In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)

This bleak futuristic tale is a very unusual song, but 1969 was a very unusual year, with hippie anthems like "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" going to #1 along with bubblegum songs like "Sugar, Sugar." The Beatles, Elvis Presley and The Temptations all had classic #1s as well, but one of the top songs was "In the Year 2525," which stayed at #1 for six weeks. The song reflected the apprehension of the times and also the wonder of technology. It started its run at the top of the US chart the week before the Apollo 11 moon landing.

This was the only hit for the Nebraska folk-rock duo of Denny Zager and Rick Evans. Their followup single, "Mister Turnkey," failed to chart and in 1971, they released their third and final album. Evans was their primary songwriter and wrote this one.

Here is the timeline of why this science fiction-themed song was the #1 hit of 1969: March 1969 - two futuristic sci-fi movies receive Oscars: Planet Of The Apes and 2001: A Space Odyssey. July 11, 1969 - David Bowie's "Space Oddity" (the tale of Major Tom) is released in the UK. It doesn't become a chart topper until September. Week ending July 12, 1969 - "In the Year 2525" hits #1 on Billboard's Hot 100. July 16, 1969 - Apollo 11 Moon Mission lifts off from Florida. July 20, 1969 - Apollo 11 astronauts make history when they set foot on the moon.