These 1970s art rock songs still hold up today. No matter how much time passes, these staple tracks still have something exciting about them. Though the genre has moved on, these tracks are still as adventurous as ever.
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“Life On Mars?” — David Bowie
David Bowie could be classified in many different ways, but an art rocker is typically at the top of the list. Take “Life On Mars?” for example. This track takes surrealism to an extreme with lyrics like, “Sailors fighting in the dance hall / Oh, man, look at those cavemen go / It’s the freakiest show / Take a look at the lawman, beating up the wrong guy / Oh, man, wonder if he’ll ever know / He’s in the best-selling show / Is there life on Mars?”
Bowie asks an existential question here, pushing the rock genre to new heights. This isn’t just a hit; it’s a commentary on life as we know it. Could there be anything else out there? When we listen to Bowie’s music, we can’t help but give in to the idea of something extraordinary.
“Comfortably Numb” — Pink Floyd
This is another band with many genre descriptors, but their unique brand of rock was as artful as any. Pink Floyd never shied away from the heady and exploratory in the 1970s, and this song is a strong example of that affinity.
“There is no pain, you are receding / A distant ship, smoke on the horizon / You are only coming through in waves / Your lips move, but I can’t hear what you’re saying,” the lyrics read. The powerful vocal performance and emotive guitar solos in this song elevate the medium to the point that the listener can do nothing but sit back in awe.
“Sweet Jane” — The Velvet Underground
When we think of art rock, The Velvet Underground is one of the first bands to come to mind. They have many songs that could fit comfortably on this list, but let’s highlight one of their most famous radio tracks, “Sweet Jane”.
“Standin’ on the corner / Suitcase in my hand / Jack is in his corset, Jane is in her vest / And me, I’m in a rock ‘n’ roll band,” the lyrics read. This is one of the band’s most accessible songs, but not so much that it loses its artfulness.
More The List
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NAZARETH / Die schottische Rockband NAZARETH, 70er Jahre. Musik, Band, Rock, 70er. (Photo by kpa/United Archives via Getty Images) -
Vancouver-based. Chilliwack – from left; Brain MacLeod; Ab Bryant; Skip Layton; Bill Henderson and Jamie Bowers – were described as taking rock 'n' roll where it's goig back in the San Francisco rock explosion of 1967. but they fizzled because they didn't tour to push record sales. They aren't making that mistake again. -
Maurice Gibb, Robin Gibb, Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees in New York City, New York (Photo by Bobby Bank/WireImage) -
Rock music legend Janis Joplin performs at the free Woodstock Music and Art Fair. The festival took place on Max Yasgur's dairy farm, which he rented to event organizers for $75,000. About 450,000 people attended the three day concert, which turned into chaos due to the crowds, heavy rains, and traffic jams. It is nonetheless romantically remembered as a symbol of the liberal spirit of the hippie generation. (Photo by Henry Diltz/Corbis via Getty Images) -
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – AUGUST 30: Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates performs in concert at Etess Arena on August 30, 2019 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (Photo by Donald Kravitz/Getty Images) -
LOS ANGELES – MAY 1999: (EDITORS NOTE: THIS IMAGE WAS CREATED USING COLOR INFRARED FILM) American rock band Smash Mouth (L – R) drummer Kevin Coleman, vocalist Steven Harwell, guitarist Greg Camp and bassist Paul De Lisle pose for a May 1999 portrait in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bob Berg/Getty Images) -
Left to right: Doug Clifford, Tom Fogerty, John Fogerty and Stu Cook of American rock group, Creedence Clearwater Revival, in New York City, 1970. (Photo by PoPsie Randolph/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage