Theme:

Music through the decades on the BBC

How music has changed throughout the decades, and how the BBC has changed with it.

What is the future of the BBC. How do I think the BBC should change with the times – why the BBC is becoming less and less popular – mentioned Spotify.

1950s –

Ray Charles – I’ve gotta woman

Released in 1954

The birth of soul – this album was innovative and influenced artists such as, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Otis Reading, Marvin Gaye, Elvis Presley, Van Morrison, Billy Joel and millions more – a combination of jazz, rock n roll, and gospel, it was the first time the world had heard soul.

200,000 sales in the UK

One of the most regularly played songs on the BBC in the 50s

Kanye West‘s song “Gold Digger” contains samples of “I Got a Woman”; one particular line is repeated throughout the song in the background. An interpolation by Jamie Foxx, who portrayed Charles in the 2004 biopic Ray, of “I Got a Woman” serves as the introduction to “Gold Digger”.

My song of the decade

Other frequently played songs on the BBC in the 50s:

1957 – Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley

1958 – Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry

1960s –

The Beatles were the most-played band on the BBC through the 60s

My favourite Beatles songs –

Sexy Sadie

Happiness is a Warm Gun

Both songs on the White Album – which was released in 1968

Happiness is a warm Gun was banned by the BBC due to its sexually suggestive lyrics. The song is a double entendre with guns a metaphore for John Lennon’s sexual desire for Yoko Ono.

The last section of song is arguably the greatest minute in Rock history, with main vocal by John Lennon, and back vocals by Paul Mccartney and George Harrison

More BBC’s favourites from the 60s:

1961 – Stand By Me by Ben E King

1962 – Cry To Me by Solomon Burke

1963 – Be My Baby by Ronettes

1969 – Here Comes The Sun by Beatles

1970s –

Right Down the Line – Gerry Rafferty

“Right Down the Line” is an ode from Gerry Rafferty to Carla, his teenage love whom he also married in 1970, about a decade before this track’s dropping.

Right down the line went number 1 in the US in 1978 before falling into obscurity.

However, the song has made a comeback in 2022 ranking 16 in the rock charts after it featured in popular US teen drama show, Euphoria.

Talk about the effect that other forms of popular culture have on songs… same thing happened with Where is my mind.

More heavily played tracks on the BBC in the 70s:

1975 – Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen

1976 – Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac

1977 – Dreams by Fleetwood Mac

1980s –

Where is my Mind- Pixies

went platinum in the UK with 600,000 sales

Released in 1987, was rarely played on the BBC around the release, but gained popularity in recent years due to its use in the last scene of Fight Club.

Its peak chart position came in 2022, as it ranked 17th in the indie charts.

Not played regularly on main shows such as Radio 1 or 2 but is featured heavily on BBC shows that play rock and indie music.

Wake Me Up Before You Go Go by Wham (1984) was the most frequently played track on the BBC in the 80s

1990s –

Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana

In 1991 Nirvana released their second album, Nevermind. The album was a monumental success, going number 1 in the US and UK charts. Nevermind features a more polished, radio-friendly sound than the band’s prior work.

Written primarily by frontman Kurt Cobain, the album is noted for channelling a range of emotions, being noted as dark, humorous, and disturbing. Thematically, it includes anti-establishment views, anti-sexism, frustration, alienation and troubled love inspired by Cobain’s broken relationship with Tobi Vail.

Arguably, Nirvana are the single most influential band of the 21st century after The Beatles. Nevermind re-invigorated mainstream rock, and had a massive impact on style and music in the 90s. They are considered a cornerstone of the grunge era.

Their song, Smells Like Teen Spirit, was the most-played song of 1991 on the BBC.

Nirvana are still relevant even today, as their album, Nevermind, was the 4th most frequently purchased vinyl of 2021.

Other top-played songs on the BBC in the 90s:

1992 – Creep by Radiohead

1995 – Wonderwall by Oasis

1998 – Iris by Goo Goo Dolls

2000s –

2000s = Indie takeover in mainstream music

In 2001, The Strokes released their debut ‘Is This It’. The album was a huge success, going number 1 in the UK charts, and signified a new era of Indie Rock.

The next step on that evolutionary chain was the Arctic Monkeys, who (and this is no exaggeration) took over the world in 2006, with their debut album ‘Whatever People Say I am that’s what I’m not’.

The album was voted the 5th best UK album of all time by NME, and the band who were just 17, at the time of release became national stars.

Here’s my two favourite tracks from the album…

I Bet That You Look Good on the Dancefloor – Arctic Monkeys

Mardy Bum – Arctic Monkeys

I bet that you look good on the dancefloor was the most frequently played song on the BBC in 2005.

Oher frequently played tracks by the BBC include:

2003 – Mr Brightside by The Killers

2006 – Naïve by The Kooks

2007 – Fluorescent Adolescent by Arctic Monkeys

2010 – 2022 –

Staying with the Arctic Monkeys, their rise to international success came in 2013, with AM.

Compared to their first album, AM is a very different, as they transitioned from a very raw, indie sound to a more clean, smoothly produced rock sound. AM’s bass guitar is noticeably a lot lower, and so is Alex Turner’s voice, as he croons songs. The album is also a slower pace, which appealed more to American listeners.

This song, Number one party anthem, is a great example of why this album is so successful.

Number 1 party anthem – Arctic Monkeys

touch back on BBC –

how music has changed over the years – the different audiences they are trying to appeal to.

Most played artist of the 2010s was Drake – shows how the BBC are attempting to appeal to young audiences.

finish with

Brazil – Declan McKenna