Okay! So, first things first. I've been a huge fan of Pop-Punk my entire life. It's the music that I most identify with. Screaching Weasel, MxPx, New Found Glory, Bad Religion, The Ramones, The Movielife, Green Day, Pennywise, No Use For A Name, Lifetime, The Offspring, Blink-182, Sum 41, Lagwagon, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. And all throughout my life I've run into people who have a HUGE barrier up against anything with the word "Pop" in it. That's all fine and good, but they've hardly given any of the genre's a chance at all. I think that's pretty lame, because Pop Punk has a lot more to offer than it's marshmallow front suggests.

The first thing I kinda want to point out about Pop Punk is that it has it's place and it serves it's place and the people that play it realize this.

Subject A: The Wonder Years, who bill themselves as "Realistic Pop Punk". They sing about things that are actually happening to them, things they've learned, and they're real. It's refreshing, to me, to find REAL lyrics. They're not pretentious, they're not trying to be anything that they aren't, and their music reflects that. It's energetic, hopeful, and fun. FUN. Read these lyrics:
There is something about the simplicity of those lyrics that is really... Full of hope. I can relate to it. These guys know their place. To make fun, energetic music that everyone can relate to. They're not pretending to be something that they aren't (TOOL), and it's really, really refreshing. (felt like i just wrote that o i did hwat) It's fun music.

Also, read this interview.

What do you say to people who think your lyrics are “stupid?” Are these people destined for greatness due to their wonderful ability to scowl and take themselves too seriously?

I mean, let’s be fair, the lyrics on Get Stoked On It! are pretty stupid. I’m not trying to be Thoreau, which I suppose is an issue to some, but we’re just having fun. I understand that everyone has to hate on something. I mean we fucking hate pigeons, hippies, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. I guess they hate hanging out and having a good time and shit. Next time, we’ll try to write a CD in the form of a doctoral dissertation on Friedrich Nietzsche.

Subject B: Blink-182. These guys don't need any introduction. They also have a pretty bad reputation among almost everybody on the internet (digg, apple, ron paul, tool, wii360). And, No, Blink-182 is not the most talented group in the world. Not even close. But they were fantastic pop-song writers. VERY catchy, fun and energetic music. And they didn't take themselves too seriously (even in the later days, for the most part). They were out to have a good time and it really shows in their music. Listen to "Dumpweed", or "The Rock Show". Hits everything on the checklist. Fun, energetic, catchy, reletable. Put this on at a party and try not to have a good time.

Subject C: Pop Punk shows. If you've never been to a Pop Punk show and at least TRIED to have fun with it, you're really missing out. Jumping around, screaming the lyrics, laughing, smiling, and just having a blast. Most of the hundreds of Pop Punk bands I've seen in my life have all been extremely energetic up on stage, and when they're having fun, and you're having fun, who cares that they're power chords? Who cares that there is a 13 year-old girl screaming the lyrics along with you?
Also, this is the case with almost EVERY show ever but everyone really looks out for each other. Someone falls down, there's five people there helping you up. Your glasses fall off, there's ten people pushing other people aside looking for them on the ground. It's a community.
And contrary to popular belief, Pop Punk bands don't really make much money. VERY few Pop Punk bands are in it "for the money". Most bands barely make enough to make it to their next show in the next town, and I really admire that. They believe in their music.
With that said, there are a LOT of crappy Pop Punk bands that have no talent and suck the life and image out from good Pop Punk acts. Stay away from these bands.


I'm going to write more about this later, but in the meantime, put a Pop Punk CD in your car, roll the windows down, and have a good time. Commence bashing.... Now!

[iconoclastic ][/iconoclastic]

Pop all you want, a huge amount of those bands are not punk at all, the only thing punk about them is that they just say they are punk because it sells

hey man f you tool are great


and as I read the list of bands you mentioned it got funnier with each one you mentioned. especially when you said, blink 182, who I've laughed at since like 7th grade back when they were cool.

if you like these things you should be lobotomized, they are too catchy to be allowed to be circulated.

Even though I hate pop punk, have you considered this JOJO: http://www.gamingw.net/forums/index.php?topic=5404.40

Yeah, I would actually love to do that. I would also love to do one on Second Wave Emo(OH SNAP, SHEPPARD ATTACK).

This is the kind of shit you hear blasting when your girlfriend manages to drag you into that reeking Hollister store at the mall, I can almost smell that cheap fucking cologne by listening to that wonder years band.

"oh snap, shepperd attack".. jojoface you're an idiot.

and it's ok I'm not going to debate, don't really have the time for this stupidity.

btw "pop-punk" sucks bad, it is strictly commershil and bland. Unoriginal, poor themed, just teenager stupidity. It is music for the masses, and that's not cool.

btw "pop-punk" sucks bad, it is strictly commershil and bland. Unoriginal, poor themed, just teenager stupidity. It is music for the masses, and that's not cool.

Music for the masses is not cool... What does that even mean, man? What, all Pop music is terrible? All musicians that want to reach large audiences are "not cool"? It's totally fine that you hate Pop Punk. It's probably just like Nu-Metal for me.

I've always liked Rufio because they are faster and a little more technical than most other bands of the same subgenre but that's pretty much it. They are cool guys too I met them once. They are broken up now though.

You met Rufio, man? That's awesome. I never got the chance to see them play, but I've had Perhaps, I Suppose... on repeat ever since 8th grade or so. Good stuff.

Public Image Ltd. is my favorite pop punk band

Yeah I've seen Rufio probably a half-dozen times in concert. Last time I saw them was a winter tour in 2005 I think... I like Out of Control, Above Me, Science Fiction, thier Like a Prayer cover... you know most of the crap that everyone's heard from them.

http://www.myspace.com/silianrailband

This is a pop punk band !!!

I haven't been into this stuff for a few years, but occasionally some of it winds up in my CD player again. Although I'm not going to be one of those "Pop-Punk is shit, not punk, etc. etc." people, I will say it is not one of my favorite genres of music and that it hasn't even been remotely good for like 10 years.

I think the best this music can possibly get is the early to mid 90's Epitaph stuff. So I feel that it's kind of past it's prime.