Every generation thinks its music was the best, which makes this card a great conversation starter. One Gotta Go puts four decades of sound side by side: 70s funk and soul, 80s pop and rock, 90s hip hop and R&B, and 2000s pop and punk.
Pick one era to wipe from the radio forever, and the other three stay. Think about what your parents played, what you grew up with and what you still put on at a party. Then make your pick and share the one song that best represents the decade you kept.
The 4 choices on this card
A. 70s Funk & Soul
The 70s gave us funk and soul legends like Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind and Fire, and Parliament. The grooves are timeless. The case against the decade is that some younger listeners mostly know it through samples in later hip hop rather than the original records.
Keep it if: You love a live band, a horn section and a groove that makes it impossible to sit still.
B. 80s Pop & Rock
The 80s brought pop superstars like Michael Jackson, Madonna and Prince, plus big rock anthems and MTV. It was colorful and huge. Some people find the synths and big hair a bit cheesy, which makes the decade a fair cut for them.
Keep it if: You love big choruses, synth hooks and songs that still fill the dance floor at every wedding.
C. 90s Hip Hop & R&B
The 90s gave us the golden era of hip hop and R&B, from Tupac and Biggie to TLC and Boyz II Men. Many fans call it the best decade ever. If those genres are not your favorite, the 90s might be the one you would let go.
Keep it if: You think the 90s had the best rap, the best R&B and the best slow jams of any decade.
D. 2000s Pop & Punk
The 2000s brought pop princesses, boy bands and pop punk bands with emotional lyrics and loud guitars. It was fun and full of energy. Critics say a lot of it was more about image than songwriting, which makes it a candidate to cut.
Keep it if: You grew up with these songs, you know every word to the pop punk anthems and they still bring you back.
Our take
We would cut the 2000s, even though we know the pop punk fans will have something to say. The other three decades each created sounds that artists still borrow from, from funk grooves to 80s synths to 90s rap and R&B. The most fun debate tends to be the 80s against the 90s, since both decades have huge fan bases who think their era peaked. Have everyone pick one song to represent their decade and play them back to back.
How to play this card with friends
- Read the four choices out loud.
- Everyone picks the one they'd eliminate at the same time.
- Explain your pick. This is where the fun starts.
- Use the follow-up questions below to keep it going.
Follow-up questions to keep the debate going
- Which music era do people romanticize most?
- What song best represents each decade on this card?
- Which era has the best love songs?
- What music era would you add to this card?
Want more debates like this? Get the One Gotta Go card game for game night, family dinners and road trips. Shop the decks.
Music Eras: quick answers
What was the golden age of hip hop?
The golden age of hip hop usually refers to the mid 1980s through the mid 1990s, when artists like Run-DMC, Public Enemy, A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G. released classic albums. Many fans consider it the most creative period in the genre.
What is pop punk?
Pop punk mixes the speed and energy of punk rock with catchy pop melodies. It was hugely popular in the late 1990s and 2000s with bands like Blink-182, Green Day, Good Charlotte and Paramore. It has recently seen a revival with newer artists.
