cytania Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 I'm wondering what the oldest song to be revived as a contemporary hit is. A quick google search brought up this; [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxlste3JucU"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxlste3JucU[/url] Now if the (ahem) exuberant Hank Green becomes an YouTube sensation, then the Seikilos Epitaph would be the oldest revived song at 2000 years old. He's just shy of half a million views at the moment. My next thought was Black Betty. This is a work chant turned into a heavy rock hit by the Ram Jam Band and lately by Oz metal outfit Spiderbait. (It even featured in the trailers for 'the Voice' this year). Recorded versions go back to 1934 but as a march chant it could be 18th Century. Then we have 'Falling In Love With You' by Elvis Presley, lately revived reggae style by UB40. This derives form 'Plaisir D'Amour' written by Jean-Paul-Egide Martini in 1784. Different lyrics and a middle 8 but it's recognisable the same tune. Hmm. since I typed that I just watched this; [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLYgXm8s3p4"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLYgXm8s3p4[/url] Maybe Andre Rieu's authentic revival shows there isn't that much similarity Can anyone suggest other songs that keep coming back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cytania Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share Posted April 17, 2015 Oh, just thought of the Beach Boys 'Lady Lynda' which steals it's intro from Bach's 'Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring' written 1716/1724. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 [i]Sex on Fire[/i], [i]Dakota[/i], and [i]Valerie[/i] all feel like they have been flogged to death since 1 million years BC, but I'm guessing that's not what you mean... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Scarborough Fair has got to be a contender, with original versions older than Bach, and the version we know being about 200 years old (and Paul Simon once claiming a writing credit)!! Younger, but a much with a more definitive written and published date, a song revived by Sting, Spread a Little Happiness, originally written in 1929. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 [quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1429281134' post='2750015'] Scarborough Fair has got to be a contender, with original versions older than Bach, and the version we know being about 200 years old (and Paul Simon once claiming a writing credit)!!. [/quote] Fair enough, he is getting on a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 [quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1429281134' post='2750015'] Scarborough Fair has got to be a contender, with original versions older than Bach, and the version we know being about 200 years old (and Paul Simon once claiming a writing credit)!! [/quote] Which was a bit cheeky as Paul Simon stole Martin Carthy's version of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Lonnie Donegan pulled a few out of the ark, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzodog Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Slightly off topic but this reminds me of the time radio 4 played the first ever recording of the human voice. The presenter then gets the giggles. Makes me laugh every time I hear it https://youtu.be/SJdlF-DCUKs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cytania Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share Posted April 17, 2015 Great contributions Myke I had forgotten those two. Sting as the creepy lodger 😜 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ras52 Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Depends what you're calling a hit, I suppose... if it's something postmen of today are still whistling, how about Greensleeves (C16)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Something like "Jungle Rock"?? - Hank Mizall - released in the late 50s but wasn't a hit till the mid 70s - a "[i]bit of a sleeper[/i]" apparently http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCQQyCkwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DB9ToIq7AZkg&ei=9DUxVZ7mBZLQ7QaPhoCgBA&usg=AFQjCNFDMxSN8KlnHMgygmZ9sFb8mhyxkg&sig2=W4DvvWz8h8mo0feJ45RHQA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cytania Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share Posted April 17, 2015 Would like to have an act make it up the charts with Greensleeves. Anyone got Kanye's number? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cytania Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share Posted April 17, 2015 Jungle Rock was a hit in 1974 because it was used for the TV coverage of the Ali/Foreman fight, the 'Rumble In The Jungle'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 (edited) "We will rock you" by Queen. Derived from a rhythmn first bashed out by Ugh and Gurr of the Cough-Sniff tribe ~191,323 BCE Edited April 17, 2015 by ahpook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectoremg Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 [quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1429273438' post='2749905'] [i]Sex on Fire[/i], [i]Dakota[/i], and [i]Valerie[/i] all feel like they have been flogged to death since 1 million years BC, but I'm guessing that's not what you mean... [/quote]Heh heh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essexbasscat Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Oldest song that keeps coming back ? Happy Birthday ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacey Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 [quote name='essexbasscat' timestamp='1429296315' post='2750260'] Oldest song that keeps coming back ? Happy Birthday ! [/quote] Funny story about that song. Mates band went for an audition as a "functions band" with an agent. What would you like to hear they asked the agent. Happy Birthday he replied. Err we dont know it. Bye then the agent said, come back when you do, what kind of a functions band can not play a version of happy birthday ? Good point he said... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL POSTERS Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 (edited) [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1429283403' post='2750039'] Lonnie Donegan pulled a few out of the ark, too. [/quote] Yeah. Wasnt The Golden Vanity written by Walter Raleigh ? B side of My old mans a dustman btw, which sounds like an old music hall song to me. Edited April 17, 2015 by BILL POSTERS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cytania Posted April 18, 2015 Author Share Posted April 18, 2015 Good call Bill, Golden Vanity was first collected by Samuel Pepys in 1667. Sir Walter Raleigh didn't write it but is name-checked in versions of the song! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL POSTERS Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 [quote name='cytania' timestamp='1429339506' post='2750508'] Good call Bill, Golden Vanity was first collected by Samuel Pepys in 1667. Sir Walter Raleigh didn't write it but is name-checked in versions of the song! [/quote] Not really a hit song though, just the B side of a hit. Actually had to explain to somebody what a B side was the other day ! Must be getting old Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floFC Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 What about that Nokia tune ringtone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SubsonicSimpleton Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 Does this count? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F9DxYhqmKw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveFry Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 Not the oldest ever , but three songs that go back further than generally assumed are ; Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out - Written in 1923 [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobody_Knows_You_When_You%27re_Down_and_Out"]https://en.wikipedia...re_Down_and_Out[/url] The eight bar changes are worth knowing . I read somewhere that Sting based one of the Police numbers on the changes . ( I like Popa Chubby's version on YT ) Blue Moon - Written in 1934 People tend to think it is a 50s or 60s number. [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Moon_%281934_song%29"]http://en.wikipedia....%281934_song%29[/url] Smile -Music written in 1936 by Charlie Chaplin , lyrics added in 1954 . Michael Jackson's favourite song . [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smile_%28Charlie_Chaplin_song%29"]https://en.wikipedia...Chaplin_song%29[/url] Chaplin played 'cello and violin left-handed and also piano . After he made his first million he had a pipe organ installed at his home in Beverley Hills and ensured that the cue sheets for the cinema organists in those silent movie days followed his instructions for his own films . Genius tune . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL POSTERS Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 (edited) Most of the ones mentioned so far were not actually hits. Didnt Joe Brown have a hit with Hava Nigila ? Or was it Dave Edmunds ? Either way its a very old song, and was at least, a minor hit for one of em. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6Oo8dSBwAA Edited April 18, 2015 by BILL POSTERS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 (edited) I included a version of a Hurrian Song (oldest notation of a song, from what is now Syria...) in one of my BC Composition Challenges. Not a world-wide hit, though; don't know why. [url="http://soundcloud.com/dad3353/things-that-were-are-and-may-1"]Things that were, are and may yet come to pass...[/url] Edited April 18, 2015 by Dad3353 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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