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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[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 75 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 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.

[–] Shialac@lemmy.world 37 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Tell me more about these 2050's Holo-Orgies

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 16 points 5 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] Lurker@lemmy.zip 6 points 5 months ago (1 children)

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

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[–] Tikiporch@lemmy.world 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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[–] mo_lave@reddthat.com 64 points 5 months ago (4 children)
[–] cygnus@lemmy.ca 35 points 5 months ago (2 children)
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[–] Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 5 months ago

I want to click, but I don't want to click

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[–] rf_@lemmy.world 60 points 5 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.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 17 points 5 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.

[–] ouRKaoS@lemmy.today 10 points 5 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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[–] DrBob@lemmy.ca 45 points 5 months ago (2 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)

[–] blackbrook@mander.xyz 24 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Happy Birthday owes it's place to function. I don't think anybody actually enjoys it as music.

[–] taiyang@lemmy.world 8 points 5 months ago

My 2 year old begs to differ!

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[–] Bitrot@lemmy.sdf.org 34 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.

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[–] Jordan117@lemmy.world 32 points 5 months ago (5 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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[–] xmunk@sh.itjust.works 25 points 5 months ago (1 children)

It's...

PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME.

[–] Steve@startrek.website 8 points 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] FartsWithAnAccent@lemmy.world 6 points 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] otacon239@feddit.de 5 points 5 months ago (1 children)

PEANUT BUTTER JELLY WITH A BASEBALL BAT

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[–] multifariace@lemmy.world 23 points 5 months ago (4 children)
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[–] fubo@lemmy.world 21 points 5 months ago (3 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".

[–] Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world 6 points 5 months ago

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

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[–] lolcatnip@reddthat.com 20 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.

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[–] Tikiporch@lemmy.world 19 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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[–] feedum_sneedson@lemmy.world 18 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

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

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[–] lenz@lemmy.ml 17 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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[–] blackstrat@lemmy.fwgx.uk 15 points 5 months ago

Green Onions

[–] dQw4w9WgXcQ@lemm.ee 14 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.

[–] AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world 14 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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[–] RBWells@lemmy.world 14 points 5 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.

[–] lettruthout@lemmy.world 13 points 5 months ago (2 children)

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

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[–] cygnus@lemmy.ca 12 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Define "today"? My first pick would be Yesterday, but that's about 60 years old already.

[–] anothermember@lemmy.zip 7 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

On the scale of Greensleeves, I would suggest Yesterday is today.

[–] klemptor@startrek.website 11 points 4 months ago

Bohemian Rhapsody

[–] sir_pronoun@lemmy.world 10 points 5 months ago (1 children)

"I like to f*ck" by Tila Tequila.

Essentially the same lyrics, even.

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[–] apotheotic@beehaw.org 9 points 5 months ago

The nes super Mario bros overworld theme comes to mind. People who have never played a Mario game in their lives know that tune.

[–] SLfgb@feddit.nl 8 points 4 months ago
[–] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 8 points 4 months ago (1 children)
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[–] pruwybn@discuss.tchncs.de 8 points 4 months ago

All Star by Smash Mouth, obviously.

[–] shinigamiookamiryuu@lemm.ee 7 points 5 months ago (3 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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[–] myrrh@ttrpg.network 6 points 4 months ago (2 children)
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it's blur - song 2.

I heard it on an aired commercial the other day.

[–] menemen@lemmy.world 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.

[–] Silentiea@lemmy.blahaj.zone 11 points 4 months ago

This MF: Greensleeves can be perfectly whistled by everyone

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

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