Growing Up: Good Charlotte

I grew up in the late 90s onwards to around '09. The years between 98-09 were some of the weirdest and uncomfortable moments of my life. From liking girls to puberty to figuring out where to go to college, it was a giant mess of hormones, emotions, and alienation. But that is growing up and everyone went through it. It is fun to think back to those years and remember who you used to be and what you used to like. So in this series I will discuss what influenced me while I grew up.

Good Charlotte released The Young and the Hopeless in 2002, which I would consider to be around the height of the pop punk craze. It was around this time blink-182 released Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, New Found Glory released Sticks and Stones, and Sum 41 released Does This Look Infected. So in the midst of these giant bands why did Good Charlotte stand out?

Good Charlotte was basically punk for pre-teens and early teens. Their songs had punk subjects mixed with an amazing upbeat pop punk tone. While bands like the Dead Kennedys appealed to an older crowd, Good Charlotte spoke to younger teens with a softer message. Just compare The Sex Pistol's "Holidays in the Sun" about the Berlin Wall to Good Charlotte's "Boys and Girls", a song about about how girls only like rich guys.

I will admit I only listened to 3 Good Charlotte songs but that is all I ever needed out of them. "The Anthem", "Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous" and "Girls and Boys" are the greatest Good Charlotte songs and some of the best pop punk made that year.

Sum 41 had similar elements, but Good Charlotte was way cooler by taking a twelve year's old idea of what a badass was and turning it into a real person.

In 2002, Benji Madden was the coolest dude I had ever seen in my entire life. He had the classic punk spike head, was covered in tattoos and piercings, and had some juggalo inspired make up on. As a confused and angsty boy, I wanted nothing more than to look and be this man. I remember going to a middle school mixer and my friend showed up with his hair done just like that. I was so jealous. I never understood hair gel and still don't to ever attempt such a feat. Nor did I have the money to afford the Pac Sun clothes necessary to emulate my favorite Good Charlotte band member.

Am I embarrassed to admit that I admired Benji? No. I still think he looks cool. He personifies the '01-'04 pop punk look. 70s and 80s punk hair with a black shirt and like khaki/black shorts. I think that look is so cool. I never had the money to afford any cool clothes back then so I am forced to dress like a member of Sum 41 in 2013 with the fashion money I finally have.

blink-182 circa 2001