My anectodote is true. Joey hisself was WAY into pop music. He freaking idolized Roni Spector of the Ronettes and all the great girl groups of the 1960’s, really. Of the original four, he was the most “poppy.” He loved all the pop groups back then, not just the Bay City Rollers but the Archies, too. Seriously.
The Archies, like The 1910 Fruitgum Company, were ‘Bubblegum’.
You are entirely true, 100% about Joey Ramone. This is a great and important topic.
Yes, they wanted to be pop stars. But they accomplished something far more important. They basically saved Rock and Roll from itself.
Without them....no New Wave, no Blondie, no Police...no U2.
And finally, they are getting the acclaim they deserve. U2 tells it like it is in their fantastic song, The Miracle (of Joey Ramone).
(And they are beginning their shows in their current tour with this....and I was fortunate enough to have seen it!).
I remember when this song broke on the charts. The world was a much more decent and joyful place back then.
Ronettes - Be My baby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-0upHlWfQ4
She is adorable. And that little salsa dance during the bridge knocks me out.