By 2003, 66% percent of artists played on top 40 radio stations will be pop punk. Pop
punk, as in 90% pop and 10% punk. This trend will happen in many ways. Most obvious
is the recent rush of so called “authentic” female singers such as Avril Lavigne, Michelle
Branch and Vanessa Carlton. These 3 artists, especially Lavigne, have been riding high
on a wave of pre teens who are sick of syncopated dancers and techno pop, and have
become legitimate stars. But this is no mere movement. Look at 3 artists long
established in the pop world; Pink, Jewel and Shakira. Pink has switched from pseudo R
& B to a full on rock style. Jewel has ditched her poetic musings to create pure formula
songs such as “Standing Still.” Shakira, the Latino hottie who got famous with dance
club hits like “Whenever, Wherever” is running the gamut from country to faux punk.
She even body surfed during the MTV VMA’s. The effect of this pop migration is
immense. Most importantly, pop punk bands with a major mainstream rock following,
but that have for the most part stood on the pop sidelines, are going to get some major
airplay. Bands that come to mind are Blink 182, Newfound Glory, and Sum 41. Finally,
with the imminent breakup of N*SUCK, and as teens get bored with Ja Rule’s monotone
rap and Ashanti’s high pitched yelpings, Top 40 will be saturated with a style that is
almost, but not quite, entirely unlike punk.
At first glance, this is very good news. Us critics, and followers of good music,
have been patiently waiting for the demise of overproduced, ultra commercial music like
Britney, Justin, and J Lo. The fact that artists who write their own songs and play their
own instruments are getting played is a breath of fresh air. But new problems have
arisen. Take the example of Avril Lavigne, arguably the queen of them all right now.
She writes good lyrics, she’s palatable, and she’s hot, elements that definetly make a
superstar. And, according to my 13 year old sister and her friends, she is a punk. I, in
fact, had an entire debate with my MTV addicted sister about punk music. According to
her, there is an important differentiation between “punk” and “skater” music. Punk is
Lavigne and Michelle Branch; skater is Blink 182 and Sum 41. Pennywise, The
Vandals, the Damned, The Sex Pistols, X, the Ramones, Rancid, NOFX,
Millencollin—-completely off of her radar screen. I’m sorry, but Avril Lavigne is not
punk. Just because she has a song callec “Sk8er Boi” and wears mascara and a tie does
not make her a punk. Her lyrics are anything but rebellious, and the guitars are played at
golf cart speed. So the problem with this new wave of music is that it completely
warping the minds of the pop demographic. With Britney, they were pop and they knew
it; now, they can say they are cool, they are rebels, they are punks without having ever
heard a punk band. The Dickie’s wearing, dog collared punk elite will become disgusted
with the scene because it has become so mainstream, and leave.
So I will leave you with the question; Could Avril Lavigne be the end of punk
music?
