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Readers respond: What was your favourite trend from the ’70s?

From knee-high boots and hot pants to mullets and psychedelic shirts, the ’70s saw some wild fashion trends. We asked our readers what their favourite trends were from that groovy decade and your answers didn’t disappoint. Take a trip down memory lane and check out some of the best responses you shared. Halina O’Neill - Mini skirts and flares and a good body to carry them. Shirley Hawthorne - Definitely hot pants, knee-high lace-up boots and mini skirts. Kirsteen Collison - For men: high-waisted pants with a polo shirt tucked in. For the girls: Levis with off the shoulder shirts. Jeanette Callaghan - Hot pants and knee-high lace-up boots. Very stylish. I have a pic of me wearing these and no I’m not sharing it. Margaret Mclean - Tennis jumpers and box pleat skirts. Kathleen Stipek - Jeans, jeans, jeans. I was almost killed by a pair of platform shoes. Madonna Simon - High-waisted flares, high high platforms and my afro. Stuart Kerr - Low cut hipster jeans & black pointy toe boots, a singlet top, tattoos, & long hair with a mullet. Willi Russell - I loved my hot pants and mini skirts… and most clothing was in psychedelic patterns and bright happy colours. Debbie Regan - Bell bottoms, hot pants, platform cork shoes, peroxide bleached mullet hair. Janice Hunter - Whatever my mum dressed me in whether I liked it or not 😂😂😂. Frank LaFountaine - Alligator cowboy boots. Yvonne Robinson - Farah Fawcett hairstyle. Loved it! To read what else you said, head <a href="https://www.facebook.com/oversixtyNZ/posts/1935117703315510" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Image: Getty Images

Beauty & Style

7 iconic songs that will transport you back to the '70s

The 1970’s was a simpler time for some, and with hits like these, it’s easy to see why. Listen to the top 7 songs of the 1970’s and take a journey back in time. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_izvAbhExY">Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees</a> This song was made iconic as it played over the opening credits of 1977 film Saturday Night Fever as John Travolta struts through the streets of NYC. The song was written specifically for the film and quickly climbed through the charts. The band was well aware that they were creating a heart-thumping rhythm with the song. "We thought when we were writing it that we should emulate the human heart," Robin Gibb explained in Daniel Rachel's The Art of Noise: Conversations with Great Songwriters. "We got Blue Weaver who was the keyboard player at the time to lie on the floor and put electrodes on his heart and put it through the control room. Then we got the drummer to play the heartbeat. We were the first people in the world to do a drum loop based on that." <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CFuCYNx-1g">Superstition by Stevie Wonder</a> Believe it or not, Stevie Wonder wrote this song about the dangers of believing in superstitions. The song incorporates many elements of rock music, which was ideal for Wonder at the time as it helped extend his appeal to a white audience. It worked as it was his second #1 hit in the U.S. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFrGuyw1V8s">Dancing Queen by ABBA</a> ABBA had recorded this song a year before it was released, and it was written around the same time as “Fernando”. However, they chose to release Fernando as the single as they knew they were onto something big with Dancing Queen. This song was the only one of ABBA’s 14 US Top 40 hits to make it to number one and it’s easy to see why. The song also reached number one in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Ireland, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Rhodesia, South Africa, Sweden and Germany. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgl-VRdXr7I">Killing Me Softly With His Song by Roberta Flack</a> The story goes that the inspiration for this song is Don McLean, who was famous for American Pie. The songwriting team of Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel intimately wrote the track back in 1973, and it wasn’t until Roberta Flack heard the original artist sing the song that she decided to record it herself. Charles Fox first heard from Flack after Quincy Jones gave her his number. “I was at Paramount Pictures one day walking through the music library, and someone handed me a telephone and said, 'This is for you.' And the voice on the other end of the line said, 'Hi, this is Roberta Flack. We haven't met, but I'm going to sing your songs.' “So it was kind of magical at that - that thing just doesn't happen to people. She had just won the Grammy Award for '<a href="https://www.songfacts.com/facts/roberta-flack/first-time-ever-i-saw-your-face">First Time Ever I Saw Your Face</a>.' Beautiful record. So it's kind of remarkable to get a call from her in the first place. And she did go on to sing other songs. And actually, she sang on the main title for me of a show that was called Valerie after Valerie Harper." <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQZmCJUSC6g">You’re So Vain by Carly Simon</a> It looks like no one apart from Simon herself will know who she’s singing about, although this hasn’t stopped people from trying to figure it out. Rumours include Warren Beatty, Kris Kristofferson, Cat Stevens and Mick Jagger. However, Richard Perry, who produced the album, has his own ideas about who the song is about. He said in the book The Record Producers: "It's about a compilation of men that Carly had known, but primarily Warren Beatty." <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ9rUzIMcZQ">Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen</a> It seems like no one will know what this song is about either, apart from the band and Freddie Mercury himself. When pressed, Mercury remained tight-lipped. Mercury himself stated, "It's one of those songs which has such a fantasy feel about it. I think people should just listen to it, think about it, and then make up their own minds as to what it says to them." The band has always been very keen to let listeners interpret the music in a way that’s personal to them instead of imposing their own meaning on the songs. The song was Queen’s first Top 10 hit in the US. In the UK, the song shot up to #1 and stayed there for nine weeks, which was a record for the time. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrcwRt6J32o">Bridge over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel</a> Paul Simon wrote this song about providing comfort to a person in need. He revealed this in the documentary The Marking of Bridge Over Troubled Water. “I have no idea where it came from,” Simon said. “It came all of the sudden. It was one of the most shocking moments in my songwriting career. I remember thinking, 'This is considerably better than I usually write." Upon its release, it was one of the few songs to top the US and UK charts at the same time. It was #1 in the US for six weeks and #1 in the UK for three.

Music

Do you know your 1970s TV trivia?

The 1970s was a great decade for television with shows such as Happy Days, M*A*S*H and Charlie’s Angels. To test your TV trivia, have a go at answering these ten questions. <div class="pb_feed" data-embed-by="efab78bd-2543-40bd-9770-d83f85af8e42" data-item="d6a68cc8-77a9-4da3-8369-e5a2562c00bc" data-recommend="false" data-game-info="false" data-comments="false" data-shares="false" style="text-align: center;"> <div class="pb_feed" data-embed-by="efab78bd-2543-40bd-9770-d83f85af8e42" data-item="d6a68cc8-77a9-4da3-8369-e5a2562c00bc" data-recommend="false" data-game-info="false" data-comments="false" data-shares="false"> <div class="pb_feed" data-embed-by="efab78bd-2543-40bd-9770-d83f85af8e42" data-item="d6a68cc8-77a9-4da3-8369-e5a2562c00bc" data-recommend="false" data-game-info="false" data-comments="false" data-shares="false"></div> </div> </div>

The reason behind the Bee Gees’ fall from grace revealed

It’s hard to think back on the ‘70s without thinking of the Bee Gees. The Australian trio of Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb enjoyed a string of worldwide number-ones for years, but by the time the ‘80s came around, their spectacular success had well and truly faded. Now, in the new tell-all book <a href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/93981/71095/1880?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fstaying-alive-simon-spence%2Fprod9781911036272.html" target="_blank">Staying Alive: The Disco Inferno of the Bee Gees</a> by Simon Spence, the reason behind their decline has finally been revealed. In 1979, a year after their Saturday Night Fever soundtrack racked up a staggering 24 weeks at number one on the US charts, the Bee Gees were at their peak. Playing to crowds of 60,000 across America at the height of the disco craze, there was no stopping the Gibb brothers. Yet mere months later, that’s exactly what happened. Disco was dead, and to the US’s most popular radio stations, so were the Bee Gees. “Nobody wanted to touch them,” writes Spence. “What happened to them was unprecedented in popular music.” After the success of Saturday Night Fever, by 1978, 200 radio stations around the US were devoted to disco – something that didn’t sit right with many, particularly white men between the ages of 18 and 24. This demographic, Spence believes, loved rock and therefore “felt excluded, even threatened, by the disco scene. The phrase ‘disco sucks’ was a clear pejorative term.” By 1980, Billboard reported that the stations which had once played disco exclusively had virtually banned it. To Barry, the backlash seemed to come out of nowhere. “It was almost like people were angry with us and it was more interesting to make fun of us than to actually try and understand or appreciate what we had done.” According to Robin, however, the reason was much simpler. “The public had OD’d on us.” “The exhaustion of being the Bee Gees set in, and we couldn’t see what tomorrow was going to bring,” Barry agreed. Barry, now 71, is the only remaining Bee Gee. Despite once saying of “Stayin’ Alive” that he wanted to “dress it in a white suit and gold chains and set it on fire,” these days, he’s made peace with his demons. Two months ago, he even performed all the Saturday Night Fever songs at the UK’s Glastonbury Festival – and the crowd loved it. Are you a fan of the Bee Gees' music? Tell us in the comments below.

Books

New 1970s milk bar opens its doors in Sydney

A new café has opened in Mortdale with a 1970s theme that will take customers on a nostalgia trip. The café is named Milk Bar 2223 after the historic Sydney suburb’s postcode. The retro café is owned by local resident Tony Fitzgerald who hopes it will remind customers of their childhoods. The '70s-themed milk bar is adorned with memorabilia and the store even features a 1 cent lolly counter, so the youth of today can experience the old school routine. The milk bar’s traditional malted milkshakes are made the old-fashioned way with frozen aluminium cups. <img width="500" height="325" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/39936/in-text-milk_500x325.jpg" alt="In Text Milk"/> Vintage board games hang on the wall as well as genuine McDonald’s uniforms from the '70s and '80s. There are also pinball machines in operation for customers of all ages to enjoy. Tea is served in tea cups with tea cosies and there is an all-day breakfast menu. An old menu board hangs in the milk bar, showing the prices of café food from the past, which is bound to make customers miss the '70s. Milk Bar 2223 is in Mortdale, 20km south of Sydney’s CBD. The milk bar is on the corner of Balmoral and Bowman Streets and the site was previously a corner store. Mortdale contains a number of historic buildings including the Mortdale Hotel. Scroll through the gallery above to see some of the memorabilia that is featured in the milk bar. Image credit: Salty Dingo

International Travel

Melbourne bus stop transformed into 1970s living room

All aboard to funkytown. Commuters using a stop on the 546 bus route in Melbourne, Australia, would have got a surprise on to find it transformed into a 1970s living room. The stop, on Heidelberg Road, Alphington, has been fitted out with an orange and brown cushioned lounge, a curtained window and retro wallpaper adorned with kitsch artwork and a pot plant. Artists Jill and Suse, who only want to be known by their first names, "reclaimed the space" in the early hours of the morning using only secondhand and recycled materials. "It's to create something out of the ordinary to break up the urban landscape from concrete and advertising," Suse said. "There's splashes of joy on people's faces as they drive past. It's a really beautiful experience." It's not the first time the stop has been renovated. Jill, who was the lead artist in the project, turned it into a 1950s lounge room in January last year. When a table was stolen from the installation, it was soon replaced with a new one and a sign saying "don't touch, we're watching you". There was little wonder over who gifted it with the Hell's Angels headquarters equipped with CCTV cameras across the road. It lasted six months before the installation was taken down by authorities. Another bus stop on the corner of Separation and Victoria Streets in Northcote has been covered with nature photographs cut out of 1970s and 1980s National Geographic magazines. "When I was doing a little touch-up gluing a week after installation, people came from their houses to thank me," Jill said. "A woman told me in broken English that it was very good because before, they all waited for the bus in silence, and now they all talk." Could guerrilla bus stop renovations be the new yarn bombing? Suse thinks so, saying she'd like all Melbourne bus stops refurbished similarly. "I envision art in public spaces everywhere." What a lovely idea. Have you ever passed this stop? Written by Chloe Booker. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Image credit: Simon Schluter / Stuff.co.nz.

International Travel

10 best TV shows of the 1970s

Television has certainly changed drastically from back in the day. Instead of family-friendly comedies and sharp homegrown dramas, it seems all we have now are reality shows, soaps and miniseries. Let’s take a look back at some of the series we loved from the golden age of television. How many of these shows did you watch back in the day? Share your memories with us in the comment section below. Related links: <a href="/entertainment/tv/2016/06/kids-shows-from-the-50s/" target="_blank">Best kids’ TV shows from the 50s</a> <a href="/entertainment/tv/2016/06/shocking-facts-about-tv-shows/">10 shocking facts you didn’t know about your favourite TV shows</a> <a href="/entertainment/tv/2016/06/the-waltons-where-are-they-now/">The Waltons: where are they today?</a>

The Waltons: where are they today?

Who can forget The Waltons? We welcomed them into our homes and into our hearts in 1972 and were treated to nine seasons of wholesome family entertainment courtesy of John, Olivia, Grandma and Grandpa Walton, John-Boy, Mary Ellen and the rest. But where is the cast of the classic TV show today? Ralph Waite (John Walton) After The Waltons, Waite remained on the small screen with recurring roles on Days of Our Lives, NCIS and Bones. He also attempted to enter the political world, running for the US Congress as a Democratic candidate three times in the ‘90s but was unsuccessful. Waite sadly passed away in 2014 at the age of 85. Michael Learned (Olivia Walton) The three-time Emmy Award-winning matriarch of the Walton family, 77-year-old Learned left the show in 1979 reportedly due to a desire to avoid typecasting. Her next move was a starring spot in the short-lived but well-received drama Nurse, for which she won another Emmy. Since, she has appeared in soap operas such as General Hospiral and The Young and the Restless. Richard Thomas (John-Boy Walton) Now 64, after leaving The Waltons in 1977, Thomas rejoined the cast for three Waltons TV movies. He starred in the horror film You’ll Like My Mother alongside Patty Duke and appeared in Stephen King’s It before returning to a mostly TV-based career, landing roles in dozens of TV movies and series including Law & Order: SVU. Jon Walmsley (Jason Walton) After The Waltons, the now-60-year-old Walmsley mostly gave up his acting career, save for a few guest appearances and roles in The Waltons movies. The talented multi-instrumentalist moved to focus more on music, composing, song writing and producing. He has worked with artists like Gregg Allman, John Mayall and Al Jardine of The Beach Boys. Judy Norton Taylor (Mary Ellen Walton) Post-The Waltons, Judy (now aged 58) was uncomfortable with her childlike perception despite being in her 20s, and in an effort to revamp her image posed for Playboy magazine. Aside from The Waltons movies, Norton Taylor has not returned to television, instead launching a chain of dinner theatres with her husband Robert Graves and trying to start a music career. Mary Elizabeth McDonough (Erin Elizabeth Walton) McDonough, 55, has mostly abandoned acting after contracting the autoimmune disease lupus. She has, however, returned to appear in all of The Waltons movies and has had guest spots on shows including General Hospital, Will & Grace and The New Adventures of Old Christine. She wrote about her experiences on the show in the book Lessons From the Mountain: What I Learned from Erin Walton. Were you a fan of The Waltons? What was your favourite show of the ‘70s? Tell us in the comments below! Related links: <a href="/entertainment/tv/2016/05/happy-days-cast-where-are-they-now/">Where are they now: cast of Happy Days</a> <a href="/entertainment/tv/2016/04/where-are-the-cast-of-mash-now/">MASH: Where are they now?</a> <a href="/entertainment/tv/2016/04/cast-of-dynasty-today/">Dynasty: where are they now?</a>

1970s: songs that defined a decade

It was the decade that brought us lava lamps, Farrah Fawcett’s enviable hair and Saturday Night Fever. The ‘70s also brought us some incredible tunes, thanks to ABBA, David Bowie, Queen and more. In this article we take a look at the songs that defined a decade. “Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac Released in 1976, “Go Your Own Way” was written by Lindsey Buckingham about his failing relationship with Stevie Nicks. It has since become an anthem of independence and self-confidence. “Imagine” by John Lennon The best-selling single of his solo career, John Lennon’s 1971 song “Imagine” speaks to his anti-war beliefs, imagining a world free from the barriers of religion, nationality and class. “Stayin’ Alive” by The Bee Gees It’s hard to think about the ‘70s without thinking of The Bee Gees. The quintessential disco track, “Stayin’ Alive” was one of the band’s biggest hits off the back of the 1977 film Saturday Night Fever. “You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon One of the most talked-about songs of all time, Carly Simon’s Grammy Hall of Fame-winning 1972 “You’re So Vain” was reportedly a profile of three self-absorbed ex-lovers, one of them Warren Beatty. “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder He originally wrote it for Jeff Beck, but in the end Wonder himself took “Superstition” and made it a funk classic in 1972. Who could forget that incredible bassline? “Tiny Dancer” by Elton John This beautiful 1971 song written by Bernie Taupin is one of Elton John’s most beloved hits. It never reached higher than 13th on the charts at the time but has since become one of his most popular songs. “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen Released in 1975, this epic song with the music video to match is one of the highest-selling songs of all time. Campy and outrageous on a grand scale, this song is an icon of the 1970s music scene. “Dancing Queen” by ABBA Surprisingly the only ABBA song that made it to number 1 in the US, “Dancing Queen” is widely regarded as one of the best pop songs of all time. Catchy and well-written, we can see why. “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin It’s been the subject of <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/led-zeppelin-heading-to-court-over-stairway-to-heaven-20160412" target="_blank">recent controversy</a>, but “Stairway to Heaven”, released in 1971, is one of the 1970s’ most recognisable hits, thanks to some stunning guitar work from Jimmy Page. “Heroes” by David Bowie Though he sadly passed away not long ago, David Bowie has left us an incredible catalogue of hits. “Heroes” is by far one of his most popular, due to its celebration of the uniqueness and spirit inside us all. Related links: <a href="/entertainment/music/2016/04/the-surprising-real-names-of-singers/">The surprising real names of famous singers</a> <a href="/entertainment/music/2016/03/rare-photos-of-famous-musicians-by-michael-putland/">Never-before-seen photos of famous musicians</a> <a href="/entertainment/music/2016/03/rock-and-roll-hits-banned-from-being-played/">6 rock ‘n’ roll hits banned from being played</a>

Music

9 vintage photos of fans lining up for the original Star Wars

Around the world, sci-fi fans have been eagerly waiting in line for their chance to see the new Star Wars film. And it was no different in 1977, when the first Star Wars film was released. As is always the way with images like this, when you look through the gallery it’s interesting to see how some things have changed, yet others seem to remain exactly the same. And it’s great to see some super fans decked out in full Star Wars costumes to celebrate the movie’s release. To see all the images, scroll through the gallery above. Related links: <a href="/news/news/2015/12/winners-of-the-2015-comedy-wildlife-photography-awards/">13 winners of the 2015 Comedy Wildlife Photography awards</a> <a href="/news/news/2015/12/man-splits-lotto-winnings/">Man will split $15m Lotto win with his mate to honour a long-standing pact</a> <a href="/news/news/2015/12/google-releases-top-search-terms-2015/">Google releases list of top searched-for questions for 2015</a>

News

Beauty trends from the 70s that are back

As the old adage goes, if you wait long enough for something to come back into fashion, it probably will. From mini skirts to heavy brows, the worlds of fashion and beauty are forever looking into the past for new inspiration that they can take and twist for an updated version of the original. The 1970s is the era du jour at the moment with a bunch of trends being reborn in 2015. Here are our 10 favourites. Hair flowers – Big or small, floral blooms in your ’do are big once again. While not an everyday look, a floral headpiece is perfect for special occasions. <img width="306" height="447" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/6310/daisies-in-hair.jpg" alt="Daisies In Hair (1)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> Pastel eye shadow – Once on the “no-go” list, opaque pastel eye shadow is back lining the eyes of models the world over. Keep in fresh, modern and age appropriate by choosing a matte formula that complements your eye colour and softly lining your lash line before blending subtly. <img width="500" height="689" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/6311/pastel-eyes_500x689.jpg" alt="Pastel Eyes (2)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> Centre parts – The look made famous by Marcia Brady is back adorning hippie-esque heads everywhere. This isn’t the easiest look to pull off for many of us as it requires the right type of hair and right face shape but talk to your hairdresser as they may be able to modify the style to suit your specifics. <img width="500" height="402" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/6312/marcia-brady.png" alt="Marcia Brady (1)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> Face gems – You could never accuse the 70s of being understated. Face gems of all shapes and sizes were a popular addition to disco attire and it seems they are making a comeback. Perfect for a fancy dress occasion or as part of dress ups with your grandkids! <img width="236" height="251" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/6313/face-gems.jpg" alt="Face Gems (1)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> A blunt fringe – Think Joni Mitchell… longer locks with a heavy, blunt fringe. While not the easiest style to pull off, a fringe can be very flattering on the right face and with the right haircut. Speak to your hairdresser for expert advice. <img width="400" height="394" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/6314/joni-mitchell.jpg" alt="Joni Mitchell" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> Wispy layers – The 90s may have given us “The Rachel” from hit show Friends but before that it was “The Farrah”. Think long, full, wispy layers, complete with fringe. The modern take is shorter, sans fringe and very wearable! <img width="426" height="639" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/6315/farah-fawcett.jpg" alt="Farah Fawcett" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> The Afro – Essentially 70s, the Afro became popular when actress Pam Grier embraced it as her signature look. With the rise of embracing your natural locks, the Afro is just as popular today for those with thick, wavy hair types. <img width="482" height="722" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/6316/pam-grier.jpg" alt="Pam Grier" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> Graphic eyeliner – Heavy, dramatic and entirely obvious eyeliner was a hit back in the 70s. The look these days is less “super hero make-up” and more “defined and dainty”. <img width="236" height="305" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/6317/graphic-eyeliner.jpg" alt="Graphic Eyeliner" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> A sun-kissed complexion – The 70s ushered in the era of sun kissed cheeks, moving away from the pale cheeks that were the signature look of the 60s mod. Healthy, natural and easy to achieve, women of all ages can benefit from an application of bronzer. <img width="500" height="667" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/6318/janice-dickinson-vogue.jpg" alt="Janice Dickinson Vogue"/> The blonde bob – Popularised most aptly by “Blondie”, the platinum blonde bob was all the rage in the 1970s and 80s. The perfect style for women of all ages, the bob is just as on trend now as it was then and is the perfect mid ground between long and short locks. <img width="499" height="749" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/6319/bette-bob_499x749.jpg" alt="Bette Bob" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/>

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