano, as well as All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey.

But I also think Barbie Girl by Aqua has a decent chance of being practically universal. In that vein, maybe the Hampster Dance too, but idk. Dragostea Din Tei?

I think the real answer though is that most of the popular songs are probably ones that are connected to specific uses outside of the song itself. Pop Goes the Weasel is used in like, every pop-goes-the-weasel type toy, and even in movies when something scary is about to pop out at you. Happy Birthday is literally sung at every birthday. (That reminds me of For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow as well.) Auld Lang Syne is a popular New Years song across the world at this point. Here Comes the Bride at every wedding, etc. Maybe National Anthems will also hold the test of time, depending on if the nation lasts long enough and doesn’t change its anthem.

The point is, if it’s a practical and traditional tune it’s more likely to last, I think.

Oh. I forgot Reveille which is the military wake-up call bugle song lmao

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 4 months ago (4 children)
[–] [email protected] 11 points 4 months ago (1 children)
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[–] [email protected] 12 points 4 months ago

Based on what I hear playing, my money is on Mr. Brightside.

Gershwin's Summertime is my real answer. It has been covered by so many artists already, it might keep going.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 4 months ago

Fly me to the Moon - Frank Sinatra

Simple, yet very recognizable melody. Easy to whistle, but could also be extended to a whole orchestra with vocals.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (2 children)

O Fortuna, Carmina Burana.

The poem was written in the medieval period, but finally set to music in 1935-1936. It still took till the 1970s to be used in TV/Film and became so widely used, it is now known as the most overused piece of music in film history.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 4 months ago (1 children)
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[–] [email protected] 8 points 4 months ago

Bohemian Rhapsody

[–] [email protected] 8 points 4 months ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago

I hate to break this to you, but its Chumbawamba, with an A not a second U. And it always has been.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 months ago
[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 months ago (3 children)

It's...

PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 months ago (3 children)

Here Comes the Sun. Simple melody, timeless lyrics, and it's the most-streamed Beatles song out of an already strong and memorable catalog.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 months ago (2 children)

What? "Baby Shark" hasn't been mentioned here yet?

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 months ago (3 children)

Happy Birthday has the kind of universal recognition you'd be looking for. Maybe in 300 years there'll be a lyrical shift towards something more interesting. I know multiple versions of Greensleeves. The Cuckoo is the other song that I can think of with a long history. The wiki article doesn't fully capture it. I'll stick something in here later.https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cuckoo_(song)

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 months ago (2 children)
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[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Imo Greensoeeves mostly endured because it can be perfectly whistled by everyone and still be played by professional musicians in a way that awes the audience.

This will probably not be th reason why current songs will stay arround. If society doesn't break down, I assume that every popular melody, be it from the US, China or Lebanon, will stay around and get reused every ~30 years to grab some quick money.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 4 months ago

This MF: Greensleeves can be perfectly whistled by everyone

Me: can't even whistle Mary has a little lamb

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Creep by Radiohead, imagine how much that would annoy Thom Yorke.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago

Oh this is easy, but you may not thank me for it. Hum, whistle or sing, anyone near you will do the same after a minute or so. It's timeless and it even has it's own website

I give you Lipps Inc. - Funky Town

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago (2 children)

How many 1700s drinking songs does anyone know the tune of today? Well, there's "To Anacreon in Heaven", better known as "The Star Spangled Banner".

"Aura Lee" is from the 1860s, but the tune is better known today as Elvis's "Love Me Tender".

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago

The guy who put that high note in a drinking song is one of my favorite humans.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago

Probably a Jazz song since the musicians often cover the same Songs over and over again and thats how they could stay very long? Dont know which one though. A Train? Misty?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago

It's not new, but this tune will keep being reused for a billion years. It's got religious adaptations, too, providing incredible staying power. It will probably be used for many more years, as it's one of those "golden" tunes that people will never quite forget.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Mountain_Thyme

If you went to Mass, you have probably heard it. Here's a modern, secular cover of it:

https://youtu.be/LFw81n_nD1s

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago
[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago (2 children)

While not what one would think of when they think of songs that survive hundreds of years from now, the only song I can think of that's not a folk song that's both archived and hummable (and actually has a tune, so that excludes pop songs)...... is the PokΓ©mon theme song. Go up to anyone and say in tune that you wanna be the very best and someone's gonna ask "like no one ever was".

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago

β€˜You are my Sunshine’

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago (2 children)
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[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago

Green Onions

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago
[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

had to staying power

I've got questions.

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