Who Are the Modern ‘Bubblegum’ Pop-Stars?

I read “Bubblegum” by Lester Bangs, in the now out of print edition of “The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll”, last night as I watched the finale of American Idol. The dumb ditty “Yummy Yummy Yummy”…I`ve got love in my tummy was rollin` through the vacant parking lot that I call my brain. I concocted connections between Bubblegum Superstars, such as the Archies or Tommy James and the wholesome AI Kris. As I took in Lester`s funny, but wise observations about Bubblegum, I wondered who are our contemporary Bubblegum Pop-Stars?

Lester Bangs says: “The basic bubblegum sound could be described as the basic sound of rock and roll-minus the rage, fear, violence and anomie that runs from Johnny Burnette to Sid Vicious.” Thus, pop music has been sanitized of all angst, anxiety, paranoia, or ‘real world’ ills. We are free to be happy as children in a Sesame Street video. The Archies 1969 # 1 hit “Oh sugar/Sugar honey/You are my candy girl/& I can`t stop wanting you…” is the obvious apotheosis of Gum Rock. I still remember cereal box cardboard records that you could actually play on your record player!

& don`t forget the Bubblegum Pop-Star cards of like The Monkees that you pick up at your local Quick Stops! So Ladies & Gentlemen, Step Right Up & be heard! Who are the Modern (look-alikes to The Archies, the Ohio Express, or 1910 Fruitgum Co.) Bubblegum Pop-Stars? I`m thinking` of one right now…?  BUBBLEGUM LIVES!

No related posts.