The Kids Are Alright
Every generation thinks its music is the best. Every generation is convinced the next one has terrible taste. And yet, something funny happened. A surprising number of bands that Baby Boomers blasted on record players in the 70s are still showing up on Millennial playlists. How many of these surprise you?
Fleetwood Mac
A lot of younger fans discovered Fleetwood Mac thanks to a guy on a skateboard drinking cranberry juice on TikTok. Boomers just shook their heads and said, "We've been telling you about Rumours for 40 years." Between the drama, the harmonies, and songs like Dreams and Go Your Own Way, Fleetwood Mac somehow became one of the few bands that both generations can agree on.
Screenshot from Go Your Own Way, Warner Bros. Records (1977)
Queen
Some bands survive. Queen seems to get bigger every year. Thanks to Bohemian Rhapsody, sporting events, movies, commercials, and Freddie Mercury's larger-than-life presence, Millennials have embraced Queen almost as enthusiastically as Boomers did. Good luck making it through a wedding, hockey game, or karaoke night without hearing at least one Queen song.
Screenshot from Bohemian Rhapsody, EMI Records (1975)
Eagles
The Eagles spent the 70s cranking out hits that still dominate classic rock radio. The surprising part is how well they've held up with younger listeners. Songs like Hotel California and Take It Easy continue to rack up enormous streaming numbers. Apparently, seven minutes of mysterious lyrics and great guitar solos never go out of style.
Screenshot from Hotel California, Asylum Records (1976)
Electric Light Orchestra
ELO has quietly become one of the biggest success stories of the streaming era. Jeff Lynne's mix of rock, pop, and orchestral flourishes still sounds surprisingly fresh. And let's be honest, Mr. Blue Sky probably picked up an entire new generation of fans after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
United Artists Records, Wikimedia Commons
ABBA
There was a period when admitting you liked ABBA wasn't exactly cool. Then the world collectively decided ABBA was actually awesome. Boomers already knew that. Millennials jumped aboard thanks to Mamma Mia!, streaming playlists, and an endless supply of ridiculously catchy songs. If Dancing Queen comes on and you don't sing at least part of it, check your pulse.
AVRO, CC BY-SA 3.0 NL , via Wikimedia Commons
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Tom Petty had a gift for making songs sound effortless. That's probably one reason younger listeners keep discovering him. Tracks like American Girl, Refugee, and Free Fallin' feel like they've always existed. At this point, Free Fallin' feels less like a song and more like something that just came pre-installed with America.
Screenshot from Free Fallin', MCA Records (1989)
Heart
Ann and Nancy Wilson helped create some of the biggest rock songs of the decade. Songs like Barracuda and Crazy On You still show up everywhere from workout playlists to movie soundtracks. Also, every few months a young music fan discovers Ann Wilson's vocals on YouTube and spends the next hour wondering how she isn't discussed even more often.
Screenshot from Barracuda, Portrait Records (1977)
Journey
You knew Journey would be here. In fact, there's a decent chance you're already singing Don't Stop Believin' in your head. At this point the song has become less of a hit and more of a shared cultural experience. Everyone knows the words. Everyone.
Screenshot from Don't Stop Believin', Columbia Records (1981)
Boston
Boston's debut album remains one of the greatest first swings in rock history. Millennials continue discovering songs like More Than A Feeling through streaming services, movies, and video games. The opening guitar riff of More Than A Feeling has probably created more new rock fans than half the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Screenshot from More Than a Feeling, Epic Records (1976)
Blondie
Debbie Harry remains one of the coolest people ever to walk onto a stage. That's a big reason Blondie continues attracting younger fans. Songs like Heart Of Glass and Call Me still sound surprisingly modern. Some bands sound trapped in their decade. Blondie somehow skipped that problem entirely.
Screenshot from Heart of Glass, Chrysalis Records (1978)
The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers have enjoyed one of the most unexpected revivals of the streaming era. Songs like Listen To The Music and What A Fool Believes continue finding new audiences. It turns out people still enjoy songs that make them feel like they're driving down the highway with absolutely nowhere they need to be.
Screenshot from Listen to the Music, Warner Bros. Records (1972)
The Cars
The Cars managed to combine rock, pop, and new wave into something that still sounds remarkably current. Songs like Just What I Needed and Drive continue pulling in listeners decades later. If you told a Millennial some of these songs were recorded in the 90s, there's a decent chance they'd believe you.
Screenshot from Just What I Needed, Elektra Records (1978)
Foreigner
Foreigner practically built a career on giant hooks and giant choruses. As it turns out, those things age pretty well. Songs like Cold As Ice and Juke Box Hero continue drawing millions of streams every year. Some songs were built for radio. These songs were built for eternity.
Screenshot from Cold as Ice, Atlantic Records (1977)
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick always had a little more personality than the average rock band. Songs like I Want You To Want Me still feel fun, energetic, and impossible not to sing along with. The band somehow managed to be cool, goofy, and great musicians all at the same time, which isn't an easy combination.
Screenshot from I Want You to Want Me, Epic Records (1977)
Earth, Wind & Fire
Somewhere, right now, September is playing. It's practically a law of nature. Every year the internet turns into one giant Earth, Wind & Fire tribute the moment the calendar reaches the 21st night of September. Not many bands get their own annual holiday.
Chris Hakkens, Wikimedia Commons
Kiss
Boomers remember Kiss as the face-painted rock phenomenon that sold out arenas. Millennials often know them as the face-painted rock phenomenon that somehow still refuses to retire. At some point Kiss became part band, part comic book, part merchandise empire, and somehow it worked.
Nashville69, Wikimedia Commons
Steely Dan
There comes a point in life when a lot of music fans suddenly 'get' Steely Dan. Millennials are hitting that point now. One day you're skipping the songs. The next day you're explaining to your friends why Peg is a masterpiece. It happens faster than you'd think.
Distributed by ABC Records, Wikimedia Commons
Creedence Clearwater Revival
CCR somehow managed to become everyone's favorite band without being anyone's official favorite band. Their songs are absolutely everywhere. Fortunate Son, Bad Moon Rising, and Have You Ever Seen The Rain have appeared in so many movies, TV shows, and playlists that it almost feels impossible to avoid them.
Screenshot from Bad Moon Rising, Fantasy Records (1969)
Bee Gees
Disco may have had its ups and downs, but the Bee Gees never really left. Thanks to Saturday Night Fever, social media trends, and an endless supply of great songs, the Gibb brothers continue finding new fans. Those falsettos have survived every trend thrown at them.
Led Zeppelin
Every few years, a new group of young listeners discovers Led Zeppelin and reacts exactly the same way: 'Wait...this is incredible.' Boomers could have saved them the trouble. Whether it's Stairway To Heaven, Kashmir, or Whole Lotta Love, Zeppelin remains one of the easiest classic-rock bands for younger fans to fall in love with.
Screenshot from Stairway to Heaven, Atlantic Records (1971)
Elton John
Yes, he's technically a solo artist. No, we're not leaving Elton John off this list. Nice try. Between his endless catalog of hits, Rocketman, countless collaborations, and decades of cultural relevance, Elton continues attracting younger fans who weren't even alive when many of his biggest songs first topped the charts.
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones have become less of a band and more of a force of nature. Millennials continue discovering classics like Gimme Shelter and Paint It, Black, while Boomers are probably still amazed that Mick Jagger appears to be aging at roughly half the speed of the rest of humanity.
Screenshot from Gimme Shelter, Decca Records (1969)
Pink Floyd
Every generation eventually discovers Pink Floyd. The only thing that changes is the format. Boomers bought the vinyl. Millennials stream the albums. The experience remains largely the same: someone puts on Dark Side Of The Moon, and the next thing you know you're staring at the ceiling wondering where the last 43 minutes went.
The Music Never Stopped
Not every 70s band survived the decades. Plenty faded away. But these bands pulled off something rare. They didn't just hang onto their original fans. They convinced entirely new generations to come along for the ride.
Jim Pietryga, Wikimedia Commons
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