Achtung! Top 3 female fronted powerpop songs!

Bones McHorror said:
I've never understood the meaning of 'power pop' exactly.

How it differs from some other genres. I have some idea of what isn't it. But have no idea if certain songs or artists are it or not.

Could be it was more meaningful in the past than now.
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I like to think of it as a little bit o grit in the pop verses less dance or less fluff in the pop


 
@Bones McHorror — Power Pop is difficult to define because it is less genre than sensibility/mode. It’s imagining a world where all great songs are just interpolations of how “The Kids Are Alright” and “You Really Got Me” make you feel when you half-remember them whilst feeling some combo of wistful and anxious. Additionally, Power Pop is almost always best when it is unpopular or semipopular or otherwise tragic.

I think Power Pop practitioner Mo Troper sees it as akin to Camp, which seems kinda correct.

https://www.talkhouse.com/power-pop-is-camp/

I suspect it’s deeply rooted in nostalgia for a mythical teenage Eden where boys could be boys, women were either Bettys or Veronicas, gas and thrills were cheap, and everyone was very white and upwardly mobile. And how ambivalent the loss of this fantasy makes you feel is what determines how angsty yr Power Pop is.

I’d wager that Tom Petty was the closest thing to a mainstream American Power Pop superstar as so much of his work maintains the sounds and content of Power Pop and exists primarily to point back to original 60s legends whilst maintaining an “old ways are the best” ethos. But he’s not a particularly campy figure—unlike Bruce Springsteen who’s flirted with Power Pop sonics (especially circa The River) and was as campy as Morrissey back when the Boss was all about Brando films and imaginary hoodlums and the misunderstood mechanics of street racing. But the Boss has been seen by critics/the audience as supremely authentic, thus breaking the spell and keeping him from being a doomed Alex Chilton-esque kind of figure.
 
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Honkridge said:




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Not cool bro....

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Peen Simmons said:
@Bones McHorror — Power Pop is difficult to define because it is less genre than sensibility/mode. It’s imagining a world where all great songs are just interpolations of how “The Kids Are Alright” and “You Really Got Me” make you feel when you half-remember them whilst feeling some combo of wistful and anxious. Additionally, Power Pop is almost always best when it is unpopular or semipopular or otherwise tragic.

I think Power Pop practitioner Mo Troper sees it as akin to Camp, which seems kinda correct.

https://www.talkhouse.com/power-pop-is-camp/

I suspect it’s deeply rooted in nostalgia for a mythical teenage Eden where boys could be boys, women were either Bettys or Veronicas, gas and thrills were cheap, and everyone was very white and upwardly mobile. And how ambivalent the loss of this fantasy makes you feel is what determines how angsty yr Power Pop is.

I’d wager that Tom Petty was the closest thing to a mainstream American Power Pop superstar as so much of his work maintains the sounds and content of Power Pop and exists primarily to point back to original 60s legends whilst maintaining an “old ways are the best” ethos. But he’s not a particularly campy figure—unlike Bruce Springsteen who’s flirted with Power Pop sonics (especially circa The River) and was as campy as Morrissey back when the Boss was all about Brando films and imaginary hoodlums and the misunderstood mechanics of street racing. But the Boss has been seen by critics/the audience as supremely authentic, thus breaking the spell and keeping him from being a doomed Alex Chilton-esque kind of figure.
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I think of power pop as being fundamentally rocky pop played on electric guitar/bass/drums/sometimes keys. It's usually upbeat 4/4 rhythms with diatonic melodies and harmonies, and often stresses harmony vocals in a Beatles/Beach Boys style. Not much use of bluesy motifs or agonized tension-resolution. Singing styles aren't soulful and echew melismata for more British invasion delivery, and playing that is jangly in the Byrds SUS2/SUS4 way. Also, melodies are arpeggiated. It's retro influenced, specifically sixties retro.

Like this would be an example of power pop:




And Tom Petty's 'American Girl' is a great example of power pop.
 
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Andrew Sak said:
Does Dale's band count? They weren't on the Wikipedia power pop list.



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Maybe it was growing up as a little kid with Kiss, Debbie Harry, and the Ramones all popular at the same time.... but I was always a huge fan of Missing Persons even though I didn't typically care for New Wave. I think I saw a Wendy O Williams rawness to Dale Bozzio, but then Terry's drums and Warren Cuccurillo's were so punchy and raw, it sounded more like punk rock to me. :baimun:
 
What group was it where the woman got pissed at the crowd reached down and yanked her tampon out and tossed it at the crowd?
 
DinoMikeSr said:
What group was it where the woman got pissed at the crowd reached down and yanked her tampon out and tossed it at the crowd?
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That was L7. I quite liked them at the time, but listening now, their music wasn’t all that great
 
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