Bubblegum Pop Music: Notable Artists and Characteristics

Bubblegum pop was a subgenre of pop music and rock ‘n’ roll that rose to prominence in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. Bubblegum pop songs hinged on upbeat melodies, simple lyrics with sing-along choruses, and danceable rhythms. The term “bubblegum rock” refers to its intended audience—preteens and teenagers—and the sweet nature of its subject matter, which largely concerns young love.

Most bubblegum pop acts were one-hit wonders—acts that achieved brief mainstream success with a single hit record—who rarely played on their own recordings. However, their songs remained staples of oldies radio and influenced several other music genres, from glam rock and punk rock to the ‘90s era vocal pop of boy bands.

The history of bubblegum pop begins in the late 1960s with a handful of hit songs:

• Influences: Many pop and rock bands and music genres influenced the sound of bubblegum rock. Chief among them were the pop-rock sounds of bands like the Beatles and songs from the Brill Building, a haven for songwriters in New York during the early ‘60s. Both sounds featured tight vocal harmonies, clever songwriting, and undeniable rhythms, all of which would fuel the sound of bubblegum pop.
• Early efforts: Though countless pop, rock, and novelty songs were foundational elements of bubblegum pop, the true roots of the sound lay with a handful of bands from the late ‘60s. These acts included the R&B-influenced groove of Tommy James & the Shondells, the Beatles-influenced pop-rock of the Monkees, and one-off groups like the Lemon Pipers (“Green Tambourine”) and Royal Guardsmen (“Snoopy vs. the Red Baron”).
• First hits: Bubblegum pop in its truest form began in 1967 when an Ohio Group called the Music Explosion released a cover of the Little Darlings’ 1965 single “A Little Bit O’ Soul.” Jerry Kasenetz and Jeff Katz recorded the single for Laurie Records, which rose to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
• The sound takes off: The success of “Soul” caught the attention of Buddah Records record executive Neil Bogart, who started to create similar-sounding hits for his label. Kasenetz and Katz soon produced a slew of songs for Buddha that became bubblegum classics: “Simon Says” by the 1910 Fruitgum Company; “Yummy Yummy Yummy” and “Chewy Chewy” by the Ohio Express; and “Gimme Gimme Good Lovin’” by Crazy Elephant. In most cases, no actual bands played on these recordings, which instead featured a collection of veteran session musicians. The success of Kasenetz and Katz spurred other labels to craft their own bubblegum pop songs.
• Bubblegum explosion: This second bubblegum wave expanded on the formula by removing actual pop groups from the equation and actual human beings. Animated characters performed one of the biggest bubblegum hits, the Archies’ “Sugar, Sugar,” on a Saturday morning cartoon. The real guiding force behind the song was producer/co-writer Jeff Barry, who tapped singer-songwriter Ron Dante and several studio musicians to stand in for Archie, Betty, and Jughead.
• Non-conventional stars: Other prefabricated bubblegum stars included the costumed characters the Banana Splits and the Partridge Family, a pop group spawned from a live-action TV series about a family band.
• Bubblegum decline: Bubblegum pop’s time on the charts was short-lived. Changing tastes in young listeners and the lack of a follow-up hit for most bubblegum acts, save for the Partridge Family, spelled the subgenre’s decline only a few years after its inception.
• Influencing future sounds: Bubblegum pop proved a lasting influence on many of the genres that followed: glam acts like the Bay City Rollers and punk groups like the Ramones drew on its model of catchy choruses and hook-heavy melodies. Bubblegum also provided a template for the puppy-love songs of the boy band/girl group subgenre of the late ‘90s.

Several characteristics define the sound of bubblegum pop, including:

1. 1. Lyrics: Bubblegum pop songs featured simple lyrics anchored by a central idea or metaphor that resonated with young listeners. Children’s games were a frequent choice (the 1910 Fruitgum Company’s “1-2-3 Red Light”), as were sweets or kid-friendly food as a stand-in for romance (“Sugar, Sugar,” “Chewy Chewy”). Choruses were memorable and frequently repeated throughout the song.
2. 2. Performers: Bubblegum vocalists delivered songs in a friendly, playful, upbeat manner. High harmonies were a staple of bubblegum pop, especially on choruses. The lyrical content was neither threatening nor salacious.
3. 3. Sound: The sound of bubblegum pop echoed the tone of its vocals: fun, positive, and innocent. Songs typically featured a traditional pop-rock lineup of guitar, bass, drums, and keyboards; the rhythm section drove the song and minimal soloing. Production was highly polished, and melodies were always catchy.

There are many notable bubblegum pop artists in the genre’s history. Among them are:

1. 1. The Archies: Promoter Don Kirshner managed the Monkees before disputes over performing their own songs led to his dismissal. After severing ties with the band, Kirshner would play a part in creating the seminal act of the bubblegum pop genre: The Archies. When the animated characters in The Archie Show formed their own band, Kirshner assembled a group of singers and studio musicians to record material for the “group.” Songwriter-producer Jeff Barry was the primary architect of the group’s sound, for which he recruited fellow singer-songwriters Andy Kim, Ron Dante, and Toni Wine to provide vocals. The Archies enjoyed three Top 10 hits between 1968 and 1969, including two No.1 hits: “Sugar, Sugar,” and “Jingle Jangle.”
2. 2. The Ohio Express: A fictional band created by Jerry Katzenetz and Jeff Katz, the Ohio Express scored a major hit for Buddha Records with 1968’s “Yummy Yummy Yummy.” Songwriter Joey Levine was the driving force behind the band, writing and producing “Yummy” and three additional Top 40 hits before departing the group in 1969. Studio musicians recorded the songs while various regional groups performed as the Ohio Express for live dates.
3. 3. The Partridge Family: The Partridge Family bloomed from a fictional family band on a TV sitcom into a genuine pop-rock group in the early 1970s. The show’s producers, Screen Gems, released an album of songs featured on the sitcom to promote the show in 1970, which generated a chart-topping hit with the 1970s single “I Think I Love You.” Series star Shirley Jones and her real-life stepson, David Cassidy, were the only cast members who performed on the album. Meanwhile, studio musicians dubbed vocals and instruments for the other Partridge kids. The Partridge Family broke the bubblegum mode by earning four more Top 20 hits and releasing nine albums from 1971–1973.
4. 4. Tommy Roe: Singer-songwriter Tommy Roe scored a No. 1 hit in 1962 with the rockabilly-tinged single “Sheila,” but later succeeded as a bubblegum artist in the late 1960s. “Sweet Pea,” released in 1966, pointed him toward the genre with its sing-song chorus, but the frothy “Dizzy” was his true entry into bubblegum pop. Roe scored a fourth gold single with 1970s country-flavored “Jam Up and Jelly Tight,” but subsequent efforts failed to reproduce its success. Roe remained active on the oldies and rockabilly circuits until his retirement in 2018.

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