In the Year 2525

{{Redirect-multi|7|2525|3535|4545|6565|7510|8510|9595|the year 2525|3rd millennium#26th century|generic points in time|Timeline of the far future}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2025}} {{Infobox song | name = In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus) | image = In the Year 2525 by Zager and Evans US vinyl Side-A RCA release.png | alt = | caption = RCA release | type = single | artist = Zager and Evans | album = 2525 (Exordium & Terminus) | B-side = Little Kids | released = 1969 (Truth label)<br>April 1969 (RCA label)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/recordus117|title=Zager And Evans - In The Year 2525 (Exordium And Terminus)|access-date=March 23, 2020|via=www.45cat.com}}</ref> | recorded = 1969, Odessa, Texas | studio = | venue = | genre = Folk rock<ref name= "Breihan 2018">{{cite web|first= Tom |last= Breihan |title= The Number Ones: Zager & Evans' "In The Year 2525"|website= Stereogum |date= November 28, 2018 |url= https://www.stereogum.com/2023855/the-number-ones-zager-evans-in-the-year-2525/columns/the-number-ones/|quote= ...the #1 song in America was a massively goofy folk-rock sci-fi novelty song about the dangers of technology.|accessdate= June 15, 2023}}</ref> | length = 3:10 (Truth label)<br>3:15 (RCA label) | label = Truth; RCA Victor | writer = Rick Evans | producer = Zager and Evans | next_title = Mr. Turnkey | next_year = 1969 | misc = {{Extra album cover | type = single | header = Alternative release | cover = In the Year 2525 Single.jpg | caption = Artwork for the German vinyl single }} }}

"'''In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)'''" is a 1969 hit song by the American pop-rock duo of Zager and Evans. A "one-hit wonder", it reached No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 for six weeks commencing July 12, 1969.<ref>[http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1969-07-12 The Hot 100, Week of July 12, 1969 – Billboard.]</ref> It peaked at No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart for three weeks in August and September that year.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book | first= David | last= Roberts | year= 2006 | title= British Hit Singles & Albums | edition= 19th | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | page= 236}}</ref> The song was written and composed by Rick Evans in 1964 and released on Truth Records in 1968.<ref>{{cite web|last=Miller |first=Nathaniel |url=http://newsok.com/article/3595723 |title=Hit song of 1969 recorded in Odessa |date=August 19, 2011 |publisher=News OK |access-date=October 2, 2016}}</ref> It was picked up by RCA Records.

Their follow-up single on RCA Victor, "Mr. Turnkey", reached No. 48 in the Canadian pop charts and number 41 in the Canadian AC chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.7753.pdf| title=RPM Top 50 Adult - November 8, 1969}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.7755.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - November 8, 1969}}</ref> Another single, "Listen to the People", charted at No. 100 and No. 96 in Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.6110.pdf| title=RPM Top 100 Singles - January 10, 1970}}</ref>

==Summary== "In the Year 2525" is a song about the journey of mankind over a 7,000-year span: 2525, 3535, 4545, 5555, 6565, 7510, 8510, and 9595. It predicts that humanity's thoughts, relationships and bodies will be negatively impacted by technological advances and ends with mankind's extinction.<ref>{{cite book|last=Reynolds|first=Tom|title=I Hate Myself and Want to Die: The 52 Most Depressing Songs You've Ever Heard|year=2005|publisher=Random House|location=Milsons Point, N.S.W.|isbn=1-74166-020-3|page=85}}</ref>

==Production== The song was produced by Tommy Allsup. Allsup played lead guitar as a member of Buddy Holly's band The Crickets. While touring in 1959 with Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, he serendipitously lost a fateful coin toss with Valens for a seat on the plane that crashed, killing Valens, Holly, Richardson, and pilot Roger Peterson on February 3, 1959 (The day the music died).

==Recording== The song was recorded in 1968, at a studio in a cow pasture in Odessa, Texas.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 19, 2015 |title=Drummer on only No. 1 hit to come out of Lincoln dies at 72 | Local |url=http://journalstar.com/news/local/drummer-on-only-no-hit-to-come-out-of-lincoln/article_2ee508e3-529c-5320-aad0-8fd8671fa73d.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 2, 2016 |website=Journalstar.com}}</ref>

===Personnel=== *Denny Zager & Rick Evans{{snd}}acoustic guitars & vocals *Mark Dalton{{snd}}bass guitar *Dave Trupp{{snd}}drums *The Odessa Symphony{{snd}}additional instruments *Tommy Allsup{{snd}}producer<ref>{{cite web|first=Dan|last=Forte|url=https://www.vintageguitar.com/31735/tommy-allsup/ |title=Tommy Allsup 1931-2017: From Buddy Holly to Bob Wills|work=VintageGuitar.com|date=March 14, 2019 }}</ref>

The record had regional success so RCA Records picked it up for a national release. RCA producer Ethel Gabriel was tasked with enhancing the sound and arrangement. Once it made the Hot 100, the track took only three weeks to reach number 1.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.waybackattack.com/zagerandevans.html|title=Zager and Evans {{!}} Way Back Attack|website=www.waybackattack.com|access-date=November 21, 2019}}</ref>

==Legacy== Famously, the song made Zager and Evans the ultimate one-hit wonders; for many years, the Nebraska duo were the only artist to hit the top of the charts on both sides of the Atlantic—and never had another hit on ''Billboard'''s chart nor in Britain. (The Canadian group Magic! went to number one in both the US and the UK with "Rude" in 2014, but have not had a hit record outside of Canada since.)

The song has been covered at least 60 times in seven languages, including a Jewish parody recorded by Country Yossi, and an Italian cover by Caterina Caselli titled "Nel 2023".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK1qAEI1VMw|title = Nel 2023 (In The Year 2525)|website = YouTube| date=November 25, 2021 }}</ref> Zager and Evans themselves also recorded an Italian version of the song, instead called "Nell'Anno 2033".<ref>{{cite web |url = https://alltheversions.blogspot.com/2010/09/in-year-2525-1969.html |title = All versions of Some musics |date = September 30, 2010 |publisher = Alltheversions.blogspot.com |access-date = October 5, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhFUoeI71RY&ab_channel=bisguillo|title = Zager & Evans Nell'anno 2033|website = YouTube| date=February 27, 2011 }}</ref>

Zager and Evans themselves referred to "2525" in one of their later songs, "Yeah 3²" (1970): "I'm gonna call it "In The Year 2525", or something like that/And if it sells, then I'll do well, gonna pay this woman back".

It was included in a Clear Channel memorandum, distributed by Clear Channel Communications to every radio station owned by the company, which contained 165 songs considered to be "lyrically questionable" following the September 11, 2001, attacks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lipmagazine.org/articles/featwishnia_142.shtml |title=Bad Transmission: Clear Channel's Hit List |publisher=LiP magazine |work=Reviews |date=October 24, 2001 |access-date=January 18, 2011 |last=Wishnia |first=Steven |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080416014917/http://www.lipmagazine.org/articles/featwishnia_142.shtml |archive-date=April 16, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Two lines of the song are sung by the inmate Murphy in the 1992 film ''Alien 3'' immediately prior to his death.

Brief snippets are played in "The Time Is Now", the second-season finale of the TV show ''Millennium'', which depicts an apocalyptic event.

The song was rewritten and used as the introductory theme for the 2000 TV series ''Cleopatra 2525''.

In 2010, it was parodied as "In the Year 252525" in the seventh episode of ''Futurama'''s sixth season, "The Late Philip J. Fry", as Fry, Professor Farnsworth and Bender travel forwards through time to find a period in which the ''backwards'' time machine has been invented.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/19573468|title=Futurama in the year 105105 time machine song|website=Vimeo|access-date=March 23, 2020}}</ref>

The song acts as an aesthetic theme to the film ''Gentlemen Broncos''.<ref>"[https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/apr/12/gentlemen-broncos-jared-hess-napoleon-dynamite Hear me out: why Gentlemen Broncos isn’t a bad movie]" by Ryan Gilbey. ''The Guardian'' April 12, 2021. Accessed June 3, 2021.</ref>

The BBC Radio series ''2525'', a sketch show set in that year, featured a cover of the song with its first lyric as its introductory theme.{{citation needed|date=July 2025}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=2525 - BBC Programme Index |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/b007znn2 |access-date=February 17, 2026 |website=BBC Programme Index}}</ref>

The first few verses of the song are used as the opening theme while the credits roll in the 2006 film ''Tunnel Rats''.

Zager once said that a ''Time'' magazine cover from 1969 featured him and Evans with the caption "Even The Beatles would be jealous". However, no cover of the duo is included in ''Time'''s magazine history for 1969.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clash |first=Jim |title=In The Year 2525, If Man Is Still Alive |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimclash/2020/04/03/in-the-year-2525-if-man-is-still-alive/ |access-date=April 1, 2024 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |title=The TIME Vault: 1969 |url=https://time.com/vault/year/1969/ |access-date=April 1, 2024 |magazine=Time}}</ref>

==Chart history== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}

===Weekly charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable" |- !align="left"|Charts (1969–1970) !align="left"|Peak<br />position |- |!scope="row"|Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref name="auchart">{{Cite book|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 |last=Kent |first=David |author-link=David Kent (historian) |publisher=Australian Chart Book |location=St Ives, NSW |year=1993 |isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref> |align="center"|2 |- |Canada (''RPM'') Top Singles<ref>[http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.3260&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=20uvi46ocgj0tdrbokpuv5t7g6 Canadian peak] RPM</ref> |align="center"|1 |- |Canada (''RPM'') Adult Contemporary<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.5964&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.5964.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.5964|title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date=September 6, 1969 |access-date=March 17, 2019}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|1 |- |{{single chart|Ireland2|1|song=In the Year 2525|access-date=March 17, 2019}} |- |Italy (FIMI)<ref>{{cite web|title= Singoli – I numeri uno (1959–2006) (parte 3: 1980–1990) |website= It-charts.150m.com |url= http://it-charts.150m.com/numeriuno-1980.htm |url-status= dead |archive-date= March 3, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174850/http://it-charts.150m.com/numeriuno-1980.htm|language=it}}</ref> |align="center"|47 |- |New Zealand (''Listener'')<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search+listener&qartistid=751#n_view_location|title=flavour of new zealand - search listener|website=www.flavourofnz.co.nz|access-date=March 23, 2020|archive-date=October 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009002946/http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20listener#n_view_location|url-status=dead}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|1 |- |UK<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/in-the-year-2525/ |title=Official Charts Company |website=Officialcharts.com |date=August 9, 1969 |access-date=March 8, 2019}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|1 |- |US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref name="awards">{{cite web|title= Zager & Evans – Awards |website= AllMusic |url= http://www.allmusic.com/artist/paul-hardcastle-mn0000018513/awards |archive-date= November 4, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131104024050/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/paul-hardcastle-mn0000018513/awards}}</ref> |align="center"|1 |- |US ''Billboard'' Adult Contemporary<ref>{{cite book|first= Joel |last= Whitburn |author-link= Joel Whitburn |year= 1993 |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993 |publisher= Record Research |page=264}}</ref> |align="center"|1 |- |US ''Cash Box'' Top 100<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/19690809.html|title=Cash Box Top 100 8/09/69|website=tropicalglen.com|access-date=March 23, 2020}}</ref> |align="center"|1 |- |West-Germany [Gfk]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://chart-history.net/wp-content/uploads/Charts_komplett_1969.pdf |title=Die Offiziellen Deutschen Charts: Die kompletten Listen – Woche für Woche: Singles Top 40 1969}}</ref> |align="center"|1 |} {{col-2}}

===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Chart (1969) ! style="text-align:center;"|Rank |- |Australia<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1969/top1969.html |title=Go-Set Magazine Charts |author= |date=January 2007 |website=www.poparchives.com.au |publisher=Barry McKay |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-date=July 4, 2007 |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20070704050337/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/43557/20070704-1254/www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1969/top1969.html |url-status=dead }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|32 |- |Canada<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.6104&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.6104.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.6104|title=RPM Top Singles of 1969|access-date=December 24, 2017|publisher=RPM|website=Library and Archives Canada|date=July 17, 2013}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|15 |- |UK<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sixtiescity.net/charts/69chart.htm#top100|title=Sixties City - Pop Music Charts - Every Week Of The Sixties|website=www.sixtiescity.net|access-date=March 23, 2020}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|12 |- |US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1969.htm|title=Top 100 Hits of 1969/Top 100 Songs of 1969|website=www.musicoutfitters.com|access-date=March 23, 2020}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|26 |- |US ''Billboard'' Easy Listening | style="text-align:center;"|37 |- |US ''Cash Box''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1969YESP.html |title=Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 27, 1969 |access-date=March 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125055422/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1969YESP.html |archive-date=January 25, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|11 |- |West-Germany<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1969 |title=Offizielle Deutsche Charts }}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|15

===All-time charts=== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- ! Chart (1958–2018) ! Position |- |US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100-60th-anniversary|title=Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 10, 2018}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|298 |} {{col-end}}

==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Zager & Evans|title=In The Year 2525|award=Gold|relyear=1969|certyear=1969|access-date=June 20, 2023}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}} {{Clear}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{YouTube|l3yDLvp9le0}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:In The Year 2525}} Category:1964 songs Category:1968 debut singles Category:1969 singles Category:American folk rock songs Category:American psychedelic rock songs Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles Category:Cashbox number-one singles Category:UK singles chart number-one singles Category:Number-one singles in Germany Category:Number-one singles in Switzerland Category:Number-one singles in Australia Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand Category:Number-one singles in Norway Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles Category:Oricon International Singles Chart number-one singles Category:Psychedelic folk songs Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles Category:Dystopian music Category:Environmental songs Category:Works set in the 26th century Category:American novelty songs Category:Science fiction music Category:RCA Victor singles Category:Zager and Evans songs