08 / THE GUIDE24 SONGS · SIX DECADES
NOSTALGIC
SONGS.
Nostalgic songs do more than remind you of a year. They bring back the room, the people, and the version of you who heard them first. This is a curated passage through six decades of songs that still open those doors.
1970—79
THE 1970s
Car radios, living-room records, and choruses everyone still knows.
CURATED ESSENTIALS4 TRACKS
Dreams1977Fleetwood Mac / Rumours
September1978Earth Wind & Fire / The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1
Tiny Dancer1971Elton John / Madman Across the Water
Piano Man1973Billy Joel / Piano Man
1980—89
THE 1980s
Neon synths, movie endings, and songs made for the biggest possible singalong.
CURATED ESSENTIALS4 TRACKS
Take On Me1985a-ha / Hunting High and Low
I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)1987Whitney Houston / Whitney
Don't You (Forget About Me)1985Simple Minds / The Breakfast Club soundtrack
Summer of '691984Bryan Adams / Reckless
1990—99
THE 1990s
Mixtape rewinds, bedroom posters, school dances, and the first song you claimed as yours.
CURATED ESSENTIALS4 TRACKS
Smells Like Teen Spirit1991Nirvana / Nevermind
I Want It That Way1999Backstreet Boys / Millennium
Iris1998Goo Goo Dolls / Dizzy Up the Girl
Wannabe1996Spice Girls / Spice
2000—09
THE 2000s
Burned CDs, music television, away messages, and a chorus shouted with the windows down.
CURATED ESSENTIALS4 TRACKS
Mr. Brightside2004The Killers / Hot Fuss
Since U Been Gone2004Kelly Clarkson / Breakaway
Hey Ya!2003Outkast / Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
Complicated2002Avril Lavigne / Let Go
2010—19
THE 2010s
Festival summers, shared earbuds, first smartphones, and songs that followed you everywhere.
CURATED ESSENTIALS4 TRACKS
Somebody That I Used to Know2011Gotye feat. Kimbra / Making Mirrors
Call Me Maybe2011Carly Rae Jepsen / Kiss
We Found Love2011Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris / Talk That Talk
Blinding Lights2019The Weeknd / After Hours
2020—29
THE 2020s
Recent songs already attached to quiet drives, loud feelings, and years that moved strangely.
CURATED ESSENTIALS4 TRACKS
As It Was2022Harry Styles / Harry's House
drivers license2021Olivia Rodrigo / SOUR
good 4 u2021Olivia Rodrigo / SOUR
Anti-Hero2022Taylor Swift / Midnights
THE SONGS YOU FORGOT YOU REMEMBERED08 — 08