Why Billie Joe Armstrong Hates the Phrase “Pop-Punk”

I see his point, but I don't think the problem is diversity. I think the problem is that "punk" was supposed to be the opposite of popular. Once punk became pop, something about punk's origins died a little bit. Punk ceased to be a cause or a statement or an ethos or an ethic and became, well, a music genre: one with tropes, standards, cliches, fans, fan expectations, and imitators. But that's the music business, and I'd argue it's better that we have diluted versions of punk or distant cousins of punk rather than no punk at all. Authentic punk though? That existed for a time, it served its purpose, but that mindset matched with that style of music will never exist in the same exact way again.

 

...but the punk scene, where he comes from, wasn't all about this?

 

He isn't wrong.

 

Remember when Green Day were good?

 

I heard their newest album, yeah

 

You're acting like Revolution Radio dropped 20 years ago.

 

Gotta say I agree. I really don't like what the term has come to represent in recent years. A lot of the scene sounds exactly the same. Seems like vocalists think that in order to be "pop-punk" you have to imitate your heroes.

 

Yuck.

 

He sounds like a grumpy old man. Let the kids enjoy their pop punk.

 

I've always hated that phrase.

 

Mudkip!

 

Don't know why people feel the need to make comments like this

 

Because they suck now. It's called having an opinion.

 

There's no need to express your "opinions" in such trolling, obnoxious ways.

 

Go to bed.

 

Lol, k.

 

hostility rears its ugly head once again in a Chorus.FM thread.

idk its hard for me to take Billie serious on this stuff when he regularly uses words like "r*tarded" and "f*ggot" and yes i know hes bi that doesnt make it ok.

 

Thinking he regularly uses those words makes me think you don't listen to them very often

 

im not referring to just the music

 

I don't think he's known to casually throw around either of those words, don't know where you're getting that impression from

 

interviews, live shows, word of mouth, etc.

and even IF it wasnt regularly, once is enough for me to draw the line. theres also that time they dropped the N word in a song. not cool. but hey, do you.

 

As a huge Green Day fan I really think you have the wrong impression about him.

In the context of the lyrics, I completely understand you feeling put off by those words being used.

 

i dont think billie joe is a bad person AT ALL, nor do i think hes racist or homophobic or anything like that.

but the use of those words, even if he was younger or w/e, just really put me off to their music and to them in general. i dont think less of people that enjoy them, just stating my opinion.

 

I completely understand and respect that.