What do you look for in a pop punk song?

[chumpradio]

What do you guys like in pop punk songs?

Personally, I think that the perfect song would:

Have original lyrics, which are witty and have hidden meanings.
Have a really catchy chorus, with a build up in the pre-chorus.
Have great chanting back-up vocals somewhere.
Have interesting bass fills, but done in a subtle way that they aren't too over the top, and fit in with the music well.
Have a relatively simple guitar riff that sticks in your head.
Have a guitar solo that fits well with the song and isn't insanely crazy.
Have lots of good drum fills.
Features a good build up before the final chorus featuring a drum roll, tremelo picking and some sort of scream. (A good example of the build up I mean is at the end of Everlong by the Foo Fighters)


I know this thread isn't too amazing, but it just came to my attention that the forum needs more new threads, and this is the first idea that came to my head.

Also, post songs that are, in your opinion, close to being perfect pop punk songs.

[irishbasketcase]

it has to be anthemic, the crowd has to be able to sing along, a solo that is just knida like a riff but played with high notes, not like some shredd, a chant thing is good, like the way greenday do the 12-1234 thing, thats great, the song has to be played well, lyrics should be original yet simple so everyone can sing along, it has to be somehting everyone relates to, a catchy chorus, the song should be able to break down into a drum and bass thing, so the frontman can interact woth the crowd, like green day do, see punk is all about the live show

[Gnarmageddon]

It has to be catchy, and easy to sing along to.

Perfect example: MxPx - Destroyed By You

Good basslines are also a must.

[ChodaBoy]

Just something fun to listen to, rather than all of this emotion-filled pop-punk there is today.

[Untitled]

Just something fun to listen to, rather than all of this emotion-filled pop-punk there is today.
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[Get Fighted]

It has to be good instrument wise, not just just power chords played all the way through and the bass doing root notes or at least use them in an interesting way (i.e an Interlude). It has to be meaningful and have a loud and breathtaking chorus. This is the perfect pop punk song IMO, The closest song i have heard to this is:- Boxcar Racer - The end with you.

[Dead Star]

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[Permanent Solution]

I'm not picky. All I look for is something that catches my ear. Sure, some stuff I'm like "Whoa, I want to learn to play that song!" but for the most part Pop-Punk is my fun listening stuff. If I want technical masterpieces I listen to Classical or Metal or Jazz or something.

[Firecracker]

Singalongability.

EDIT: I'm listening to Alk3 - Good Mourning for the first time in a million years.

[Rats!]

a nice, easy, one or two chord guitar solo like the one in Fall Out Boy - Dance Dance

[Ross]

Just catchy, generally feel good songs. Classic songs about girlfriends and teen stuff is fun, like the old blink, but also just general songs about anything really that's fun. None of this "oh my god I'm so depressed my life sucks" crap.

Millencolin - Fingers Crossed (so damn poppy, catchy, simple, cheesy feel good lyrics, can't fault this but for lack of a simple happy solo)
Blink - First Date (yay for another song that's so pop-punk its almost sickening)
The Offspring - All I Want(fast, short and sweet. No Brakes would fit well here too)
Green Day - Welcome To Paradise(lovely)
Less Than Jake - Gainsville Rock City (I'd say All My Best Friends, but that's a cliché classic song)

That's all the main kiddie pop-punk bands covered for me personally, although those songs aren't perfect, they're damn good for simple easy ultra-pop-punk listening.

[CommieCanada]

i dont listen to much pop-punk anymore but the band that i can go back and listen to all have these aspects:

- singalonability
- relatability
- not sophmoric
- witty (FOB style)
- usually dealing with something more serious than high school and girlfriends (i.e. Jawbreaker)

[B]

MXPX is pretty awsome, they have some really good catchy pop punk songs.

[FungusAmngus870]

Something that doesn't consist only of broken power chords and palm muting. It needs to be creative in a sense where it doesn't sound like a song that a million other bands also play. Catchty, Witty lyrics are also helpful. I grew out of the Blink 182 thing a few years ago, so I look for complexion and skill to a certain extent.

[RIP Ian Curtis]

One word: Hooks

[Reaganista]

pogo-ability is the key element in a pop-punk song for me

[Gnarmageddon]

MXPX is pretty awsome, they have some really good catchy pop punk songs.
It has to be catchy, and easy to sing along to.

Perfect example: MxPx - Destroyed By You

Good basslines are also a must.
*h5*

pogo-ability is the key element in a pop-punk song for me
I never knew you were into pop punk. :chug:

[B]

MXPX - Never Learn

*h10*

[plaidbassbilly]

I love it when songs have clappy parts, and then at shows the whole crowd can do the clappy part. Eg: Adore by Sunset Avenue.

And also when the song fills you with a good feeling, and is kinda punchy ala Somewhere On Fullerton by Allister.

[Dinosawesome]

Sophisticated lyrics, a unique sound and an irresistable hook.

[Agent_Orange]

Uhhh....well mostly some verses a couple of repeating choruses. A kick arse mid riff, some heavy laying transitions and a kick arse look.

[Reaganista]

I never knew you were into pop punk.
oh yeah man

i used to not like it but then i decided to stop trying to impress the cool kids and give it a fair shake

[poprocks&coke]

Catchy chorus. That way it gets stuck in my head and I want to listen to it more.

[Firecracker]

MXPX is pretty awsome, they have some really good catchy pop punk songs.
Exactly why i like them.

[16 Nipples]

MXPX is pretty awsome, they have some really good catchy pop punk songs.

Yeah im seeing them on the 27th with The Starting Line, cant wait.

I think a good Pop/Punk song needs:

-Lyrics you can relate to
-Catchy verse AND chorus
-A great interlude, providing some variation to the song
-A catchy guitar riff

Thats pretty much the foundations of a great Pop/Punk song.

I think Blink 182- All The Small Things is a great example of this, no matter how 'pop' people say it is, it is ****in catchy!

[B]

TBH I think ATST is highly overrated and it kind of sucks. It's one of their worst songs IMO.

[Gnarmageddon]

MXPX - Never Learn

*h10*
neenee neee nee, neenee nee nee neee neee ne neeeeee

oh yeah man

i used to not like it but then i decided to stop trying to impress the cool kids and give it a fair shake
Good choice.

[RIP Ian Curtis]

TBH I think ATST is highly overrated and it kind of sucks. It's one of their worst songs IMO.


Maybe, but it still pwns anything on the two albums following it.

[plaidbassbilly]

I don't think every pop-punk song has to have the same feature everytime to make it good. There are all kinds of different pop-punk songs that are made great by their vocals, melody, drumming...it's different each time.

[iamhollywood88]

*screaming intro* you can't do this every song on the album of course... but one is sweet... i also like band where the is lots of bridges, because VCVCVCC is not a good song to listen to!!! more like IVCB1vB2B3CC, that's the way i like it ^_^

[SunnyDayRealEstateAM]

I look for:
-Good lyrics
-Nice guitar riffs, not too complicated but not too simple
-Up beat drums
-Lots of Energy
-I like a keyboard/synth but doesn't have to be there
-If screaming the music has to be really good
-Something you can shake your hips to

Some Band That Do That:
- On the more pop-punk side: Saves The Day
- With A Synth: Head Automatica
- With Screaming: Showbread
- Lots of Originality: Kane Hodder

[bottlerocket]

It's gotta be catchy...that's why I listen to pop-punk songs. Catchy as hell and I can really just chill out to it. :thumb:

Interesting guitar/bass/drum riffs and runs are a plus, too.

-Gav

[trumpeter]

...What everyone else said


and that it can keep my interest, not something that will bore me.

[Skippy Prat]

a pop punk song has got to have an upbeat energy with a lightend mood such as a silly song or sumthin all thoses bands like yellowcard and mxpx arent pop punk and if u disagree yoyu can suck my left nut theyre ****ty powerpop

[B]

Go listen to old mxpx and say that fag.

[Hep Kat]

Catchy lyrics and good hooks.

[Skippy Prat]

Go listen to old mxpx and say that fag.
i have and it doesnt matter what u were its what u are

[xFEAR-AND-LOATHINGx]

haha, the first thing i thought of while reading your description of what you look for is

"Please play this song on the RaAaDiIOoOo"

(NOFX)

[B]

i have and it doesnt matter what u were its what u are
And what you are is a fag kthx.

Yellowcard and new MXPX do have elements of pop-punk whether you think they do or not. Just because they don't match whatever definition you have given the genre doesn't mean **** all.

[Skippy Prat]

Just because they don't match whatever definition you have given the genre doesn't mean **** all.

then the same goes for you too, assjockey

[Hep Kat]

Hey, hey...

Don't argue over this.

This is supposed to be the chill part of Mx :cool:

[B]

Not when someone is being stupid it's not. Ask Mike, if he ever comes back. Me and him go at it all the time.

[deathscreamingsheep]

I like anything that's got a big catchy chorus and hook-line in the lyrics, but also poetic or clever or well-written lyrics.

Vocals are of paramount importance because with a minimalistic approach to instruments, the vocals are very 'centre stage'.

I also like originality obviously and also random stuff that shouldn't really be good but is e.g. most of Coheed and Cambria's stuff- who can take seriously a band who write songs about posessed bicycles? Well, I still love them anyway.

Is Fall of Troy pop-punk? Whatever they are I like that sort of stuff too.

But more than all this I just like something that grabs me. One of my favourite pop-punk songs ever is Imperial Vipers "Kick a Hole".

[CrimbleVan]

well basically i dont really look for anything - if my ears like it, then i'm down with it