#Sheena Rocket

[tfc2211]

Sheena Rocket - Vocal Makoto Ayukawa - Guitar & Vocal Toshihiro Nara - Bass Kazuhide Kawashiwa - Drums

The presence of the English word 'Rockets' on the front cover is not referenced in any other part of the cover. The late singer's name is commonly known only as Sheena = シーナ. On this release, however, her name is printed as シーナ・ロケット = Sheena Rocket.

Track B: Koi Wa No No No = No-No-No Love, or Love's a No, No, No.

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

Ramones – Sheena Is a Punk Rocker

[krinsbez]

Presenting...Pulptober 2023

A few months late, and I’m not quite happy with it, but behold:

1-The Shadow/Master of the Mind

2-Doc Savage/Famous Name

3-The Green Hornet/A Rainbow of Justice

4-The Avenger/With A Little Help From My Friends

5-John Carter/All For Love

6-The Lone Ranger/The Mask Does What The Badge Couldn’t

7-The Spider/Tortured Justice

8-Nita Van Sloan/Remember The Ladies

9-John Blacksad/Heroes Don’t Have To Be Human

10-The Grey Seal/Gone But Not Quite Forgotten

11-Domino Lady/Born From Vengeance, Driven To Justice

12-The Punisher/Veteran Justice

13-Hellboy/Hero With Good Publicity

14-Arsene Lupin/The Lawless Bringing Law

15-Tintin/Humor and Heroism

16-The Blackhawks/Men of War

17-Dejah Thoris/Beauty and Badassery

18-The Rocketeer/Average Joe Justice

19-Ogon Bat/Weird Justice

20-Solomon Kane/Learning A Lesson

21-Conan/Adventures Finds You

22-Sheena/Justice From The Jungle

23-The Question/Find The Truth

24-Shang Chi/Master of the Martial Arts

25-Nycatlope/Better Crimefighting Through Science

26- The Phantom/Justice Never Dies

27-G-8/Brushes With Horror

28-The Green Lama/Where Science and Supernatural Collide

29-Jules De Grandin/Ghost Breaker

30-Athena Voltaire/Throwback Heroes

31-Batman/Gizmos & Gadgets

G-D willing, I will self-Rb tomorrow to make sure everyone gets properly tagged.

[katlimeart]

Made in 2017

If you’ve seen this anywhere else, I posted it back on my deviantArt when it was made.

Mario girls cosplaying as characters from the Pokemon anime

1. Oakley

2. Paris

3. Professor Carolina

4. Rebecca

5. Rochelle

6. Rowan

7. Shauna

8. Sheena

9. Solana

10. Towa

[genkinahito]

G-Men, Umibe no Koibito, Haru ni Chiru, Kakatte Koi Yo Sekai, Sheena & Rockets Makoto Ayukawa and his Family Ties, BE:the ONE, Japanese Film Trailers

Happy Weekend I’m going to start publishing trailer posts on Thursdays and Fridays to catch ALL OF the films as they go on release  (typically Friday and Saturday) rather than missing some out because there are too many trailers to post about in one go! Not much going on in terms of video games. Still rocking the 3DS. What are the first batch of films released this weekend? Continue reading…

[punkrockhistory]

46 years ago today

Rocket to Russia is the third studio album by the American punk rock band the Ramones, released on this day in 1977 featuring the singles "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker", "Rockaway Beach" and "Do You Wanna Dance?".

#punkrock #ramones #history #punkrockhistory #otd

[illustrious-rocket]

Find the Word Tag Game

I was one again generously tagged by @blind-the-winds, so let's do it. The words this time are jump, jerk, just and jam.

Jump

“Once upon a time I held a Jewel of Life in my hands, and I have to do so once again…” Discussing her goals brought Sheena a sense of determination that helped her focus. “Saeko Oryo misused one and destroyed the Tenganist holy land at the site that’s now known as the Sinjoh Ruins. But what was once used to destroy can be used to repair, I’m sure of it. If I can find the lost Life Orb and turn it back into a Jewel of Life, I can restore the Sinjoh Ruins back to their original lush state, just like Shaymin did for La Ciudad Dorada. Once that’s done, I will declare that area to be a sanctuary state for my people. Towards those goals, and for the sake of diplomatic ties being established once they are, I want to form an alliance with you and La Ciudad Dorada, Rosalita. But before that, I have to find the legendary Navel Rock in the Sevii Islands. If I can get there, I can meet Ho-oh again and forge an alliance with it. Then, for my people…” Sheena had been staring at the food in front of her while she spoke, so she failed to notice Rosalita stand and walk over to her. She jumped slightly in her seat when she felt Rosalita embrace her again. “Sheena, I understand,” Rosalita said, her voice soft and gentle. “I understand everything. The weight you are carrying is far too much for any one person’s shoulders. Please, I hope you will allow me to help you lift it.” “Rosalita, there’s…” Although she felt guilty for burdening Rosalita with her own problems, Sheena again found her friend’s embrace far too comforting to ignore and settled into it, allowing Rosalita to stroke her hair. “There’s nothing I’d like more.”

Jerk

Pulling away from Lisia, she quietly said, “Thanks for being my friend, then… but, do you get it? My dad, he… he was always there. When he wasn’t anymore… it just… everything fell apart. I never got a chance to say goodbye to him, and then before I knew it my mom wasn’t dealing with it all… and I had to go to Rustboro so Matt could look after me. I know it was what my dad wanted, but… I was so mean to him, too, and he didn’t do anything to deserve it…” “Your mom told me about that, too. I might not know Matt myself, but… if your dad trusted him to watch out for you, I think he understands." "That's the thing." Still gripped by feelings of shame, Olivia looked downward. "Dad did trust him, and all I did was act like a jerk. If Dad saw what I did he would hate me for it." "Olivia, no," Lisia firmly told her. "Your dad might have been a complicated guy with a rough past, but I feel one hundred percent certain when I tell you that he loved you more than anything, and nothing could change that. Honestly, I don't even think death could change it. Wherever he is now, somewhere in time and space with our Sootopolitan ancestors… wherever he is, he still loves you."

Just

“We aren’t heroes, that much is true. But I do believe that in our own way, we really are keeping much worse things from happening in this world, too.” Leaning her head back, Rosalie shut her eyes and reflected upon her own past. “I used to be like you, Gabriel, a starry-eyed prodigy at the Pokémon Institute. I thought I was going to change the world with my work on the medicinal properties of plants, but my dreams were just too big to stay within the Institute’s lines. I want to do good things, I just want to make my discoveries on my own terms and get the credit, instead of having others meddling and taking credit themselves. Since there wasn't a place for me in their environment, I ended up here, with all the other misfits Team Rocket takes in. And ever since Nekou invited me to join her little group, I feel like I've found my place. I guess what I’m saying is, it’s thanks to her that I found where I belong. I know it’s hard to see, but there are good things that came from what you did. We just have to keep working to preserve them.” “You’ve got a point, Rosalie,” Zager conceded, “but I don’t think there’s anything I could ever do to earn her forgiveness, either. I put her in the situation she’s in right now.”

Jam

Father sadly shook his head, briefly causing the hologram to distort. “I don’t blame you for not believing me. You have absolutely no reason to. I also know that it’s too late to undo what you went through, but… I want to make amends for it, Renzo, I truly do. I want to make amends for everything this world did to you. That’s why I sent Finansielle to fetch you… I want you to go with her. She’ll bring you to Polaris’s temple… where we can finally meet face-to-face. Please give me this chance. With Polaris, I can fulfill all your wishes.... Lorenzo Milovy.” Renzo froze at the mention of his true, full name. “How would he know that’s my… there’s no doubt, it has to be him. There’s no other way… he couldn’t know… it would be impossible…” “Well, Renzo, what do you say?” Finansielle playfully asked him. “Or should I say Lorenzo? What a cute name…” Renzo’s whipsawing circumstances had his head in a spin. He’d started out the day supremely confident that the beginning of his long-sought revenge was finally at hand, only to be crushed mercilessly under Anabel’s proverbial heel. And yet, just when all avenues to his lifelong dream seemed completely closed off, here were Father and Finansielle jamming that window right back open again.

[skullsumonermina]

2022 wtrc/chreon fanfic list

You Are Now (Not) Leaving Arklay County  

Chris just had his entire life blown up but at least he has his sister back. Now he just has to survive sharing a bed with the rookie, and figure out what to do next, and wait is that a giant monster man with a rocket launcher--?

Chris is about to have another terrible, horrible, no good, very bad night.

Chris Redfield Loses His Virginity In A Shitty Motel Somewhere In The Midwest (Leon Helps)    

Chris and Leon attempt to bang in a shitty motel somewhere in the midwest.

A lot of alcohol is involved.

Chris Redfield Accidentally Punches Leon S. Kennedy In The Face    

Chris punches Leon in the face (by accident), goes to Kmart, is bad at sex.

Leon S. Kennedy Tries To Bottom (Fails)

"Yeah, okay," came Leon's voice through the thin plywood of the motel door. "I think I hate this."

Chris, who had been sitting on the carpet with his back against the wall beside said door and had honestly expected this replied: "Do you want help?"

  Come Visit Beautiful Sheena Island!    

Things are looking up for Chris Redfield. His sister is back, he's getting laid, pancakes are only a dollar. But they still have to take down the giant pharmaceutical company that murdered an entire city. How are they going to do that? Go to some island and steal some files. Surely this won't be too difficult--

Oh shit it's filled with zombies. Oh no. Oh fuck.

  Leon S. Kennedy Ruins Christmas (He Blew Up Santa Claus)    

It's Christmas time in a Canadian cabin. Chris would like to know where the fuck his sister is and why no one is helping him clear the driveway.

Leon S Kennedy Gets Depression    

In October, 1998, Leon wakes up in bed with Chris Redfield.

In November, 2004, Leon wakes up in bed with Chris Redfield.

Between then, everything is horrible.

[angel-of-reckoning]

Chapter 35 teaser

"Beyond the Reveal Glass"

Working together with Team Rocket, Matt and Nekou go to Pewter City's museum. A powerful item is being donated there, and both Team Rocket and Polaris have their eyes on it. However, the reappearance of an old enemy causes the conflict to escalate. Meanwhile, Olivia and Anabel visit Lavender Town, where Olivia battles Gym Leader Erika.

Character list:

Matt Chiaki

Nekou Lalume

Olivia Mistbloom

Anabel Mistbloom

Sheena Carnet

Giovanni

Dr. Zager

Pierce

Jessie

James

Meowth

Mercury

Geminus

Colress Antimony

Brock

Erika

Zillion

Alec

Lilith

Finansielle

Shadow Triad

[psychedelicpotato]

"No Thanks!: The 70s Punk Rebellion" Box Set Tracklist

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Disc I:

Blitzkrieg Bop - Ramones

White Riot - The Clash

Heart Of The City - Nick Lowe

Boredom - Buzzcocks (feat. Howard Devoto)

(I'm) Stranded - The Saints

Neat Neat Neat - The Damned

In The City - The Jam

Final Solution - Pere Ubu

Roadrunner - The Modern Lovers

Little Johnny Jewel - Television

One Chord Wonders - The Adverts

Born To Lose - The Heartbreakers

Search And Destroy - Iggy & The Stooges

Let Me Dream If I Want To (Amphetamine Dreams) - Mink DeVille

Oh Bondage Up Yours! - X-Ray Spex

1 2 X U - Wire

Blank Generation - Richard Hell & The Voidoids

(Get A) Grip (On Yourself) - The Stranglers

Cherry Bomb - The Runaways

Personality Crisis - New York Dolls

Teenage Depression - Eddie & The Hot Rods

Two Tub Man - The Dictators

Hey Joe (Version) - Patti Smith

Your Generation - Generation X

Disc II:

Lust For Life - Iggy Pop

Gary Gilmore's Eyes - The Adverts

Satday Night In The City Of The Dead - Ultravox!

What Do I Get? - Buzzcocks

X Offender - Blondie

Lookin' After No. 1 - The Boomtown Rats

Don't Dictate - Penetration

Bingo Master - The Fall

Free Money - Patti Smith

The Modern World - The Jam

Chinese Rocks - The Heartbreakers

New Rose - The Damned

Ambition - Subway Sect

See No Evil - Television

Suspect Device - Stiff Little Fingers

Mannequin - Wire

Baby Baby - The Vibrators

Love Comes In Spurts - Richard Hell & The Voidoids

First Time - The Boys

Sonic Reducer - Dead Boys

Shot By Both Sides - Magazine

Mystery Dance - Elvis Costello

Trash - New York Dolls

The Day The World Turned Day-Glo - X-Ray Spex

Do Anything You Wanna Do - Eddie & The Hot Rods

Disc III:

Ready Steady Go - Generation X

Teenage Kicks - The Undertones

Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll - Ian Dury

Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've?) - Buzzcocks

Rocket U.S.A. - Suicide

Mongoloid - Devo

Homicide - 999

Mr. Big - The Dils

Warsaw - Joy Division

Where Were You? - The Mekons

Lexicon Devil - The Germs

(My Baby Does) Good Sculptures - The Rezillos

The Wait - The Pretenders

We Got The Neutron Bomb - The Weirdos

Pablo Picasso - The Modern Lovers

Action Time Vision - Alternative TV

2-4-6-8 Motorway - Tom Robinson Band

We Are The One - The Avengers

Borstal Breakout - Sham 69

Wasted - Black Flag

Sheena Is A Punk Rocker - Ramones

I Love Livin In The City - Fear

She's So Modern - The Boomtown Rats

Ghosts Of Princes In Towers - Rich Kids

We're Desperate - X

You Drive Me Ape (You Big Gorilla) - The Dickies

Dancing The Night Away - The Motors

Disc IV:

Hong Kong Garden - Siouxsie and the Banshees

Hanging On The Telephone - Blondie

Top Of The Pops - The Rezillos

Adult Books - X

The Sound Of The Suburbs - The Members

California Über Allies - Dead Kennedys

Another Girl, Another Planet - The Only Ones

(I Want To Be An) Anglepoise Lamp - The Soft Boys

Radio, Radio - Elvis Costello & The Attractions

Typical Girls - The Slits

Human Fly - The Cramps

Psycho Killer - Talking Heads

Babylon's Burning - The Ruts

If The Kids Are United - Sham 69

Alternative Ulster - Stiff Little Fingers

Boys Don't Cry - The Cure

She Is Beyond Good And Evil - The Pop Group

Is She Really Going Out With Him? - Joe Jackson

Get Over You - The Undertones

Love Like Anthrax - Gang Of Four

Peaches - The Stranglers

Into The Valley - Skids

You Can't Put Your Arms Round A Memory - Johnny Thunders

Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division

[xolta]

Comic/manga movie recomendattions

Xolta's Comic/manga/super hero movie Recommendation list

The Amazing Screw-On Head Ant man Akira The Adolescence of Utena Dark man Dark man 2 Aqua man Dbz: Revenge of cooler Dbz: return of cooler Dbz: Broly Barefoot Gen Ghost in the shell Alita: Battle Angel Guyver: Out of Control Guyver Dark hero Avengers Saint Young Men Avengers infinity war Avengers end game Golgo 13: The Professional Batman Batman Returns The Batman vs. Dracula Batman: under the red hood Fist of the North Star(the anime version) Superman Batman: Public Enemies Batman Unlimited: Mechs vs. Mutants Batman Vs the Tmnt Blade Major Grom: Plague Doctor Captain America: The First Avenger Captian America: civil war The Crow Deadpool Deadpool 2 Iron man Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos Joker Tmnt(1990s movie) tmnt 2:secret of the ooze Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths Justice League: The New Frontier The Return Of Swamp Thing Men in black Devil man Birth Devil man the demon bird Mystery Men The Rocketeer Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence Sheena(its kinda crap but it awakened many things in bab ted) Spiderman Spider man 2 Spider man no way home Super man Super man 2 Tank girl(i love this shitty movie) Time cop Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky Flash Gordon (1980) Black mask Wonder women Xmen xmen 2 Dbz: Fusion Reborn Inyuasha:The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass(nostalgia pick) The Castle of Cagliostro Whisper of the Heart Persepolis The Addams Family HellBoy(original) HellBoy 2 Cemetery Man

Guardians of the galaxy 3

[gerogerigaogaigar]

J Dilla - Donuts

This is the holy grail of beat tapes. This is one of the best albums of all time. Every sample is perfectly chosen, perfectly mixed. The tone is so warm and analog sounding. There are so many albums that I could go on forever about, but this one? Just listen to it. Donuts is the best beat tape ever and one of the best hip hop albums ever made. Listen to it now! Go!

Ramones - Rocket To Russia

After elevating the art of teenage stupidity on their first two records the Ramones decided to go back to their rock and roll roots. And make it stupid of course. 50s-60s rock was always an influence but songs like Rockaway Beach, Cretin Hop, or Sheena Is a Punk Rocker bring that even closer to the forefront of their sound. Plus the choice of covers is perfect. Do You Wanna Dance? a completely sincere and saccharine song and Surfin Bird, an inane jam that predicted punk more than a decade early.

The Kinks - The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society

The most obscure Kinks album. Both in the sense that it is not well known and that it is the most inscrutable. Ray and Dave Davies usually took fairly savage potshots at English suburbia, but on Village Green they seem so much more empathetic. The feeling of time passing is incredibly present here. Nearly every song is about days gone by and how you just can't ever get them back. But it's all presented at a kind of distance. An outsider looking in. They kind of approach middle class life the way westerners approach cultures we deem 'quaint' and 'foreign'. I think that might be the point. To be utterly and completely sympathetic to middle class everymen who are fairly innocent but vote tory, but still reduce them to animal like subjects. A statement about the subject and the viewer. A complete masterpiece and certainly the best Kinks album.

Massive Attack - Mezzanine

The third outing by the Trip-Hop pioneers is a little on the heavier side compared to their previous work. The psychedelic influence is a nice touch, but I'm not sure it makes up for the absence of Tricky, or the fact that some of the psych/dub wanderings get a little lost in themselves. A great album for sure but the newfound intensity doesn't really improve in the formula in the end. Still worth noting Angel and Teardrop for some phenomenal performances from Horace Andy and Elizabeth Fraser respectively.

[mondoradiowmse]

08/14/24 Mondo Radio Playlist

Here's the playlist for this week's edition of Mondo Radio, which you can download or stream here. This episode: "Nasty World", featuring the Minneapolis sound and more. If you dig it, don't forget to also follow the show on Facebook and Twitter!

Artist - Song - Album

94 East - If You See Me - Purple Snow: Forecasting The Minneapolis Sound

Earth, Wind & Fire - I've Had Enough (Live) - Prince's Jukebox: The Songs That Inspired The Man

Stevie Wonder - Superstition (Live) - Prince's Jukebox: The Songs That Inspired The Man

André Cymone - Somebody Said - Purple Snow: Forecasting The Minneapolis Sound

Prince - Sexy Dancer - Prince

Lipps, Inc. - Funkytown - Seventies Disco Ball

Prince - Uptown - Dirty Mind

Sheena Easton - Sugar Walls - The Best Of Sheena Easton

Sheena Easton - Strut - The Best Of Sheena Easton

William Goldstein - Changing Currents - Oceanscape

Sheila E. - Shortberry Strawcake - The Glamorous Life

Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life - The Glamorous Life

Prince And The Revolution - Baby I'm A Star - Purple Rain

Prince And The Revolution - The Beautiful Ones - Purple Rain

The Time - Ice Cream Castles - Ice Cream Castle

Morris Day - Daydreaming - Daydreaming

Rockie Robbins - Emergency - Beverly Hills Cop (Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Prince With Sheena Easton - The Arms Of Orion - Batman (Motion Picture Soundtrack)

The Family - The Screams Of Passion - Girl 6 (Music From The Motion Picture)

The Jets - Rocket 2 U - The Best Of The Jets

Ready For The World - Oh Sheila - The Best Of Ready For The World

Vanity 6 - Nasty Girl - Girl 6 (Music From The Motion Picture)

Wendy And Lisa - Sideshow - Wendy And Lisa

St. Paul - Maybe In Another World - Down To The Wire

Ingrid Chavez - Hippy Blood (Funky House Edit) - Hippy Blood (Single)

Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation - Rhythm Nation 1814

[dutifullybabyrebel]

Ramones - "Sheena is a Punk Rocker" - Rocket to Russia

[alanlechuszaauthor]

Sheena Had Faith In Being A Pop Punk Rocker - Can Pop Punk Be Positive? A Discursive Reading

Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, Fandom, https://hero.fandom.com/wiki/Sheena,_Queen_of_the_Jungle

The Ramones, “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker” (official video), Rocket To Russia,1977.

It’s that season, Comic-Con.  I continue to get email advertisements seeking my attendance to this iconic subcultural event.  I’m not even a fan of comics, fantasy, or other relations within this cultural sphere.  Yet, my limited attention to these items does not prevent the Comic-Con publicist from sending me warm emails inviting me to join the festivities.  Not that I could ever see myself attending such an event, but, in contrast, what these emails did do was make me think about how alternative Comic-Con started, and yet how popular it has become.  With Comic-Con’s punky subcultural origins I was drawn to recount origins of another punky subculture, punk rock.  Thinking through punk rock’s dramatic history my thoughts gravitated toward a specific branch of punk rock - pop punk.  This minor mental detour led me to question, “can pop punk be positive?"

Nebens, Richard. Comic-Con, July 20, 2023. https://thedirect.com/article/comic-con-2023-schedule-when-time-movie-tv-gaming-panels  

Punk, as a cultural expression, has the stereotypes of being anti-social, rebellious, often aggressive and a negative discursive agent for a subcultural identity.  But are these the only signifiers of punk that apply?  Is punk really that limited?  Is it possible for punk to be influenced by, and contain a positive faith-centered objective?  It may be a surprise to some that the answer to each of these rhetorical questions is a dynamic, “yes.”  Following this dialectic agenda, I had to listen – again – to the godfathers of punk, The Ramones.  Who better to serve as a megaphone for punk – at the origins of the punk culture, than a band who established themselves at the epicenter of punk and have gone on to be synonymous with the term itself, “punk rock”.  Fast, short songs, the model uniform (black leather jackets, cut-up jeans, black t-shirts), and song titles that had the hooks built right-in.  Yes, The Ramones clearly cast the definition of what punk was in the 1970s and through to this day (c. 2023).

The Ramones, IMdB. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0708506/

The founding image and voice of the band, Joey Ramone, had some interesting views about pop and surf music during the dawning days of the punk movement. Joey Ramon’s deep infatuation with surf music and bubblegum pop of the 1960s led to aid in the creation of punk anthems that still ring loud and surprisingly clear today.  But were these elements and inspirations too easily overlooked by music journalists, pop musicologists, and fans alike?  Again, the answer to these rhetorical questions comes as a surprised, “yes.”  Taking that absent lead, set in motion by Joey Ramone, I began to wonder, research, and listen to the prophetic 1977 song, Sheena is a Punk Rocker.  This central track to the 1977 Rocket To Russia record, is the kernel of how a punk song was to be formed, produced, expressed.  Simple lyrics, short verses, no extra guitar solos, and a hypnotic hook, Sheena started as a punk troupe, but found itself embedded within the hallowed halls of punk history.  Given all this context, how does this track, Sheena, outline or draw attention to faith in punk?  That’s where the fun begins.

Sheena Is A Punk Rocker, cover, 1977. https://www.discogs.com/fr/release/3307050-Ramones-Shes-The-One-Sheena-Is-A-Punk-Rocker/image/SW1hZ2U6NzIyODQ1Mw==

In 1937/1938, Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, a fictional comic character who is a female counterpoint to Tarzan, King of the Jungle, makes her global debut.  Equipped with abilities to weave various weapons and enduring the untamed jungle landscapes of Africa, Sheena caught the attention of young comic fans at the time (and had a resurgence in 2007). 

Unbeknownst to comic and rock fans alike in the late 1960s/early 1970s, this hypersexualized feminine character was to become the main character in the Ramones song, Sheena is a Punk Rocker.  Joey Ramone’s interest in the comic led him to contemplate what Sheena might consider about punk rock.  In Joey Ramone’s opinion, Sheena would be a fan, hence the birth of the song title and forthcoming iconic track.    Signifying with the developing aesthetics of punk, laced with the sounds of surf and bubblegum pop at the time, The Ramones recorded the song, Sheena, which they coined as the first surf/pop punk song.  It’s this positive punk action which rebels against the negative image of punk’s youthful years.  It was Joey Ramone himself who said, in a 1988 interview that The Ramones were always a positive band (Harris 1988).

A GQ article in 2020 notes that, “The Ramones took positive[ity]…to a whole new level (Jones 2020)”.  Jone’s article continues that The Ramones, “were too postmodern [when they first arrived on the punk scene]…but then at the time the world appeared to be crying out for postmodernism, especially in the music world (Jones 2020)”.  To further exemplify this point, Bono – of U2 fame – notes that U2 was formed around the “idea of friendship and shared spirit.. [t]hat was a preposterous notion before the Ramones (Jones 2020)”.  Following this trajectory, it is not a far stretch to see how the origins of a faith-based pop punk vernacular could be developed and progress going forward following the undercurrent lead The Ramones did and did not speak of nor draw attention.

Positive punk bands - those aligned with a faith-based centrist value - contextualize their faith within the socio-pop linguistics of pop punk c. 1980/90s California/West Coast surf/pop style.  This activation does not reduce the intrinsic faith of the bands, nor their use of punk as a signifier, but rather provides a fruitful platform through which these bands communicate, articulate, produce, develop, and expand the core of their faith. 

This pop faith-based punk genre obfuscates the otherwise noted “positive punk” genre which musicologist have recognized as being the forerunner of the goth, emo, and shoegazer genres (NME 1983).  Avoiding the pitfalls of a negative punk image, that has become a social stereotype in witness to a general essentialist viewpoint of punk being an anti-social, operating outside assumed cultural norms and in objection to being labeled or reduced to a status quo.  The pop punk direction is self-explanatory, “a subgenre of punk utilizing pop culture icons and signifiers.”  This conversive angle embraced by pop punk bands allows for the investment of faith within an expressive discourse operating and communicating beyond assumed negative signifiers of punk.  A voice in faith, a sound in pop punk, a directive positive agency for audience recognition become the outliners for faith-based punk.  There is no shame, no veiled rhetoric, no metaphorical twist or turns for positive faith-based punk bands to express their faith.  The fluidity and dynamics of the punk expressive vernacular are fully and creatively embraced.  The socio-linguistic realities of punk are re-presented through a positive lens to display – on a growing contemporary platform – the necessity for such faith-based punk sounds to help draw attention to current issues facing younger audiences and their balance of social pressures with core faith values.

Faith-based punk bands continue to outsell other “authentic” or “pure” punk bands and genres (2023).  Electing not to be limited to the acceptance from the scripted stereotypes of the punk genre, faith-based punk situates itself in a counter antisocial perspective - functioning outside perceived historic punk norms.  This methodology allows faith-based punk groups to operate freely of the punk industry mechanics, focus on positive actions to issues facing their audiences, and fortify their own faith through the binary agency of punk vernacular and core faith expression.   Founding bands such as Squad Five-O, Slick Shoes, Dogwood and Pocket Change helped pave the road for other bands such as Relient K, FM Static, Flatfoot 56 and This Providence, to speak toward, encourage, and develop a punk expressive situated in faith, positive action for their communities, and location of contemporary culture.

Relevant, 1 September, 2022 https://relevantmagazine.com/culture/music/just-25-songs-from-christian-bands-that-are-still-pretty-great/

Joey Ramone turns out to be more than just the noted “godfather of punk (Jones 2020)”.  He was a prophetic when it came to the direction of positive punk.  It may appear complicated to see how, back in 1976/1977 that a punk band from the alternative outsider music scene in New York would steer the course of where punk was to go in the coming decades.  Yet, by relying upon his belief in being different, Joey Ramones and his fellow bandmates were able to see beyond their personal/political differences and define a clear path that would eventually lead the future of faith-based punk bands to see how possible it is to remain dedicated to their beliefs, appropriate pop punk signifiers and re-present a punk dialectic centered upon positive image, identity, and faith. 

As stated earlier, most musicologist and journalist see the trajectory of the positive punk genre as a subgenre of the punk cannon, a predecessor to other subgenres of punk that bridge together fringe rock expressions.  This review is not entirely incorrect, but does avoid other popular directions for punk, that are not subservient to any sonic hierarchy.  Yes, positive faith-based punk brings attention to a side of punk that may look like an oxymoron, but is more commercially successful, thriving for a global audience, and secure within its own sounding sphere of influence built on faith, positive image, and The Ramones “be yourself” model.

Alan Lechusza

alanlechusza.com

alanlechuszaauthor.com

[paulisded]

The Ledge #594: More From The Hudson Compound

This week's episode is a little peek into the day to day picks I make to get through my day. A few old favorites (ok, quite a few), some fantastic discoveries at the used record store, and some fabulous new vinyl reissues. The main highlight this week is the brand new reissue of Twin/Tone's Big Hits of Mid-America, Vol. 3. Long out of print, Back Groove Records has just put out a limited edition set remastered by Justin Perkins at Mystery  Room Mastering, Milwaukee, WI with vinyl mastering by Jeff Powell at Take Out Vinyl, Memphis, TN. This is one of the great landmarks of late 70s Minneapolis underground rock.

As for this week's edition of the "52 Weeks of Teenage Kicks", I've got a recent discovery by The Main Grains. Led by former Wildheart bassist Danny McCormack, the track can be found on their Don't Believe Everything You Think EP. Like I do every week, however, I must again plead with y'all for more versions of "Teenage Kicks". If you are a musician, or have any contact with artists that could record their own take on the classic, please contact me!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE SHOW!

1. The Main Grains - Teenage Kicks

2. The Honeydogs - Your Blue Door

3. The Bottle Rockets - Indianapolis

4. Wilco - Outtasite (Outta Mind) [Early Version] [Take 6]

5. Teenage Fanclub - What You Do To Me

6. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Mercy Seat

7. Psychic Ills - Mind Daze

8. The Gun Club - Goodbye Johnny

9. Wipers - Doom Town

10. Built to Spill - Fake Records of Rock & Roll

11. Daniel Johnston - Living It For The Moment

12. The Dream Syndicate - Tell Me When It's Over

13. The Rat & The Whale - Wheels On Fire

14. Volcano Suns - Room with a View

15. Parquet Courts - N Dakota

16. The Weakerthans - Psalm For The Elks Lodge Last Call

17. The Commandos - Complicated Fun

18. The Hypstrz - 6654321

19. The Pistons - She Got Sex

20. The Suburbs - Urban Guerillas

21. Fingerprints - Where The Beat Goes On

22. Curtiss A & The Originals - Bad News From Phoenix

23. Das Clamps - You Got Good Shit

24. The Cramps - Sheena's In A Goth Gang

25. CTMF - A Quick One

26. The Who - MARY ANNE WITH THE SHAKY HAND (US MIRASOUND VERSION)

27. The Connection - Color Me Unimpressed

28. Wrens - Built In Girls

29. The Jesus & Mary Chain - Fizzy

30. The Jam - That's Entertainment (Alternate)

31. The Velvet Underground - Ocean (Session Outtake)