Punk Rock Copywriting: A Writer's Guide

Say what you want about punk rock, this is a genre that knows how to get your attention. Join me as a I explore a few common attention-grabbing techniques used by Punk Rock Royalty.

Contrast

Contrast is such a wonderful word. Contrast is of course when you take two opposites and combine them in a way that pleases the senses. Black text on a white background. The play between sex and innocence in movies. A violin played alongside a heavily distorted guitar.

In writing, contrast is when you combine two words that would typically not go together. Words that belong to diametrically different worlds. Like talking about pretty blue flowers in a song about, say, vomit-inducing drug abuse. For better or worse, we just can't help but get pulled in by contrasting elements.

Some examples:

• Kiss me, I'm Shitfaced
• Barroom Hero
• White, Proud and Stupid

Grandiosity

Who doesn't love a show boat? Punks are famous for making a big deal about stuff we would normally consider small potatoes.

• The Legend Of Finn Maccumhail
• Finnegan's Wake
• Attack of the Flaming Egos (grandiosity, drama, and cleverness all in one!)

Drama Queens

Closely tied to Grandiosity is drama. And oh my, do punks know how to make a fuss.

• I Wanna Be Sedated
• Fuck Y'all, We're From Texas
• Homophobes Are Just Mad Cuz They Can't Get Laid

Calls to action

These are words that are meant to unite (or isolate) people, words they can stand by or believe in. They're trying to shake people out of whatever comfortable world they're in to tell them that something needs to be done.

• This Is Your Life
• Less talk, more rock (also technically an alliteration)
• Defy You

Alliteration

An alliteration is where multiple words share a prominent consonant, generally the first letter or sound of the word. Like "Jolly John Joined the Jamboree". Alliterations roll off the tongue and tend to stick in our minds longer than other forms of word combination.

• Disorder and Disarray
• Maxwell Murder
• Ska Sucks

Outsider status

Punks have always, whether for intentionally capitalistic reasons or not, profited from perpetuating their status as black sheep. They're not accepted in society, and that's why we love them.

• Hooligans
• Junkie Man
• Refusing to Be a Man

Cultural references

Of all the genres out there, punk is perhaps the most likely to examine pop culture. Ironic, since it's usually to criticize that culture. A convenient side-effect of this is that important events - things every cares about - make frequent appearances throughout punk.

• Blackhawk Down
• Kirk Cameron Sings The Blues
• Oka Everywhere

Sarcasm

Sarcasm holds a special place in the punk rock bag of tricks. The Sex Pistols used it very effectively to launch themselves onto the world stage with the first item in our list:

• God Save the Queen
• Opposite Day (a song about one day of the year where you do the opposite of what you believe... like eating meat)
• And We Thought Nation-States Were a Bad Idea

Photo credit: ceara