Argentina is about to experience Blink-182’s first visit tion which has been long-awaited by the fans as the band still has a firm grip and appeal on diverse audiences even generations. It’s not always easy to accomplish landing a collaboration with this band whose listeners once filled stadiums pumping fists and pushing hearts when golden era of pop-punk was freshly swept through the air of the 2000s however a few more still young generations has also got the strength, rush and thrill of rapid blasts of sound that is the genre and therefore their music as well.
Once, back in the first months of 2023 visit was initially meant to take place – that seemed to be a perfect moment for Blink-182 to have a comeback. The old school fans who have listened to Blink since their early years have passed on the love to the younger generation of fans all the while the bands original core fans still remain. Most core fans of the nostalgic era of the golden age thirty-something would seemingly opt for more serene sounds of a different genre however there is still a huge mix hidden deep within this generation as they have adapted to the rapid modern day sounds which were birthed from distinct areas of pop, hip-hop, and hyperpop.
Blink-182 is one of those groups that any fan would associate with a painful teenage era full of emotions, innocence, and everything else beautiful in the world. In the case of Lara Artesi aka Lara91k, her passion for the band only multiplied when she tried to win a boy’s heart. But like many others, Lara then really fell in love with the group’s music. Humor, catchy tunes, and bored lyrics created and accompanied the entire era of adolescence, growing up, and even today.
Thanks to this, the band obviously is still very relevant because the iconic line up has reunited: Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge, and Travis Barker. Their combination was very versatile, ranging from Hoppus’ deep voice to DeLonge’s heartfelt vocals, all of which contributed to the trademark sound of the band. Although the band was able to continue with Matt Skiba after DeLonge left in 2011, it has been emotionally very important for die-hard fans to see the original members come back, especially fans from Argentina who were looking forward to hearing the classics.
The influence of Blink-182 does not stop at their own genre. Though initially they became synonymous with childish jokes and cringey subjects, their album titled as Blink-182 released in 2003 showcased different moods in their music. Songs such as I Miss You make us feel the emotion and post hardcore influence, which were only beginnings of the emo and sadboy hype-train that would reach its peak several years later. This emotional intricacy in the lyrics has given Blink a special even privileged place of being a part of pop culture which is liked by the older audience and the current generation too.
In addition, Blink-182’s appeal does not only end with the rock crowd. Their howling guitars and vocal harmonies have appeared in trap and hyperpop where electric guitars, djs and emo were all combined. This sort of extend sustained how Blink-182’s music has moved forward, paving the way for a new genre that incorporated punk and modern electro and rap. The resurgence of these sounds, together with the Y2K fashion era makes it pretty safe to say that Blink’s impact on culture is still very prominent today.
The pandemic prompted people to go back and search for pop-punk and its themes of frustration in the existence of people as music journalist Juana Giaimo points out. The music of bands like Blink-182 which features hasty and playful children-like sentiment was perfect for being locked at home, quite reminiscent to times when people were teenagers.
Blink-182’s debut in Argentina should now be considered as a tribute to a band which has never grown old. This generation, as well as the one who has already been acquainted with Blink-182 and his musical endeavors, will still have catharsis through his songs, full of youthful energy, existential questions, and emotions. Blink-182 definitely had and still has a mark on music and culture either by going back in time or exploring something new.