Songs You Need To Defend Pop Punk

(image from canyouseethesunset.com)

So I did that ‘songs you need to live’ thing the other day, and I was thinking that it was a bit too general. The songs you need differ on what you listen to. Therefore, I thought I’d try again, but with a slightly narrower selection.

This time, I’m doing The Songs You Need To Defend Pop Punk (the phrase 'defend pop punk' is apparently the slogan of the band Man Overboard who I need to listen to because bands). What’s Pop Punk? Self-explanatory – it’s the rebelliousness of punk music mixed with the daftness and shiny lights of pop. It’s a bit angsty, but not as much as other genres. It’s what – forgive me for using a very sweeping generalisation – your classical emo kid listens to when they’re happy (which, given the people that I know that would come under this mysterious ‘emo’ umbrella, actually happens quite a lot,so there). Guitars and drums and thrashing about, but in a happy, sunshine-y way (be prepared to hear those words a lot). It’s how you subversively get people into other kinds of rock music. Hopefully, when you listen to the songs you’ll understand better.

Blink 182 – Feeling This

Yes, it’s Blink 182 again. They are, however, the kings of pop punk. You say ‘pop punk’ three times in the bathroom mirror and turn the light off, when you turn it back on Mark Hoppus will be crouched in your sink. This song’s a good one, because it is a bit angsty and it’s about the typical horny teenager, but it’s all happy and bouncy at the same time. I had a phase last summer where I listened to this one about five times a day for a week straight. Then my mum said she didn’t like Blink 182, so I bought their best hits album as revenge.

All Time Low – Weightless

More people know this one than I think people would think. That sentence got away from me a bit . . . But it’s an awesome song, and I think the sort of signature song for ATL, or at least the one most people would recognise them by. It’s definitely the first song I remember hearing by them.

Fall Out Boy – Thnks Fr Th Mmrs

Come on, this is a brilliant song, and one of my favourites by them. You can’t say you know pop punk if you don’t know every word of this (or at least every phoneme, I don’t blame you if you can’t understand Patrick Stump). Big, loud, the kind of song everyone will dance to because everyone knows it.

The Offspring – Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)

This is just a song you need to know to live in general. If someone says “Give it to me baby” and you’re not in a porno and you don’t reply with “UH HUH, UH HUH” then you should be ashamed of yourself. Go and sit in the corner and think about what you’ve done. I’m ashamed of you. You are not fly, no matter what race you are.

A Day To Remember – All I Want

Ok, maybe this one is slightly less well-known than the others (my favourite’s actually I’m Made Of Wax, Larry, What Are You Made Of?), but you can’t deny ADTR’s presence. They’re a formidable force, and I think the fact that they managed to get so many other bands to show up in this video proves that.

Paramore – Misery Business

Off their 2007 album Riot!, this is probably their most well-known single alongside Ignorance, but I like this one better and it’s my blog so I’ll do what I like. I am somewhat opposed to the video for its slightly sexist edge – oh, the girl’s make up has been wiped off, look how much she was wearing ‘cause she’s the baddy in this and only bad girls wear makeup, godddddd – but other than that it’s a good one, and a catchy song (I don’t like saying the word ‘catchy’, I feel like a bad 80s DJ).

Green Day – American Idiot

I kind of wanted to put Basket Case here, but this is supposed to be about the songs that you absolutely need to know and, although you really should know quite a lot of Green Day’s songs because they’re massive, everybody knows American Idiot. Everybody. I was at a party and this song came on and everybody sang it. My nana was in the room while the video for this was on TV and she said she likes a man with ‘some moves’. I’m not sure she likes men with lots of green paint all over them though.

Bowling For Soup – Girl All The Bad Guys Want

I remember hearing this one years and years ago, before I actually knew what music was, or how one ‘creamed over tough guys’ (can I just say, why do they bleep out ‘goddamn’, but not that?). Not my absolute favourite song, but one I think it’s somewhat important to know.

Good Charlotte – Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous

Good Charlotte is one of my little sister’s favourite bands for some reason. Were all their songs this one, they’d be one of my favourites too. It’s more punk than pop, but I absolutely love this song, and the crazy hair.

Panic! At The Disco – I Write Sins Not Tragedies

I keep saying this, but everyone knows this one. My friend Ryan knows this one and he normally listens to Adele and stuff. But come on, it’s like the scenekid national anthem – stupidly long song title that has some deep, clever meaning that I haven’t figured out yet, similarly long-winded lyrics that still manage to be awesome.

There you go. Now, go forth and defend pop punk! Learn guitar and make boob jokes! Wear tight jeans and hair gel and take your top off on stage! Change your name to Tom Hoppus-Gaskarth! It’s 2:30am and that’s why I’m shouting!