The 15 Most Sampled And Covered Songs From The ’70s And ’80s
Music of the ’70s and ’80s still surges through today’s hits, pulsing like a time machine hidden inside every beat.
Artists return to these iconic decades again and again, sampling rhythms and reshaping melodies that once defined entire generations.
Funk grooves, disco anthems, and electrifying hooks turned into the blueprint for countless modern tracks heard across charts today.
Curious which classics have been borrowed, covered, and celebrated more than almost anything else in music history?
Disclaimer: This article is intended for general information and entertainment purposes.
All song details, release years, and cultural notes reflect publicly available information at the time of writing.
The interpretations of musical impact and legacy presented here are subjective and may differ among listeners and music historians.
1. Funky Drummer – James Brown (1970)
Back in 1970, James Brown unleashed a drum break that would become hip-hop’s secret weapon.
Clyde Stubblefield’s six-second solo in “Funky Drummer” got sampled thousands of times by everyone from Public Enemy to LL Cool J.
That infectious rhythm turned into the backbone of countless rap tracks across decades.
Without this groove, modern hip-hop might sound completely different.
Talk about a beat that refuses to quit!
2. Imagine – John Lennon (1971)
John Lennon’s plea for peace became one of the most covered songs in history.
Artists from A Perfect Circle to Diana Ross have reimagined this hopeful anthem.
Though its simple piano melody sounds gentle, the message packs serious punch about unity and compassion.
Musicians keep returning to it because its vision still resonates today.
If songs could change the world, this one would be leading the charge like a musical superhero!
3. Superstition – Stevie Wonder (1972)
Few tracks have ever fused rock, soul, and R&B with the effortless confidence found in this funky classic.
That iconic clavinet groove became a sonic fingerprint, later borrowed by artists like Beck, Herbie Hancock, and countless others.
With a wink of irony, the song cautions listeners about superstition even as it turns into a lucky charm for producers chasing hits.
Its unstoppable rhythm proves again and again that true funk never fades from relevance.
4. Hotel California – Eagles (1976)
Few rock songs have sparked more theories and late-night debates than this enigmatic story set inside a peculiar hotel.
Bedroom guitarists around the world have tried tackling that legendary solo, and full-band covers have surfaced from artists as varied as the Gipsy Kings and The Killers.
Interpretations range from indulgence to dependence to something far stranger, yet the true meaning stays tantalizingly out of reach.
What never changes is this: you might check out in the final chorus, but the melody refuses to leave your mind.
5. I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor (1978)
Gloria Gaynor turned heartbreak into the ultimate anthem of resilience.
From Cake’s deadpan version to Demi Lovato’s powerful rendition, artists across genres have claimed this disco classic.
The song transformed from a B-side into a cultural phenomenon that empowers anyone facing tough times.
Wedding receptions, karaoke nights, and movie soundtracks all bow down to its unstoppable spirit.
Honestly, if confidence was a song, it would sound exactly like this!
6. Good Times – Chic (1979)
Chic’s bassline became the foundation for hip-hop’s breakthrough moment.
When Sugarhill Gang borrowed it for “Rapper’s Delight,” they created rap’s first mainstream hit.
Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards crafted a groove so infectious that it’s been sampled over 100 times.
The track embodies disco’s final golden moment before the ’80s arrived.
Fun fact: this song literally helped birth an entire genre while people were just trying to dance!
7. Another One Bites The Dust – Queen (1980)
A single irresistible groove emerged and managed to take over rock venues and dance floors in equal measure.
Even Michael Jackson urged the band to release it as a single, a clear sign that its impact reached legendary ears.
With a rhythm that echoes steady footsteps, the track moves forward like a hypnotic march toward total sonic takeover.
No matter the setting, from massive arenas to tiny house parties, this song insists your body starts moving.
8. Billie Jean – Michael Jackson (1982)
Michael Jackson’s masterpiece about a mysterious woman became one of music’s most sampled tracks.
That distinctive bassline and drum pattern have been inspired by artists from The Weeknd to Kanye West.
The song made the moonwalk famous and helped break racial barriers on MTV.
Its production was so ahead of its time that it still sounds fresh decades later.
Did you know? MJ was so nervous about this song he cried when Quincy Jones first heard it!
9. The Message – Grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five (1982)
Hip-hop shifted from party anthems to social commentary with this groundbreaking track.
Melle Mel’s vivid descriptions of inner-city struggles painted pictures that resonated across communities.
The song’s influence echoes through every socially conscious rap that followed, from Tupac to Kendrick Lamar.
Its electronic beat and synthesizer sounds defined early hip-hop’s sonic landscape.
Though it warned about urban decay, it built a bridge toward hip-hop’s golden age like a musical prophet!
10. Planet Rock – Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force (1982)
A groundbreaking fusion of electronic textures and hip-hop rhythms emerged and instantly shifted the course of modern music.
By spotlighting the Roland TR-808 drum machine, the track reshaped hip-hop’s entire sonic foundation.
Its forward-looking atmosphere went on to inspire everything from Miami bass explosions to the rise of Detroit techno.
Built on a sample of “Trans-Europe Express,” the song soon became one of the most frequently sampled creations in music history.
Anytime you hear electronic hip-hop today, you’re essentially listening to this track’s great-grandchildren.
11. Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) – Eurythmics (1983)
A wave of eerie synths paired with a striking vocal performance helped shape one of the most memorable anthems in synth-pop history.
Cover versions have stretched from Marilyn Manson’s brooding approach to Beyoncé’s commanding interpretation, proving its endless adaptability.
Once that looping keyboard motif begins, it wedges itself into your mind like an irresistibly persistent earworm.
Wrapped in layers of electronic shimmer, the lyrics ask searching questions about identity and longing.
Even with all its introspection, the beat still makes your head move without a second thought.
12. Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen (1984)
Leonard Cohen’s poetic masterpiece took years to gain recognition but became one of history’s most covered songs.
Jeff Buckley’s emotional version introduced it to new generations, while hundreds of artists added their interpretations.
The song blends biblical references with romantic longing in ways that feel both sacred and deeply human.
From talent shows to movie soundtracks, its presence seems almost divine.
Though Cohen originally struggled with it, he created something that transcends music itself!
13. La Di Da Di – Doug E. Fresh And Slick Rick (1985)
This beatbox-driven storytelling track became hip-hop’s most sampled song ever.
Slick Rick’s narrative about his daily routine influenced everyone from Snoop Dogg to Miley Cyrus.
Doug E. Fresh created the entire beat using only his mouth, pioneering human beatbox as an art form.
The song’s influence stretches across decades, with over 1,000 samples and interpolations.
If imitation is flattery, then this track is basically hip-hop royalty wearing a crown made of gold records!
14. Outstanding – The Gap Band (1982)
Funk history gained a cornerstone the moment this vibrant track entered the scene and caught the attention of future beatmakers.
Built around a lively celebration of someone unforgettable, the tune radiates energy that pulls listeners straight onto the dance floor.
Its production captures the finest moment of early ’80s funk, just before synthesizers began steering the genre in new directions.
And honestly, West Coast G-funk might have wandered off course entirely without this song as its guiding groove.
15. Stayin’ Alive – Bee Gees (1977)
The Bee Gees created disco’s defining anthem that somehow also saves lives.
Medical professionals discovered its beat matches the perfect rhythm for CPR compressions, making it educational and entertaining.
From N-Trance’s dance remix to countless movie soundtracks, the song refuses to fade away.
Those falsetto vocals became disco’s signature sound, influencing pop music for generations.
Just saying, any song that can get you dancing AND potentially save your life deserves legendary status!
