What could make a bubblegum dance comeback possible?
May 16, 2019 18:43:26 GMT -5
Harajuko likes this
Post by M!TCH on May 16, 2019 18:43:26 GMT -5
Hey guys! I want your opinions on a very important question: If bubblegum dance was to make a comeback, in what form do you think it would need to be in, or what would need to be done to make it possible?
Since 2012, bubblegum dance production has been dwindling to an all-time low. It seems that the music industry these days is dominated by a handful of big artists, and most of those artists sing serious songs about love or heartbreak. There is a gap in the music industry for fun, happy, silly dance music, that makes you feel good. I do believe that bubblegum music - or at least a hybrid of bubblegum music - could make a comeback one day.
However, in a world that is so damn serious, in what form would a bubblegum act need to take in order to be taken seriously? I'm not sure if the tongue in cheek look of early traditional acts such as Crispy, Toy-Box and even Aqua would work today. Even groups like Aqua who decided to alter their style to a more "mature look" were still typecast as being that childish bubblegum group, and while their Australia and NZ tour in 2013 to promote their new album was successful, most people who went were fans of their album Aquarium and hadn't heard of "Megalomania."
It seems that's the problem for most 1990s artists, who are being called out of hiding to perform at 90's concerts all over Europe. The Vengaboys have been touring successfully for years, but haven't put out a new single since 2014's "2 Brazil." The group revealed in interviews that they aren't focusing on creating new material at this time because fans are only interested in hearing their old party hits, such as "Boom Boom Boom Boom!!" and don't show much interest for new material at concerts. This is a huge shame but unfortunately something that is true for all of these older 90s artists. It's expensive for them to go back into the studio and create new songs, and if all the fans want to hear is their old tunes, why bother?
What I want to know from you guys is if bubblegum dance was to make a comeback mainstream, what would need to be done to the genre in order for it to be successful?
I think target audience would need to be looked at in detail, possibly with the focus on children. Bubblegum dance was always aimed at children (look at Crispy, Toy-Box, Djumbo, Ch!pz), and if you look at any concert from bubblegum dance artists back in the day you will see that the crowds were full of younger kids. Obviously the bright colours and cheesy song topics were perfect for the younger audience, and often the groups themselves were headlined by kids (Creamy, Popgirlz, Poppis, Small Talk, to name just a few).
It's interesting, however, that bubblegum dance became so popular with adults, I wonder why? It could be the cheeky lyrics that were often riddled with sexual innuendos and double entendres, that were laughed at by the adult audience but (hopefully) went straight over the heads of children back then. Or maybe it was the gaudy fashion of the artists - the bright blue hair of Daze, or the crazy oversized shoes of Cartoons?
Or perhaps it was the sound itself - catchy eurodance was becoming increasingly popular and Johnny Jam & Delgado, as well as other producers such as Dean N', Michael Skouboe, Robert Uhlmann, and Darwich & Garcia had managed to pinoneer a sound that was very unique, with many artists dying to replicate it and jump on the success train. Perhaps if bubblegum dance is to make a comeback it would need to recapture DJs and producers imagination with a new style of dance music, a new synthesizer/bass combination? Or perhaps is there a new style of music sweeping the world at the moment that it can jump on the bandwagon of, just as bubblegum dance jumped on eurodance in the 90s?
I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on this. Sorry my message is so long... I do tend to go on a bit when I get talking about bubblegum. haha
Since 2012, bubblegum dance production has been dwindling to an all-time low. It seems that the music industry these days is dominated by a handful of big artists, and most of those artists sing serious songs about love or heartbreak. There is a gap in the music industry for fun, happy, silly dance music, that makes you feel good. I do believe that bubblegum music - or at least a hybrid of bubblegum music - could make a comeback one day.
However, in a world that is so damn serious, in what form would a bubblegum act need to take in order to be taken seriously? I'm not sure if the tongue in cheek look of early traditional acts such as Crispy, Toy-Box and even Aqua would work today. Even groups like Aqua who decided to alter their style to a more "mature look" were still typecast as being that childish bubblegum group, and while their Australia and NZ tour in 2013 to promote their new album was successful, most people who went were fans of their album Aquarium and hadn't heard of "Megalomania."
It seems that's the problem for most 1990s artists, who are being called out of hiding to perform at 90's concerts all over Europe. The Vengaboys have been touring successfully for years, but haven't put out a new single since 2014's "2 Brazil." The group revealed in interviews that they aren't focusing on creating new material at this time because fans are only interested in hearing their old party hits, such as "Boom Boom Boom Boom!!" and don't show much interest for new material at concerts. This is a huge shame but unfortunately something that is true for all of these older 90s artists. It's expensive for them to go back into the studio and create new songs, and if all the fans want to hear is their old tunes, why bother?
What I want to know from you guys is if bubblegum dance was to make a comeback mainstream, what would need to be done to the genre in order for it to be successful?
I think target audience would need to be looked at in detail, possibly with the focus on children. Bubblegum dance was always aimed at children (look at Crispy, Toy-Box, Djumbo, Ch!pz), and if you look at any concert from bubblegum dance artists back in the day you will see that the crowds were full of younger kids. Obviously the bright colours and cheesy song topics were perfect for the younger audience, and often the groups themselves were headlined by kids (Creamy, Popgirlz, Poppis, Small Talk, to name just a few).
It's interesting, however, that bubblegum dance became so popular with adults, I wonder why? It could be the cheeky lyrics that were often riddled with sexual innuendos and double entendres, that were laughed at by the adult audience but (hopefully) went straight over the heads of children back then. Or maybe it was the gaudy fashion of the artists - the bright blue hair of Daze, or the crazy oversized shoes of Cartoons?
Or perhaps it was the sound itself - catchy eurodance was becoming increasingly popular and Johnny Jam & Delgado, as well as other producers such as Dean N', Michael Skouboe, Robert Uhlmann, and Darwich & Garcia had managed to pinoneer a sound that was very unique, with many artists dying to replicate it and jump on the success train. Perhaps if bubblegum dance is to make a comeback it would need to recapture DJs and producers imagination with a new style of dance music, a new synthesizer/bass combination? Or perhaps is there a new style of music sweeping the world at the moment that it can jump on the bandwagon of, just as bubblegum dance jumped on eurodance in the 90s?
I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on this. Sorry my message is so long... I do tend to go on a bit when I get talking about bubblegum. haha
Bubblegum
