Wonky pop
| Wonky pop | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | |
| Cultural origins | Mid-2000s, Europe |
| Typical instruments | |
| Other topics | |
Wonky popwas a loose grouping of musical acts that played what theBBCcalled "quirky, catchy and crediblepop",rooted in the eccentric side of 1980s pop music, which was briefly popular in the late 2000s.[1]Artists associated with the genre includeMika,AlphabeatandFrankmusik.[1]
Definitions[edit]
"Wonky"is aBritish Englishword meaning unsteady, shaky, awry, or wrong. The BBC reported that the term "wonky pop" was both coined by and is owned byMika's manager,[2]whileThe Independentreported the term was coined byPeter Robinson,founder of the blogPopjustice.[3]
The BBC describes a UK wonky-pop club night as involving "cutting-edge pop, dance, hip hop and everything in between"; club organiser René Symonds states that "theiPod shufflegeneration 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, "We want to show the world that pop is not a four letter word, and for every flakyreality TVwinner there's a myriad of cool, credible and weird acts. "[4]
Style[edit]
A May 2008 article byThe Guardiancontrasted 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 Independentstated that wonky pop caused a change in "pop's division of labour... away from focus-grouped, production-line pop, and towardsDIY[and]... fresh flavours ", which is rejuvenating pop in the 2000s in the way thatBritpopgave a shot in the arm to pop in the 1990s.[3]Major influences cited for wonky pop acts includeDavid Bowie,Kate Bush,Kylie Minogue,PrinceandMadonna.[1][2]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 thesynthpoprevival of the later 2000s.[5][6]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^abcdPetridis, Alexis(2 May 2008)."'We are the outsiders with this music'".The Guardian.guardian.co.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 3 April 2015.Retrieved2 July2009.
- ^abYoungs, Ian (1 January 2009)."Electric dreams for pop in 2009".BBC News Online.Archivedfrom the original on 27 October 2018.Retrieved6 February2009.
- ^abPrice, Simon (28 December 2008)."Pop and rock in 2008: Keep it wonky... it worked for Leonard".The Independent.Archivedfrom the original on 4 February 2009.Retrieved6 February2009.
- ^ab"Club Scenes: Wonky Pop".BBC News Online.14 July 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 17 July 2009.Retrieved12 December2009.
- ^Sullivan, Caroline (17 December 2008)."Slaves to synth".The Guardian.guardian.co.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 28 February 2014.Retrieved9 February2009.
- ^McCormick, Neil (5 August 2009)."La Roux, Lady Gaga, Mika, Little Boots: the 80s are back".The Daily Telegraph.Archivedfrom the original on 27 October 2013.Retrieved6 August2009.