What makes music timeless?

[Music Chart Fan 819]

I have thought about this question because I listen to and enjoy a lot of music that is decades old, mostly from the 1960s-1980s (with a lesser amount from the 1990s-present). Does the fact that I am listening to songs recorded before I was born make them timeless? Or do dated instruments/production, dated lyrics, or narrow appeal disqualify music from being timeless? Below I'll give a few examples.

 

One way that music may be dated is in its instrumentation and production. I can often identify the time period and popular music trend from which songs came. For example, "Mr. Tambourine Man" by The Byrds sounds like mid-'60s folk-rock, "Get Down Tonight" by KC & The Sunshine Band sounds like mid-'70s disco, and "Keep On Loving You" by REO Speedwagon sounds like early-'80s arena rock. Even without particular knowledge of music trends, songs like these sound "old" because of the instruments played (e.g. cheesy synthesizers) and/or production techniques (e.g. the "Wall of Sound").

 

Songs may also be dated in their lyrics, message, or attitude. For example, the lyrics of Jack Jones's 1963 hit "Wives And Lovers" reflect a certain cultural attitude about the relationship between husbands and wives that many people today probably do not hold. The lyrics of Jim Croce's 1972 hit "Operator (That's Not The Way It Feels)" are about the singer getting help from an operator to try to call his ex, which is probably an alien concept to the current generation. The lyrics of many other songs make reference to current-at-the-time pop culture, events, and attitudes which may not have aged well.

 

Finally, music may not be timeless in its marketing or appeal to certain groups. Genres such as teen pop, country, hip-hop, or even love songs arguably appeal to different specific segments of the population. It might be argued that a timeless song should have universal (or near-universal) appeal.

 

What do you think makes music timeless? Do you consider the music you listen to timeless?

[Rolls Royce 606]

You listen to REO Speedwagon, so you are officially awesome in my books.  What makes music timeless for me is when loads of people still listen to it after 20 plus years.  I consider the music I listen to timeless, it ranges from the late 60's to the early 90's mostly, a majority of it being 80's music.