Bubblegum, however, was meant from the start to appeal to the eight-year-old of the house but are the song so really innocent?
“If you do not wish to have your illusions about bubblegum destroyed, you should read no further then this paragraph.” (This is located on page 23…the book is 300+ pages.)
What exactly is ‘Bubblegum’ music? I always considered it a sound, a simple catchy rhyme put to music. This does not make it bad music it just makes it a style of music. I really am not so wrong in my thinking but I found out that my impression was more limited then what most actually consider ‘Bubblegum’. Bubblegum is more then a sound or a style there are other factors that defines the music as ‘Bubblegum’.
Duran Duran? The Monkeys? Well, I have not listened to the Monkeys since I used ….never miss there show when I was …umm…younger. Duran Duran, I was older then and I did like some of their songs but I never would have really labeled them Bubblegum back then or now, nor would I have labeled the Monkeys “Bubblegum”. I would have probably called them ‘pop’. The Ohio Express with “Yummy, Yummy, Yummy” I would have called that ‘Bubblegum”.
You know what? I think I should have stopped at that paragraph on page 23! I will never be able to listen to the Ohio Express in the same way again!
Bubblegum offers interviews with session cats, producers and writers. It tracks the influence on genres as diverse as punk, disco and new wave, and reflects on how the music affected their lives.
Do you like Bubblegum Music? Or do you hate it? It really makes no difference the book is about music. Bubblegum is part of musical history both past and present. The book tells us of the how it all started. You get to read about the different bands. It is very interesting book but be forewarned: when you reach page 23 and you want to keep you thoughts as they are about Bubblegum music then pass the book on to a friend to read or skip around in the book. My ‘illusion’ my have popped but that is OK because the reality is still rather funny and brings a smile to my face. Is not that the real purpose of ‘Bubblegum’?
'Bubblegum Music is the Naked Truth: The Dark History of Prepubescent Pop', from the Banana Splits to Britney Spears –Edited by Kim Cooper and David Smay A Feral House trade paperback original. 7 X 10 –326 pages – illustrated at 19.95
Published September 28, 2001
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