Which classic songs are turning 50 in 2025?

In 1975, singer David Bowie released his ninth album Young Americans, which featured the hit song “Fame.” Co-written by John Lennon, the track finds Bowie describing the ups and downs of being famous. “Fame” was Bowie’s first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. 

The world was introduced to Natalie Cole with her debut single “This Will Be,” a track that describes how one believes they finally found their forever partner. As she sings in the first verse, “This will be an everlasting love / This will be the one I’ve waited for / This will be the first time anyone has loved me / I’m so glad you found me in time.” The song helped Cole win a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. 

Rock band Queen released their fourth album A Night at the Opera, which was led by their hit single “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The album title is always interesting because “Bohemian Rhapsody” starts as a rock song, but it also adds opera elements halfway through it. The song reached No. 1 on the UK Singles chart and became a top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Soul and funk band Earth, Wind & Fire released their sixth album That's the Way of the World, which was led by the single “Shining Star.” On the track, the band highlights how people have the potential to do what they want and be what they want in life. As they sing on the hook, “You’re a shining star / No matter who you are / Shining bright to see / What you could truly be.” 

Funk band War released their seventh album Why Can’t We Be Friends?, which was led by the single of the same name. It’s a simplistic track but it begs the question that although people have differences, there should be no opposition to being united and friendly. “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” became a top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Rufus and frontwoman Chaka Khan want to tell a lover just how they feel on “Sweet Thing.” On the track, Khan is confessing the love that she has and can only hope that those feelings are mutual. As she sings in the first verse, “I will love you anyway / Even if you cannot stay / I think you are the one for me / Here is where you ought to be.” 

In 1975, rock band Aerosmith released their third album Toys in the Attic, which featured their hit single “Walk This Way.” While the song is known as one of the band’s most recognizable tracks, it also saw massive success when hip-hop group Run-D.M.C. put their spin on it alongside Aerosmith in 1986. 

Curtis Mayfield wrote and produced The Staple Singers’ hit single “Let’s Do It Again.” On the track, the group describes their yearning for a night of intimacy. As they sing on the track, “Let’s do it in the morning / Sweet breeze in the summertime / Feeling your sweet face / All laid up next to mine.” 

In 1975, singer Olivia Newton-John released her fifth album Have You Never Been Mellow, which was led by the titular single. On the track, Newton-John wants to advise someone who moves a bit too fast in life, and encourages them that there’s ease and peace in slowing down and mellowing out. “Have You Never Been Mellow” became a No. 1 hit on both the Billboard Adult Contemporary and Hot 100 charts. 

The Ohio Players bring their signature funk and disco sound on their dance track “Love Rollercoaster.” On the track, the band describes how loving their partners is thrilling just like riding rollercoasters at an amusement park. The song reached No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot Soul Singles and Hot 100 charts. 

KC and the Sunshine Band have always been the type of group that kept people on the dance floor. It was no different when they released their self-titled sophomore album that featured the hit single “Get Down Tonight.” On the track, the band describes how they want to meet up with a partner for a night between the sheets. As they sing on the hook, “Do a little dance / Make a little love / Get down tonight.” 

John Denver is content and happy with his simple, yet peaceful life on his 1975 single “Thank God I’m a Country Boy.” As he sings on the third verse, “Well I wouldn’t trade my life for diamonds or jewels / I was never one of them money-hungry fools / I’d rather have my fiddle and my farming tools / Thank God I’m a country boy.” 

Soul group Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes are hoping for a better world on their single “Wake Up Everybody.” The song touches on many topics like healthcare, war, education, and community, and how all need to lend a helping hand to make our world better for the future. It’s evident from the first verse as they sing, “Wake up everybody / No more sleeping in bed / No more backward thinking / Time for thinking ahead.” 

Bruce Springsteen didn’t see mainstream success with his first two albums, that all changed with his third album Born to Run, which was led by the titular single. The track became a top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 and it helped Springsteen break through to massive audiences. 

In ABBA’s 1975 single “Mamma Mia,” the group tells the story of a person who’s tired of dealing with infidelity and they know they need to move on, but they keep going back and forth. As they sing in the first verse, “I’ve been cheated by you since I don’t know when / So I made up my mind, it must come to an end / Look at me now, will I ever learn? / I don’t know how but I suddenly lose control.” 

In 1975, soul group The O’Jays released their album Family Reunion, which was heavily produced by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff. In their single “I Love Music,” they describe how music makes them feel and keeps them dancing. As they sing on the track, “I love music / Sweet, sweet music / Long as it’s swinging / All the joy that it’s bringing.” 

In 1975, rock band AC/DC released their sophomore album T.N.T., which featured their hit song “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll).” On the track, the band describes the hardships musicians go through trying to make it big in the industry. As they sing on the track, “Getting old, getting gray / Getting ripped off, underpaid / Getting sold, second-hand / That’s how it goes, playing in a band.” 

In 1975, soul group The Isley Brothers released their thirteenth album The Heat Is On, which featured their hit single “For the Love of You.” On the track, the group gives the perspective of a man who wants to spend quality time with his lover and realizes how much their love is real. As they sing in the first verse, “Drifting on a memory / Ain’t no place I’d rather be / Than with you, loving you.” 

In 1975, Elton John released his tenth album Rock of the Westies, led by the hit single “Island Girl.” Although the lyrics can be deemed as controversial as it highlights a lady of the night, the song became a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. 

In 1975, Diana Ross starred in the romantic drama film Mahogany, so it was only right that she contributed to the soundtrack as well.” In her single “Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Wehre You’re Going To),” Ross asks the question of whether people can see a future ahead and if they have accomplished the dreams they’ve always wanted. The song helped earn Ross an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. 

"Rhinestone Cowboy" was first released in 1974 by Larry Weiss, however, the song saw mainstream success when Glen Campbell released his version the following year. On the track, Campbell details how people hustle for a better life, but he’s well on his way to making his dreams come true. As he sings in the second verse, “And I dream of the things I'll do / With a subway token and a dollar tucked inside my shoe / There'll be a load of compromisin' / On the road to my horizon / But I'm gonna be where the lights are shinin' on me.” 

Soul group The Miracles released their album City of Angels, which featured their hit song “Love Machine.” On the track, the group describes how they’re meant to love a partner, while using machine lingo in the lyrics. It’s evident in the first verse as they sing, “I think it’s time you knew / Whenever I think of you / My mind blows a fuse / When I look in your eyes / My meter starts to rise / And I become confused.” 

In 1975, Bee Gees released their thirteenth album Main Course, led by the hit single “Jive Talkin.’” On the track, the group highlights how people can be no good to them because they tell them so many lies. As they sing on the hook, “With all your jive talkin', you're telling me lies, yeah / Jive talkin', you wear a disguise / Jive talkin', so misunderstood, yeah / Jive talkin', you just ain't no good.”

Soul group Tavares released their third album In the City, which featured the hit single “It Only Takes a Minute.” On the track, the group highlights the element of time such as how sometimes it’s wasted, but how things can also change in an instant. As they sing on the hook, “It only takes a minute girl / To fall in love, to fall in love.” 

After Major Harris left the group The Delfonics to try his hand at a solo career, he saw massive success with his single “Love Won’t Let Me Wait.” On the track, Harris is so enamoured with a love that he desires to not only make love to her, but spend as much time as he can with her. As he sings on the second verse, “The time is right / Turned down the lights / And take my hand / We will take a flight / And spend the night / In a wonderland.”