I thought about this earlier when I listened to Justin Bieber’s Believe album released in 2012. Even though it’s been 5/6 years, I felt a strong sense of nostalgia as I was listening. Since I was a big fan of JB back then I have strong memories associated with his earlier songs. But how old should a song really be to really be considered a throwback to most people? I’m talking about when enough time has passed for a lot of people to consider nostalgic.

8-10 years imo. 5 is too early, I still hear songs from 5 years ago on the Top 40. A lot can change in 8 years in terms of music style so that's comfortable for a throwback. 

10 years I would say.

I was hearing songs from 2010 on throwback FM stations in late 2016, and I thought that was too soon.
I would say 8-10 years.

Back when I moved to Seattle in 2014, 89.5FM, a local run station that mostly plays various types of EDM, had a throwback hour everyday.
The lineup of songs was mostly stuff from the 90s and early 2000s, some 80s stuff thrown in, and occasionally songs from 2009 would get thrown in.

10 years, at least.

I'd say 10-15 years. So as of now, anything made in 2008 and prior.

10 years is definitely throwback material in my book. However I  would say 7 years minimum to be classed as a throwback.

Depends on how much music has changed. I think some songs from 2010 would qualify while others wouldn't. I was listening to my 2010 playlist that I made in 2010 and there was stuff like The Fray, Plain White T's, Daughtry, Owl City, etc in it. Those artists sound very dated by today's standards even though they were popular alongside Lady Gaga, Ke$ha, Justin Bieber, and other artists that don't sound as dated.

Depends on how much music has changed. I think some songs from 2010 would qualify while others wouldn't. I was listening to my 2010 playlist that I made in 2010 and there was stuff like The Fray, Plain White T's, Daughtry, Owl City, etc in it. Those artists sound very dated by today's standards even though they were popular alongside Lady Gaga, Ke$ha, Justin Bieber, and other artists that don't sound as dated.

I don't think any songs from 2010 can be considered throwbacks yet. Too early.

3RIzE-knZeU

I don't think any songs from 2010 can be considered throwbacks yet. Too early.


I can totally imagine Baby by Justin Bieber popping up on throwback station LOL ;D

I don't think any songs from 2010 can be considered throwbacks yet. Too early.
Too late! It has already happened. I heard Eminem's Love the Way you lie a few days ago and it was considered a throwback.

Too late! It has already happened. I heard Eminem's Love the Way you lie a few days ago and it was considered a throwback.

I'd say it needs a minimum of 10 years.


I can totally imagine Baby by Justin Bieber popping up on throwback station LOL ;D

Baby sounds fairly recent to me. I hope that song never becomes a throwback.  ;D

I am literally hearing Justin`s album "Believe" as i`m reading this forum post. I used to be a huge JB fan aswell.
To me it feels like it was yesterday. Can`t believe it`s been almost 6 years now!

I would say at least 10 years. However, at a minimum 7-8.

Then again, it really depends on the person, I have seen some people consider songs that are 4-6 years old as "throwbacks" :P.

I am literally hearing Justin`s album "Believe" as i`m reading this forum post. I used to be a huge JB fan aswell.
To me it feels like it was yesterday. Can`t believe it`s been almost 6 years now!

Right! I used to be a crazy fan girl over JB! I had posters of him all over my room. I really miss the old JB.

Anything more than 2 years ago you can consider a throwback imo.

At least 15 years IMO

Too late! It has already happened. I heard Eminem's Love the Way you lie a few days ago and it was considered a throwback.


Dude, I heard the exact same song on the throwback station in December 2017 too! I even made a Popedia thread about it.

http://popedia.boards.net/thread/631/song-playing-throwback-radio-station

I just heard this song from 2014 and it did bring back a lot of nostalgia:
v0Gu_Yh_keE

I just heard this song from 2014 and it did bring back a lot of nostalgia:
v0Gu_Yh_keE

I remember this! This song was way too overplayed ;D ;D ;D

I remember this! This song was way too overplayed ;D ;D ;D

Yeah. I remember when everyone was playing it in real life and on ROBLOX too.

I just heard this song from 2014 and it did bring back a lot of nostalgia:
v0Gu_Yh_keE

This is the first time I have heard this song lol.

I would say atleast 10 years, but as of now the whole late 2000s can finaly have their throwback. Songs like Down and Whatcha Say start feeling cheesy and dated.


I just heard this song from 2014 and it did bring back a lot of nostalgia:
v0Gu_Yh_keE
This song definitely feels like it's from 2014 for some reason ;D Probably because the «Hey Hey Hey» in the background was a popular trend that year
O-zpOMYRi0w

I would say atleast 10 years, but as of now the whole late 2000s can finaly have their throwback. Songs like Down and Whatcha Say start feeling cheesy and dated.
This song definitely feels like it's from 2014 for some reason ;D Probably because the «Hey Hey Hey» in the background was a popular trend that year
O-zpOMYRi0w

I agree. I think it would sound a bit out of place if it were released today IMO.
I don't know about you, but ever since we entered the late 2010's, I've noticed that today's music is slightly different from the music of 2014. It's not too drastic but it's definitely not identical either.

This is the first time I have heard this song lol.


Same. Looks like it reached #21 in the US but only #94 in Canada.

I was just listening to the radio and they called "Classic" by MKTO a throwback, it was released in 2013! ::)

I would say 3-4 years. Empty Space by Taylor Swift is already a throwback to me.

I would say 3-4 years. Empty Space by Taylor Swift is already a throwback to me.

I think it really depends on how much music has changed IMO. Music from say 2012 definitely sounds different from music today, which is why some people especially teens/early 20's find it to be nostalgic.

I agree. I think it would sound a bit out of place if it were released today IMO.
I don't know about you, but ever since we entered the late 2010's, I've noticed that today's music is slightly different from the music of 2014. It's not too drastic but it's definitely not identical either.

Yup music from 2014 - 2015 feel quite removed from today. That's one of the reasons the mid '10s are so different from the late '10s. The difference will be noticeable even more later on. The whole futuristic EDM sounds being in every song today is really what sets it apart.

I would say 3-4 years. Empty Space by Taylor Swift is already a throwback to me.
I think you meant Blank Space. ;D

I think you meant Blank Space. ;D

“But I got a empty space baby and I’ll write your name!” ;D

“But I got a empty space baby and I’ll write your name!” ;D
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D