Talk:Simple Plan/Genre Disputes

This is for SP genre disputes.

Genre Straw Poll
Proposed straw poll deleted by creator


 * This is not a proper way of determining what should be in the article. What is important is what can be verified, articles from reliable sources per WP standards.  Our opinions don't matter.  It is why I have worked hard to keep personal opinion out of the article.  I realize you might say, well, it is only a straw poll.  But the purpose of the talk page is to determine how best to improve the article.  Opinions of random WPers is not the way to do so.--Wehwalt 21:02, 12 February 2007 (UTC)
 * Well... it IS only a straw poll. And also, the definition of a word is what people think it means.  If most people were to think in a thousand years that the word "monkey" were to mean what we think the word "pencil" means today, in a thousand years from now, a monkey WOULD be what we think a pencil is today.  Similarly, if most people were to think that Simple Plan is a certain genre, than Simple Plan WOULD be that genre.  I hope that made sense.  And plus, this IS just a straw poll. -- Ian Lee 21:17, 12 February 2007 (UTC)
 * We also have very, very few reliable sources stating that SP is any genre. -- Ian Lee 21:26, 12 February 2007 (UTC)
 * Oh. let me see . ..

http://media.www.newsrecord.org/media/storage/paper693/news/2005/11/02/ArtsEntertainment/PopPunk.Band.Played.To.All.Ages.Past.Sunday-1041424.shtml?sourcedomain=www.newsrecord.org&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com http://media.www.pittnews.com/media/storage/paper879/news/2005/10/17/Ae/PopPunk.Waves.Its.White.Flag.Surrenders-1786002.shtml?sourcedomain=www.pittnews.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com http://www.inmusicwetrust.com/articles/49p16.html http://www.chicagogigs.com/concerts/simple-plan-tickets.htm http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2002/05/0112.cfm http://media.www.dailylobo.com/media/storage/paper344/news/2002/09/04/Culture/Bands.Punk.Status.Falls.Short-266087.shtml?sourcedomain=www.dailylobo.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com I can go on. . . I'm not sure all of them qualify as rs, but I can match you article for article for those who say they aren't pop punk!--Wehwalt 21:52, 12 February 2007 (UTC)
 * It's just a straw poll... why do you care? Ian Lee 04:42, 13 February 2007 (UTC)
 * The talk page has a specific purpose. If the poll is not here for the purpose of discussing and implementing improvements to the article, then maybe it should not be here.--Wehwalt 08:39, 13 February 2007 (UTC)
 * It IS here for improving the article. I think that if we can get a sample of what most people say Simple Plan is (I'm reffering to the "definition is what we make it" argument above), then we will know what to call Simple Plan, whatever the genre.  Ian Lee 02:59, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
 * I'll repeat, WP is not about us. It is about reporting what OTHER PEOPLE, not WP editors, have said, in reliable sources.  WP editors are not a RS, nor are we a representative sample  We gather what is out there.  We do not create it ourselves.  For example, I could ask for a straw poll on whether W is a war criminal, and if 51 percent said yes, we'd put it in the article?  Not likely.  As I have indicated, the RS out there say SP is pop punk,  If you have RS to the contrary, perhaps you'd care to provide the URLs?--Wehwalt 03:08, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
 * No... what is not likely, is that 50+% of us will say that W is in fact a war criminal... and if for some reason, more than 50% did say that W is a war criminal, I would understand why we would not include that a sample taken showed that people thought W was a war criminal. However, I do not understand why something so trivial as a band's genre should not be allowed a staw poll.  People change the band's genre constantly on the page, and if we really cannot come to a consensus as to what SP's genre is, I do not see how it is in any way possible, that a straw poll would hurt the further development of the article.  Since we cannot come to an agreement on this, because this argument is so trivial (I really don't understand why you care so much), and because I'm just so tired of arguing over nothing, if you really want to delete this straw poll... go right ahead.  I just thought it would be a good idea to have one.  Just trying to help.  Ian Lee 04:23, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
 * I guess because we strive for accuracy in everything on WP, including properly reporting the genre of a band I know you are acting in good faith, and I don't pretend to fully grasp all the differences between genres.  But the bulk of the reliable sources out there, which is what we rely on, says they are pop punk  So it goes.  I thank you sincerely for your efforts to improve this article.  It makes a change from the usual teenie writing in with "Pierre is so HOTT!"--Wehwalt 11:19, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
 * Um... so what happens to the staw poll? I do see you have much senoirity over me as a Wikipedian (im kinda new, and not really a serious editer... more of a reader), so Im asking before I take any action.  Ian Lee 01:22, 15 February 2007 (UTC)
 * You might want to delete it. But it is not my place to.  It is considered rude to delete other people's contributions to talk pages.  You might want to leave some sort of a placeholder, as in {proposed straw poll deleted by creator}.  I'd leave this dialogue in.--Wehwalt 01:34, 15 February 2007 (UTC)

Ending of the genre madness
I have put the genre "highly dusputed". Please keep it that way, because it is obvious that no one can come to a consensus for how to classify the band, and frankly it does not matter. Ian Lee 04:45, 6 January 2007 (UTC)
 * The thing is, Ian, the sources out there, which is what we rely on in WP, describe them as pop punk. If we were to take your suggestion, people might think there was a dispute, say, whether they were classical or jazz.  It is indeed true, as your edit suggests, that they decline to be characterized.  But that doesn't bind WP. As for your inclusion of SPO as a source, I've left it out, but I don't have strong views on it.  Let me look at the articles on other bands with strong followings like SP and see how the editors handle it.  SPO is a fine site, I contribute to it myself, but let's see how it is done.--Wehwalt 14:21, 6 January 2007 (UTC)
 * I put the SPO cite back in. Other bands, such as Blink, have fan sites as external references--Wehwalt 18:21, 6 January 2007 (UTC)

This band is not punk or pop punk
I have heard many people say simple plan has denied being punk or pop punk or any other form of it. Can someone please show me a source for this so we can end this stupid debate?--Terronez 18:32, 17 July 2006 (UTC)

Excuse me? This band is labeled 'Punk'. Most people call it poser punk, but why fight over something you can't change?


 * It is my understanding that the band has declined to characterize itself. However, there are many sources that describe SP as pop punk.  Just google "pop punk simple plan".  There are few that describe it as pop rock, or emo, or whetever else it is claimed to be by people who don't like the word punk, however modified, describing SP.--Wehwalt 18:42, 17 July 2006 (UTC)


 * Most people who say that base it off the fact that they toured with bands like Good Charlotte, who at the most dresses a little punk... They're music is not punk. It doesn't sound punk. Clothes and "fans" do not make a band punk or emo. They are simply rock or pop rock.--Terronez 04:12, 18 July 2006 (UTC)


 * Well, with respect, what you are expressing is mostly your personal opinion and judgment, plus trying to explain away the sources. WP is, to a certain extent, a distillation of what is out there on the Web.  For now, the consensus of sources on the Web says SP is pop punk.--Wehwalt 08:34, 18 July 2006 (UTC)


 * I just want to know what exactly it is that makes the band punk or pop punk... The music played is not pop punk. I'll say it again, clothes and "fans" do not make a band punk--Terronez 02:51, 19 July 2006 (UTC)


 * I don't know. I don't know how to define a genre.  But it is not your opinion or mine that counts.  It is the sources, and they generally describe SP as pop punk.--Wehwalt 03:32, 19 July 2006 (UTC)


 * I have an idea... All these bands that almost every punk says are posers should start there own genre... Like nu-punk or whatever. There's certainly a punk influence there, but the band itself is not actually punk. That's how Linkin Park kept people liking them, and it would stop all these arguments...--Terronez 07:05, 19 July 2006 (UTC)


 * I downt see much punk in simple plans style. I think it would be best to litsten to some bands Such as Ramones or Bad Religeon and compare them to Simple Plan.Cameronrobson 01:36, 20 August 2006 (UTC)


 * Simple Plan are not punk, or pop punk in the more critically conventional sense. Because the definition of pop punk itself falls into two categories: The critically conventional sense of Ramones style pop punk, in which it is an obvious distillation of bubblegum pop to an almost proto-rocknroll form (almost like minimalist art), and then there is Post-Greenday/Blink182 pop punk. This sort of pop-punk has basically come about due to the increasing commercialization and evolution of punk. Some bands of the 80's, especially the Residents, focussed more on the 'pop' than the 'punk', and heavily influenced a generation of kids, most notably blink182, who have in turn influenced a generation. So this type of pop-punk is just a continuing distillation of the style.


 * The Residents? Do you mean the Replacements?

Pop or pop punk?
Considering its roots, I have that doubt... cause they have a pseudo-punk looking... right?

well, thanks, Greedyredbag 23:09, 20 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Simple Plan are pop, I dont see how they could be considered pop-punk or any form of punk

Nothing about Simple Plan's music sounds remotely punk--Terronez 18:58, 11 July 2006 (UTC)

i totally agree, but they're more pop/rock. nothing punk about them except for maybe david in the band.....i dunno...personal opinion really, but i rekon they're pop/rock. peace out. gEorGE144.136.34.13 08:00, 24 August 2006 (UTC)

it's all just a general distillation of bands that have come before: the ramones begat the residents and the residents begat blink 182 and blink 182 begat simpleplan who are so far down the evolutionary chain that they are just such a characture with the hair and clothes. I will also note that on there second album simple plan branched out to a more pop sound with those ballads they did. Jacob

Punk is not a musical style in anyway shape or form, or a fashion, green day is poppunk, they are not even that, there just a pop band

please explain what you mean

"cause they have a pseudo-punk looking..." I disagree, they look alot like a boy/emo band to me. Cameronrobson 21:02, 17 October 2006 (UTC)

Well they have to be some form of rock..listen to the guitarin there songs --HurricaneRo 01:00, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

_____ rock band
Okay, we've got several different anonymous users changing the description in the intro of which particular subgenre of music this band belongs to. Unless someone can come up with a definitive source that describes Simple Plan as pop-punk, punk, emo, death polka, etc., this should remain as "rock band". I don't have the time at the moment to look for such a source, but I will later. android 79  14:49, September 4, 2005 (UTC)
 * "rock band" is a perfectly appropriate description and should remain, as all the specific sub-genres are subjectvie and subject to interpretation. The body of the article can address the style of rock music they play. Jgm 16:35, 4 September 2005 (UTC)
 * It is clear that Simple Plan is a pop-punk band. It is not a punk, it is pop-punk. Deal with it. All reliable sources (f.e. All Music Guide) claim they are a pop-punk band. - Darwinek 20:11, 4 September 2005 (UTC)
 * Alright, I guess I can "deal with" that. android  79  17:28, September 5, 2005 (UTC)
 * :) - Darwinek 17:30, 5 September 2005 (UTC)
 * I would say punk-pop just to stay nuetral, but no matter what they are, they still suck in my opinion :) Protozoic Waste

Emo fits perfectly. Carolaman 23:27, 22 January 2006 (UTC)


 * Screeching Weasel are pop-punk. Simple Plan are pop. --Switch 05:25, 22 February 2006 (UTC)

Simple Plan is not emo or any form of punk. I wouldn't even list them as rock but I guess I could live with it...--Terronez 19:00, 11 July 2006 (UTC)

-- Sebastien Lefebvre isn't the son of Mylon LeFebvre is he? -Tim Rhymeless (Er...let's shimmy) 06:32, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

HELLO????? emo? punk? no! i love simple plan but they are sooooo not punk and so so so so so so so not emo. like i said above-pop/rock! peace out. gEorGE144.136.34.13 08:06, 24 August 2006 (UTC)

I saw somewhere that Pierre said he sees their music as pop-ish. He doesn't describe the band as punk. They're probably more of a Pop Rock band? Heaps of Pop Rock bands these days are being described as Pop Punk. I don't see SP shitting on the government during any of their concerts like what Green Day do. - Ashley —Preceding unsigned comment added by 203.129.159.220 (talk) 17:34, 16 January 2009 (UTC)

Emo fad
Anyone opposed to putting the emo fad thats going on, with the song untitled attached to it?

Could you provide some references? And also sign your contributions?--Gary 20:01, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

Sorry about that, i wasn't able to sign in. ytmnd.com/list/?search=emo < about 90% of these sites have the simple plan song untitled. Here is a specific example : emooranges.ytmnd.com/ Jackpot Den 01:24, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

Maybe list one of the sites as an outside resource? I don't think a description of the emo fad is in place in a band article. I don't think much of the idea, but if you want to give it a try, go ahead and see what the reaction is. It may not last. SP may have haters here, but they also have passionate defenders.--Wehwalt 02:40, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

Who thinks simple plan are just some emo band?
I personally think that Simple plan are emo kids who think "Oh, school is for dumbasses who have no life!" or "Life sucks!" and i think emo kids would think "It's fun to smoke marijuana." Well, i personally think they are Emo kids, but do their kind really think that life sucks and the only way to make it the least bit good is to sniff cocaine or smoke marijuana?

Is emo music, suicide, and drug abuse a fad in 2000-present? If so, i'd rather be out than in!


 * Can you point to somewhere in Simple Plan's work where they promote either suicide or drug use?--Wehwalt 07:28, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

Simple Plan is not emo... Tell me one of there songs that is even remotely emo and I'll listen to it and see, but so far nothing I have heard makes me think that they are emo, or any other form of rock.--Terronez

yeah simple plan is NOT real emo.they could possibly be described as the most watered down made for nickelodeon trying to be cool emo so i guess its emo for 8-11 year olds

yeh. they r so not emo. if theyre emo then good charlotte must be hardcore! gEorGE144.136.34.13 08:09, 24 August 2006 (UTC)

Simple plan's lyrics are very emo, but their music style is not as emo as some bands. Cameronrobson 00:35, 9 October 2006 (UTC)

Wecome to my life is an Emo song....so wouldnt Perfect and unititled be emo also?--65.9.41.28 20:36, 17 October 2006 (UTC)

Excuse me not a single one fo their songs is an emo song.They write songs that come from the heart.They write songs that have had happened to either them or someone else.They write it for people who have hard times going through life.They write meaningful songs.And people who think they are emo can get lost because they are far from it

" They write songs that come from the heart.They write songs that have had happened to either them or someone else.They write it for people who have hard times going through life. " AKA emo songs.142.167.59.91 22:16, 17 January 2007 (UTC)

emo doenst mean emotional! emo is a form of hardcore punk! ok, some bands are emo whithout being hardcore, but is stupid to say that simple plan is emo...their emotional side is pop.

pitoresco 14:26, 9 February 2007 (UTC)

THEY ARE NOT EMO!--SimplePlan4ever89 06:40, 15 August 2007 (UTC)

Emo in
Yep, i put Simple Plan into the Emo section. Genre(s) say they're Emo, and Pop Punk now all thanks to me. I always thought they were just a regular Pop Punk band, u know emulating Blink 182 or even that punk band that sings "It's all downhill from here", but then on Anzac day my friend said that they're emo because "they're too emotional", and other friend said they are emo, and I was like "they don't dress emo, they dress in punk fashion", and then he replied "they're tryhards", and I was like "yup yup" agreed. Darkroom Danny 06:39, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

Kiddo, this ain't a forum. Diestein
 * Thanks, that gave me a laugh! Seriously, though, the discussion upthread was--if you want to describe the band as such and such a type, what you do is cite a source.  The sources generally say pop punk, not emo, so until someone comes along with a sources saying emo (not two friends talking), we keep it this way!--Wehwalt 21:36, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

Stop saying this band is punk
Go listen to some real punk, kiddies, SP is a dumbed down MTV pop punk band, not punk rock, at all.

Personally, I agree with you. I do not think that Simple Plan is punk; in fact, I get insulted when people say it is. This is Alternative. I AM NOT PUNK, and neither is Simple Plan, but it's still good music. It's catchy and clever, and still would be even if the band members were hideous. And if you people hate Simple Plan, why are you even looking up the band?

I have wikipedia's interests at heart, I seek for accuracy, not in the name of such a worthless, forgettable band, but in the name of both this website, and of true punk rock that doesn't deserve being related to a band like this at all, it offends me. ~Anonymous

Simple Plan is just pop. Pop Punk would be bands like the Buzzcocks, Vanilla Muffins, and The Queers.


 * Yeah I agree with you Simple Plan isn't really punk......Maybe they're punk in their heart, listen, love real punk bands and did punk music (I didn't hear Reset...Maybe it was punk but actually their music and, sorry, but even their clothes aren't punk (wearing skateboarding shoes isn't necessary punk). They're more pop-rock.......People here say: sources like All music Guide say that they are punk...Yeah maybe but very often sources like radios and newspapers consider all skinheads as nazis...I don't think that medias are good sources when it's about subcultures. And remember: often punk=anti-medias & anti-establishment...If bands like NOFX refuse that radios play their music how can these radios can say what is punk? I live in Quebec city and I can say that here, radios like Choix Radio X (big capitalist mentality) and Radio Canada (government's radio)cannot even tell what is punk. I've never heard something like Subhumans or Oxymoron at radio...Oh yeah sometimes you can hear Rock the Casbah by the Clash...(the more pop song that they did) and you can hear American Idiot by Green Day (not the others Lps) or some songs on the last album of Blink 182...And how can you say that big corporations (that own radios) can tell what is it when at the shopping center, I can see, in a big record store like HMV, ska like Madness, The Specials and The Selecter classified punk??? Hey! and in Simple Plan's music where is the spirit of DIY and think by yourself, the anger about our society or even the mad fun of singing with humour grosse and/or stupid lyrics that would shock anybody exept weird teenagers????!!! Are they even true rebels??? NO!...Yeah they should have an other name than punk rock...

Pop punk revival
All right finally I changed punk rock into Pop punk revival....really...it was annoying me...I think that's the name of the genre we should give to that group....It's not like old pop-punk like the Buzzcocks so it's revival...."The Pop-punk revival is a mainstream rock music movement, which was more prevelent in California during the 1990s and early 2000s" it's fine with me....and it's true...So Simple plan would be a second wave pop punk revival group from the 2000's....(my god what a name!)I didn't erase my message before this one cause I think that it explains well why we can't just put PUNK ROCK to describe what is that band (And maybe it'll show to those little kids what is good underground punk rock, Oi! and ska that stole my heart...you know punk rock is full of emotions too...i'm kidding...) And for the others, it's sure Id like to label Simple Plan just as pop-rock....but you know mainstream did that bad thing...


 * Yes, I like this idea, we should do it with a lot of other bands. It's there own genre so nobody can really dispute it. Now if we can get people to leave it that way...--Terronez 01:06, 20 July 2006 (UTC)


 * I'm OK with it.--Wehwalt 02:09, 20 July 2006 (UTC)

Emo
These guys are of the emo genre, full stop. most of there songs are about how sad they are, like untitle, welcome to my life, god must hate me, me against the worl etc. They are not pop punk, they are EMO. EMO. EMO. EMO. EMO.

THEY ARE F'N EMO!!!!!!!!!!!!! LISTEN TO THEIR SONGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EMO! EMO! EMO!


 * Huh. I was convinced that they weren't punk until you listed those song titles. "god must hate me", "me against the world"? Sound like classic punk sentiments.

I'm a Simple Band, Am I Emo?
People keep saying that South Park is emo. They are not emo. So please stop saying that they are. The songs may sound emo, but they are not. They write songs about what people go through every single day. "Crazy" is about what the world is like. And "Untitled" is about drink driving and what the effects are after you drink drive. You people really need to listen to what SP plays. If they were emo, how come they haven't commited suicide already?--SimplePlan4ever89 06:41, 15 August 2007 (UTC)

ditto to that simple plan are not emo (218.215.19.85 06:51, 1 November 2007 (UTC)).

Personally, I don't know where all the emo confusion is coming from. To me, emo is very downbeat and non-showy. Basically, not Simple Plan. It's hard for me to think that these guys take themselves too seriously. 65.64.201.97 —Preceding comment was added at 03:20, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

Simple Plan IS emo, and the Whole "downbeat and non-showy" is a bunch of Non-Snese. Emo music is a form of Punk, that sounds very popish, and not a rock feeling at all. Simple Plan has that variation.

""Crazy" is about what the world is like."

So let me get this straight. Crazy is about what the world is like, when their lyrics discuss things like "Photoshoped images on Magazines and surgery" and it "makes no sense to me", and saying "it's what's wrong with society"? Give me a break! It's wars that are a problem with Society. Images on Magazines are the smallest things to bitch about.

"And "Untitled" is about drink driving and what the effects are after you drink drive."

Only their music video does. It can "relate" to the song, but just because a song's music video shows an event, doesn't mean the song describes that meaning. Their lyrics have to actually be a lot more specific than just "How Could This Happen To Me? I made my mistakes. Wah wah wah" There are no lyrics in that song that says things like "I regret drinking and driving".

"If they were emo, how come they haven't commited suicide already?"

Hello! Emo's don't really "commit suicide", Or, from what you may have heard, "cut their wrist". No, Emo's aren't THAT crazy. Those things are said to make fun of emo's because they act so sad, that they look like they want to commit suicide when writing on papers "I'm nothing" or "Death" like on "Crazy" or "Perfect". That doesn't mean they'll kill themselves.

Emo is also all a style of fashion where they dye their hair black, and face it down. On the "Welcome to my life" video, some of the members have that look.

Above all: Plain and Simple as Simple Plan, they're emo. They even show the exact meaning of it, so accept it. ~Goldenfox17~ 05:10, 13 January 2008 (UTC)

~Sonucais~ This is not a forum, gtfo.

Make me XD ~Goldenfox17~ 21:58, 14 January 2008 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Goldenfox17 (talk • contribs)

Reliable sources
I didn't realize there was a specific page to discuss this or I would have done so before hand. These sources all use the term emo in direct reference to Simple Plan. The second site might not be instantly recognizable but it is a well known, respected British site which is widely used as a reliable source. I realize that this is not a popular viewpoint but the sources pass WP:Verifiability so I believe they merit inclusion. Aurum ore (talk) 22:46, 8 September 2008 (UTC)

There are sources which say muse are emo,there are sources that say nirvana are 'powerpop'.i don't get it.why does everyone have to find it vitally important to be proved right when they label a band.the majority of them don't even know what it is.

if you want some bands here's a list:

Sunny Day Real Estate Rites of Spring Moss Icon Indian Summer Cap'n Jazz The Get Up Kids(earlier material) Jimmy Eat World(on the albums 'Static Prevails' & 'Clarity' only) Christie Front Drive Texas Is The Reason Braid Drive Like Jehu Mineral

The Real 2000's bands include Further Seems Forever The Appleseed Cast Circle Takes The Square La Quiete