Before My Sharona: How Power Pop Became Power Pop
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The Beatles broke up in 1970. Emerging two years later, Power Pop was an attempt to resurrect the Fab Four’s early days. What did it sound like? Impossibly catchy tunes with attitude, taking the contagious harmonies, jangly guitars and la la las of the British Invasion groups, and making them punchier, sometimes heavier. Pop music but powerful. Key bands like Raspberries, Big Star, The Flamin Groovies and Cheap Trick lamenting, yearning and crying about young love in a way that you couldn’t help but sing along to.
The genre would hit its commercial peak at the end of the 70s. But what were the essential steps along the way, the key tracks and influencers? And how did it get to the point where “My Sharona” could become the biggest-selling US single of 1979. This is how Power Pop became Power Pop.
#powerpop #bigstar #musicdocumentary
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Additional Writing by Serenity Autumn.
Soundtrack
Luar - Citrine ( / luarbeats )
Jesse Gallagher - The Golden Present
Luar - Anchor ( / luarbeats )
00:00 Introduction
00:53 Ad Time
02:03 The Beatles & The British Invasion
08:16 The Other Side of the Atlantic
11:34 Sugar, Sugar & The Rise of Bubblegum Pop
15:12 Badfinger: The New Fab Four?
16:55 Raspberries: The First Power Pop Band
19:39 Big Star: December Boys Got It Bad
22:09 Todd Rundgren: And Make It Loud and Clear
23:34 The Return of US Power Pop
28:54 Glam Rock & The Bay City Rollers
31:23 Stiff Records & The Outcasts of Pub Rock
34:09 When Power Pop & Pop Punk Collide
36:56 The Records: The Writ Has Hit The Fan
38:41 Cheap Trick: Didn't I, Didn't I, Didn't I...
40:52 The New Wave-ification of US Power Pop
45:22 The Knack: ...My Thighs, Sharona
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It was 99% perfect, but how could you not mention SLOAN? To me they were the biggest band never to break out of Canada...their first four albums were pretty much flawless.
Van Duren, by a couple members from Big Star was a great band too. I love the song Chemical Fire, really interesting recording and the drums towards the end always get me!
And maybe not straight power pop, the sadly too often forgotten band Be-Bop Deluxe got a lot of great songs that could qualify for the genre.
You Failed to mention that Big Star’s In The Street became the theme song to That 70’s Show.
Would Journey, REO Speedwagon and Boston fall into this category?
What a great vid. Thanks! I have so many new bands to listen to (or more of). Though kind of obscure, Let's Active (Mitch Easter) would have been a nice add. Also, a little more on Matthew Sweet. I think he's pretty important to the genre... basically all of his albums are just pure, unadulterated Power Pop.
And, though you didn't cover what's going on today, with bands like The Beths, Beach Bunny, No Buses and The Regrettes, the genre is still going strong even if it's not on mainstream radio.
im so glad that badfinger is finally started to get the recognition that they deserve
Badfinger, they all should've retired as millionaires but their manager robbed them
Badfinger fans: find the book “The tragic story of Badfinger “… such a sad story….
But why weren't they mentioned? They are the quintessential power pop band. Given their start by the Beatles,themselves,they were one of Pete Townshend's favorite bands.
Without any doubt this is one of the best channels about music on TH-cam. The amount of bands, singles and data that I discovered in the 52 minutes of video, is impressive. Keep it up, Thrash.
I agree. Between this and Rick Beato there is a great library of knowledge for anyone who wants to take the time to learn it.
Trash
Trash.
@rustyneuron Rick Beato is an international treasure for accomplished musicians, striving musicians, beginning musicians or just anyone interested in the whos whats wheres hows and whys of music.
The Marshall Crenshaw reference is commendable. He is one of the of the most underrated performer/songwriters ever. “Some Hearts” made famous by country singer Carrie Underwood is a masterpiece of country power pop. You could argue Buddy Holly was an influence on power pop as well.
When I was in high school I saw Big Star open up for Badfinger at the Performance Center, in Cambridge, MA. We thought that we were going to see the Beatles. We didn't even have tickets. I lied and said that we were in a car accident and were lucky to be there. We were put at the front of the stage. A member of Badfinger hit on me. Taking that to my grave.
I think the Vapours' "Turning Japanese" would have been worth a mention and I know you just name-checked a couple of later 1980's acts in the post-Knack era, but I was mid-teens in the mid-80's and Tracey Tracey of The Primitives and Wendy James of Transvision Vamp were 100% Power Pop princesses and influenced more than just my music taste.
The Primitives were so awesome!
Children by the million, scream for Alex Chilton, when he comes round
I'm in love 💕
With that song
im in love with that song
B I G S T A R # 1 B I G S T A R # 1
80's/90's Power Pop mentions continued...Wonder Stuff, Wire Train, The Bongos, Hoodoo Gurus, The Pursuit of Happiness, Let's Active, Guadalcanal Diary, Game Theory, Mighty Lemon Drops, Material Issue, Jellyfish, The Connells, Goo Goo Dolls (early stuff), Ocean Blue, Sugar, Gin Blossoms, Lemonheads, Juliana Hatfield, Soul Asylum, The Sundays and shout outs to classics by XTC, Modern English, The Church, Squeeze, Split Enz/Crowded House.
Some of the above were produced by Todd Rundgren.
50 minute trash theory video? yes please
Big Star is my favorite band of all time
The best
I’d add “What Do All The People Know” by the Monroes, Phil Seymour’s “Precious To Me” , and “Driver’s Seat” by Sniff N the Tears as three great power pop songs that all ended up being mid-to-minor Top 50 hits in the US
What do all the people know, -- great addition. the A section is textbook quintessential perfect power pop. (The B sections a little disappointing oh well). if one needed to teach a class on PowerPop, what a great song
You know....track 2, Stones against of the rain, ain’t bad either…
I love Driver’s Seat
Love Phil Seymour......
@@cameronf5647 me too !
Much respect for the Muffs reference at the end!
"I loved you, well, never mind."
Gets me every time.
The only band you may have missed is The Beckies. They released only one album, in 1976, and were the brainchild of Micheal Brown (of the Left Banke.) One of the greatest power pop albums nobody got to hear.
The most perfect power pop song ever written, if not one of the best period
Anyone else get a kick out of the phrase he used describing bubblegum pop as "teeth-meltingly commercial"? LOL That was really funny to me.
That was my favorite phrase out of the whole thing.
Let’s give a nod to the the great, Chicago-based power pop trio Material Issue! Who could forget tunes like Diane, Valerie Loves Me, Renee Remains the Same, Very First Lie, This Letter (Chilton nod there!)…and the utterly beautiful simplicity of “Everything”…the closest thing we’ve heard to “Thirteen”.
RIP Jim Ellison…what may have been. You left us far too soon 😢
Yes!!! "Very First Lie" has to be one of the best love songs ever written. So glad to see some love for M.I.
Love Material Issue. Sometimes I get choked up while listening to them.....can't stop thinking about Jim. RIP.
Wow, this video was worth watching, if only to discover Alex Chilton's cover of Sugar Sugar.
How have I never heard it.
Amazing as usual man.
It's from his first solo album '1970' which he did between Box Tops and Big Star. The "Sugar, Sugar" cover is him and producer Terry Manning having fun. Great album, my favorite of Alex's solo stuff.
Enjoyed as always. Spent the entire video waiting for Teenage Fanclub. You did not let me down.
When the Beatles hit the scene, their interpretation of American rock n roll was so up beat with a vibe that was infectious. The harmonies were so fresh, and they had a look all their own. I was mesmerized by them at 6 yrs old. and have been a fan ever since. They were the musical blueprint that my generation followed.
jeez you must be old
@@thomyorke7622 😂 Hell yeah. 66 to be exact, but I’m still rocking.
the late 70s power pop scene was so perfect
I enjoyed this but was a bit mystified as to why you said “Fox on the Run” was Sweet’s last hit. You’ve conveniently ignored “Love is Like Oxygen” from four years later. The radio edit was a HUGE hit.
.....to say NOTHING of "Action".....
Love was their prog pop epic.
Jason Falkner is my top Power Pop guy these days and has been since 1993 when he was in Jellyfish then The Grays. But, his solo records are to die for. Especially his first 2... "Author Unknown" and "Can I Still Feel". They are must haves if you're a fan of Power Pop.
Jason is fantastic--too bad he rarely performs here with a band but lends his talents to the likes of Paul McCartney, Beck, Air, and St. Vincent. Michael Penn and Amy Mann both have wonderful catalogs of power pop/Beatle drenched music as well! I also think that Emitt Rhodes/the Merry Go Round should be mentioned here. Along with the Merry Go Round (had a local hit with "Live" which the Bangles later covered), produced a brilliant batch of solo albums which are criminally underrated power/rock pop. He was a self-contained genius much like Jason who could write, sing like a bird (with a high range like Paul McCartney), play and produce brilliant music on his own. Unfortunately, he got caught as a young man with a totally unfair record contract demanding two full albums per year culminating in them suing him when he couldn't deliver which crushed him for many years. Well done video here!
Nicely done! The only small omission is the dBs who were like the missing link between Big Star and 80s US power pop. The song Black and White is particularly brilliant.
Interesting that Chris Stamey was mentioned for his record label and not his band!
I'm surprised he missed the dBs!
Yup, that is a BIG miss!
I saw the dbs play a bar in champaign in like 83
The Records were criminally overlooked. "Up All Night" from the same album as "Starry Eyes" was hook-heavy and had vocals that were Beach-Boys-level. That first album is a MUST for any power-pop fan. Would have loved to hear some Matthew Sweet and Smithereens.
Teena Ramma is another good song by the Records.
Matthew Sweet and Smithereens both good calls.
@@jimmyvollman7596 Saw both at the Fillmore great acts to see live.
@@mikefisher2673 Matthew Sweet has been making great cover albums with Susannah Hoffs. Wish they would write together to give us something new.
@@jimmyvollman7596 I'll have to look them up, Thanks for the recommendations.
Joe Jackson’s early albums, Look Sharp, I’m The Man and even Body and Soul to an extent are Power Pop classics in my mind. Look Sharp is what got me listening to post Beatles power pop. Great video.
Is she really going out with him, top notch!
They were fantastic albums, The Jam, Paul Collins and the Beat, The Jags our a few more.
Throw It Away is such a power pop gem!
@@davidpearson3147 absolutely.
Squeeze had some Power Pop, too (Is That Love?). Although they and Joe Jackson are usually grouped with Pub Rock.
This covered a lot and it was well worth the hour. I'd probably have found a way to throw in The Nighcrawlers' original version of "Little Black Egg" and The La's original version of "There She Goes", but it's a big subject. Then there were the stealth power-pop records hiding under other Genres, like Van Halan's "Dance the nigh away." and Bruce Springsteen's allegedly partly-Raspberries-inspired "Born to Run", to Boston's "More Than a Feeling". One could easily get another hour-long video on this stuff.
Some great memories, thanks. I was ten years old in '77 when my mom bought me Costello's "My Aim is True." Then it was "Parallel Lines" by Blondie a year later. Looking back, my mom had pretty good taste and introduced me to some cool music and fashion. She just looks at me funny when I remind her of that.
I was hoping to see some mention of Jellyfish, who made two of the best power pop albums, at least of their era. Co-composer Roger Manning Jr. is songwriting in the genre now as a member of The Lickerish Quartet.
Definitely worth the mention! Although that would be post-Sharona.
The best Power Pop band in my opinion!
I posted about the lack of any Jellyfish reference too. To me they’re the best power pop band ever.
@StuderSSL - THANK YOU!
Jellyfish were absolutely brilliant and one of the most talented groups ever. Beautiful arrangement, soaring harmonies, lyrically poetic. Such a shame they got morphed by the grunge of the early ‘90s and couldn’t keep it together
As a power pop fan, I learned everything from magazines and power pop compilations in the pre streaming era. It's fabulous getting the long form documentary the genre needed, well done!
Good video. But would be better if they left off The Knack. Thirteen is a great song. Thank you Alex Chilton. The Replacements are the best band ever in the studio. Todd Rundgren does much better ballads than rock. Costello was great before he went crooner. Cheap Trick after initial success became boring. The Knack? What did they do besides My Sharona - not sure if it's a decent song. The New Beatles? What I like about you by the Romantics was good but the rest of their songs didn't have that sound. Nick Lowe is talented. Rick Springfield is not a joke and did better than the Knack or Romantics as he could write some interesting tunes. The Pretenders' debut was excellent. The Smithereens debut was great. Teenage Fanclub has my respect and too bad they debut the same year as with Nirvana and Marshall Crenshaw was great for two records.
A suprising amount of the songs in this video were in Ultimate Band for the Wii.
Glad to see you include Matthew Sweet before the end. My teen years were in the late eighties to mid nineties and his music led me to Alex Chilton and Eric Carmen, which bridged the gap between my father's music collection (Beach Boys, Beatles, Byrd's, etc ) and my own.
As you mentioned, The Romantics' "What I like about you" did not do well in the USA but was a Top 10 hit in Europe
Though to be fair "What I Like About You" was already a U.S. college party staple by the mid-80s (that's where I first heard it), and I think it had a lot of MTV play.
Strangely "Talking in Your Sleep" did much better on the U.S. charts.
Once it was "re-discovered" it did well. For a year or two you heard it every day.
Seaworld commercials and a ton of other since
all I know is, I didn't buy it, but it sounded great on my radio here in the USA.
this is weird, because it's a song I've never heard here (UK) and nobody knows, yet in America it seems to be super popular
I love power pop and I would actually say the first power pop came even before The Beatles, with Del Shannon and songs like "Runaway" and "Hats Off to Larry" in 1961. It's got the drive, the emotion, and the hooks all of which would become power pop.
Absolutely!
@ghost mall I agree, those songs are missing the "power" in power pop. To my ears, power pop only comes into being after bands like The Kinks and The Who made the "power chord" so popular among guitar players.
I do like early Sixties American pop. The stuff that was rock and roll but somewhat twee also. Neil Sedaka, Bobby Vee, etc.
Yes! "Runaway " was amazing.. I cam very near to being linked to Del Shannon in a horrible way. I was living in Chicago and was having a very rough time while trying to write my doctoral dissertation. My doctor prescribed a sleeping pill called Halcion to help me get some rest. It worked great at first, but after a while I both stopped sleeping and began spiraling into an incredibly deep depression. . Something told me that the Halcion was the problem. Then a little while later I heard that Del Shannon had committed suicide. And then a bit after that Newsweek did a cover story on Halcion and how it was causing paradoxical reactions in people, causing some people to commit suicide, and naming Del Shannon as one such Halcion victim. Pill is now completely off the market. Sorry. Didn't mean to get so dark on such a happy topic.
Also missing the backup vocals
As a big fan of both Power Pop and Your channel, this is the best video I could have ever asked for. Thank You so much. I'd love to watch a follow up. There have been so many great Power Pop bands through the eighties until now.
And that Rundgren’s Prog group Utopia eventually pared down to a four-piece pop band, even doing a whole LP of Beatles pastiches, 1980’s “Deface the Music”.
This is by far my favorite TH-cam series. Not only do I never miss an entry, but I watch them within hours of upload. Thank you for turning me onto so much fabulous music in myriad genres.
Boston's "The Real Kids" deserved recognition in your compilation. Songs like "Better Be Good", "My Baby's Book", "Common at Noon" and "Everybody's Girl" express devotion, heartbreak and loneliness mixed with a grittiness that transcended the traditional power pop formula.
How could you forget All Kindsa Girls!
Never heard of it before but after listening to I am the Cosmos on repeat for the last 2 hours all I can say is thank you with all my heart and I am The Wind
Some old loves, and lots of new names to check out, informative as always. That is what I love about creators like yourself, you highlight the things I missed because I was either the wrong side of the pond, or they didn't make the radio at the time.
Ah, hell yeah. Nice shout out to Blondie's "Dreaming". One of my favorite songs of all time.
It's one of those songs that I consider to be perfect.
@@vinnyc365 absolutely
Equaled by ‘Union City Blue’ !
@@julianholman7379 I was just listening to Eat to the Beat today. What a great album. Union City and Atomic are especially amazing, along with Dreaming
Love that song....
You mention SHOES... amazing! Tomorrow Night, Turnaround, Love Is Like a Bullet, Pieces of Glass, Too Late... so many fantastic songs. I feel like they are my secret. Most no one has ever heard of them or knows their songs. Nice work noting them here! If power pop is your thing, search them out! SHOES Best was my introduction decades ago, however their 35 Years: The Definitive Shoes Collection may be easier to find & stream today. One listen is all it'll take. Brilliant
Really nice encapsulation of my favorite genre!
I really like the esoteric stuff as well.
I think the only missing thing here would be the UK's XTC. A few others do spring to mind: The Darling Buds, Elastica, Guided by Voices, The Jam, Letters to Cleo, Martin Briley (a one hit wonder...but what a wonder!), Old 97's (alt country, more likely), Pavement (power and pop...yet it's still a stretch, I admit), Pixies (maybe?), Possum Dixon, The La's, The Rave-Ups, The Saints (although probably too much power), Sloan (go Canada!), The Smiths (but probably a stretch), Squeeze, Superdrag, Thowing Muses, Tragically Hip (for sure it has the jangle - perhaps a bit Baroque), The Undertones and probably others that I missed!
But good on you for the video!!!
Wow! Another Old97s fan...who knew? Saw them live in '97 in Deep Ellum. Do share some of your experiences.
Don't forget LA's Paisley Underground scene from the 80's-The Pandoras,The Bangles,The Rain Parade,The Three O' Clock turned into the 90's LA Power Pop scene-Baby Lemonade,The Wondermints,The Jupiter Affect,Velouria....although the Rasberries & Big Star were the John the Baptist & Jesus Christ of 70's power pop:)
and jellyfish
"Do What You Wanna Do" by Eddie & The Hotrods in 1977 is a lesser-known power pop gem!
Love the whole album, I wish they were better known.
@@bobbenson6825 :)
20/20, especially their first two full lengths…and The Beat (Paul Collins’ Beat, after The Nerves) whose first album is fantastic power pop from start to finish…
After the Beatles 20/20 is my favorite band. Saw them on the Sunset Strip 3 times
I was about to comment on how they missed to include 20/20. Excellent band and songs.
I’ve spent years trying to condense my love for certain notably short songs and to explain why I loved them! You’ve come along and done it in less than 60 minutes, and given them respect! Thanks!
This is an excellent dissertation on power pop. Thanks for mentioning Todd Rundgren and Nick Lowe, both incredibly influential and wholly underrated.
If you get a chance? Go see Todd. Saw him do a 2.5 hour show 4 years (give interest rate take a year) ago and….stunning.
This is a fantastic breakdown ov late 60's and 70s music evolution. Well done!
This is the best rock documentary on TH-cam. Should be required in the curriculum of all schools of rock!
Kirsty MacColl in the early 80s - 'A New England' and 'He's on the Beach'. Tons of harmony, lots of guts.
So you're finally transitioning into full-length documentary movies, I guess :D Can't complain really, I'm not that well versed in power pop, but this was really informative, as always. Can't wait for the next one!
P.S. mclusky are recording again (sorta, without Chapple), fingers crossed your Patrons push you to do a vid on them ;)
would love to see a vid on them too. One of my favourite songs by them To Hell With Good Intentions : th-cam.com/video/YbrT-_Ozm2w/w-d-xo.html
Awesome vid! As a guy who loves power pop, I'm very glad you made this video. Thanks, Trash Theory!
Great video (natch) but it reminds me yet again of the incredibly short life of The Beatles. 6 years from first hit to break up. What a 6 years! It defines lightning in a bottle.
Actually was 8 years, almost 9, but your point remains.
@@themoviedealers Their first hit was 1964 so as I said, 6 years. They formed in 1960 however which was almost 9 years till they broke up.
its shit like this where i wish there was a like+ or something like it... but im sure it would be wasted on fortnight videos or some shit. but you're one of the best channels on this hell hole of a website, keep it up my man!
This channel is very fabulous
So - you've done it again. Your output is so consistently good; thanks for bringing light to all the countless wonderful bands and artists and reminding me to sit down with a couple of great tunes for a bit. And there's one thing I'll keep suggesting to the channel: get the musicians to talk to you - seriously, you treat their work with respect and grace, they will come
Good output,but where on earth were Badfinger?
The Producers out of Atlanta had some MTV exposure in 1981-82 but couldn't attain success... they were and still are a very tight, good band!
"What's He Got", "She Sheila". "What She Does to Me" all great power pop tunes.
Another regional power pop band was the Shivvers, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Absolutely check out Teen Line.
That is a GREAT name!
(The Producers is my favorite movie ever)
I wore the grooves out on that first Producers record, every song is great.
I Love Lucy is a great Producers song also. Great band. Wayne Famous on keyboards
Producers fer sur! Remember Off Broadway?
Another fine video TT.
Wouldn't mind a sequel to this video that then goes more in-depth with the 90s Power Pop revival and the other different influences besides the ones exposed here that defined groups such as Weezer, Teenage Fanclub, Jellyfish, etc.
This. A sequel would be amazing!
Raspberries : Great group!
Don’t forget: The Searchers we’re the first major band to cover Big Star, doing “September Gurls” on 1980’s “Love’s Melodies”.
One of my favourite power pop albums, by the way..🎶🥰
Brilliant full-length video. I always enjoy your summaries, learning the histories of my favourite bands and genres from this channel. Well done, sir. 👏
Truly appreciate this, just a couple of thoughts:
George was given his 12-string Ric in '64, before Rubber Soul; AND was THE reason why McGuinn got his - he had seen George playing it in the Hard Day's Night film.
Also, aren't those Epiphone Casinos playing on And Your Bird Can Sing?
All the best from Tampa...
Yes, they are Epiphone Casinos. And yes about the dates too. George started the 12 string jangle.
I’m not so sure they ARE Casinos now…knowing that Mal Evans was dispatched to find a Fender Stratocaster and returned with two matching Sonic Blue 1965 Stratocaster guitars.
Utterly fantastic! You have just summarised the soundtrack to my very early years as a music fan - Summer Holiday, Sugar Sugar etc via The Sweet & Alvin Stardust, through The Bangles and way beyond. Had a few tangents and dead ends along the way, but guitar-driven songs with sharp stories and insightful lyrics are still my go-to listening pleasure. Great to be so skillfully reminded how it started for me. Thanks.
Loved this from start to finish. My only nitpick is the pretty clear oversight in implying that the Byrds inspired Harrison to pick up the Rickenbacker 12-string, whereas it was in fact his use of it on A Hard Day's Night that inspired the Byrds' to make it the cornerstone of their "what if the Beatles played Dylan?" sound. What I love about this is the reciprocal influence where the Byrds in turn inspired Harrison, whose "If I Needed Someone" is two Byrds songs ("the Bells of Rhymney" and "She Don't Care About Time," for the curious) shmushed together.
Me 2... :)
Great Video.
But you missed The Greg Kihn Band, Redd Kross, The Clean, The Embarrassment and Split Enz. The Clean are from New Zealand and did not have records out until the 80's so they may not strictly count. Same thing with The Embarrassment who were from Wichita, Kansas.
However, The Greg Kihn Band and Redd Kross were playing to large audiences in Los Angeles and Greg Kihn has songs you will recognize. The Split Enz were also from New Zealand but, unlike The Clean, had a couple hit songs in America circa 1980.
I came down here to the comments to suggest Greg Kihn, and I am glad someone beat me to it.
The Flamin Groovies' songs ''You Tore Me Down'' and ''I'll Cry Alone'' are some of my favorite songs.
The Groovies were such an underrated band. Check out Yo La Tengo's cover of 'You Tore Me Down' (from their album “Fakebook” - a must have album) if you haven't already.
I love how you just snuck in Charly Bliss at the end, there. Very underrated band.
Power pop is one of my favorite genres and they’re one of the best newer rock bands out there IMO. Eva Hendricks’ voice is amazing.
On the Power Pop theme, would love a deep dive on Material Issue
+1 for Material Issue, esp how 'Ballad of a Lonely Man' is a noir tale in pop cover
Came here to say the same thing.
'Needles and Pins' was a cover. That Cyrus Erie single is a classic!
I agree that "And Your Bird Can Sing" (along with "Substitute" by the Who), are the birth of all power pop.
The Jam coulda been mentioned. They were super powerful and they were super poppy. The Buzzcocks to me always fit more into punk, but I can’t deny they fit into power pop as well. I never thought of them that way before, I guess I do now.
I think power pop is more of a style than a genre. As seen in this video, much of it can be found in Alternative (Protopunk, Glam, Pub, Punk, Post-Punk, New Wave, etc.).
How I love Big Star’s first two albums. True masterpieces.
This was incredibly informative, and very entertaining as well. So much archival video footage, and it kept moving along at a brisk pace; I couldn't take my eyes and ears off it, start to end!
Great video!
power pop is one of my favourite genres, it's an exciting time to be a fan again, there's a crop of new youngish bands all around the world again, like The Whiffs from Kansas City, The Reflectors from LA, my band The Speedways from London, Alvilda from Paris, Music City / the number ones from Dublin, Baby Shakes from NYC, Radio Days from Italy, Cyanide Pills from Leeds, R E Seraphin from Oakland, and Pale Lips from Montreal. all currently going and playing power pop and all are doing something different in the genre. definitely worth checking out.
oh any anyone in London/or europe really... should check out Some Weird Sin club's "PUMP IT UP" Powerpop weekender coming up the first weekend in July at the lexington in Angel
Still making Power Pop today?
@@MrViscom78 yep, look up any of those bands I mentioned on youtube or bandcamp
I can’t thank you enough for these amazing docs you create.
Amazing job as always. Even when you cover a genre I’ve loved my entire 51 year life, you still manage to pull out some artists I’ve never heard of. Thanks for all your intensive research.
Although in my late 40s now, I (re)discover so much music through your channel. Thank you for that!
Thoroughly enjoyed this. Great research, writing and narration as usual.
Great changes and catchy yet imaginative guitar solos made power pop work. That solo in My Sharona is awesome!
Nick Lowe is a pop MASTER!
I was surprised there wasn't more Lowe and Dave Edmunds mentioned.
@@vinnyc365 EXACTLY!!!
Thanks for mentioning “The Rubinoos”. Saw them many times in the clubs of the San Francisco Bay Area. Always a great, energetic show !
My mind in a constant jukebox.. but at various times in my life, I’ve had ‘My Sharona’ on repeat, no matter if I wanted to or not.. for days.
Ma ma ma ma mayne mayne mayne ahhh wooo
D.
D
Dd
dd
Such a preety one
Loved you videos on Punk Rock so i was very excited to see you've done one for Power Pop! Also very happy to see you giving props to The very underrated Bay City Rollers (BTW they did write one of their hits Money Honey), great job!
Loved this video, thanks for the memories. ( 'This Beat Goes On/Switchin' To Glide' by The Kings was a another great power pop single from 1980.)
Hi there,
Long overdue thank you for all your videos. Me and my wife enjoy them massively, but this last one in particular touched me in a special way: I’m a big Power-Pop fan and I can’t think of another documentary on the genre that comes close to the quality of yours 🙌
I've seen it mentioned numerous times but if you're going to discuss power pop, you HAVE to discuss Jellyfish. I'll never understand why this band has always been universally ignored in any discussion on this topic when they bloody epitomized it from 1989-1993. The Manning/Sturmer songwriting and harmonies were second to none.
Completely agree. Also 20/20.
Do a whole video about Todd rundgren!
And Nick Lowe.
And Badfinger
Thank you so much for quality video essays on many different types of rock. We truly appreciate it. Long live Rock!
I know a lot about power pop. More than most. I must tip my hat because this is one of the most thorough dives into the genre on TH-cam.
This is VERY well researched. It's obvious you guys are as much into power pop as we are! Thank you. 🎸
Another amazing video, Can you maybe do a video on Dinosaur Jr.?
Dinosaur Jr are influential to the alt rock take over of the 90's rock scene and J mascis is a guitar GOD and They are just a amazing live band.
If you Read this and think About it, Thank you.
I remember Dinosaur Jr. being mentioned in the episode about grunge music and what led up to it. But yeah, I'd like to see an episode about 1980s alternative/underground music that focused on bands like Dino Jr.
Yes! I’d love an episode of lo-fi indie generally
Dinosaur Jr have been mentioned before but I'd like more about them. They're one of those rare bands who, if you ask 10 of their fans what their favourite Dinosaur Jr albums are, you're likely to get at least half a dozen different answers.
@@1anwrang13r but between the Dinosaur jr fans, we know that You're living all over me is one of the best
Fantastic video (as always). Every time I thought 'I bet he doesn't mention this band' you did!
Though you touched on the Bangles, more mention of the LA 'Paisley Underground' scene in the early-to-mid 80s would have been apropos. Early Three O' Clock, Rain Parade and pre-Bangles 'The Bangs' put out some great Neo-psychelic Byrdsy/Beatlesesque power pop.
Of course, you could do an entire video on the Paisley Underground to rectify that! :)
Paperback writer is “the” power pop blueprint; what a perfect track. Power pop was such a rad genre though coinciding with punk, just innocence of the still rebellious sort with blistering guitar work at times. “I’ll be waiting” by Robert Johnson, the demo specifically, has one of the most blistering guitar tracks ever laid down. Great musicians, big star as well, going on to influence the replacements and it’s own unique sound of the 80’s hardcore and postpunk scene’s in its own way
Important to note it's that a"Last Train to Clarksville" is actually one of the most subversive pop songs ever written. The narrator is shipping off to marine bootcamp fire Vietnam.
That was the era. There were a lot of subversive pop songs at that time.
Nope not just to marine booty camp!
This is why Frank Zappa considered them important to music 😁
How is it subversive, though, in any way? Just curious.
@@nimrodery It talks about one thing when it’s really about another. The former is understood in passing whereas the latter is understood when you analyse it.
Big Star 🌟 & The Dwight Twilley Band set the table for Cheap Trick & Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Both The Plimsouls & 20/20 should have been huge. I Am The Cosmos ✌️
Saw 20/20 three times. Still in my top 5 band list
Chris Bell is so underrated. My favorite cover version of “I Am The Cosmos” is the posies, and a close second is Beck’s. It made sense that the Posies became members of the reunion of Big Star.
Great video, great channel. You did what you said you were going to do, pre-My Sharona, so well. I kept waiting for you to acknowledge Your Love by The Outfield, but it wasn't a big deal. It's a terrific song
I just love that you used the cover of Ryan North and Albert Monteys' graphic novel adaptation of Slaughterhouse Five there. It's an awesome comic and it deserves all the attention it can get!
Great video by the way, but that's to be expected, your videos are all great!
All I can say is keep making these videos. They're all so interesting and well done!
Great stuff as always!
Although they went on to be a proto-swamp/grunge band, Australian band Scientists early stuff was very power pop influenced, specifically the awesome single "Last Night". There's some punk influence too, but the sweet melody is there in spades.
Checked them out on your recommendation. Good stuff 💯
I've watched a good number of your videos and I must say I love your content. I've learned a lot of stuff. Great job on all that you've done. Even if not interested in a genre you do it in such a way it makes me wanna dive into all sorts of bands. Thank you keep the videos coming.