21sts, 50ths & the Songs That Mark the Milestones

From Monday 1 November 2025

21sts, 50ths & the Songs That Mark the Milestones

We celebrate the big birthdays – the 21sts that launched us, and the 50ths that polished us!

Your task is simple:
Play a song connected to a milestone birthday. It can be:

🎂 A special song you remember from someone’s 21st or 50th birthday — the one that played while the candles melted, the drinks flowed, or the speeches dragged on…

🎁 A song YOU would choose for someone else’s big day — sentimental, chaotic, nostalgic, or totally unhinged.

😈 Or… if the birthday person was a complete butthead, feel free to pick a song that would’ve made their “special day” very memorable (for all the wrong reasons).

Bring the memories, the madness, and the milestone magic.

Zosia

Johnny Clegg – “The Crossing”

Of the three milestones I remember, my 60th and 70th were both in nature reserves. So we go to the 50th which was a huge party with an “out of Africa” theme. The one song that stands out above the rest is “The crossing”.

Chrisna

Michael Jackson – Billie Jean

It was my best friend Ronel’s 21st birthday in April 1983. This song was dominating the charts and we loved it.

Paul L

MAGT – Æresdirigenten

https://www.facebook.com/satiregruppenMAGT/videos/1340948300994957/?fs=e&mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=NlHbncG31DDHkMdI#

When I was in std 5 our music teacher got the school choir together and for two terms we rehearsed the Blue Danube and actually recorded it onto a vinyl LP. Thus reminded me of that time (1965), but a nice light touch to it

Errol

Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)

1969. After 20 years on the mines, my Dad accepts a position in a company on the Oos Rand and we move to ‘the city’. That’s Germiston. During the year-end school holiday, I meet my neighbour Brian Gainsford. He is preparing to be a surf lifeguard as his after-school career, and I’m going to be a lumberjack.

1970. January. Brian and I end up in the same classroom at Germiston High, and the start of a best friends for life relationship, to this day.

1970. June. It’s Brian’s 17th birthday, and there is a party and this song. And there is Patricia Samson. She makes my mother very nervous because she is as hot as a firecracker and I’m sweating.

2025. December. Anyway, back to the song. Enjoy!

Geraldine

The Hollies – Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)

For my 50th surprise birthday party, the universe clearly decided to put on a show. There was a whole line-up of delights, starting with my sister, who somehow managed to summon her ballroom-dancing friends to glide between the tables while everyone ate. Think Dancing With the Stars, but dropped right into our family gathering—sequins, spins, the whole spectacle.

And then… then my husband at the time stepped forward with his guitar. Without warning, he struck the first chords of Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress. The room hushed, eyes turned, and suddenly all attention was on me—me, all 5 foot 4 of pure surprise.

He announced to the room, with great drama of his own, “She always looks 5 foot 9 in her black dress and stilettos.”

Well. If life hands you a spotlight, you may as well stand in it. I took the compliment—because honestly, back then, he still knew how to be kind.

Sue

Bruce Springsteen – Twist & Shout / La Bamba

In my youth( late 60’s early 70’s) the Twist took the party vibe by storm. It was a real workout but such fun. My song choice is the Springsteen version. Different but typical if him in concert.

Arno

Roxette – The Look

Fell in love with.

Karen

Jerry Lee Lewis – Great balls of fire

Growing up we always had music playing in our house and my parents often had house parties. My dad and I loved a good jive.
My parents got divorced just before my 18th birthday while I was in the middle of writing prelim exams – so he took it upon himself to make sure I had a great 18th birthday – we did a solo dance to this song with everyone cheering us on!!

Deborah

Wham! – Young Guns (Go For It!)

I turned 21 in December 1982, and although I remember the party quite well, I don’t remember a specific song – but I do know that no party in 1982 would have been complete without a Wham! number.

To make up for the lack of a memory, here is a photograph of me, my perm and three friends on the night.

Liezel

Crowded House – Don’t Dream It’s Over

I had a totally different song and birthday in mind when this theme came up and then … Saturday night’s 50/21 party happened, creating a completely different, gorgeous moment that will forever be etched in my memory. As most of you know, it’s been a really rough time over the years with lots of ups and downs and the last few months have seen some very hectic lows. Enter stage: my Dad. The person who has always shown up for me and loved me, asking me to join him on the dance floor to this song … “Don’t dream it’s over” fully capturing the resilience needed to see a brighter day and reminding me anew that life is full of wonder, special moment and days ahead.

Zosia

Creedence Clearwater Revival – Fortunate Son

I wanted my 50th birthday celebration to be something special so we agreed to hire an Elvis look alike doing John Fogerty impressions. We booked a hall and sent out invitations to rent-a-crowd.
Two days before B day, Eduardo came down with Spanish flu and cancelled. Zosia said we would improvise. She organised an Elvis costume, wig and doo wah girls and I did a crash course with a guy named Paul Ditchfield.
The memory comes storming back each time I hear”Senators Son” compelling me to knock back a valium with a glass of chenin.

Paul

Rod Stewart – Forever Young

As a Dad, all you wish for your kids is that they travel the world, enjoy life, take chances, enjoy life, make mistakes, but stay away from hospitals (unless it’s to pop champagne and a baby), enjoy life, eat funny foods, and unless I haven’t mentioned it, enjoy life. But we cannot stay young forever, so they must do it when young. I wish I played this song on my daughter’s 21st. Enjoy!

Wilfred

Rickrolled!