No one really seems to have a good working definition for power-pop; it’s become a generic term to describe catchy, guitar-driven, three-minute pop songs. When you look at Wikipedia’s “list of power-pop artists” a lot more music than even the current Wikipedia definition suggests are present: “power pop” seems to include everything from alt. country to new wave and glam to garage.

But one thing’s for certain, people know power-pop when they hear it. Here are three songs that might be totally unrepresentative of the genre, but will surely fill your ears with catchy, bubblegum rock goodness.

20/20 – Remember the Lightning

Along with the Plimsouls, these Tulsa, Oklahoma natives started an exceptionally brief power-pop boom on the L.A. scene in the late 70s and got signed to a major label. Sounding like a British version of an early Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, 20/20 made a couple of great albums in the late 70s/early 80s that never caught on with the general public.

Never was that Petty influence more obvious than on “Remember the Lightning,” a song which the band admitted was a blatant homage/rip-off of Petty’s “American Girl” as viewed through a Beatles sycophant’s eyes. The song has virtually the same structure as “American Girl” but with its searing (but subtle) use of synthesizers, crunching guitars, and the best use of Brit accented vocals from a non-Brit this side of Guided by Voices’ Robert Pollard.

The Raspberries – Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)

One of the constants of power pop, despite how catchy and commercial the songs might sound, is that the genre hardly ever gets radio play. Sure, there’s the breakout songs like Fountains of Wayne’s “Stacy’s Mom” or Fastball’s “The Way,” but for the most part, power-pop only appeals to cultists.

This seems to be the idea behind “Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)” by Mentor, Ohio’s The Raspberries—a band that managed to out-Who The Who. Listening to “Overnight Sensation” with its driving, all-over-the-place drums, the catchy, three-chord riffing, immaculate production, and impeccable vocals courtesy of Eric Carmen, it’s clear The Raspberries not only wanted to be The Who, but that they managed to make songs that Pete Townshend would probably be jealous he couldn’t call his own. While the band only scored minor hits in their heyday, “Overnight Sensation” suggests that in an alternate universe, these men were already rock gods.

Sweet – Teenage Rampage

Like The Raspberries, Sweet seemed to consider themselves arena rock gods straight out of the gates. Although their image is more often associated with glam rock, the Sweet were unabashed bubblegum pop; falsetto harmonies lifted from the Hollies, drums and guitars snatched directly from The Who (Townshend was often named as an influence and counted himself a fan of the group), and songs that would fit easily alongside such bubblegum pop luminaries as the Archies. They were as scary looking as Judas Priest, but as harmless as the Monkees.

“Teenage Rampage” opens with a crowd cheering, “we want Sweet!” before the band explodes into the ultimate anthem for teenage rebellion—a call to arms for teens everywhere to start an uprising, “come join the revolution / Get yourself a constitution / Recognize your age / It’s a teenage rampage.” Although it may come off as a bit silly in today’s climate, it’s also charming and exciting in the same way as Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out” and I’ll be damned if one doesn’t feel like acting out a few scenes from Lindsay Anderson’s If… after hearing this.

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