The song that defined your birth year: Gen X edition. Do you agree?
Generation X was born between 1965 and 1980, and the music at the top of the charts across those years spans everything from the British Invasion to the birth of punk and disco to new wave. No generation’s birth years cover a wider stylistic range on the Billboard year-end chart.
Find your year below.
Born in 1965: “Wooly bully” by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs
“Wooly Bully” accumulated enough points to top 1965’s chart despite only two weeks at number one. It was one of the first pop chart-toppers to feature a distinctly Latin rhythm.
Born in 1966: “The ballad of the green beret” by SSgt. Barry Sadler
A serving U.S. Army member wrote and performed the year-end No. 1, remarkable in 1966 of protest songs.
Born in 1967: “To sir with love” by Lulu
The Scottish singer recorded it as the theme for the Sidney Poitier film of the same name. It spent five weeks at number one in the United States and was the year-end number one of 1967. It was never released as a single in the UK, where Lulu was already a star.
Born in 1968: “Hey Jude” by The Beatles
“Hey Jude” spent nine consecutive weeks at number one and was the best-performing single. Paul McCartney wrote it for John Lennon’s son Julian. At over seven minutes, it was the longest number one in chart history at the time.
Born in 1969: “Sugar, sugar” by The Archies
The Archies were a fictional cartoon band. Their song spent four weeks at number one and was the year-end No. 1, the same year as Woodstock.
Born in 1970: “Bridge over troubled water” by Simon and Garfunkel
Simon and Garfunkel’s final studio album produced its biggest commercial moment. “Bridge over Troubled Water” spent six weeks at number one and topped 1970.
Born in 1971: “Joy to the world” by Three Dog Night
Written by Hoyt Axton, not a Christmas carol despite the title, it spent six weeks at number one and was the year-end No. 1.
Born in 1972: “The first time ever I saw your face” by Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack recorded this Ewan MacColl composition in 1969, but it topped the chart after Clint Eastwood used it in the film Play Misty for Me. It won the Grammy for Record of the Year.
Born in 1973: “Tie a yellow ribbon round the ole oak tree” by Tony Orlando and Dawn
Spent three weeks at number one and was the year-end No. 1.
Born in 1974: “The way we were” by Barbra Streisand
The theme from the Robert Redford film spent three weeks at number one. According to Billboard, it was the year-end number one of 1974 and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Born in 1975: “Love will keep us together” by Captain and Tennille
The Captain and Tennille covered Neil Sedaka’s composition and spent four weeks at number one. It was the year-end No. 1 and won the Grammy for Record of the Year in 1976.
Born in 1976: “Silly love songs” by Wings
Paul McCartney wrote “Silly Love Songs” partly as a response to critics who dismissed his post-Beatles work as lightweight. It spent five weeks at number one and was the year-end No. 1.
Born in 1977: “Tonight’s the night” by Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart’s “Tonight’s the Night” spent eight consecutive weeks at number one. It was year-end No. 1.
Born in 1978: “Shadow dancing” by Andy Gibb
Andy Gibb was the younger brother of the Bee Gees. “Shadow Dancing” spent seven weeks at number one and was the year’s biggest single.
Born in 1979: “My Sharona” by The Knack
The Knack recorded it in a single take. It spent six weeks at number one and announced new wave as a mainstream commercial force.
Born in 1980: “Call me” by Blondie
Written for the film American Gigolo, “Call Me” spent six weeks at number one and closed the decade.
The bottom line
Sixteen years, from a cartoon band topping the Woodstock year to Blondie closing the decade. Gen X arrived at a soundtrack that was constantly reinventing itself. Do you agree with yours?
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Related:
- 12 songs from the ’80s that have aged really badly
- 10 surprising songs that were written about real people
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