What Songs Could Go on a Cross-Generational Playlist?

[AARPLynne]

Today’s high schoolers and their grownup counterparts reminisce with lyrics and try to sing favorite songs. What music do teens and parents have in common? Lady Gaga? Boyz II Men? “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”?

What songs could go on a cross-generational playlist?

[SummerOnTheWay1]

.

[WebWiseWoman]

Recognizing the original post is 5.5 yrs old, going to go ahead and add...

Think anything Green Day (founded in 1987), our 60s heroes Janis, Jimi and Jim, of course Grateful Dead, and truth tellers, Dylan, Ozzy, Elton...

Then Imagine Dragons came along and we found life ever after (imo)...

Now we need the truth tellers again, please...

[tn2415]

 I think any song that parents played and danced with their children in the living room or sang in the car would work. For us, it was the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, CSN&Y, and The Little Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast. 

[g111848h]

New York, New York by Frank Sinatra

somewhere over the rainbow

[MaVolta]

Let It Be - The Beatles

This song charted for the second time in 2021 coming in at #5    on the Billboard 200. It was #1 in 1970. The Beatles had over 1 Million in record sales in 2020 making them #1 that year. They were #2 in vinyl sales for 2021. Queen is another band whose album sales also reach the top 5 in recent years. Good music will always be timeless.

[WebWiseWoman]

I personally hated this Beatles song; it felt stolen to me at the time; turns out it was... BY PAUL! And it apparently was... Paul McCartney used the melody and beat from Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and took that with him to wings; what a hacker...

[SummerOnTheWay1]

.

---

[WebWiseWoman]

What a shame...

[EricC28201]

Folks who are Speed Metal enthusiasts might be surprised to find out that Uriah Heap's Look At Yourself was released in 1971.

On the whole, though, music is timeless so most songs have at least a chance of being cross-generational.

[MarybethG691589]

I would have to say that any songs from The Eagles and of course Bob Seger!!

[cm9889168]

"American Pie"  by Don McLean

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5ecvBaqHBk

[LindaJ253266]

You've Got A Friend by James Taylor

[cm9889168]

"We Are the World"  by USA for Africa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AjkUyX0rVw&list=RD9AjkUyX0rVw&start_radio=1&t=0

[JillH588488]

Yesterday

Lean On Me

White Christmas 

[s474823g]

This song is not an oldie but I feel should be on the list, Cold Little Heart by Michael Kiwanuka (theme song for Big Little Lies).

[tn2415]

This is an absolutely great song. I gave it 5 stars on first listen in my iTunes library and shared it with my daughters ages 23-39.

[MaVolta]

---

@s474823g wrote:

This song is not an oldie but I feel should be on the list, Cold Little Heart by Michael Kiwanuka (theme song for Big Little Lies).

---

That's a good choice! I looked it up on YT and the video has over 62 million views!! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOubjLM9Cbc

[MaVolta]

I don't listen to a lot of "newer" music, but there are some songs from the 2000's that I've enjoyed listening to -

Craving 

Hold Back the River

and others by James Bay

Rumour Has It

Set Fire to the Rain

Rolling in the Deep

and others by Adele

Wake Me Up - Aloe Blacc & Avicci

Viva La Vida - Coldplay

Million Reasons - Lady Gaga

[g111848h]

When I'm 64

New York, New York

Stand By Me

[KathyH308614]

A Pirate looks at 40

[nm6933131]

YMCA.

[DeborahM349327]

"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"

[r473273l]

Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond. I think it's more popular now than when he first sang it! The fans all sing it after our college team wins.

Rachel

Whoops! I accidentally posted this message twice.

[MaVolta]

---

@r473273l wrote:

Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond. I think it's more popular now than when he first sang it! The fans all sing it after our college team wins.

Rachel

Whoops! I accidentally posted this message twice.

---

I agree, it's a fantastic sing-along-song for all ages. Neil Diamond's songs are timeless classics for everyone to enjoy. 

There's a Neil Diamond musical biography under development for Broadway.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/neil-diamond-musical-broadway-853994/

[josephw72863]

A Boy Named Sue. Johnny Cash.

[mkstx]

My five year old grandson loves Another One Bites the Dust and Fat Bottom Girls by Queen.  I think most of their music would be cross-generational.  

[KeithL217853]

I went back to college and finished my degree in my late 40's during the 2000's. The students back then were quite taken with Miles Davis, Carlos Santana, et al. However, one young man insisted that The Beatles were a back-up band for Paul McCartney and Wings. To say I was annoyed is gross understatement.

K

[r473273l]

Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond. I think it's more popular now than when he first sang it! The fans all sing it after our college team wins.

[r836290c]

when I was 13 I discovered The Beatles and always had my transistor radio on. When my oldest daughter turned 13 she started with all the 90s groups...in high school her Art teacher introduced her to The Beatles and she listened to their music...My youngest daughter listened to the rap music of the early 2000s groups...I happened to be listening to The Beatles at home and she asked who I was listening too and replied The Beatles...She became a fan of the early Beatle love songs..My daughters enjoy country music, R and B Oldies, also late 60s and 70s artists plus their own generations music.