Some 1970s songs feel timeless, but others are so rooted in their moment that dropping them into today’s TikTok and Spotify world would be asking for trouble. Looking at how certain tracks were already underrated in their own decade helps explain why they would probably sink even faster now, especially next to hook-heavy hits built for viral clips.
1) “The Bewlay Brothers” – David Bowie
“The Bewlay Brothers” sits on David Bowie’s 1971 album “Hunky Dory,” and it shows up in lists of underrated songs from the decade because it never connected beyond hardcore fans. The track is long, lyrically dense, and emotionally opaque, with no obvious chorus that a casual listener can hum after one spin. If it struggled to stand out on radio when Bowie was at his creative peak, it would face an even steeper climb in an era ruled by autoplay playlists and skip buttons.
Modern platforms reward instant payoff, the kind of structure that lets a 15‑second hook explode on TikTok. By contrast, “The Bewlay Brothers” unfolds slowly, asking listeners to live inside its surreal imagery and shifting moods. That kind of patience is rare on apps where users swipe away in seconds, so the song’s very strengths for album listeners would likely turn into liabilities in today’s attention economy.
2) “Thirteen” – Big Star
Big Star’s “Thirteen” is a fragile acoustic ballad that critics adore but that mainstream audiences mostly missed, which is why it is often grouped with other 1970s songs considered better suited to their original era. The track moves at a whisper, built on gentle guitar and teenage nostalgia rather than big drums or a punchy hook. That subtlety helped it age beautifully, yet it also explains why it never became a chart staple when rock radio favored louder, flashier singles.
In a landscape driven by playlists like “Today’s Top Hits” and algorithmic recommendations, “Thirteen” would probably be skipped before its quiet charm lands. There is no obvious beat drop for dance challenges, no instantly memeable line, just slow-burn storytelling. For artists and labels chasing measurable engagement, a song that asks listeners to lean in and sit still for three minutes is a tough sell.
3) “Life During Wartime” – Talking Heads
Talking Heads’ “Life During Wartime” has a nervous groove and sharp lyrics, but it originally charted modestly compared with bigger rock anthems, which is why it can appear among modern comparisons about what does or does not go viral. The song’s tension, political edge, and chant of “This ain’t no party, this ain’t no disco” reward listeners who follow the full narrative. That depth is great for album culture, yet it never translated into the kind of mass sing‑along success that simpler choruses enjoyed.
Stack it against 2005 tracks built around instantly recognizable hooks and it becomes clear why “Life During Wartime” might stall today. Its groove is jittery rather than euphoric, and the lyrics are more about paranoia than escapism, which is a harder fit for TikTok dances and Instagram Reels. In an algorithm-favored ecosystem, even a brilliant song can flop if it does not deliver quick, repeatable moments.
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