Wonky Pop was a term used to describe a loose grouping of musical acts that played what the BBC called "quirky, catchy and credible pop", rooted in the eccentric side of 1980s pop music, which was briefly popular in the late 2000s.[1] Acts described as being in this genre include Mika, Alphabeat and Frankmusik.[1]
| Wonky Pop | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | Post-punk revival, dance-pop, alternative hip hop, New Wave, synthpop |
| Cultural origins | Mid 2000s, Europe |
| Typical instruments | Electric guitar - Electronic keyboard - Bass guitar - Computer - Drums - Vocals |
Definitions
"Wonky" is a British English word meaning unsteady, shaky, awry, or wrong. The BBC reported that the term was both coined by and is owned by the manager of Mika[2] while The Independent reported the term was coined by Peter Robinson founder of the blog Popjustice.[3]
The BBC describes a UK Wonky Pop a club night as involving "cutting-edge pop, dance, hip hop and everything in between; the club organiser René Symonds states that "the iPod shuffle generation will not be limited to one genre and wants a return to authenticity after years of manufactured pop".[4] The Wonky Pop website sets out a manifesto that states that "We want to show the world that pop is not a four letter word, and for every flaky reality TV winner there's a myriad of cool, credible and weird acts".[4]
A 2008 article in The Guardian contrasted Wonky Pop performers with mainstream pop performers, noting that "Wonky Pop artists are unmanufactured but unashamedly melodic and capable of playing live without recourse to lashings of dry ice, troupes of dancers and an interlude during which they fly around the stage on wires".[1] The Independent stated that Wonky pop caused a change in "pop's division of labour ...away from focus-grouped, production-line pop, and towards DIY [and] ...fresh flavours", which is rejuvenating pop in the 2000s in the way that Britpop gave a shot in the arm to pop in the 1990s.[5] Major influences cited for Wonky Pop acts include David Bowie, Kate Bush, Kylie Minogue, Prince and Madonna[2][1] Wonky Pop was credited with causing a shift in popular musical tastes from male-driven guitar acts to female-driven 1980s style pop music seen in the synthpop revival of the later 2000s.[6]
List of acts
- Alphabeat[1][3][7]
- Annie[8]
- The Big Pink[2]
- Dan Black[2]
- Beth Jeans Houghton[9]
- The Dolly Rockers[10][11]
- Electrelane[12]
- Empire of the Sun[2]
- Everything Everything [13]
- Example[2]
- Flamboyant Bella[14]
- Florence and the Machine[2]
- Frankmusik[1][2][7]
- Girls Aloud[15]
- Hot Chip[16]
- Lady Gaga[2][17]
- Ladyhawke[17]
- La Roux[2][17]
- Little Boots[2][17]
- Lykke Li[18][19]
- Kid Cudi[2]
- Master Shortie[2]
- Metronomy[20]
- Mika[2]
- New Young Pony Club[21]
- Mystery Jets [22]
- Passion Pit[2]
- Queens of Noize[23]
- Sam Sparro[3]
- Shitdisco[24]
- The Ting Tings[3]
- Tommy Sparks[25]
- tUnE-yArDs[26]
- V V Brown[2][27]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f Petridis, Alex (2008-05-02). "We are the outsiders with this music". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Youngs, Ian (2009-01-01). "Electric dreams for pop in 2009". BBC News. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
- ^ a b c d Price, Simon (2008-12-28). "Pop and rock in 2008: Keep it wonky ... it worked for Leonard". London: The Independent. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
- ^ a b "Club Scenes: Wonky Pop". BBC News. 2009-07-14.
- ^ Price, Simon (2008-12-28). "Pop and rock in 2008: Keep it wonky ... it worked for Leonard". The Independent. London.
- ^ "La Roux, Lady Gaga, Mika, Little Boots: the 80s are back", The Telegraph, 5 August 2009.
- ^ a b Lester, Paul (2008-06-11). "New band of the day - No 331: Das Pop". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
- ^ "WonkyPop". Thisiswonky.com. Retrieved 2010-09-05.
- ^ http://www.therocktologist.com/beth-jeans-houghton--the-hooves-of-destiny---yours-truly-cellophane-nose.html
- ^ "Hello Dollies as rockers make it big in model village". Herald Express. 12 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
- ^ Lester, Paul (10 April 2009). "New band of the day: Dolly Rockers (No 525)". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
- ^ http://www.evri.com/media/article?title=Electrelane+at+Scala&page=http://www.thefword.org.uk/reviews/2011/08/electrelane&referring_uri=/concept/wonky-pop-0x3a2cb3&referring_title=Evri
- ^ ""Everything Everything in their right place"".
- ^ Altsounds Interviews: With ... FLAMBOYANT BELLA 7 June, 2009
- ^ Paphides, Pete (2006-10-20). "Girls Aloud: The Trojan horses of pop". The Times. London: News Corporation. Retrieved 2010-05-21.
Such was the clamour to see them sing a canon of wonky pop beauties...
- ^ http://www.ilikemusic.com/news/Hot_Chip_Night_And_Day
- ^ a b c d Sullivan, Caroline (2008-12-17). "Slaves to synth". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
- ^ http://www.thisiswonky.com/news.php?item=88
- ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/dec/15/new-band-tommy-sparks
- ^ http://livemusic.fm/gig/wonky-pop-tour-tickets-o2-academy-newcastle-newcastle-upon-tyne-30-may-2009
- ^ "Club Scenes: Wonky Pop". BBC News. 2009-07-14.
- ^ Dot To Dot Festival NME 5 June 2008
- ^ http://www.timeout.com/london/clubs/event/127320/smash-and-grab-present-wonky-pop
- ^ Shitdisco NME 17 April 2010
- ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/dec/15/new-band-tommy-sparks
- ^ http://www.noripcord.com/features/top-50-albums-2011-part-two
- ^ Lester, Paul (2008-07-10). "New band of the day - No 347: VV Brown". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
External links
- Wonky pop website http://www.thisiswonky.com/