Monthly Feature
New Book In The Works!
Co-Written By Clark Williams and Ray Knight of KFMG Radio 98.9 FM
Excerpt from Pages 160 & 162
Power pop is a harder type of pop-rock that combines classic rock band instrumentation—guitar, bass, drums, and occasional keyboards—with catchy pop hooks highlighting the lead vocalist. Power pop music is often recognized for its powerful lead vocals and recognizable guitar riffs. Notable power pop artists include Cheap Trick, The Knack, Big Star, The Cars, Paul Collins, Todd Rundgren, Nick Lowe, The Raspberries, and The Romantics.
Power pop is a harder type of pop-rock that combines classic rock band instrumentation—guitar, bass, drums, and occasional keyboards—with catchy pop hooks highlighting the lead vocalist. Power pop music is often recognized for its powerful lead vocals and recognizable guitar riffs. Notable power pop artists include Cheap Trick, The Knack, Big Star, The Cars, Paul Collins, Todd Rundgren,
Nick Lowe, The Raspberries, and The Romantics.
"I Think We’re Alone Now” by The Rubinoos, "Heart of Glass" by Blondie, "Starry Eyes” by The Records, "September Gurls" by Big Star, "Couldn't I Just Tell You" by Todd Rundgren, and "Cruel to Be Kind" by Nick Lowe. These hits were significant because they stood in contrast to the long song forms of other 1970s genres like classic rock, progressive rock, and disco.
The Four Characteristics of Power Pop
1. Hook-driven short songs: Power pop's influences date back to Buddy Holly and The Beatles, who favored short, hooky songs. This taste for brevity endures in classic power pop records such as The Knack's Get The Knack and Big Star's #1 Record.
New Music Book Idea!
2. Jangle guitars: Power pop frequently hinges around bright, jangly guitars reminiscent of those played by John Lennon, George Harrison, and The Byrds' Roger McGuinn. The iconic guitarists of power pop, such as R.E.M.'s Peter Buck and Big Star's Chris Bell used similar guitars (often made by Rickenbacker or Fender) to achieve similar tones.
3. Personal lyrical subjects: Most power pop lyrics focus on themes like love, heartache, and personal growth. The words tend to be directly linked to the singer's emotions and life experiences.
4. Strong overlap with new wave: New wave was a pop-rock movement that was directly derived from 1970s punk rock, and scenes overlapped significantly. For instance, perhaps the most famous song penned by power pop artist Nick Lowe is "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding," which was performed by post-punk new wave artist Elvis Costello.