When I had yet to break the double-digit birthday mark, I used to hear Wake Me Up When September Ends and Boulevard of Broken Dreams while ridding in my dad's car. I liked the songs, but in those days it didn't occur to me to ask who wrote them, much less that I could listen to more songs by the same artist if I chose to. So I never really cared much about Green Day until last year.
That was when I found the song Holiday on my families' iTunes.
I fell in love with that song. The sound, the beat, the lyrics, all were different from the songs I was listening to at the time and immensely appealing to me.
The name Green Day was seared into my head. Not long after, I heard their iconic Basket Case. I felt that song was just as good as Holiday, which made me stop and look at Green Day seriously. Out of four songs of theirs that I had heard, I loved four. Was it just coincidence? I decided to find out. I started looking up their songs on youtube. Almost every single one I loved, and then bought.As the year progressed my Green Day library grew. Every time I listened to a new album, a handful more songs would land in my iTunes library. It was wonderful.
These last few weeks have seen rapid-fire buying of nearly every Green Day song I hear, including four just last night. It's been a bit of a nuisance writing this blog post, actually. I make a list of my favourite songs, then new ones come and mess it all up!
On top of that my view of the songs changes daily. Obviously, this list is fluid and should be taken with a grain of salt. I'll encourage you to make your own judgement; I've linked to at least on version of every song on the list. Please do listen in, as you'll have no idea what I'm talking about otherwise. I'm counting on you knowing what parts I'm talking about. Turns out that it's rather hard to describe songs!
All links will open in a separate window. Enjoy!
(That's drummer Tré Cool up above, by the way. I was having a hell of a time trying to caption him!)
| Billie Joe Armstrong, Lead Guitar / Vocals |
15. Hitchin' a Ride
Hitchin' a Ride is lucky to be presenting itself to you right now. Yesterday Jesus Of Suburbia would have been ranked higher then Hitchin' a ride, but for whatever reason I wasn't feeling it today. Jesus of Suburbia has fallen to sixteenth. Only a song like Hitchin' a Ride could have knocked it off the top 15 list.
There are three keys to making this song great. First, the rolling bass of Mike Dirnt to lull the listener into the song. Second, while some accuse all Green Day songs of sounding the same (Laura!), Hitchin' a Ride has a much different feel then anything else on this list. The arrogant, dry commentary by lead singer / guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong ties in seamlessly with the bass. Finally, that one strangled scream by Billie Joe Armstrong just before the two minute mark is insane enough to land this song a place in the top 15 all by itself.
14. American Idiot
Give a listen to American Idiot, hear how epic it is, and be amazed that thirteen more Green Day songs could be better then it.
The classic Green Song combines kick-ass guitar and drums with stirring lyrics. Not necessarily lyrics I agree with, but stirring all the same;
Welcome to a new kind of tension / All across the alienation / Where everything isn't meant to be okay. Followed later by Well maybe I'm the fa**** America / I'm not a part of a redneck agenda / Now everybody do the propaganda / And sing along to the age of paranoia.
Oh, the angst! Teenagers like me just eat this stuff up.
13. Church on Sunday
Church on Sunday is one of those songs which I just purchased, and so is fresh and vibrant in my mind. So perhaps I'm biased when I put the song above American Idiot, but at the moment I think it's pretty damn great.
From extensive research on the song, I think that I've got a basic understanding on the meaning behind the song. Apparently, the song talks about a relationship, and how for any relationship to work compromises have to be made by both parties. As for me, I'm in no real position to comment. I'm not that smart. Instead, I'll try to distract you with some deep-sounding lyrics...
Bloodshot, deadbeat and a lack of sleep / Making your mascara bleed / Tears down your face / Leaving traces of my mistakes
When I say
If I promise to go to church on Sunday / Will you go with me on Friday night / If you live with me I'll die for you / And this compromise
I hereby solemnly swear to tell / The whole truth / And nothing but the truth is what / I'll ever hear from you now / Trust is a dirty word that comes / From such a liar / But respect is something I will earn / If you have faith
As well, can I just say that the way Billie says "Bloodshot, deadbeat and a lack of sleep" is incredible? I live for those little moments of vocal awesomeness.
12. She
Lyrics are a large factor in determining whether or not I like a song.
After my first listen or two to She, I figured that it was a love song. "She" sounds like some cheesy thing you could call your girlfriend, and on top of that the tenderness in Billie's voice is evident when he says the word. After reviewing the lyrics more closely, though, I feel as though I misjudged the song. Listen to this;
Are you locked up in a world that's been planned out for you? / Are you feeling like a social tool without a use? Scream at me until my ears bleed / I'm taking heed just for you.
This line seems to allude that "she" is feeling like she's doing things for other people as opposed to herself. Perhaps there are high expectations set upon her, and she's buckling under the pressure. Later in the song, this idea is backed up by the She, She's figured out / all her doubts were someone else's point of view line. Perhaps then the previously mentioned Scream at me until my ears bleed / I'm taking heed just for you is the voice of someone who's listening to the girl and letting her get her feelings off her chest.
Really though, who knows or cares if any of that's right. In the end, the song boils down to intriguing lyrics with the usual catchy beat of a Green Day song. It's well worth a listen if you haven't already.
Bonus points for watching this performance of She, where I get the impression that Billie is high.
11. Longview
Ah, Longview. The masturbation song.
Clearly, the subject matter in this song is questionable. Bite my lip and close my eyes / Slipping away to paradise / Some say quit or I'll go blind / But it's just a myth Are just a few extremely suspicious lines. Even before that, however, the song gives away it's true meaning with When masturbations lost it's fun / you're fucking lonely.
Yeah.
If you can get past that, though, the song's great! The iconic bass entry to the song sets up the song, and the rest doesn't disappoint. Forgive me if I don't want to dwell on this song for too long.
| Mike Dirnt, Bassist / Back-up Vocals |
10. Amy
I only discovered Amy last night. A tribute to the late Amy Winehouse, this heart-rending song steps back completely from the usual bang-bang-crash of Green Day in favour of a more melancholy approach. What results is a beautifully simple and simply beautiful tune.
I'm a sucker for quiet, simple tunes at any time, but the variety from the other songs on this list makes Amy stand out even more. After so much electric guitar and drums, a song like Amy is a breath of fresh air. Sadly, it doesn't seem like too many other people think so, with the song not appearing on any other "top Green Day songs" lists that I've read, or just about anywhere else for that matter. It's a shame, as I'd love to see more songs like Amy from Green Day.
9. 2000 Light Years Away
I've got two versions of 2000 Light Years Away that you can listen to before we begin. The first is the iTunes version of the song, where you can get the full audio experience. I've also found a video of an early performance of this song, way back in 1992 when Green Day was yet to be very big. The audio quality isn't great, but I found that seeing early Green Day was pretty cool. I'll leave the choice up to you.
Here, we find a punk love song. A strange mix, but one which the band pulls off with some flair.
Billie Joe wrote this song for his girlfriend before the band recorded their breakthrough album Dookie. He did his job well, as he and the girl are now married with kids. I've got to admit, I'd want to marry someone if they wrote a song like this for me. The rapid-fire guitar, the frantic drumming, and bass all combine into one delicious blend for the ears.
I sit outside and watch the sunrise / Look out as far as I can / I can't see her, but in the distance / I hear some laughter / We laugh together
8. Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Boulevard of Broken Dreams will always be one of my favourites. I've listened to this one for years, and still the lyrics seem haunting; My shadow's only one that walks beside me / My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating / Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me / 'Til then I walk alone. I couldn't tell you what exactly it is, but something about the mood of this song is addicting. The melancholy lyrics, the instrumentals... classic Green Day right here.
7. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
Apparently, Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) is frequently played at graduations. I'm not quite sure what to make of that, though. Is Green Day trying to say "good riddance?" Or "I had the time of my life?"
Let's forget the graduation thing for a minute. I personally think that the song could be about something much larger then graduating, instead being applied to life in general. To me the song says that life is unpredictable and can lead you down roads you never meant to take, and so it's up to you to take what opportunities life gives you and make the most of them. Listen to the first verse again; Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road / Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go / So make the best of this test, and don't ask why / It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time.
Still, I can understand why it might be appropriate for a graduation. The second and final verse goes So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind / Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time / Tattoos and memories and dead skin on trial / For what it's worth, it was worth all the while.
Paired with these lyrics are the usual flawless instrumentals, this time with a few stringed instruments thrown into the mix. The soaring melody from whatever the instrument is adds a little something extra to the song, making it well deserve it's number seven spot.
You can see a live performance of the song here.
6. Stray Heart
Much like Amy, it doesn't seem like too many people care about Stray Heart. There's only one explanation I can think of for this, which is that the song refuses to stop running around in people's heads until the listener goes insane.
One think that I like about the song is that it has a clear story to follow, which is illustrated perfectly for you through the music video. The vaguely tragic story follows a man who cheated on his girlfriend, realized his mistake, and then (quiet rightly) gets shut down by the girl who once loved him. This story comes through in the lyrics and video, although you'd never guess it from the tune. The catchy song starts with a quick, almost playful beat, while the tune jumps joyfully around until an infectious chorus begins. What's not to like?
5. Wake Me Up When September Ends
Wake Me Up When September Ends will forever remain the most tragic song ever recorded by Green Day.
I feel like Billie Joe exposes himself in this song more then any other. As most Green Day fans would know, he wrote the song for his father, who died quite suddenly from cancer in September 1982. Billie was 10 years old at he time.
As the story goes, after his fathers funeral Billie ran home and locked himself in his room. When his mother knocked on the door, he said the line "Wake me up when September ends," and twenty years later he went back to that moment through song.
I won't pretend to know anything about the feelings that Billie went through at that time, but the anguish shines through in his lyrics and performances.
Here comes the rain again / Falling from the stars / Drenched in my pain again / Becoming who we are.
I watched one video of Billie almost breaking down when singing this song. I didn't include it in the title because he starts to butcher the song, but if you're curious you can still watch it here. I feel as though that will tell you more about the song then I ever could.
4. 21 Guns
Do you know what's worth fighting for / When it's not worth dying for?
Usually, it seems that Billie Joe's live performances can't quite match up to the recorded versions- especially for quieter songs. Therefore I was surprised when I found this sublime performance from Japan. When he goes for those high notes at the end, I swear that he's even better then in the iTunes version.
I love all of Green Day's quieter songs, and 21 guns doesn't disappoint. The mix between the sad, reflective parts and the more intense, typical Green day is pulled off perfectly. As well, we're able to fully appreciate Billie Joe's range as he hits the high notes sounding clean and pure. Man, I'm running out of adjectives to describe the song!
It's brilliant. That sums it up better then all that rambling above.
When you're at the end of the road / And you've lost all sense of control / And your thoughts have taken their toll / When your mind breaks the spirit of you soul...
3. Holiday
Enough with those sissy quiet songs! Time for a good ol' fight song.
Holiday was one of the first Green Day songs I ever listened to, being one of the original three my family had on iTunes before I really discovered Green Day. It also holds a special place in my heart for being the song that really got me interested in the band, and sending me on a year of wild Green Day listening. Through it all, with seventeen more Green Day songs and counting added to the original three on iTunes, Holiday has remained one of my favourite Green Day tunes.
Not surprising, really. The song does what I love about all Green Day songs. It has something to say about the world, which is, of course, that it sucks. I may not agree with what Green Day says or does, but just the fact that they're willing to say and do things makes me respect them.
The one problem with the song is it's repetitiveness until the "angry speaking" chunk, as I'll christen it. Then, that break from the heavy rock does diminish the epicness of the song ever so slightly. I can't let that effect my judgement too much, though, as I see why they had that portion and it does help bolster the message of the song.
2. Basket Case
Basket case has to be the most iconic Green Day song there is. With over fifty million youtube views and dozens of live performances to be found, you cannot deny the success of this song.
When I first heard Basket Case, my Green Day obsession had not yet started. After I heard it, I couldn't get enough. I remember literally jumping around when I listened to the song, rocking out like I was part of a mosh pit. The frantic guitar playing, the different feeling of the intro as opposed to the main song, the lyrics... I just can't get enough of Basket Case. In fact, loving the song as I do and owing so much of my Green Day love to it, I had a tough decision to make when I put it in second. Speaking of which, we've finally made it to the number one song! Believe me, I mean it when I say finally. I've been working on this post for something like three days now, and I'm ready to call it done. Let's get to it!
1. Welcome To Paradise
Here we go. Welcome to Paradise is, like every song on this list, exquisite. This one, though, is a cut above.
There are many, many things I like in a song, including...
- Long, well-held notes
- Well-written lyrics with a message
- Slow builds in intensity
- Great instrumentals
- Variety within the song
Welcome to paradise has it all. Let's work down the list, shall we?
When Billie gets to the Pay attention to the cracked streets and the broken homes bit, that long note Mike Dirnt sings compliments it perfectly. The problem is, admiring that note can take away from the lyrics of the song, which are clever and thought provoking. Take it away, Green Day;
Pay attention to the cracked streets and the broken homes / Some call it the slums, some call it nice / I wanna take you through a wasteland I like to call my home / Welcome to paradise.
A gunshot rings out at the station / Another urchin snaps and left dead on his own / It makes me wonder why I'm still here / For some strange reason it's now feeling like my home / And I'm never gonna go...
Sounds pretty deep, eh?
The crowning moment in the song, though, has to be after the second run-through of the chorus. The main guitar dies along with the drums, leaving only the bass to work it's magic. Then the drums join in, then plinking notes on the guitar, which all slowly builds up, the drums getter louder, the guitar more intense, then boom, we're back into the song. You can't top that.
With just that section, we also check "great instrumentals" and "variety within the song" off the list. Welcome to Paradise is, in my books, the perfect song.
I tell you, the song is just superb. Green Day is superb. Although with any luck, by now you won't have to take my word for it. You will have listened to fifteen wonderful songs, and heard for yourself just how good they can be. In case your somehow not convinced, though, or just want to hear more, I have some honourable mentions lined up for you.
16. Jesus of Suburbia
Jesus of Suburbia was an extremely ambitious venture that paid off. Clocking in at over nine minutes with five separate parts, the song really did deserve a spot on the above list. There are just too many great Green Day songs...
Here's the iTunes version, and here's a live performance.
17. Waiting
I would have loved to give Waiting the spotlight it deserved, but today it just didn't quite cut it. The mix between quiet and soft is, as usual, a great thing to listen to- an "eargasm," as my friend would say. Give yourself some eargasms and listen to this one.
18. Minority
The almost playful melody is clever and fun to listen to. The only reason that it doesn't make the top fifteen is because that playful melody is all the song offers.
19. Give Me Novacaine / She's a Rebel
Technically this is two songs, but if iTunes counts them as one, I do too. The first bit gives you your quiet, sentimental Green Day, the second part your daily dose of rock.
20. Are we the Waiting / St. Jimmy
The last song that I have in my iTunes library is still a great one. I do really love the frantic guitar and vocals of St. Jimmy, but Are we the Waiting seems mediocre to me. Unfortunately, even a song like St. Jimmy can't compete against the other songs on this list when it's being dragged down like that.
The Are we the Waiting link gives you a live show in Britain, while the St. Jimmy link is a special treat. The Green Day album American Idiot was turned into a broadway musical, and the St. Jimmy link is from a performance of the show.
Extra. King for a Day / Shout
Finally, I'd like to show you two songs that I haven't purchased and don't plan on purchasing. They're not really songs that you'd want to listen to regularly, but they're wonderful for live performances. In the video above, you'll see how deftly Green Day can work an audience.
That's it!
Whew. It's been a long day of blogging. I think I put more effort into this post then any other, so I really hope that you enjoy it.
Ahhhh.
Man. Fifteen songs analyzed, six more talked about, and all of them listened to about five times. It's been a long day. Forgive me if I slow the pace of my post now, but if you've made it this far, then surely you don't mind. You've gained my respect if you read this entire post.
Although I did spend a huge amount of time on this one, it's worth it to celebrate Green Day. If you haven't noticed, I think that they're incredible; from their "fuck it" attitude to their willingness to speak out to their songs in general, they've won a fan in me. Keep it up, guys.
Thanks for reading,
-Mark
PS; Laura, I know what you're next punishment will be!
Comment; What are your favourite Green Day songs?
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