Music By Decade: Top Songs, Genres And Trends
A guide to the music of each decade, from the 1920s to now.
Pick an era below for its albums and artists, then the biggest song of every year. Each one links to that decade's party playlist, calendar and year pages.
Shop the cards that go with these
Song and lyric prints, drawn and printed by us
Music and milestone art prints and funny cards, printed in the UK. Order on a working day and it usually goes out the same day.
99 Problems, Prompting Ain't One A6 Postcard
£3.00
Cunt Rude A6 Postcard
£3.00
Dancing On The Ceiling Music Print A6 Postcard
£3.00
Music Sounds Better With You Music Print A6 Postcard
£3.00
99 Problems but Excel Ain't One A6 Postcard
£3.00
Kenny Dalglish Liverpool Football Club (LFC) Legend Stats Print
£12.99
Pick a decade
- 1920s - Jazz arrives, dance bands fill the ballrooms and the gramophone puts recorded music in the front room. View guide
- 1930s - Swing takes over, crooners arrive and the wireless becomes the main way music reaches the house. View guide
- 1940s - Wartime songs, big bands and the start of the record chart era in America. View guide
- 1950s - The UK singles chart begins in November 1952, rock and roll lands, and teenagers get their own music. View guide
- 1960s - The Beatles, the Stones, Motown and the decade the album became the main event. View guide
- 1970s - Glam, prog, disco and punk - four scenes in ten years, and the best-selling albums of the century. View guide
- 1980s - Synths, MTV, Live Aid and the CD - the decade pop became a visual business. View guide
- 1990s - Rave, Britpop, the Spice Girls and the decade the CD single ruled the chart. View guide
- 2000s - Downloads, the iPod and reality-show pop - the decade the record shop closed. View guide
- 2010s - Streaming takes the chart over, and a handful of artists sell more than everyone else combined. View guide
- 2020s - Lockdown releases, TikTok hits and old songs charting again decades after release. View guide
How to use it
- Party: read the decade guide, then use the matching playlist page for the running order.
- Quiz: the year-by-year lines make a ready-made music round.
- Milestone birthday: work from the year they turned eighteen, not the year they were born.
- Reminiscence session: songs get more response than any other prompt.
Found your words? Now find the card
How to write it so it lands
- Pair a decade's music guide with its playlist page for a night that runs itself.
- The music someone loved between thirteen and twenty-five is the music they keep.
- A song print from a meaningful year is a cheap, personal present.
Where to shop next
- 1920s music
- 1930s music
- 1940s music
- 1950s music
- 1960s music
- 1970s music
- 1980s music
- 1990s music
- 2000s music
- 2010s music
- 2020s music
- 1950s party playlist
- 1960s party playlist
- 1970s party playlist
- 1980s party playlist
- 1990s party playlist
- 2000s party playlist
- 2010s party playlist
- 2020s party playlist
- The 2020s so far
- The 2010s: the whole decade
- The 2000s: the whole decade
- The 1990s: the whole decade
- The 1980s: the whole decade
- The 1970s: the whole decade
- The 1960s: the whole decade
- The 1950s: the whole decade
- The 1940s: the whole decade
- The 1930s: the whole decade
- The 1920s: the whole decade
- Shop greetings cards
- Shop birthday cards
- Shop funny cards
- Milestone birthday cards
- Nostalgia gift shop
- Retro party supplies
- Decade history: key events, politics and culture by era
- Decade books: best novels, authors and reading trends
- Decade music guides by era
- Decade recipes: dishes and food trends by era
- Decade fashion: clothes, hair and accessories by era
- Decade guides: books, films and TV by era
- Decade calendar: every year from 1920
- Decade trivia: fun facts by era
- Guess the year quiz
- All decade guides in one place
- Card messages by occasion: every guide in one place
- Card hub: cards, badges and messages by occasion
- Decade timelines: key dates and events by era
- Decade films: best movies and directors
- Decade art: artists, styles and trends
- Decade travel: destinations and holidays
- Decade technology: gadgets and computers
- Decade shopping guides
- Decade games: board, card and video games by era
- Decade quizzes: questions and answers by era
- Decade trivia game: play for points
- Decade quiz: test your memory
- Shop art prints and posters
- Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
- How to make a balloon arch
- Photo booth prop ideas
- Good luck cards
- All guides
Frequently asked questions
What decades are covered?
Every decade from the 1920s to the present, each with its own albums, artists and year-by-year songs.
Are the chart facts UK ones?
Yes. The UK singles chart begins in November 1952, so anything before that is described as a popular song rather than a chart position.
Can I use these for a quiz or a care home session?
Yes, freely. Print them, read them out, copy them - no permission needed.
What is a good example of decade music guides?
"Party: read the decade guide, then use the matching playlist page for the running order." is one of 15 examples on this page. Pick the one closest to the tone you want, then add a specific detail of your own - a shared memory, a date, a name - so it reads as yours rather than copied.