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Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru
Sorry, I'm going to have to disagree here. I think you're looking at it the wrong way. Popular music has changed a lot since the '80s. It has become greatly diversified in that there are far more genre offshoots today than there were even ten years ago. Given this new environment, it is unfair and even unsatisfying to compare today's music to the likes of Steve Miller Band or The Beatles (the latter of which I am a huge, rabid fan). Rock bands of the past, in particular, were operating out of a purer environment; they are closer to their roots of blues and R&B than bands of today.
What you get today is a type of rock that is further evolved and influenced by even more sources. A great example of this is Radiohead, a rock band whose influences are heavily derived from classical music, jazz, and electronica. Their sound is unique (in spite of obvious but sloppy copying by others) and continues to evolve. Their artistic, non-commercial approach to music ended up being commercial... some how.... Consider Kid A: it debuted at number one in many areas worldwide despite its experimental, unconventional approach. And to this day, that album has been covered extensively by various types of musicians, including classical and jazz. I really could go on to solidify my argument, but I don't feel it's necessary, as Radiohead's legacy looks to be a certainty already, and said legacy reaches back even before Kid A to the brilliant albums OK Computer and The Bends.
I agree that there won't likely be covers of many songs being produced today, but let's not rule out the few who truly are producing what I would call nothing less than aesthetically pleasing. Radiohead is just one example and shouldn't be overlooked.
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Which points to the notion that music is both subjective and generational. In my list, I included a song from C.1963. I barely remember it as a new tune because I was 8 or 9 when it was released. Of course, unless you listen to an oldies station or your parents listened to music of the 50's and 60's, you wouldn't know it from Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star. But, at the time it came out, 'girl groups' invaded the rock scene of the time with catchy dance tunes that rivaled anything the 'boys' could put out and there were probably more of them than boy bands.
Of course, music evolves; the Beatles were influenced by what came out before them as much as any group is influenced by the Beatles now-that's a given.
For every person that thinks Radiohead is terrific, another will think it sucks; but, with something like this list thread, certain 'classic' rock tunes continue to come up because they transcend the generational pull and continue to influence those who come after.
Just as you couldn't possibly understand the phenomenon and the utter maddening enthusiasm that greeted the Beatles because it happened 12 years before your birth, there will be kids that won't understand what the fuss was about with Nirvana or even Radiohead and therefore not feel that same influence quite the same way. That's just the nature of music's evolution and why the 'perfect song' doesn't really exist unchallenged.