X is closer to Y than it is to the present day. For example:
The Blondie song Maria was released closer to the original release of Atomic than it is to the present day.
Original Jive Bunny single “Swing the Mood” is closer to it’s first sample, Let’s Twist Again, than it is to the present day.
Does that make sense? Anything in this you reckon? Got any examples? Films could work I guess.