"They seem to have liberal political views, based on their lyrics.
Politics didn't really come in to their music in a big way until American Idiot in 2004, followed by 21st Century Breakdown in 2009.
Green Day, especially Billie Joe Armstrong who writes most of the lyrics, are strongly opposed to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
They did not agree with the Bush administration, and supported Obama for the 2008 election campaign.
The music video for The Saints Are Coming, for which Green Day collaborated with U2 shows scenes of destruction after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Like many other Americans, Green Day believed that the Bush administration could have dealt with the hurricane (and other events, such as 9/11) in a better way.
Billie Joe Armstrong and his wife and two young sons traveled to New Orleans to help rebuild damaged homes.
Holiday is a song that deals with war themes, and has an anti war message ("the shame, the ones who died without a name" refers to fallen soldiers, and there are other lyrics throughout that refer to politics and war)
Bascialy they're liberal and not afraid to broadcast their political views. All you have to do is watch the first fifteen minutes of Bullet In A Bible to see that.
But they're also happy to follow up their beliefs - ie actively supporting/promoting Obama and rebuilding homes in New Orleans."
(http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091207201919AAojgd5)
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Billie Joe Armstrong Quotes About Political Songs
"Do you think musicians have a responsibility to have a social or political message in their music?
The only people who should sing about social issues or politics are the ones who aren't full of s___. It can't just be some empty rhetoric and a bunch of finger-pointing. If you're going to write a political song, it's gotta come from the same place that you write a love song. I have that song, "Don't wanna be an American idiot." I'm talking about myself and what's going on in my country at the same time."
(http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1997442,00.html)
The only people who should sing about social issues or politics are the ones who aren't full of s___. It can't just be some empty rhetoric and a bunch of finger-pointing. If you're going to write a political song, it's gotta come from the same place that you write a love song. I have that song, "Don't wanna be an American idiot." I'm talking about myself and what's going on in my country at the same time."
(http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1997442,00.html)
Further Note on Holiday Lyric Meanings
"Sieg Heil to the President Gasman, Bombs away is your punishment
Pulverize the Eiffel Towers, Who criticize your government
Bang bang goes the broken glass and Kill all the fags that don't agree
Trials by fire setting fire, Is not a way that's meant for me."
This spoken bridge of the song makes references to Nazi Germany, George W. Bush, and France's refusal to support the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Pulverize the Eiffel Towers, Who criticize your government
Bang bang goes the broken glass and Kill all the fags that don't agree
Trials by fire setting fire, Is not a way that's meant for me."
This spoken bridge of the song makes references to Nazi Germany, George W. Bush, and France's refusal to support the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
Satire Review on the E4 Series Dead Set
"For a one-sentence pitch ("The contestants in Big Brother have to fight off a zombie outbreak from the Big Brother house"), Charlie Brooker's satirical splatterfest is admirably versatile: if you hate Big Brother, you can enjoy watching it all being torn to pieces by ravenous zombies; if you love Big Brother, then you're really going to enjoy watching it all being torn to pieces by ravenous zombies."
(http://www.denofgeek.com/television/135886/dead_set_review_episode_1.html)
(http://www.denofgeek.com/television/135886/dead_set_review_episode_1.html)
Monday, 27 June 2011
Wake Me Up When September Ends Lyric Meanings
Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends
Like my father's come to pass
Seven years has gone so fast
Wake me up when September ends
Here comes the rain again
Falling from the stars
Drenched in my pain again
Becoming who we are
As my memory rests
But never forgets what I lost
Wake me up when September ends
Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends
Ring out the bells again
Like we did when spring began
Wake me up when September ends
Here comes the rain again
Falling from the stars
Drenched in my pain again
Becoming who we are
As my memory rests
But never forgets what I lost
Wake me up when September ends
Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends
Like my father's come to pass
Twenty years has gone so fast
Wake me up when September ends
Wake me up when September ends
Wake me up when September ends
" In this song Armstrong reveals his feelings about his father who died in September of 1982 when Armstrong was 10 years old. However this is not the only meaning that this song bears. For most Americans the month of September is associated with the 9/11 terrorist attacks of 2001. A lot of people have lost their loved ones to that tragedy and September (which comes on the album as track 11) is connected not only to the death of the author's father, but also to the families of the victims of 9/11, and the pain of losing loved ones in general. This is a song of wisdom and acceptance. "Drenched in my pain again, becoming who we are" - the realization of the fact that everything we go through, all the pain and losses, all the hardships we meet along the way are meant to make us stronger and shape our personalities.
In the video for this song we see a young couple that gets separated by the circumstances. This shows the director's view of the song: we should treasure our loved ones and never take them for granted, because they can be taken away from us any moment. "
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends
Like my father's come to pass
Seven years has gone so fast
Wake me up when September ends
Here comes the rain again
Falling from the stars
Drenched in my pain again
Becoming who we are
As my memory rests
But never forgets what I lost
Wake me up when September ends
Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends
Ring out the bells again
Like we did when spring began
Wake me up when September ends
Here comes the rain again
Falling from the stars
Drenched in my pain again
Becoming who we are
As my memory rests
But never forgets what I lost
Wake me up when September ends
Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends
Like my father's come to pass
Twenty years has gone so fast
Wake me up when September ends
Wake me up when September ends
Wake me up when September ends
" In this song Armstrong reveals his feelings about his father who died in September of 1982 when Armstrong was 10 years old. However this is not the only meaning that this song bears. For most Americans the month of September is associated with the 9/11 terrorist attacks of 2001. A lot of people have lost their loved ones to that tragedy and September (which comes on the album as track 11) is connected not only to the death of the author's father, but also to the families of the victims of 9/11, and the pain of losing loved ones in general. This is a song of wisdom and acceptance. "Drenched in my pain again, becoming who we are" - the realization of the fact that everything we go through, all the pain and losses, all the hardships we meet along the way are meant to make us stronger and shape our personalities.
In the video for this song we see a young couple that gets separated by the circumstances. This shows the director's view of the song: we should treasure our loved ones and never take them for granted, because they can be taken away from us any moment. "
More Green Day Political Views Research
" Using their famous three-chord melodies, the spiky-haired trio Green Day have been lambasting President George W. Bush.
“It was a little hipper to be apathetic (back then),” says singer-guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong. “Right now, it’s more about facing danger. That’s what growing up is all about.” "
“Reality television meets news and war ... tanks going into Baghdad with splashes of Viagra commercials in between. I was just so confused about what was going on. It comes from that standpoint,” Billie Joe Amrstrong said.Thursday, 23 June 2011
Holiday Song Meaning
Say, hey!
Hear the sound of the falling rain
Coming down like an Armageddon flame (Hey!)
The shame
The ones who died without a name
Hear the dogs howling out of key
To a hymn called "Faith and Misery" (Hey!)
And bleed, the company lost the war today
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
On holiday
Hear the drum pounding out of time
Another protester has crossed the line (Hey!)
To find, the money's on the other side
Can I get another Amen? (Amen!)
There's a flag wrapped around a score of men (Hey!)
A gag, a plastic bag on a monument
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
On holiday
(Hey!)
(Say, hey!)
(3,4)
"The representative from California has the floor"
Sieg Heil to the president Gasman
Bombs away is your punishment
Pulverize the Eiffel towers
Who criticize your government
Bang bang goes the broken glass and
Kill all the fags that don't agree
Trials by fire, setting fire
Is not a way that's meant for me
Just cause, just cause, because we're outlaws yeah!
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
This is our lives on holiday
" "This song is not anti-American, it's anti-war" - Billie Joe Armstrong.
Hear the sound of the falling rain
Coming down like an Armageddon flame (Hey!)
The shame
The ones who died without a name
Hear the dogs howling out of key
To a hymn called "Faith and Misery" (Hey!)
And bleed, the company lost the war today
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
On holiday
Hear the drum pounding out of time
Another protester has crossed the line (Hey!)
To find, the money's on the other side
Can I get another Amen? (Amen!)
There's a flag wrapped around a score of men (Hey!)
A gag, a plastic bag on a monument
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
On holiday
(Hey!)
(Say, hey!)
(3,4)
"The representative from California has the floor"
Sieg Heil to the president Gasman
Bombs away is your punishment
Pulverize the Eiffel towers
Who criticize your government
Bang bang goes the broken glass and
Kill all the fags that don't agree
Trials by fire, setting fire
Is not a way that's meant for me
Just cause, just cause, because we're outlaws yeah!
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
This is our lives on holiday
" "This song is not anti-American, it's anti-war" - Billie Joe Armstrong.
Many famous seers have suggested a prediction that the end of the world will come after or during World War III. So, the line "Hear the sound of the falling rain, coming down like an Armageddon flame" could mean that the war Bush has started might cause unfixable damage to the world. "The shame, the ones who died without a name" is referring to everyone who's fallen victim of the political battles that the power-hungry country leaders pull us into. All the soldiers, all the victims of the terrorist attacks - they all "died without a name". Starting a war is never the right answer ("Trials by fire setting fire...").
Holiday could be considered an anti-Bush song to a certain extent. The author shows his disgust towards the power-hungry president who will destroy anything that confronts him "Pulverize the Eiffel towers who criticize your government. Bang, bang! goes the broken glass, kill all the fags that don't agree"). Another issue might be the amount of vacations the president is taking - the current state of international politics is "the dawning of the rest of our lives", and the president is always on holiday.
The song also shows different sides of the political fence - the line "Another protester has crossed the line to find the money is on the other side" is criticizing Democrats ("There's one line that sort of messes with the liberals a little, too, where it says, 'Hear the drum pounding out of time, another protester crosses the line to find the money's on the other side'" - Billie Joe Armstrong). " "
American Idiot Song Meaning
Don't want to be an American idiot.
Don't want a nation under the new media
And can you hear the sound of hysteria?
The subliminal mind fuck America.
Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Where everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue.
Well maybe I'm the faggot America.
I'm not a part of a redneck agenda.
Now everybody do the propaganda.
And sing along to the age of paranoia.
Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Where everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue.
Don't want to be an American idiot.
One nation controlled by the media.
Information age of hysteria.
It's calling out to idiot America.
Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Where everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue.
Don't want a nation under the new media
And can you hear the sound of hysteria?
The subliminal mind fuck America.
Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Where everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue.
Well maybe I'm the faggot America.
I'm not a part of a redneck agenda.
Now everybody do the propaganda.
And sing along to the age of paranoia.
Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Where everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue.
Don't want to be an American idiot.
One nation controlled by the media.
Information age of hysteria.
It's calling out to idiot America.
Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Where everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
For that's enough to argue.
"This song was strongly opposed by some people in the US because of its controversial lyrics that express the author's attitude towards the George W. Bush administration, as well as certain relevant political and social issues. Some people believe that this song is anti-American, because of its title and harsh sarcastic comments. However, if you pay attention to the lyrics you may see that in many ways the song is highly patriotic.
The title of the song is referring to the author's opinion that these days politicians and the media are telling us what to do, what to buy, what to believe in. We are constantly being subliminally mind-fucked by commercials, campaigns and reality TV. They turn us into idiots with no individuality. In this song, the narrator is saying that he doesn't want his nation to be turned into complete idiots, he doesn't want his country to be led by a redneck president ("I'm not a part of a redneck agenda"), doesn't want people to be convinced that it's right to hate someone because of their sexual preferences ("maybe I'm the faggot America"), doesn't want the nation to be isolated and detested because of stupid decisions that the government makes ("Welcome to a new kind of tension, all across the alienation").
This song is an overview of the album's most important ideas, as well as a sort of a warning calling out to the people across the country: don't let them take away your personality, don't let them turn you into Idiot America."
(http://www.geekstinkbreath.net/greenday/song-meanings/american-idiot/)
(http://www.geekstinkbreath.net/greenday/song-meanings/american-idiot/)
American Idiot Political Views
"The album kicks off with the short and sweet first single “American Idiot.” Billie Joe Armstrong’s signature voice rattles through the anti-government lyrics: “Can you hear the sound of hysteria? / The subliminal mind-fuck America.” Hold on a second. Does this mean Green Day is being political? Apparently."
"The rest of the disc is what people have come to expect from Green Day, just with politically charged lyrics. The album should come with a sticker reading “Now with new poignant lyrics!” Tracks like “Holiday” and “Give Me Novacaine” deliver what are essentially old Green Day songs just with new content. Armstrong bellows on “Holiday”: “I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies.” Ouch. Apparently little Billie is all grown up now and feels like sticking it to the man. Stick away Billie."
(http://badgerherald.com/artsetc/2004/10/01/green_days_political.php)
Subliminal - (of a stimulus or mental process) Below the threshold of sensation or consciousness; perceived by or affecting someone's mind without their being aware of it
"The rest of the disc is what people have come to expect from Green Day, just with politically charged lyrics. The album should come with a sticker reading “Now with new poignant lyrics!” Tracks like “Holiday” and “Give Me Novacaine” deliver what are essentially old Green Day songs just with new content. Armstrong bellows on “Holiday”: “I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies.” Ouch. Apparently little Billie is all grown up now and feels like sticking it to the man. Stick away Billie."
(http://badgerherald.com/artsetc/2004/10/01/green_days_political.php)
Subliminal - (of a stimulus or mental process) Below the threshold of sensation or consciousness; perceived by or affecting someone's mind without their being aware of it
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
American Idot Album Review
"Anyone doubting Green Day's current popularity 15 years into their career might need reminding that, despite not having released a record since 2000, they headlined the final day of this year's Reading Festival. The Berkeley trio's upbeat, poppy punk—equally indebted to The Kinks as The Ramones—shows no signs of fatigue, but has now been put to blantly political use. Hingeing on two five-part epics, American Idiot deals with the disillusionment and despair of the USA post-9/11, but fans will be relieved to know that although it pulls few lyrical punches, slam-dancing is still possible."
(http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/green_day/reviews/8453)
Disillusionment - A feeling of disappointment resulting from the discovery that something is not as good as one believed it to be.
- The high abstention rate at the election reflected the voters' growing disillusionment with politics
Post 9/11 - A term used to describe the current state of living in the United States or other parts of the world after the September 11 attacks, in reference to the many changes that have occurred due to the attacks
(http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/green_day/reviews/8453)
Disillusionment - A feeling of disappointment resulting from the discovery that something is not as good as one believed it to be.
- The high abstention rate at the election reflected the voters' growing disillusionment with politics
Post 9/11 - A term used to describe the current state of living in the United States or other parts of the world after the September 11 attacks, in reference to the many changes that have occurred due to the attacks
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