Let's address the elephant in the room. First, an example. What exactly is it that made anyone assume that 5 Seconds of Summer even remotely resembles anything that ever qualified to be labeled "punk"? Even "pop-punk"?
I've grown increasingly annoyed over the last decade by what has become a separation of musical-genre and marketing-genre. It would appear you can label any artist/band with any genre and viola!... a new market of listeners. Why not just label 5SOS pop-punk-country? It fits this act as securely as the former. And then they can open for Taylor Swift!
While I'll be the first to admit that I am a punk-purist, I don't think I'm being unnecessarily obstinate here. I have nothing against 5SOS's look or sound. I have nothing against their art. But just for once, can we call a duck a duck and stop being ashamed of the label "pop"? If you're a pop band you're a pop band. If you're country then your country. If you're rock then you're rock. Wear your badge, play your guitar, and let's sell some music.
When John Lydon (fka Johnny Rotten of Sex Pistols) formed Public Image Ltd. he wasn't compelled to define a new genre to sell albums. In other words, a duck was called a duck.
"Get these mutts away from me. You know I don't find this stuff amusing anymore" --Paul Simon
I've grown increasingly annoyed over the last decade by what has become a separation of musical-genre and marketing-genre. It would appear you can label any artist/band with any genre and viola!... a new market of listeners. Why not just label 5SOS pop-punk-country? It fits this act as securely as the former. And then they can open for Taylor Swift!
While I'll be the first to admit that I am a punk-purist, I don't think I'm being unnecessarily obstinate here. I have nothing against 5SOS's look or sound. I have nothing against their art. But just for once, can we call a duck a duck and stop being ashamed of the label "pop"? If you're a pop band you're a pop band. If you're country then your country. If you're rock then you're rock. Wear your badge, play your guitar, and let's sell some music.
When John Lydon (fka Johnny Rotten of Sex Pistols) formed Public Image Ltd. he wasn't compelled to define a new genre to sell albums. In other words, a duck was called a duck.
"Get these mutts away from me. You know I don't find this stuff amusing anymore" --Paul Simon