The Bottom Line
OK, like everyone suspected, Good Charlotte are clearly much more of a pop band than anything really resembling punk. If nothing else, touring with Justin Timberlake also confirmed the fact. However, freed from the necessity of fitting in with the pop punk crowd, Good Charlotte really can be a lot of fun. Despite the breakup, "I Don't Wanna Be In Love (Dance Floor Anthem)" is proof a little bit of Hilary Duff rubbed off.
Pros
- Just try to avoid singing along
- Those deliciously retro new wave synths
- Yep, you'll wanna dance, too
Cons
- It's a bit trite, too
- The rough edges are completely gone
Description
- Kicks off with rock guitars
- 80's new wave pop keyboards take over
- Everything builds toward the easily singable pop chorus
Guide Review - Good Charlotte - I Don't Wanna Be In Love (Dance Floor Anthem)
Once upon a time Good Charlotte's Joel Madden and Hilary Duff were the ultimate young odd couple in popular music. He was the tough punk from a rough background and she was the ultimate teenage pop princess. However, time passes, and now we see the similarities. On her album Dignity, Hilary Duff proved she's tougher than most of us imagined, while we've also discovered the Maddens really do have a soft spot for teen pop.
There's a brief moment of rapid fire guitar kicking off "I Don't Wanna Be In Love (Dance Floor Anthem)," but from the moment the 80's keyboards kick in we're in a dreamy world of dance pop. The lyrics have an occasional touch of bitterness, but hey, the ultimate message of the song is "We break up it's something that we do now / Everyone has got to do it sometime." Pick yourself up out of that gloom and dance with Good Charlotte!
This single could be a pivotal one for Good Charlotte. They made their name with pop punk, but "I Don't Wanna Be In Love (Dance Floor Anthem)" threatens to be the band's biggest hit yet by reaching out to new audiences. Pop kids will be well aware of the band after their prime touring spot with Justin Timberlake. If this single is what we can expect in the future, Good Charlotte may even help define a new pop-rock mainstream on top 40 radio.
