Best Era of Music Survey
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1950s and earlier - headlined by Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Dean Martin, Gene Kelly, Bobby Darin, Chuck Berry, Sammy Davis, Jr., Etta Fitzgerald, Etta James, etc.
1960s - first golden era of rock - headlined by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Beach Boys, Aretha Franklin, The Supremes, Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Dylan, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Sly and the Family Stone, the Doors, James Brown, John Denver, The Animals, etc.
1970s - second golden era of rock - headlined by Queen, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, ABBA, Stevie Wonder, Santana, Bee Gees, Elton John, Billy Joel, David Bowie, Barry White, John Lennon, Donna Summer, Aerosmith, Eric Clapton, Chicago, The Who, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, TOTO, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Patti Labelle, etc.
1980s - literally almost every genre thrived - headlined by Michael Jackson, Queen, Guns N' Roses, Whitney Houston, Journey, Police, Elton John, Cyndi Lauper, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Prince and the Revolution, Billy Joel, The Rolling Stones, U2, Tears for Fears, Madonna, Bon Jovi, AC/DC, Eurythmics, TOTO, Van Halen, Metallica, Pixies, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Duran Duran, Ozzy Osbourne, Dolly Parton, etc.
1990s - every genre thrived - headlined by Nirvana, Metallica, Michael Jackson, Eminem, Britney Spears (unfortunately), Whitney Houston, Radiohead, Guns N' Roses, Aerosmith, Celine Dion, Foo Fighters, The Notorious B.I.G., 2Pac, Bon Jovi, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Backstreet Boys, Mariah Carey, Pearl Jam, No Doubt, etc.
2000s - headlined by Eminem, Green Day, Linkin Park, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Shakira, The Killers, The White Stripes, Beyonce, Kanye West, Coldplay, Maroon 5, Usher, 50 Cent, Amy Winehouse, Taylor Swift, Snoop Dogg, JAY-Z, Christina Aguilera, Jamie Foxx, etc.
2010s - headlined by Taylor Swift, Drake, Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Adele, Arctic Monkeys, Ed Sheeran, Billie Eilish,Katy Perry, JAY-Z, John Legend, Pharrell Williams, Gotye, Beyonce, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, Pink, Sia, Dua Lipa, One Direction, Coldplay, Lil Nas X, Post Malone, Morgan Wallen, Whiz Kalifa, Alicia Keys, Travis Scott, J. Cole, Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, Lana Del Ray, Carly Rae Jepsen, Kelly Clarkson, XXXTentacion, Demi Lovato, Lil Baby, Chris Stapleton, Lizzo, etc.
2020s - modern era - headlined by Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Kendrick Lamar, Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, Miley Cyrus, Charlie Puth, Beyonce, Ed Sheeran, Tyler, the Creator, Dua Lipa, 21 Savage, Karol G, Drake, Lizzo, Zach Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen, etc.
Personally, I love 1960s-2000s, but if I had to pick one, I'd probably go with the 70s. I'm young, but I barely listen to modern-music. There's nothing to particularly like about it other than the immense filtration and the lack of true musical talent. Nothing against modern artists, but they can't compare to the likes of artists before them. Also, notice how the amount of popular bands has diminished almost completely. I personally think the state we're in musically is sad, and again, I'm no "old-head" by any means. -
I think most people would pick the decade that they were in their influential teen years.
For me that is the 70's. The late 70s to be exact (early Journey, Heart, Cheap Trick, Rush, REO Speedwagon, Queen, The Runaways, Foreigner, Styx, etc).
Many of these bands that lasted lost my interest in the 80's as many of them changed their style and seemed to be chasing the radio friendly power ballads.
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For me, it's the '60s. The British Invasion, even the lesser known groups, had some of the best music of the era. But the American contingent wasn't so bad either, starting with The Beach Boys and The Byrds.
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@Dolenz_PSN -- 100% this.
Also, the 80s and 90s is clearly the correct answer here.
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@SDS_JoeK_PSN
Don't sleep on the 70s and late 60s, either. Although, I do have to agree. Plus, the Mets won a WS in 1986 (I wasn't around to see it but still). I know it's unrelated but it helps.