Name a song 20+ yrs old that could be a hit on today's radio

[trustypepper]

Scenario:
-Name a song (or songs) that is 20+ years old that would be a hit on today's radio.
-Assume the song was released right now and people were hearing it for the first time.
-Assume that the exact same version of the song is being released (with no updates production/remixes etc).

[Wolfy]

[NeRD]

Fantasy, Always Be My Baby

[Luckie Starchild]

[when the pawn...]

Sweet Dreams by the Eurythmics

[Ginger Spice]

I honestly don't think one exists. Music production has changed and evolved so much over the years. Even songs people consider timeless: Dancing Queen, Thriller, Sweet Dreams, etc, were set to a much different production standard, and just because these songs have aged extremely well compared to other hits from those times, they still sound like they are from their respective eras, and would come across as extremely dated to the current generation of radio listeners. 

[Ezekiel 23:20–21]

A lot of the singer songwriter stuff by Alanis Morissette, Natalie Merchant, Paula Cole, and Meredith Brooks stuff could do well if released now. Also, some of the House and Dance music of the 90s like Ce Ce Peniston, Taylor Dayne, and Crystal Waters.

[Evergreen]

Feb 2, 2015 21:30:47 GMT -5 NeRD said:

Fantasy, Always Be My Baby

Without a doubt this would go straight to number one on at least three formats if it were released today.

[YourFaveIsAFlop]

It's hard to say because so much of what makes certain songs hits are the time that they exist in. Right now I think a lot of early 90s dance music could impact, but 5 years ago I never would have said that. I don't think songs exist in a bubble that you can just plop them down any time. They have to connect with what people and feeling at the time. It's like saying could All About That Bass have been a big hit 50 years ago.

[dbhmr]

Feb 2, 2015 22:49:56 GMT -5 when the pawn... said:

Sweet Dreams by the Eurythmics

First song I thought of.

[bat1990]

The Joker by Steve Miller Band.

[NeRD]

Feb 4, 2015 22:18:53 GMT -5 Evergreen said:

Feb 2, 2015 21:30:47 GMT -5 NeRD said:

Fantasy, Always Be My Baby

Without a doubt this would go straight to number one on at least three formats if it were released today.

How dare you scratch out Always Be My Baby? Z100 still has it in regular rotation for a reason.

[14887fan]

Immediately thought of Mimi's "Fantasy".

Honestly, I'd throw in Adele's "Rolling in the Deep". It's not like radio was trending towards that direction of music when it came out, and it's got a timeless feel to it. It's a piano-driven midtempo that's as equally adult pop as it is bluesy.

Not many more I can think of that haven't been mentioned already (aka, "Sweet Dreams").

[Deleted]

'Fantasy' has a shot at being a hit on urban with the remix, but how the hell has no one mentioned 'All I Want for Christmas Is You'? That shit still charts.

Anyway, the only answer is 'Macarena'.

[newpower]

Macarena

[Deleted]

I actually agree with the idea that it's literally impossible to say what songs from 20 + years ago would be popular right now, since there are so many different, variable factors to consider.

A few picks I'll throw in for kicks, though:

Smells Like Teen Spirt- Nirvana
Guns N' Roses- November Rain
Christina Aguliera- Genie In A Bottle
Britney Spears- Baby One More Time
Mariah Carey- Honey

[irice22]

Probably one of those melodic alternative hits from the early 90's like "Losing My Religion" and "Under the Bridge." I mean, who could have predicted "Take Me to Church," "Pumped Up Kicks" or "Somebody That I Used to Know" would be surefire hits?

[intro]

What about something like Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground"?

[die Lotterie]

Jewel "Foolish Games" & "You Were Meant For Me"

[bat1990]

Jagged Little Pill

[HEADOFTHEPACK]

Music by Madonna - 15 years, not twenty, but that song hasn't aged at all.

[Glove Slap]

R.E.M.'s Losing My Religion was the first track I thought of. Tears in Heaven and to a lesser extent Under The Bridge as well.

Generally, not a lot of songs from the past would be as big today because they sound like they're from a different time, which is different from being retro. I can see Fantasy being a hit, but nowhere near as big as it was at the time. Always Be My Baby wouldn't really fit that well as a current today.

[sabre14]

Dan Seals - "Bop"

Update the production and it's an earworm that would do fairly well if released today.

[trebor]

Feb 7, 2015 14:30:25 GMT -5 sabre14 said:

Dan Seals - "Bop"

Update the production and it's an earworm that would do fairly well if released today.

I just don't believe that! What a coincidence. (#Scary) I have Dan Seals upcoming on the "Country Album Listening" thread.  :)

[sabre14]

Feb 7, 2015 14:36:15 GMT -5 trebor said:

Feb 7, 2015 14:30:25 GMT -5 sabre14 said:

Dan Seals - "Bop"

Update the production and it's an earworm that would do fairly well if released today.

I just don't believe that! What a coincidence. (#Scary) I have Dan Seals upcoming on the "Country Album Listening" thread.  :)

The lyrics are fluff and it's catchy. I still think it would work as long as the production was updated. I went almost 30 years back so you have to cut me some slack. Lol

RIP to Dan too. Great singer and great man.

[K.]

I just realized that twenty years ago was 1995. I am so old.

One that I think would be a hit exactly as recorded is George Michael's "Faith." There are lots and lots of other songs that maybe wouldn't be a hit as originally recorded, but could easily be hits with a little updated production or different singers (e.g., "I Touch Myself" - Divinyls).

[YourFaveIsAFlop]

Feb 7, 2015 15:13:06 GMT -5 K. said:

 There are lots and lots of other songs that maybe wouldn't be a hit as originally recorded, but could easily be hits with a little updated production or different singers (e.g., "I Touch Myself" - Divinyls).

I think two of the most unlikely songs from the past that became hits with (somewhat) updated (at the time) production are Kylie Minogue's version of The Locomotion and Tiffany's I Think We're Alone Now. I really doubt anybody seriously thought they would be.

Both are still fairly close the original though - apart from the singer, obviously. So I think there's potential but it's hard to gauge.

[survivorqt]

first one that came to mind was "fantasy"

[Joey]

Twisted Sister's We're Not Gonna Take It
Rick Springfield's Jessie's Girl
The Human League's Don't You Want Me (think this would smash today)

[Caution]