Overview


“C30 C60 C90 Go!” Cassette Single Version[1]C30 C60 C90 Go! Cassette Single Version. Discogs.com, 01 Oct 2014, http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=2263338.

Bow Wow Wow’s use of the Sony Walkman and new cassette technology in the early 1980s allowed the band to contribute to the transformation of the music industry through their efforts in rebranding the punk genre, providing a less controversial way of expressing anti-establishment ideology. In the 1970s, the punk genre faced declining sales which pushed recording labels to search for a new genre capable of appealing to the existing punk audience. This recognition of new wave as an alternative to and refinement of punk allowed groups such as Bow Wow Wow to establish a following and consequent influence. Simultaneously, the 1980s introduction of new cassette technology and the release of the Sony Walkman presented a new medium for music recording and consumption. This refinement of the punk genre into a more personal aesthetic occurred at the same time as the Sony Walkman, which allowed for individuality and private listening without fear of being scrutinized by others. Prior to the Sony Walkman, listening to music was a social activity that left little room for individual listening and personalization in public spaces. This transition is crucial to the development of Bow Wow Wow’s new wave style and how they communicated messages with their listeners. We aim to specifically address how Bow Wow Wow’s song “C30, C60, C90, Go!,” released in 1980, encouraged anti-establishment ideology among their listeners by advocating for music piracy and promoting nonconformity through camp and kitsch aesthetics.

References

References
1 C30 C60 C90 Go! Cassette Single Version. Discogs.com, 01 Oct 2014, http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=2263338.