Five songs from 1977 that will be remembered in 2077
“Timeless.” We hear that word a lot in music. Some would argue a little bit too much.
A song can be out for a matter of weeks, and already people will be throwing the complementary descriptor around. It’s a nice thing to say about a creative work, sure, but overusing it renders that niceness pointless. It’s very hard to tell when something will or won’t be timeless, as, unfortunately, you need to give it time.
It’s hard picking songs within the past ten years or so that will be remembered for decades to come because, as far as music is concerned, they’re still in their infancy. Granted, we could hop in a Delorian, set the dial to 100 years from now and ask people if they’ve ever heard ‘There’d Better Be A Mirrorball’, but that’s so much effort, especially for a weekday. Instead, let’s do something which is a lot easier: make an educated guess.
It’s nearly impossible to weigh up the influence of songs released in recent years, but if a track already has a few decades behind it, we can be a bit more concise with our estimates. 1977 was a huge year for music, and tracks released at that time already have a good 50 years behind them, so what’s another 50? Here are five songs from 1977 that we believe will still be loved in 2077.
Five songs from 1977 that will be loved in 2077:
The Eagles – ‘Hotel California’
There is a strange sense of irony embedded in the fact that the band that originally became famous because of their ability to blend country and rock secured their most successful record as a result of ditching the country elements and leaning heavily into rock and rock alone. A controversial move, some might say, until they actually hear the end product, which is without question one of the greatest songs ever committed to wax.
While the whole album of Hotel California is good, it’s the title track that people will still be listening to in 100 years’ time. It’s pretty impossible to put into words what makes it so spectacular. Chances are you’ll have heard it a million times anyway, so just decide for yourself.
Is it the strange and cryptic lyrics? The catchy chorus? The killer solo? With so much to love and choose from, it’s not surprising at all that so many people will still be listening to this song in the future.
Fleetwood Mac – ‘Dreams’
There probably isn’t a more interesting band out there than Fleetwood Mac. Tension within a group is always expected, but never to this extent. Addiction, creative friction and personal relationships within the band all played a part in this group becoming one of the most haphazard he said she says of all time.
With such a tumultuous band, you no surprise have songs that cover every emotion under the sun, as they have spoken of love, hate, trust, betrayal and all things in between. How do you pick one track that will be remembered as the Fleetwood Mac song from such a range? It’s pretty hard, but ‘Dreams’ feels like a good shout.
The beauty of a song like this is that it manages to acknowledge all the aforementioned emotions while also justifying them. It tells the listener (and the band members) that the way they felt was valid. It’s a real treat to listen to, and one that continues to represent Fleetwood Mac at their very best.
Jimmy Buffett – ‘Margaritaville’
Look, I’m not going to sit here and say that this is the most complex or rewarding song released in 1977, but for something to be timeless, it doesn’t necessarily need to be a musical masterclass. Instead, it can just be pleasant; in other words, it can be a song that invokes feelings of fun, and that’s exactly what ‘Margaritaville’ does.
Despite the lyrics to this track actually being slightly sad, when people hear it, they think of Margarita’s, Hawaiian shirts, and the community spirit which music so often champions. Simply look at all the musical legends who turned up to Jimmy Buffett’s memorial concert once he passed, all of them singing this song together on stage, and tell me a track like ‘Margaritaville’ still has a time limit attached.
Heart – ‘Barracuda’
Heart have always been pretty reliable when it comes to creating rock music that doesn’t conform to the standard sound of rock. Finding their musical feet in a city like Seattle, which is relatively free-flowing in its influences, helped Nancy and Ann Wilson feel comfortable writing songs that were slightly left field, and that innovative approach to music can still be heard today.
You can tell that the song still resonates with people in 2025 because modern pop superstar, Chappell Roan, has started playing it at her gigs, and younger audiences continue to adore it just as much as people did in ‘77. The track was already a classic, but after being given new life in the form of Roan, it doesn’t feel like a track that’s going away anytime soon.
The Brothers Johnson – ‘Strawberry Letter 23’
While it may not be the most popular song on this list, there is something about the opening to ‘Strawberry Letter 23’ that stops you in your tracks and forces you to listen. Those light bells and pretty sounds will turn the head of anybody who may be close enough to hear them, and then the rest of the track isn’t half bad either.
I don’t have much of an explanation for this one other than it seems to be a song that will just always be there. Is there ever going to be a moment when something like this, so hopeful, so steeped in joy, and so wholesome, won’t be the go-to listen for people around the world? I doubt it. It’s still needed now, so let’s check back in another 50 years or so.
