Bubblegum pop is a type of music that is lively and easy to remember. It is made for children and teenagers. The term also describes a specific kind of rock and pop music that started in the United States in the late 1960s. This style came from garage rock, novelty songs, and the Brill Building sound. It was aimed at young people who were about 10 to 15 years old. A famous example is The Archies' 1969 song "Sugar, Sugar," which helped start a short-lived trend of Saturday morning cartoons that included pop rock songs similar to bubblegum pop.

The name "bubblegum" was first used by producer Jeffry Katz. He said that when he and his partner talked about their audience, they thought of teenagers and young children. At the time, they often chewed bubblegum, and they joked that their music was like bubblegum. The term became widely known later by Neil Bogart, a manager at Buddah Records. Over time, the word "bubblegum" was sometimes used to describe pop music that people thought was not serious or long-lasting.

Most bubblegum artists only had one popular song, though some groups like the Cowsills, the Partridge Family, and Tommy Roe had more success. This style of music was popular until the early 1970s. Some people argue about what music should be included in the bubblegum genre, such as dance-pop, disco, teen pop, and boy bands. The original bubblegum sound also helped shape other music styles like punk rock, new wave, and melodic metal in the 1970s.

Definitions

The term "bubblegum" is sometimes used as a negative label and has several meanings. The 2001 book Bubblegum Music Is the Naked Truth explains that "bubblegum" does not include teen pop or boy bands. Instead, it defines the term as:

• "The classic bubblegum era from 1967–1972"
• "Disposable pop music"
• "Pop music created and sold to appeal to pre-teens"
• "Pop music made in a factory-like way, led by producers and using singers with little individuality"
• "Pop music with a light, happy sound often called 'bubblegum.'"

Artists in this style were usually solo performers. Their songs often had easy-to-sing choruses, themes that seemed simple or childish, and a sense of innocence, sometimes mixed with hints of adult topics. Comparing bubblegum to power pop, writer Dawn Eden said: "Power pop tries to touch your heart and feet. Bubblegum tries to reach any part of your body it can, as long as you buy the record." Critic Lester Bangs described bubblegum as "the basic sound of rock 'n' roll—but without anger, fear, violence, or a feeling of emptiness."

There is disagreement about which artists belong to this genre, especially for groups like the Monkees. Music historian Bill Pitzonka said, "What makes a record bubblegum is an artificial innocence that feels real. It must sound like the artists truly mean it." Critic David Smay argued that disco is similar to bubblegum and that since bubblegum is "dance music for pre-teen girls," the genre should include dance-pop and artists like Stock Aitken Waterman and Kylie Minogue. However, he also noted that not all dance-pop is aimed at children and should not be considered disposable.

Precursors

According to music historian Carl Caferelli, "You could possibly think of almost every cute novelty song, from songs from before rock music became popular like 'How Much Is That Doggie In The Window' to important rock songs from that time like 'Iko Iko,' as a real early example of bubblegum music's short-lived themes." He also listed these "important earlier examples" as "I'm Henery the Eighth, I Am" (Herman's Hermits, 1965), "Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron" (Royal Guardsmen, 1966), "Ding, Dong! The Witch is Dead" (the Fifth Estate, 1967), and "Green Tambourine" (Lemon Pipers, 1967).

Original commercial peak (1968–1972)

American bubblegum pop was often similar to garage rock, but less serious and less focused on romance. Both styles shared some musical influences, but bubblegum pop had a simpler, more playful sound. British bubblegum pop also came from many talented musicians and songwriters. However, it had a different style compared to American bubblegum. British bubblegum pop was not strongly influenced by rock music and did not often focus on themes that appealed to young children.

The term "bubblegum pop" is usually linked to the success of two songs from 1968: "Simon Says" by the 1910 Fruitgum Company and "Yummy Yummy Yummy" by the Ohio Express. Tommy James of the Shondells said he may have created bubblegum music in 1967 with his song "I Think We're Alone Now." Producers Jerry Kasenetz and Jeffry Katz said they first used the term "bubblegum" to describe their music. They explained that they chose the name because they were thinking about their audience—young teenagers—and they were chewing bubblegum at the time. The term was later used by Buddah Records executive Neil Bogart, who helped make it popular.

The Archies' song "Sugar, Sugar" became the most popular song of 1969 and encouraged many other artists to create bubblegum-style music. The song's success led to a short-lived trend called "cartoon rock," which included pop-rock songs in the bubblegum style on Saturday morning cartoons. Most of these songs did not appear on pop music charts when released as singles. However, "The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana)" by The Banana Splits reached number 96 on the Billboard Top 100 and number 94 on the RPM charts in early 1969.

Robin Carmody of Freaky Trigger wrote that British bubblegum music from 1968 to 1972 was different from American bubblegum. He described British bubblegum as simple, childish, and full of energy and clear ideas. He also noted that British bubblegum connected the more pop-oriented music of the mid-1960s with the later glam rock style.

1970s hits and influence

Bubblegum music acts were often famous for only one song, though some groups like the Partridge Family and Tommy Roe were exceptions. The genre remained popular until the early 1970s but lost its chart success afterward as music trends changed. Producers like Kasenetz and Katz later focused on different types of music. Chuck Eddy, writing in Bubblegum Music Is the Naked Truth, noted that by the 1970s, bubblegum became more about a style of music than a specific type. In the UK, bubblegum became popular in the early 1970s but was no longer favored by the end of the decade. In 2010, author and musician Bob Stanley explained that many musicians who grew up with bubblegum later used its influences in their work. Though critics often ignored bubblegum, its simple songs, fast rhythms, and memorable melodies helped shape punk rock. The Ramones, a well-known punk band, used fun, cartoon-like characters and performed two popular bubblegum songs, "Little Bit O' Soul" and "Indian Giver." Pitzonka also discussed bubblegum's lasting impact.

Bubblegum dance

The term "bubblegum dance" is sometimes used to describe a type of music. An example is the 1971 Osmonds song "One Bad Apple," which was inspired by the Jackson 5's style. Another example is Eurodance from Denmark, such as the song "Barbie Girl" by the group Aqua.