Top 10 70s Songs That Got Popular Again

#10: Dirty Work (1972)Steely Dan

Modern movies and television shows can often be great sources for younger audience members to discover songs from a bygone decade. Dirty Work by Steely Dan is a great example of how Donald Fagen and Walter Becker could craft jazzy pop tunes with lyrics that could vacillate between the absurd and bitingly satirical. The Sopranos utilized this song on its soundtrack, while another HBO show, Euphoria, also unearthed Dirty Work for its second season premiere. Two different generations, as a result, have now been exposed to the genius of Steely Dan. And thats always a good thing.

#9: Long Long Time (1970)Linda Ronstadt

The fact that this first season episode of The Last of Us actually lifts its title straight from this Linda Ronstadt song is a pretty telling giveaway, in our opinion. This highlighting of Ronstadts cover (from an original by Gary Whites) isnt only in the title, however, since Long Long Time also features prominently within the episodes soundtrack. This led many viewers who were unfamiliar with Long Long Time to google and research the song after watching the episode. The end results also proved to be significant on the streaming platform Spotify, which reported a 4,900% increase, as a result of this primetime placement.

#8: Dreams (1977)Fleetwood Mac

Its sort of funny to think about how those that were there during the original success of Fleetwood Macs Dreams, might not even realize that the song resurfaced via a viral TikTok trend. Then again, older listeners who ARE up to date on their social media might just appreciate how this Stevie Nicks composition gained a new lease on popular life. TikTok allowed for Dreams to escape the confines of classic rock and heritage radio waves, as actual members of Fleetwood Mac filmed responses to user Nathan Apodacas 2020 video. Meanwhile, a remixed cover by New Zealand DJ Jolyon Petch was also a hit on the Australian singles charts.

#7: Immigrant Song (1970)Led Zeppelin

Call this one a perfect match. The mythological origins of Thor seemed to be tailor made for the battle-ready riffing and lyrical content of Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin. The Asgardian Thunder Gods third starring movie, Thor: Ragnarok made good use of the tune within its advertising, nicely tying together the themes from both sources. Immigrant Song remains a landmark song for Led Zeppelin, one that continues to be closely associated with the band on rock radio. But a little association with the Marvel Cinematic Universe isnt really a bad thing, right?

#6: Old Time Rock & Roll (1978)Bob Seger

You either love it or you hate it. Old Time Rock & Roll by Bob Seger was released in 1979, and sounded light years away from the raw garage rock of The Bob Seger System. The song was immediately catchy, however, and marked a turning point on Segers tenth studio album. Fast forward only a few years to 1983, and Old Time Rock & Roll returned to the public zeitgeist after it was featured in the Paul Brickman film, Risky Business. The image of a young Tom Cruise dancing to the tune has now become so ingrained in pop culture, that its actually difficult to separate this iconic 80s scene from the late 70s Seger hit.

#5: Stuck in the Middle with You (1972)Stealers Wheel

Do you think that either Gerry Rafferty or Joe Egan thought that their 70s hit, Stuck in the Middle with You, would eventually be utilized as the soundtrack to a torture scene from the 90s? Were guessing not, but that doesnt change the fact that this song from Rafferty and Egans Stealers Wheel went down as an iconic moment from Quentin Tarantinos Reservoir Dogs. The dance that Michael Madsen performs during the scene is effortlessly cool, yet undercuts the shocking violence of whats going on to the captive cop. Its a juxtaposition that couldve been predicted, but were so glad it exists.

#4: Dancing Queen (1976)ABBA

Some songs enjoy a resurgence for very specific reasons, while others never really go away. The 1980s saw a big time backlash when it came to the prominence of disco within the United States. The disco sucks movement never really seemed to harm Swedens ABBA, however, since songs like Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) or Dancing Queen have continued to be popular with future generations. Ignoring for a moment the jukebox musical Mamma Mia! or the much-publicized ABBA Voyage residency in London, Dancing Queen is STILL played on the radio. Its also been used to great effect as background music for TikTok and Instagram videos, proving that truly great music lives on forever.

#3: Hooked On a Feeling (1973)Blue Swede

Like a bad penny (or is that a good penny?), Blue Swedes cover of the B.J. Thomas tune Hooked On a Feeling continues turning up. This Swedish rock band covered the song back in 1973, and it reappeared in a number of places, including on the soundtrack to the aforementioned Reservoir Dogs. The ooga-chaka refrain of Hooked On a Feeling also accompanied the dancing, biological clock baby on Ally McBeal before finding its forever home within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Blue Swede will probably forever be associated, at this point, with Peter Quill, the Star Lord, since so much of the first Guardians of the Galaxy franchise referenced that bands cover, not to mention other hit songs like ELOs Mr. Blue Sky. [xref]

#2: Tiny Dancer (1971)

Elton John

The story of Tiny Dancer by Sir Elton John is somewhat similar to that of ABBAs Dancing Queen. Fans never really stopped loving the song, and Tiny Dancer has seen consistent usage over the years. This has included being referenced on the sitcom Friends via Phoebes misheard lyrics, as well as on the soundtrack to the film Almost Famous. Meanwhile, a 2022 collaboration with Elton John and Britney Spears, titled Hold Me Closer, was a nice tribute to both the original chorus of Tiny Dancer as well as another Elton John tune, The One.

#1: Bohemian Rhapsody (1975)Queen

Diehard fans of bands such as Queen often have a lot of passionate debate whenever a biopic the likes of Bohemian Rhapsody" is released. One thing that nobody denied, however, was how this 2018 film reminded just about EVERYONE about Queens total greatness. In fact, the value of their records on the second hand market shot up significantly in the aftermath of Bohemian Rhapsodys cinematic success. This wasnt the first time the actual SONG titled Bohemian Rhapsody returned to the public consciousness, of course, since Waynes World from 1992 also featured the song within whats easily its most iconic scene.

Are there any songs from the 70s you think SHOULD become a hit again in the modern era? Let us know in the comments!