Pop Punk On the Rise?
Published January 16, 2003
MTV's TRL has been featuring punkish rock bands performing live all week under the banner of "Spankin' New Bands Week." They've already run through the Donnas (if ten years is "spankin' new"), The Used, Simple Plan, New Found Glory, and tomorrow Good Charlotte storms the stage. I don't know Simple Plan, but I like all the others well enough, as do other Blogcritics apparently. The Donnas are discussed here and here; I played the Used a few times on my radio show; New Found Glory here and here.
With teen-pop fading, is punkish rock the Next Big Thing, or at least the next thing? The NY Times' Kelefa Sanneh thinks that horse may be coming around on the carousel again:
- Like the pop acts that came before, these bands are known for straightforward tunes, energetic performances and teen-friendly lyrics. The band members generally seem friendlier than rappers, more wholesome than R&B singers, hipper than country stars, more fun than divas and more cheerful than their heavy-metal counterparts. If some of these bands score smash hits and if MTV stays supportive, punk rock just might become the new teen pop.
If MTV holds to this agenda I may be able to watch it again, maybe - some hopeful signs as we enter the new year.
- Pop Punk On the Rise?
- Published: January 16, 2003
- Type:
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Alternative Rock, Music: News, Music: Rock, Video: Music, Video: Television
- Writer: Eric Olsen
- Eric Olsen's BC Writer page
- Eric Olsen's personal site
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And how much different is that from, say, the way early Ramones sounded in concert? (Well, I guess Joey didn't come across all sexually provocative.) I remember seeing the boys twice, and both times the band played so fast and zipped from song to song so quickly, I couldn't have told you what they were playin' - the tempo and structure were all the same and, of course, the boys didn't have time for guitar solos back then. But I had a great time.
I wish the Donnas had a better vocalist, but I'm glad to see that they and their ilk getting promoted.
Another place that these bands are getting subtly pushed, incidentally: they're in the background of teen-focsed shows like WB's Smallville. Watching this week's ep, for instance, I noted Good Charlotte being used to punctuate one of the scenes.
pop punk has been popular for years... so it's *been* on the rise...
99% of it sucks.
peace.
This new stuff becoming popular isnt pop punk exactly, most of it is emo-punk. Im a big fan of it. And I do like the other bands listed, but the Donnas arent punk at all, theyre wanna be rock and roll.
Maybe theyre just a ramones spin off. But Im not a ramones fan, so I can boo full heartedly.
Also I saw the Ds on SNL tonight. The guitarist tries to be such a bad ass, but shes standing there looking like shes dressed up like a freshman on the way to a frat party. Its a clash of styles. I wonder what record exec figured that one out.
I thought the Donnas were great on SNL last night, girly girls really rocking - drummer and guitarist in particular. I agree they are punk only in attitude - they are riff-rockers like AC/DC.
The Donnas are the Runaways w./ better chops - and, hey, that band brought us Joan Jett!
A lot of similarities Bill, see new Donnas discussion here: http://66.246.23.2/~eolsen/archives/2003/01/19/140159.php
pop punk is awesome, u can understand what there sayin and its upbeat and exciting. i still like punk but pop punk is still sweet.
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The donnas are a music companies love muffin. They are also a music lovers ear wax.
I saw them last october when they opened for Jimmy Eat World. The donnas were booed after about the third song. and it continued till the finaly got off the stage 30 minutes later.
What happened in between? well they played the same song over and over and over.
Not the same song exactly, but the same formulated song.
it goes like this.
-suggestive song title.
Tempo - same rock beat we always play
--verse
-chorus (remember to repeat suggestive song title sevral times, no actualy lyrical content should be found here)
--verse
-chorus
---guitar solo
-chorus