Debate IS fresh air! It’s the folks who lean towards “If it looks like poodle rock, or sounds like poodle rock the rest of the time, it can’t be power pop” who need to open a window! Seriously, though, banter around these topics is the healthy kind of subjectivity that makes a pint of beer worth going out for. A trip down memory lane richer together. And unpeeling one more layer of the onions that are our friends and fellow music lovers. I am always here for it and love that you’re shining a light on it. These days our hearts generally seem to be dying the death of a thousand cuts. Posts like this heal, even if just a little.
Jason, thank you. This is beautifully put and I truly appreciate the kind words. If these fun little debates create some interactions, give anybody a much needed distraction, or simply allow us to consider a different low stakes perspective for a moment or two, I am happy. (And for the record: My nameless friend knows music and was mostly just poking fun at me; the two of us are always up for a music debate IRL or via text.)
Just need to say that Cheri by 20/20 is their finest, most power pop moment for me and i guess i will always be the weirdo for holding that opinion. Or that piano-driven songs can be power pop. Or that i think more in terms of the songs than the artist when saying 'that is power pop.'
I don't think you'd get any arguments about "Cheri" being an incredible power pop track from 20/20. If there's one album fans can fully agree on, it's probably that debut—front to back, and side to side. And I might personally be a guitar-first fan, but piano-driven songs absolutely can be power pop (Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys are a north star, after all). There's no doubt in my mind at this point that power pop is a song-by-song genre.
I certainly agree with the top 8. I'm of the school "I know it when I hear it" which would include Miley Cyrus as well as Van Halen. I was 10 yrs. old (1972) and still remember the feeling when I first heard "Go All the Way" and "Couldn't I Just Tell You" on my AM radio (a Panasonic Toot-a -Loop). Having said that , there is no more perfect song than "September Gurls".
I can't imagine what it must have been like to experience those legendary tracks in real time on AM radio at the impressionable age of 10! And...I really want to know why there isn't already a world famous power pop band called Toot-A-Loop.
I must concur with that Van Halen song. Little Guitars is another one. Paul Stanley has another song called "Tomorrow" from Unmasked that fits the bill as well (I went Opus Dei and forced myself to listen to the whole record not long ago). Neither is a power pop band, but, well, you know...
I confess to being a bit overwhelmed by all this power pop debate. I loved watching it unfold though. Yes, I have been lurking. I feel like Styx has not been adequately represented here though. If Lorelei isn't power pop, I am not sure what it is. Of course, most would probably go with Too Much Time On My Hands.
Lurkers are welcome, but I love it when they occasionally join the conversation.
Funny enough, behind KISS, Styx is one of the bands power pop purists most like to lambast whenever somebody dares to suggest that they have power pop leanings. But the fact that music lovers like you keep pointing to “Lorelei” seems like further proof that power pop is a song-based genre. You know it when you hear it, ear of the beholder, etc.
I suspected that might be the case and I would be lambasted for my comment (not by you), but yeah, for me - power pop is about a song, not a genre. Hence the lurking. If its a real genre, then I am clueless.
Ha! I certainly hope you’re free to express your opinions here. My only real “rule” is to not be a dick in the RTL comments. So far, so good.
Power pop is the debate club of rock and roll. In some ways, the lack of a clear definition (and the often strong opinions that creates) seems to be the point for a lot of fans. Fun to explore, but it can also be exhausting.
Debate IS fresh air! It’s the folks who lean towards “If it looks like poodle rock, or sounds like poodle rock the rest of the time, it can’t be power pop” who need to open a window! Seriously, though, banter around these topics is the healthy kind of subjectivity that makes a pint of beer worth going out for. A trip down memory lane richer together. And unpeeling one more layer of the onions that are our friends and fellow music lovers. I am always here for it and love that you’re shining a light on it. These days our hearts generally seem to be dying the death of a thousand cuts. Posts like this heal, even if just a little.
Jason, thank you. This is beautifully put and I truly appreciate the kind words. If these fun little debates create some interactions, give anybody a much needed distraction, or simply allow us to consider a different low stakes perspective for a moment or two, I am happy. (And for the record: My nameless friend knows music and was mostly just poking fun at me; the two of us are always up for a music debate IRL or via text.)
Just need to say that Cheri by 20/20 is their finest, most power pop moment for me and i guess i will always be the weirdo for holding that opinion. Or that piano-driven songs can be power pop. Or that i think more in terms of the songs than the artist when saying 'that is power pop.'
I don't think you'd get any arguments about "Cheri" being an incredible power pop track from 20/20. If there's one album fans can fully agree on, it's probably that debut—front to back, and side to side. And I might personally be a guitar-first fan, but piano-driven songs absolutely can be power pop (Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys are a north star, after all). There's no doubt in my mind at this point that power pop is a song-by-song genre.
I don't know some of these songs but I'd have voted for Blondie's "Dreaming" or The Knack's "My Sharona."
I would agree. I consider both of those songs core to the genre. I still can't get over just how stunning the drumming is on both of those tracks.
I hadn't thought about that but yes the drumming is stellar on both tracks!
Ahem... https://rememberthelightning.substack.com/p/putting-the-pw-in-power-pop
I certainly agree with the top 8. I'm of the school "I know it when I hear it" which would include Miley Cyrus as well as Van Halen. I was 10 yrs. old (1972) and still remember the feeling when I first heard "Go All the Way" and "Couldn't I Just Tell You" on my AM radio (a Panasonic Toot-a -Loop). Having said that , there is no more perfect song than "September Gurls".
I can't imagine what it must have been like to experience those legendary tracks in real time on AM radio at the impressionable age of 10! And...I really want to know why there isn't already a world famous power pop band called Toot-A-Loop.
If you could live in a musical moment, when the drum kicks in on "September Gurls" would be a great choice.
I've been toying with an essay about super specific moments in songs and September Gurls is on the list (if it ever happens).
WOULD READ!
I must concur with that Van Halen song. Little Guitars is another one. Paul Stanley has another song called "Tomorrow" from Unmasked that fits the bill as well (I went Opus Dei and forced myself to listen to the whole record not long ago). Neither is a power pop band, but, well, you know...
I do know! Keep the recs coming.
This was a blast. Thanks again including me in the series. Power Pop Forever!
Heck ⚡️💥 Ya!!!
Thanks to the 2 others I was the 3rd for including the Flamin' Groovies SSA! Here is my newest article on them just published! In the article you will see the brick from The Cavern Club where they honor the Flamin' Groovies and their song Shake Some Action with the prototype being POWERPOP! https://open.substack.com/pub/lorichristian/p/flamin-groovies-part-2?r=4fd1oa&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Nice!
I confess to being a bit overwhelmed by all this power pop debate. I loved watching it unfold though. Yes, I have been lurking. I feel like Styx has not been adequately represented here though. If Lorelei isn't power pop, I am not sure what it is. Of course, most would probably go with Too Much Time On My Hands.
Lurkers are welcome, but I love it when they occasionally join the conversation.
Funny enough, behind KISS, Styx is one of the bands power pop purists most like to lambast whenever somebody dares to suggest that they have power pop leanings. But the fact that music lovers like you keep pointing to “Lorelei” seems like further proof that power pop is a song-based genre. You know it when you hear it, ear of the beholder, etc.
I suspected that might be the case and I would be lambasted for my comment (not by you), but yeah, for me - power pop is about a song, not a genre. Hence the lurking. If its a real genre, then I am clueless.
Ha! I certainly hope you’re free to express your opinions here. My only real “rule” is to not be a dick in the RTL comments. So far, so good.
Power pop is the debate club of rock and roll. In some ways, the lack of a clear definition (and the often strong opinions that creates) seems to be the point for a lot of fans. Fun to explore, but it can also be exhausting.