PUNK GOES POP Confirms That I am Old as Hell

I got this email today…

I remember when the first few of these came out and included mostly pop songs that I knew pretty well, with the occasional track that I shrugged off as something the radio crowd must dig even though I’d not heard of it… but then I read the track list of this new one…

1. State Champs “Stitches” originally performed by Shawn Mendes

2. Dance Gavin Dance “That’s What I Like” originally performed by Bruno Mars

3. New Years Day “Gangsta” originally performed by Kehlani

4. The Amity Affliction “Can’t Feel My Face” originally performed by The Weeknd

5. Andy Black (feat. Juliet Simms) “When We Were Young” originally performed by Adele

6. Grayscale “Love Yourself” originally performed by Justin Bieber

7. Capsize “Fake Love” originally performed by Drake

8. Boston Manor “Heathens” originally performed by Twenty One Pilots

9. Eat Your Heart Out “Shape Of You” originally performed by Ed Sheeran

10. The Plot In You “Let It Go” originally performed by James Bay

11. Ice Nine Kills “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” originally performed by ZAYN & Taylor Swift

12. Seaway “Closer” originally performed by The Chainsmokers (feat. Halsey)

13. Too Close To Touch “In The Name Of Love” originally by Martin Garrix & Bebe Rexha

 

 

This email troubled me… for several reasons…

First, the obvious. I don’t know virtually any of these songs. I think I may know the Adele song, but I’m not even entirely sure that I do. But, hey, I don’t do pop music that’s on the radio really. That’s not too alarming.

Second, I realized that over half of the original artist were completely foreign to me. Even those I’ve heard of, I’ve barely actually heard. The Weeknd, Ed Sheeran, Twenty One Pilots… I know of all of these acts, but I don’t know any of their music, really. But really, who the hell is Kehlani or Bebe Rexha?

Finally, the greatest blow to my aging punk rock ass came with the realization that I don’t even know the punk bands covering the pop songs. I know of Dance Gavin Dance… I thought I’d heard of Ice Nine Kills until I realized I actually just understood the literary reference… that’s literally it. This is what really hurts… I used to be in touch with the punk world… but now I’m just an old man who reminisces about the good ole days, it seems.

I feel ya, Danny… I feel ya…

thepaintedman

Founder / Professional Nerd

Justin has been running websites since his first Geocities site in 1994, but only did he ever start covering anything of substance years later. After he stopped regularly running local concerts in Northern NJ and the greater Philly area, he knew he needed to step up his writing game if he expected to continue to get free music to listen to. He writes regularly here and at Cinapse, as well as contributing to a few other sites on occasion. He likes music, film, the Philadelphia Eagles, the 76ers, talking about Criminal Justice, reading Intelligence Report, and his family... not in that order. His beautiful wife is far more talented than he is and his kids far more adorable... and crazy.

Tags: Adele, Aged, Aged Out, Aging, Bebe Rexha, Dance Gavin Dance, Ed Sheeran, Ice Nine Kills, Kehlani, Old, Old Head, Old Punk, Pop, Punk, Punk Goes Pop, Punk Rock, The Weeknd, Twenty One Pilots