[Western Music] Start Here First! A Roundup of Classic, Popular Power Pop Songs

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

Suddenly, but what bands or sounds come to mind for you when you hear the genre “power pop”? Those who are well-versed might immediately name Badfinger and Raspberries—the originators of power pop—as well as bands from the punk and new wave era onward.

However, interpretations vary from person to person, so many may be wondering, “Which ones actually count as power pop?” Its roots trace back to 1960s bands like The Beatles and The Who, but in this article we introduce a curated selection of classic tracks—spanning from the genre’s heyday in the 1970s through the ’90s and 2000s—that we especially recommend for newcomers to power pop.

[Western Music] Start Here! A Roundup of Classic, Popular Power Pop Songs (21–30)

I’m On FireDwight Twilley Band

Dwight Twilley Band – I’m On Fire

I'm On FireDwight Twilley Band

The debut single released in 1975 by the Dwight Twilley Band, led by American pop-rock singer-songwriter Dwight Twilley.

Alongside his 1984 hit “Girls,” it is one of his best-known songs.

The track reached No.

16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

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Til I Hear It From YouGin Blossoms

Gin Blossoms – Til I Hear It From You (Official Music Video)

Til I Hear It From YouGin Blossoms

A song released as a single in 1995 by the American rock band Gin Blossoms.

The lyrics were written by lead singer Robin Wilson, and the music was composed by guitarist Jesse Valenzuela and Marshall Crenshaw.

The track reached No.

1 on the charts in the United States and Canada.

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Just The GirlThe Click Five

The Click Five – Just The Girl (Official Video)

Just The GirlThe Click Five

A track released in 2005 by the American power pop band The Click Five.

It was certified Gold in the United States.

The music video features actor Christopher Knight and model Adrianne Curry, who were dating at the time.

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The Breakup Song (They Don’t Write ‘Em)The Greg Kihn Band

The Greg Kihn Band – The Breakup Song

The Breakup Song (They Don't Write ‘Em)The Greg Kihn Band

A power pop rock song released as a single in 1981 by the American rock band The Greg Kihn Band.

It became their first hit song, reaching No.

15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No.

5 on the Top Tracks chart.

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I Can’t Let GoThe Hollies

THE HOLLIES I Can’t Let Go

I Can't Let GoThe Hollies

A song written by Al Gorgoni and Chip Taylor, originally recorded in 1965 by Brooklyn singer Evie Sands.

This version by The Hollies was released as a single in 1966, reached No.

1 on the UK charts, and became a hit in countries such as Norway and New Zealand.

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