10 Song Lyrics Featuring Outdated Technologies

I was listening to the radio on the way back from lunch, heard a song on Sirius featuring a throw away line that made me think about all the songs that reference technology and quickly become champions of the obsolete.  So hear here, without further adieu, is a list of ten such songs, and the technology that makes them so awesomely outdated.

10.Bawitdaba – Kid Rock  (1999)

The candid freaks, cars packed with speakers
The G’s with the forties an’ the chicks with beepers.

9. Listen to the Eight Track – Ian Hunter (1981)

Oh get out into the car park, sitting in my own Buick Skylark in the dark
Oh, ‘n I’ll listen to the eight track

8. I Like That – Richard Vission and Static Revenger (2009) – (a double whammy for outdated audio and camera tech)

Oh let me shake it shake it
I’ll polaroid it shake it  …

I like that 8-track
It takes me way back

7. Mix Tape – Brand New (2001)

This is the first song for your mixtape.
And it’s short just like your temper,
but somewhat golden like the afternoons we used to spend before you got too cool

6. Casette Tape – Katie Costello (2011)  – (the newest song to make the list, it uses outdated tech as a metaphor, but much of the audience it would appeal to has either never heard of casette tapes, or long forgotten them)

I wish there was a social excuse to make you a cassette tape
I’d teach you all about my life from side B to side A
Fast forward, rewind…Whenever or never mind

5. Technologic – Daft Punk (2005)– (another double whammy for including both faxing and formatting, which although not strictly obsolete is not nearly as common in usage as it once was thanks to WYSIWYG directory navigation like Finder and Explorer)

Name it, rate it, tune it, print it,
Scan it, send it, fax – rename it,
Touch it, bring it, Pay it, watch it,
Turn it, leave it, start – format it.

4. Video Killed the Radio Star – The Buggles (1979) – (this is included not just for it’s unspoken reference to a time when MTV actually played music, but for the specific mention of VTR)

In my mind and in my car, we can’t rewind we’ve gone to far.
Pictures came and broke your heart, put the blame on VTR.

3. I’m My Own Walkman – Bobby McFerrin (1984)

When you’re walking down the street
And you got your walkman and you’re walkin’ to the beat
And you got your walkman and you’re walkin’ to the beat
Say what?

2. 45 RPM – The Alarm (2004) – (45 RPM, for younger readers, was the speed at which vinyl singles like these spun when played on a turntable. If I have to explain turntables, why are you reading this?)

a spiral scratch
gave me my life back
a vinyl solution
ended my confusion
I heard a voice in the noice pollution
45 rpm

And last, but certainly not least, my number one pick.  It is especially ironic because it was about outdated technology, but featured outdated technology.  Remember portable CD players?

1. AM Radio – Everclear (2000)

Wanna Get Down In a Cool Way?
Picture yourself on a beautiful day
Big bell-bottoms and groovy, long hair
Just a-walking in style with a portable CD player – No!
You would listen to the music on the AM radio

Share

Tags