Determining the oldest song still heard on radio stations today is an interesting question. Radio formats and playlists have changed dramatically over the decades, but some classic hits from past eras continue to get airplay alongside more contemporary tunes. To identify the oldest surviving radio staples, we need to go back through over a century of popular music history.
What qualifies as the “oldest” song?
There are a few factors to consider when trying to pinpoint the oldest song still playing on radio stations in modern times:
- Date of original release – The year the song first came out
- Longevity – How many decades it has remained popular enough to get radio play
- Continued relevance – Is it still meaningful for contemporary audiences?
- Lack of obscurity – It can’t be too obscure, or it likely wouldn’t get airplay
The oldest song heard on the radio today likely dates back at least 80-100 years. It also needs to have multigenerational appeal and staying power over many decades. Just because a song is old doesn’t mean it has remained relevant or widely known enough to be played on radio in 2022.
Examining different radio formats
The type of radio station also determines what older songs might qualify. Oldies and classic hits stations are more likely to dust off early rock ‘n roll, Motown, or Big Band era tunes from the 1950s-1970s. However, even contemporary hit radio aimed at current Top 40 audiences occasionally work in throwback tunes that have maintained pop culture significance.
Some examples of radio formats and the eras they might pull from include:
- Oldies – 1920s-1960s
- Classic rock – 1960s-1980s
- Adult contemporary – 1970s-1990s
- Top 40/pop – 1980s-today
- Country – 1970s-today
The oldest songs played likely predate the rock ‘n roll era that kicked off in the 1950s. To go back any earlier, a song would have to be timeless enough to still resonate with listeners accustomed to modern production. Big Band and jazz standards from the 1920s-1940s represent the era from which the oldest radio hits might emerge.
Examining possible contenders
Here are some of the oldest song contenders still likely to get occasional airplay today:
- “Sing Sing Sing (With a Swing)” – Benny Goodman (1936)
- “Cry Me a River” – Julie London (1955)
- “Blue Moon” – The Marcels (1961)
- “Moon River” – Andy Williams (1962)
- “Stand By Me” – Ben E. King (1961)
- “Duke of Earl” – Gene Chandler (1962)
- “Louie Louie” – The Kingsmen (1963)
- “Time Is On My Side” – The Rolling Stones (1964)
- “House of the Rising Sun” – The Animals (1964)
- “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” – Otis Redding (1968)
These examples of early rock, doo-wop, jazz, and R&B hits demonstrate the timeless, multigenerational appeal required to have staying power on radio despite their age. These kinds of songs continue to resonate with audiences while representing important musical eras and movements.
The case for “Sing Sing Sing”
While all these contenders demonstrate serious longevity, Benny Goodman’s “Sing Sing Sing” stands above them as the probable title holder for oldest song still played on radio in the modern era. Here’s why it has such a strong case:
- Released in 1936, it predates rock music and comes from the Big Band/jazz era
- Instrumental-only, so lyrics can’t date it or limit appeal
- Featured in films, TV shows, and ads for decades
- A bona fide jazz standard still covered by contemporary artists
- Lively swing rhythm still energetic and infectious for all generations
“Sing Sing Sing” was an instant hit upon release and its foot-tapping swing style loaned itself perfectly to the visual mediums of film, TV, and advertising in subsequent decades. Unlike other pre-rock vocal songs, the absence of potentially antiquated or trite lyrics has kept “Sing Sing Sing” timeless.
Few songs from the first half of the 20th century could maintain such multi-generational relevance all the way into the streaming era. Thanks to its high-energy instrumentation and tireless adaptability through reinvention by new artists, Goodman’s swinging jazz tune has shown rare radio longevity.
Should radio play more oldies?
The fact that radio airplay favors more recent decades prompts debate around whether oldies deserve more spins today. Here are some perspectives on both sides:
Arguments for more oldies airplay
- Brings variety against repetitive playlists of current hits
- Caters to older audiences amid declining rock legacy acts
- Counteracts how fleeting pop music fame is nowadays
- Allows new generations to discover classics organically
- Honors artists/songs that laid groundwork of popular music
Arguments against more oldies airplay
- Can make a station sound too much in the past vs present
- Hard for some songs to translate to modern production standards
- Limits airtime for breaking new acts and rising stars
- Young demographics less interested in old eras of music history
- Music licensing costs likely higher for oldies
There are good-faith points on both sides. While extra oldies airplay offers benefits like variety and perspective, it also comes with potential drawbacks to consider. Radio programmers have the challenging task of trying to strike the right balance when structuring their daily playlists and formats.
Conclusion
Identifying the definitive oldest song still earning airplay is tricky, but Benny Goodman’s 1936 Big Band hit “Sing Sing Sing” appears to have the strongest case thanks to its energetic arrangement transcending the decades. Other pre-rock standards with multigenerational appeal also continue circulating on radio, but none with the same combination of early origins and lasting influence.
The rarity of songs from the 1920s-1940s remaining staples of radio playlists speaks to how quickly pop music evolves and how difficult it is for any track to maintain relevance across vastly different eras. But singling out durable classics like “Sing Sing Sing” offers perspective on the building blocks of popular music history and honors pioneers that paved the way for the artists of today.