Pop Punk- A Fusion Music Genre

Pop punk emerged in the late 1970's. The term was first used in 1977 in a New York Times article called "Cabaret: Tom Petty's Pop Punk Rock Evokes Sounds of 60s." It has been popular since the 1990's when Green Day and The Offspring first came into the music world. I don't think the genre has changed much since it first emerged, but I think it has become a more popular genre and a more accepted genre. The main influences that shaped the beginning of pop punk are the protopunk and power pop bands of the late 1960s and early 1970s.

I think some important artists that first impacted this genre are the Ramones and Bad Religion (these two bands helped lay the ground work for punk rock), and The Vandals (First began mixing hardcore punk with pop music). I think the bands that are most well known and made the most impact on the pop punk genre would be Green Day, The Offspring, Sum 41, and All Time Low.

The genre of pop punk is considered a fusion music genre because it mixes the catchy-ness of pop music melodies with the speedy punk tempos. It is considered radio friendly but still maintains much of the speed and attitude of classic punk rock.

C'mon- Panic at the Disco! and Fun

In too Deep- Sum 41

Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)- The Offspring
 










I think the reoccurring theme in pop punk music is teenage romance, and teenage drama. In teenage romance they usually talk about the ups and downs of relationships or sex or how they love someone. In teenage drama they talk about how hard life is and how hard it is to be a teenager and all the pain you go through of getting heartbroken or losing someone. Two songs that I think best exemplify these themes would be Little Things by Good Charlotte and Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day.

Good Charlotte- Little Things

Green Day- Wake Me Up When September Ends