Bubblegum pop through the decades

[Xelebes]

So. . . this was inspired by the BB King memory thread. Someone was complaining about modern bubblegum pop and how we could not expect modern artists to replace the likes of BB King. So I thought I would create a thread to remind us how bubblegum pop never really dies - because, why? Well, it's music for young adolescents.

Note: AW has recently allowed embedding of videos but don't get crazy with them. Try to keep it down to one embedded video to a post. Some people are running the site on mobiles and barebone computers.

From 1963, the Allan Sisters. The Allan Sisters are a hometown crew that made their debut on the Calgary's Country Hoedown tv show and sang country before departing to Toronto to meet the songwriter for Rain, a prominent northern soul band. This was the Allan Sisters first release. By 1966, their style had matured and become more of the classic Wigan Casino-style Northern Soul. But by doing that they were no longer on the charts. The Allan Sisters broke up in 1971.

Allan Sisters - Larry

 

[ElaineA]

I couldn't possibly pick. I got my musical baptism in the late 60's. Scanning which bands were quintessentially Bubblegum, ALL my loves are there, from both music and TV. The thing about that era, from the late 60's into the early 70's, is so many bubblegum pop bands had companion TV shows to suck us in tight--the Monkees, the Jackson 5, the Osmonds (oh, Donny, my first true love...), the Partridge Family. Of course, then there were the Bananasplits and Josie and the Pussycats, shows that came at it from the opposite end being TV shows that launched hit records. I grew out of it after the Partridge Family, although I will fully admit to my brief affaire de coeur with the Bay City Rollers. Who couldn't love a guy in tartan--then and now.

S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y Night

 

[Maryn]

Don't anybody make me watch Kurt Russell in a turtleneck singing "Sugar Sugar," okay? It hurts.

Maryn, honest

 

[Xelebes]

That covers the 70s. Well, I don't really know what became of the Bay City Rollers. Where did the bandmembers end up?

Onto the 80s. Don't know much about the c86 scene from UK. But here is the La's.

There She Goes

Don't know what happened to the bandmembers either, where they ended up and how they matured.

 

[ElaineA]

Dang. Sorry. Didn't mean to hog the good stuff.

Maryn, does this work better? Sugar, sugar

Also, not vouching for the reliability of the info, but here's a blog post on whatever happened to the BCR's. If it's accurate, it's interesting.

 

[Maze Runner]

Wow, I have to admit that I really love some of this stuff. But I'm not exactly sure what would constitute Bubblegum. I know that I like a lot of pop stuff, like The Jackson 5 and Classics IV. The Grass Roots and The Rascals. Am I on it?

 

[Xelebes]

Ah, thanks.

 

[Maze Runner]

I mean, is that Bubblegum, the bands I listed above?

 

[Xelebes]

The 90s:

West End Girls - Not Like Kissing You

Camille Henderson would go on to tour with Sarah Maclachlan.

Bubblegum Pop is pop music that targets adolescent music with light and fluffy fare. If you bring an example, we can judge. Many bands have deviated to provide different fare while they were still making bubblegum.

 

[Maze Runner]

Oh, okay. Well, here's a couple I like.

Grass Roots https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cnCEvGrj3M

Classics IV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOG-ROBHWR4

 

[Xelebes]

I would say the Classics IV tune is a bit too mature for this thread.

 

[Maze Runner]

Ah, I see. How 'bout this one from The Jackson 5?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvmqYZr0RFo

 

[Maze Runner]

Hahaha, sorry guys, I think I'm out of my element. I was just trying NOT to work. Carry on...

 

[Larry M]

I mean, is that Bubblegum, the bands I listed above?

Not exactly. Classic '60's bubble gum would include groups like the Ohio Express (Yummy, Yummy, Yummy), 1910 Fruitgum Company (Simon Says), the Archies (Sugar, Sugar), the Lemon Pipers (Green Tambourine), and such.

I used to be a disc jockey with an oldies show.

 

[Xelebes]

Trying to find something from the 30s or 40s. Closest I got is Judy Garland's "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"

In the 90s, Marusha did a decent happy hardcore remix.

 

[Bubastes]

My tiny contribution to the thread (I think these fit the definition of "bubblegum pop"):

80s:
The Jets - Crush On You
Debarge - Rhythm of the Night

90s:
New Kids On The Block - Step By Step
Aqua - Barbie Girl

00s:
'NSync - Bye Bye Bye

10s:
Psy - Gangnam Style

 

[Xelebes]

I was going to get around to posting Barbie Girl. Didn't know when.

Some Cascadian stuff. Taking punk rock and giving it a bubblegum veneer: Cub. (Yes, yes, I know there is a bit more to the story behind Cub, but bear with me.)

Cub - New York City

It is called cuddlecore - riotgrrl for those who aren't yet so angry. Neko Case began her career with the band and now she is one of the biggest names in the Alternative Country circuits. Anywhich way, cuddlecore has influenced the Cascadian music scene and it pops up ever now and then. Disko Warp Records took British Happy Hardcore, Japanese Para Para and mixed it with the punk and cuddlecore elements for a brief period between 2006 and 2010.

Bonnie Maxx - Pussy Game

 

[Wanderluster]

I am totally musically challenge, but Puppy (aka Elaine) told me to get my butt over to this thread, so I will try not to embarrass her too much. Does this count as current Bubblegum Pop? My only clue is that it looks like different colored bubblegum exploded all over the set. That counts, right?

 

[Bubastes]

I am totally musically challenge, but Puppy (aka Elaine) told me to get my butt over to this thread, so I will try not to embarrass her too much. Does this count as current Bubblegum Pop? My only clue is that it looks like different colored bubblegum exploded all over the set. That counts, right?

It does to my ear!

 

[Xelebes]

Hm, digging deep into Hi-NRG crates (metaphorically), I came across this. Sounds like an early precedent (from 1986) of bubblegum dance that would appear throughout the 90s. There is probably some earlier stuff but I haven't found it yet.