Bubblegum pop

Bubblegum pop (bubblegum rock, bubblegum music) is a genre of popular music and rock and roll. The defining characteristics of bubblegum pop include catchy or hummable melodies, simple three-chord structures, and repetitive riffs or "hooks." Bubblegum pop is also characterized by its lightweight lyrics - often with nonsense or romantic themes.

1960s and 1970s

The first wave of pure bubblegum came with Jerry Kasenetz and Jeff Katz, music producers who formed Super K Productions and gave the world "A Little Bit of Soul" by The Music Explosion in 1966. However, the song was closer to R&B garage band music, and missing the element of nursery rhyme/nonsense lyrics that would be introduced by staff songwriters Joey Levine and Elliot Chiprut. About a year later they released "Yummy Yummy Yummy" a #4 hit in June, 1968 for The Ohio Express. Although The Ohio Express was a real, touring garage band in the Midwest, under contract to Kasenetz and Katz, their hit singles were recorded by session musicians fronted by singer-songwriter Joey Levine. The band members were handicapped attempting to reproduce Levine's distinctive nasal whine for their live performances.

Related Topics:
Jerry Kasenetz - Jeff Katz - Super K Productions - The Music Explosion - 1966 - R&B - Garage band - Joey Levine - Elliot Chiprut - Yummy Yummy Yummy - June - 1968 - The Ohio Express - Kasenetz and Katz

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Other hits from Kasenetz and Katz followed, including "Indian Giver" and "Simon Says" by the 1910 Fruitgum Company, "Green Tambourine" by The Lemon Pipers and one-offs such as "Quick Joey Small" by The Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus, another front for the same batch of Levine-fronted studio players.

Related Topics:
1910 Fruitgum Company - The Lemon Pipers - Quick Joey Small - Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus

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Others joined in, notably Don Kirshner and Jeff Barry with the Archies, whose "Sugar Sugar" was the best-selling single of 1969, and was voiced by Ron Dante and Toni Wine. Many critics describe The Monkees, with their light and cheerful rock and roll, as bubblegum, due to their producer-driven career and reliance on outside songwriters and session players. Others claim The Monkees were not pure bubblegum until 1970's "Half-Monkees" LP Changes, produced by Barry.

Related Topics:
Don Kirshner - Jeff Barry - Archies - Sugar Sugar - 1969 - Ron Dante - Toni Wine - The Monkees

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The initial era of bubblegum carried on for a few more years, as LPs were released by the Partridge Family, the Osmonds, the Jackson 5, the Brady Bunch, the Banana Splits and Josie and the Pussycats.

Related Topics:
Partridge Family - Osmonds - Jackson 5 - Brady Bunch - Banana Splits - Josie and the Pussycats

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Many of the acts of the first glam rock era (approximately 1971-1975) had bubblegum influences. These included Gary Glitter, T. Rex, Sweet and Mud. These British acts had great success in the UK, Asia, and Europe, charting many singles. They were less successful in the US, competing with acts such as David Bowie and Roxy Music, who were more serious in their approach. The last big act of the 1970s that had obvious bubblegum elements was the Bay City Rollers, who charted hits through the end of the decade.

Related Topics:
Glam rock - Gary Glitter - T. Rex - Sweet - Mud - David Bowie - Roxy Music - 1970s - Bay City Rollers

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