“If you know, what I mean.” (‘I Saw Her Standing There’ Beatles 1963)
What is the deal with rock bands and 17-year olds? This seeming obsession has been noticed by many, many folks for the uncomfortably high creep factor, especially given the rock-n-roller reputation. Besides the titular reference, just-to-hand examples include:
Let’s Go (The Cars 1979)
“And she won’t give up
‘Cause she’s seventeen”
Dancing Queen (ABBA 1976)
“Young and sweet
Only seventeen”
Edge of Seventeen (Stevie Nicks 1981)
But the moment that I first laid
Eyes on him, all alone
On the edge of seventeen
I Love Rock & Roll (Joan Jett & The Blackhearts 1981)
“I saw him dancin’ there by the record machine
I knew he must’ve been about 17″
There are many theories, most available on the internet, but I’m going with the one that passes the Okham Test:
17 is popular with songwriters because it easy to rhyme with; and it has three syllables so it is easy to fit into the cadence of many songs.
Google search page
So, not a genre of music populated by horny young people, but a mere rhyming scheme. In truth, this appears to an instance of serendipitous coalescence, as the concrete and abstract come together. Still a little creepy, though.
Fixed Points 
Blair-
Good stuff! Serendipitously, Greg Gutfeld hit on this Topic a few days ago on his Gutfeld Show on Fox.
The panel was responding to a viewer question on what decade had the best music, and Tyrus & Greg brought up the same thing you noticed.
By: wayne on 14 April 2024
at 05:16
Hi Wayne,
As far as best music decade, notice that the first song referenced is over sixty years old, and still played on classic rock stations today. It’s as if music from the 1910’s was popular during my teenage years, which is not a thing that happened. There is an argument to be made that the 60’s was the best (rock) music decade, but that decade had two massive advantages: plenty of low-hanging fruit, and artists could plunder Black musicians’ work from a decade or two earlier without fear (looking at you, Beatles and Rolling Stones).
By: bkivey on 14 April 2024
at 21:58
Hey Blair–
Excellent points, ref the 1960’s.
As far as “best decade,” for music, I always had a problem with chopping up history in 10-year chunks. It sorta makes things easier to learn but also inputs a hard break that may or may not have been anywhere near reality.
You and I are about the same age, do you ever notice or interact with 20-30 somethings who are fascinated with a specific decade, prior to their birth?
take care!
wayne
By: wayne on 15 April 2024
at 06:26
” . . . do you ever notice or interact with 20-30 somethings who are fascinated with a specific decade, prior to their birth?”
The 60’s. A lot of people half my age listen to ‘classic’ rock. One young man remarked “You guys got all the best music.” Yes. Yes, we did.
By: bkivey on 15 April 2024
at 12:02