ONTD Original: 7 Songs from the ’70s Under 3 Minutes Long

While a lot of us here on ONTD like to complain about the TikTokification of modern music (and rightly so for a multitude of reasons) – one of the main complaints I see here and elsewhere online is how short so many songs are now. It’s a thing. It’s been written about on news sites and discussed all over social media – songs are fucking SHORT and just seem to be getting shorter. But does that mean the songs have to be: sparse? repetitive? unoriginal? uninspired? poorly written? lyrically simplistic? boring? and repetitive?

Interestingly, the 1970s – the era that gave us fucking long ass rock songs about wizards and stairways and shit and never-ending disco jams for the party animals – produced some pretty fantastic, well-known short tunes.

Blondie – Hanging on the Telephone (1978)

The Nerves wrote a song that barely makes it past 2 minutes and not only does OP think it’s fantastic, but Blondie obviously does too.

Joni Mitchell – Big Yellow Taxi (1970)

A short song so iconic that Janet Jackson just had to sample it!

Earth, Wind & Fire – Shining Star (1975)

A short funk song that was also a Billboard Hot 100 #1 song!

Bee Gees – I.O.I.O (1970)

A Bee Gees fan fave from their early days that doesn’t quite make it to the 3 minute mark.

The Ramones – Sheena is a Punk Rocker (1977)

The Ramones LOVE a sub-3 minute song. They even love a sub-2 minute song. The punks have been in favour of a short song for as long as punk has been around!

Neil Young – The Needle and the Damage Done (1972)

Neil Young proves that you can write an emotional song that says a lot in under 3 minutes if you’re talented enough.

Stevie Wonder – Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) (1970)

One of the greatest songs of the ’70s clocks in at a short but sweet 2:41.

Sources: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7