Until the creation of MTV, sexuality in music was limited to the lyrics artists of the ’90s and 2000s had an abundance of videography techniques at their disposal to play upon the literal and figurative implications of their songs. In a new social climate where an artist’s looks and image preceded the importance of their talent, bubblegum pop lost its innocent, child-like charm. 1990sīubblegum pop began to take its modern form as a subgenre of pop by the early ’90s, when it introduced the world to boy bands like NSYNC and girl groups like the Spice Girls, who prided themselves on a youthful, athletic aesthetic. Many rock bands began to experiment with drum machines and synthesizers during this time to match the commercial success of their pop competitors.īubblegum pop thrived in the ’80s, an impressive feat considering that the glam rock world was exploding with commercial success at the same time. Not even rock icons like Elton John or Freddie Mercury could resist dabbling in the playful genre.
The second wave of bubblegum pop came during a unique time when most chart-topping hits were being churned out by women, who dominated the genre and added a touch of eccentricity to the decade. However, the youthful, glowing jewel of bubblegum pop was only temporarily lost to the wind, as the death of disco made way for whimsical artists to take center stage.Įchoes of the sunny glory of ’80s bubblegum pop can be heard in classic tracks like “ Vacation ” by the Go-Go’s, “ Girls Just Want to Have Fun ” by Cyndi Lauper, “ Kids In America ” by Kim Wilde and “ Like a Virgin ” by Madonna. The first wave of bubblegum pop was short-lived since it was sandwiched between the birth of several other iconic music genres like disco, funk and punk.
Tracks that cemented their places in history as a part of the first wave of bubblegum pop include “ Saturday Night ” by Bay City Rollers, “ Sugar Sugar ” by the Archies and “ Indian Lake ” by the Cowsills. 1960s and ’70sīaby boomers who came of age in the mid-’60s likely remember the hip-swinging, head-bopping beat of bands like The Monkees and The Beach Boys. Not only was it one of the first genres to deliberately market itself to tweens and teens, but the genre also birthed the iconic girl group and boy band movements, which would eventually dominate pop culture in the 1990s and 2000s. Its distinct strategy of aggressively marketing certain music toward teenagers eventually became synonymous with general pop music and the music industry itself.Īs the decades progressed, bubblegum pop and generic pop’s definitions changed, forming dozens of subgenres, subcultures and aesthetics among young people.īubblegum pop began as a distinctly American musical phenomenon, first appearing on the radio in the early 1960s as a subgenre of pop catering toward middle and high schoolers. While bubblegum pop had a massive influence on several decades of pop culture, it didn’t remain independent as a genre. With oversimplified music, contrived lyrics and playful music videos, bubblegum pop represents all the best parts of being a teenager - endless summers, young love, infectious dancing, slumber parties and, of course, chewing bubblegum. Commercialized, computerized and easy to sing along to, bubblegum pop is a nostalgic, trendy collection of hits that have been the voice of mainstream teenagers everywhere for nearly six decades.