The mid 1990s breathed new life into pop punk music, couriering the genre to the center of American youth culture. One of the key players in this movement was Blink-182, a three-piece group that originated in San Diego County in ’92. Blink’s sound would prove definitive for pop punk yet to come, and it remains unmistakable to date. This to the point where you can transplant any given musical number within the margins of the Blink-182 style and immediately see the song itself mutate. Even a song as instantly familiar as Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
Such became the mission statement for musician Alex Melton. The artist recently took the iconic (intended definition value neutral) ballad and performed it in the style of Blink-182. You can behold the product of Melton’s labors right here.
This is in fact only the latest of Melton’s genre-hopping covers. His YouTube channel features a wealth of the like, including other Blink-182-inspired transformations. Below, see Melton Blink-ify Third Eye Blind’s “Semi-Charmed Life,” Barenaked Ladies’ “One Week,” and Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’.”
And.
But also.
Melton also tried the reverse gambit; he took a couple of well-regarded Blink-182 originals and performed them in the style of country music. Namely, the festive 2001 hit “First Date” and the mournful 2004 number “I Miss You.”
We discovered the Journey cover by way of Digg, but Melton’s YouTube channel hosts a library of likewise entertaining experiments. And not all of them involve Blink-182, in case you’re already reaching your quota.
MCA
But if you haven’t quite had enough Blink, 2021 may just thrill you yet. In the winter months, the band’s longtime drummer Travis Barker confirmed the forthcoming release of a new album; Barker added that the album would feature a slew of guest performances from the likes of Pharrell, Grimes, and Lil Uzi Vert. The album is expected to drop some time in 2021.
Featured Image: MCA
