https://www.villagevoice.com/2018/07/04/what-is-the-most-nostalgic-song-of-all-time/
For me, it's Sukiyaki, by Kyo Sakamoto. It kicks me in the gut every time. In my opinion, it represents the '60s music scene when I was growing up and first listening to the radio.
Emotional Connections with the Past
The author of the linked article nicely describes the deep nostalgia triggered by certain songs.
I've got a project in the works that explores the same territory, a radio program called "The Sad Music Hour", which might run two or three episodes.
If everyone's sentimental songs were included there could be hundreds of hours.
Yes I like Sukiyaki also...great melody.
I can't really say what my most nostalgic song is as there's probably lots of them. I go back to the mid fifties but Brandy by Looking Glass has a big place on my nostalgia list as there was a girl I liked at the time and that song is the song I have for her and that time hanging out together at her cottage. Another song high on the list is a song called Beverly which I wrote about a girl I liked way back when my family rented a cottage in the summer on Lake Simcoe on a lot with 11 other cottages and it was catchy and I had everyone going around singing this song....the kids loved it and to this day everyone still knows that song and I gave people some good memories.
Everyone is Impressed
Mark remembers "...high on the list is a song called Beverly which I wrote"
You wrote "Beverly?" That is amazing, Mark. What other songs have you written?
Connection with girls is probably a common source of wistful songs from the past.
Perez Prado's "Patricia", Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline", The Beatle's "Michelle" are all girl reminders thinking back over the years.
What do those many girls remember? Do they have a song called "Mark"? or, "Carl?"
I started playing the guitar when I was 11 or 12 years old and I didn't just play other peoples songs I composed my own also. The songs with a girls name as the title is endless as this is a big influence on getting an idea for a song to write. Every second Do-Wop song almost is about some girl or boy with a name for the title. If you tried to count all the songs that appeared on the charts in the rock and roll era with a girls name(some duplicates) I don't think you could count them all, especially when you include the songs that were recorded but didn't make the charts.
I also played in some rock bands in the mid 60s to the early seventies. But I quit playing long ago.
A question with no answer! Every person would have a different answer, and people of different ages would have different answers. Someone who is 23 today would not likely choose a song from the 1940's, but their grandparents might! Maybe I should make that great grand parents (I'm getting old faster than I realize)
When I first saw the question the song that immediately popped into my mind was "Moments to Remember" by the Four Lads. Young people won't know it. It's from 1955, it's NOT rock and roll, and it topped the charts and sold millions.
TIB
The Nostalgia Nerve
Music from different genres can trigger the sentimental feeling.
From popular music "Gloomy Sunday" sung by Billie Holiday is a deep downer.
From the movies the final scene from "Farenheit 451" based on a story by Ray Bradbury in the original film version composed and conducted by Bernard Hermann.
From classical/jazz "The Moon of Alabama", sung 3 different times in 3 different attitudes from the opera "The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny" lyrics by Bertolt Brecht music by Kurt Weill, an opera that contains 1920s style jazz, and the song also done later by the rock group The Doors.
How about this one: Enamorado, by Keith Colley. It shows that a great tune is a great tune in any language.