Part 1
Identifying Your Generational Gaps in MusicKnow
Boomers
Gen X
Millennials
Don’t
know
Gen Z
% of People Who Know this Song
You knew 5 of 10 songs, which were just added to the 3,438,337 data points we have on how music fades from cultural knowledge.
First, here are all the songs you just listened to, all Billboard Hot 100 top 5 hits and massively popular in their day.
This project is inspired by a YouTube trend where Gen Z’ers film themselves listening to Queen, The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin for, astonishingly, the first time.
I want to quantify this: music that I assumed was culturally pervasive, but in actuality has no reason to be revered by folks outside my generation.
That is, should I be surprised that someone born in the 2000s has never heard my childhood anthem, “The Sign” by Ace of Base?
For example, you knew the song , but of recognize it.
For example, hasn’t been passed down to the younger generation: Gen Z doesn’t recognize it as well as Millennials.
This song came out in 1998. It’s been 30 years since its release. To someone under 20, it’s as old as a song from 1975 might seem to you. Even the most popular songs from history—the equivalent of “Hey Ya” by Outkast in 1975—might have faded in the same way as “Gettin’ Jiggy With it” by Will Smith.
Take a look yourself...here’s a sampling of top 3 hits from 1975: how many do you recognize?
First, here are songs that did not get passed down to gen z, recognized by everyone except them.
Percent of people who recognize a song, by generation.
Time Of The Season Zombies 1969
15%
52%
71%
64%
All Around The World Lisa Stansfield 1990
18%
51%
88%
61%
Bitch Meredith Brooks 1997
19%
58%
72%
35%
Good Lovin' Young Rascals 1966
19%
71%
86%
83%
All My Life K-Ci and JoJo 1998
18%
58%
51%
23%
Suspicious Minds Elvis Presley 1969
20%
61%
87%
96%
Stop! In The Name Of Love Supremes 1965
20%
65%
84%
88%
Underneath It All No Doubt 2002
18%
64%
66%
33%
I Want You Savage Garden 1997
15%
54%
68%
30%
Reach Out I'll Be There Four Tops 1966
18%
69%
95%
93%
You Keep Me Hangin' On Supremes 1966
19%
52%
79%
85%
Fantasy Mariah Carey 1995
16%
52%
66%
29%
I Think I Love You Partridge Family 1970
14%
52%
74%
86%
I Say A Little Prayer Dionne Warwick 1967
13%
54%
64%
83%
Thong Song Sisqo 2000
19%
68%
62%
29%
Angel Sarah McLachlan 1999
18%
50%
61%
53%
Because You Loved Me Celine Dion 1996
20%
62%
63%
51%
To Be With You Mr. Big 1992
18%
56%
87%
46%
End Of The Road Boyz II Men 1992
16%
51%
73%
30%
Summer In The City Lovin' Spoonful 1966
19%
55%
83%
90%
Last Kiss Pearl Jam 1999
17%
53%
77%
60%
Hold On Wilson Phillips 1990
16%
56%
83%
59%
How Do I Live LeAnn Rimes 1997
16%
52%
54%
36%
Everyday People Sly and the Family Stone 1969
14%
52%
74%
91%
Doo Wop Lauryn Hill 1998
19%
53%
54%
22%
Theme From Shaft Isaac Hayes 1971
16%
57%
80%
83%
The River Of Dreams Billy Joel 1993
15%
54%
89%
68%
Higher Ground Stevie Wonder 1973
18%
59%
75%
84%
My Sacrifice Creed 2002
17%
54%
57%
29%
You've Got A Friend James Taylor 1971
18%
53%
75%
96%
You Were Meant For Me Jewel 1997
15%
56%
72%
52%
Every Morning Sugar Ray 1999
20%
64%
77%
53%
Roam B-52's 1990
17%
54%
87%
76%
Love Train O'Jays 1973
20%
57%
78%
82%
Under The Boardwalk Drifters 1964
19%
53%
94%
98%
What A Fool Believes Doobie Brothers 1979
19%
50%
82%
87%
With Arms Wide Open Creed 2000
15%
52%
53%
36%
Lovin' You Minnie Riperton 1975
16%
52%
74%
86%
My Guy Mary Wells 1964
19%
71%
92%
96%
You Light Up My Life Debby Boone 1977
20%
51%
82%
98%
Here are songs recognized by boomers and gen x, but not millennials.
Percent of people who recognize a song, by generation.
You Give Good Love Whitney Houston 1985
9%
14%
51%
56%
Typical Male Tina Turner 1986
14%
20%
61%
58%
Hold Me Fleetwood Mac 1982
14%
19%
67%
66%
Loverboy Billy Ocean 1985
19%
13%
56%
50%
Miami Vice Theme Jan Hammer 1985
4%
12%
71%
54%
I Heard A Rumour Bananarama 1987
16%
18%
61%
51%
Shake You Down Gregory Abbott 1986
10%
14%
58%
63%
Slow Hand Pointer Sisters 1981
14%
15%
62%
75%
Talk To Me Stevie Nicks 1986
8%
19%
54%
53%
The Search Is Over Survivor 1985
14%
17%
59%
62%
Say It Isn't So Daryl Hall and John Oates 1983
11%
12%
50%
58%
I Didn't Mean To Turn You On Robert Palmer 1986
8%
6%
58%
57%
I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That Elton John 1988
12%
19%
71%
70%
Perfect World Huey Lewis and The News 1988
14%
15%
58%
59%
Stuck On You Lionel Richie 1984
14%
12%
52%
63%
Alive And Kicking Simple Minds 1985
16%
16%
64%
52%
Magic Olivia Newton-John 1980
7%
10%
55%
72%
The One That You Love Air Supply 1981
19%
18%
72%
82%
I Keep Forgettin' Michael McDonald 1982
7%
19%
50%
64%
On My Own Patti LaBelle 1986
11%
20%
64%
77%
Truly Lionel Richie 1982
17%
17%
56%
75%
Release Me Wilson Phillips 1990
9%
17%
68%
55%
My Heart Can't Tell You No Rod Stewart 1989
10%
18%
60%
57%
There'll Be Sad Songs Billy Ocean 1986
16%
9%
55%
55%
Eyes Without A Face Billy Idol 1984
16%
20%
64%
65%
Baby, Come To Me Patti Austin 1983
10%
16%
54%
74%
Nightshift Commodores 1985
15%
14%
58%
63%
Sea Of Love Honeydrippers 1984
9%
11%
56%
71%
The Most Beautiful Girl Charlie Rich 1973
13%
15%
54%
94%
For Your Eyes Only Sheena Easton 1981
20%
18%
69%
79%
No One Is To Blame Howard Jones 1986
9%
10%
60%
54%
When Will I Be Loved Linda Ronstadt 1975
10%
14%
54%
83%
Three Times A Lady Commodores 1978
14%
14%
55%
84%
Reunited Peaches and Herb 1979
8%
15%
55%
79%
Please Don't Go K.C and the Sunshine Band 1979
15%
20%
51%
62%
When I Need You Leo Sayer 1977
6%
20%
60%
88%
Here is what is universally known, making for a great cross-generational wedding playlist.
Percent of people who recognize a song, by generation.
Billie Jean Michael Jackson 1983
95%
98%
99%
99%
Never Gonna Give You Up Rick Astley 1988
94%
99%
98%
96%
My Heart Will Go On Celine Dion 1998
94%
98%
95%
92%
I Will Always Love You Whitney Houston 1992
97%
99%
98%
98%
Take On Me A-Ha 1985
96%
98%
100%
92%
Y.M.C.A. Village People 1979
97%
98%
97%
96%
Dancing Queen ABBA 1977
91%
98%
98%
97%
We Are The Champions Queen 1978
96%
99%
99%
99%
Bohemian Rhapsody Queen 1975
92%
98%
99%
96%
Happy Pharrell Williams 2014
97%
98%
97%
93%
Here are songs that are uniquely known by millennials, important cultural touchstones for the generation.
Percent of people who recognize a song, by generation.
Confessions Part II Usher 2004
21%
43%
19%
7%
Here is the same thing for gen x, songs uniquely known by only the generation.
Percent of people who recognize a song, by generation.
Buffalo Stance Neneh Cherry 1989
6%
12%
49%
21%
Bad Medicine Bon Jovi 1988
18%
18%
47%
20%
Unskinny Bop Poison 1990
11%
19%
46%
18%
Blaze Of Glory Jon Bon Jovi 1990
15%
22%
51%
24%
Pray M.C. Hammer 1990
10%
18%
53%
14%
This Used To Be My Playground Madonna 1992
7%
19%
63%
24%
I Love Your Smile Shanice 1992
7%
22%
47%
21%
Things That Make You Go Hmmmm C+C Music Factory 1991
14%
25%
64%
29%
Rush Rush Paula Abdul 1991
10%
18%
63%
29%
Hole Hearted Extreme 1991
5%
9%
46%
23%
Baby Don't Forget My Number Milli Vanilli 1989
7%
9%
49%
24%
Do Me! Bell Biv DeVoe 1990
9%
12%
49%
9%
On Our Own Bobby Brown 1989
10%
25%
60%
23%
Don't Wanna Fall In Love Jane Child 1990
12%
13%
45%
17%
Erotica Madonna 1992
9%
24%
68%
22%
Where Does My Heart Beat Now Celine Dion 1991
12%
22%
48%
23%
Touch Me Samantha Fox 1987
16%
22%
49%
24%
Love Will Never Do Janet Jackson 1991
9%
14%
49%
22%
One More Try Timmy T 1991
10%
12%
41%
13%
The Promise Of A New Day Paula Abdul 1991
7%
13%
50%
25%
Touch Me Cathy Dennis 1991
8%
20%
57%
28%
All 4 Love Color Me Badd 1991
13%
18%
51%
18%
Heaven Warrant 1989
11%
16%
47%
17%
Set Adrift On Memory Bliss PM Dawn 1991
9%
18%
58%
16%
Alright Janet Jackson 1990
6%
14%
41%
18%
Justify My Love Madonna 1990
9%
20%
64%
19%
This project is part of a series by The Pudding about
How Music Is Remembered
View Part 2
Defining the ’90s Music Canon