Would you say new wave was the "teen pop" of the late 1970s? It started in the late 1970s with roots as early as 1975, with Kraftwerks single "Autobahn", which was released in 1975 and reached #25 on the Billboard Hot 100. It is krautrock, but song is pretty much the precursor to new wave.

Why I'm asking this question is because many late Generation Jones kids and early Generation Xers who were born in the mid 1960s were becoming teenagers at this time, and early Generation Yers were in the same position in the late 1990s. Both were being recognized as the next generation for music, so they presumably made a genre tailored to them. Kinda to give them a "head start" I guess.

Hmm, in my opinion, New Wave sounds way more 'adult' and 'darker' than the stuff we had in the late 90s/early 00s. You can't really compare them...

I'd rather say that electropop, which became popular in the late 00s, is the teen pop of the 2010s.

Hmm, in my opinion, New Wave sounds way more 'adult' and 'darker' than the stuff we had in the late 90s/early 00s. You can't really compare them...

I'd rather say that electropop, which became popular in the late 00s, is the teen pop of the 2010s.


True, but you're probably thinking of the stuff from 1981 onwards, such as Eurythmics "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)". The songs from 1978–1980 are pretty light and juvenile.

Examples:
Just What I Needed - The Cars (1978)
Heart of Glass - Blondie (1979)
Video Killed the Radio Star - The Buggles (1979)
Whip It - Devo (1980)

As well as some others that I can't remember, but these songs are pretty light hearted.