45 replies to this topic

[Lauren]

I wish I could think of a better title, so sorry if it confused you - just read this post.



Yesterday, I was in the chat room, and John was talking about how even if a song is catchy, he doesn't really like it if he doesn't like the lyrics.



So, that got me thinking:

What Green Day songs, if any, do you like the music, but not the lyrics?


It would also be cool if you could explain why you don't like the lyrics.
(Examples: they don't mean enough to you, you don't like the topic, you don't like a certain line that ruined it for you, you don't agree with them, etc.)



Also, while this might be harder to think of:

What Green Day songs, if any, do you like the lyrics, but not the music?


Again, explain why.




Let's try to get a good discussion going!
Remember, please try to respect other people's opinions for not liking certain lyrics, no matter what the reason is.
If this thread gets closed because you guys are arguing, I'm gonna be mad.

[Femme Gauche]

I dunno, there aren't any that stick out where I really like or dislike one more than the other but because of Billie's writing and the style of music they use... There is often a lot of contrast between the poppy sound and the less than upbeat things that are being said. There is melancholy in just about every song, except for a select few which are virtually all sweet, but those tend to really stand out for that reason. And even there - like with "Last Night On Earth" there is something else.

[Blond-O-Sonic Shimmer Trap]

I like the music of American Eulogy, it's got an interesting structure and the lead bit in the middle is fantastic but the lyrics are just trying to squeeze like the entire American nation into a song and it's just muddled and self-indulgent, also crucially it doesn't actually say anything.

Don't like the music of Warning but like the lyrics, they just ripped it entirely from The Kinks, it's probably the worst rip-off in their catalogue.

[kaylubd]

For me it goes either way. I really really appreciate good lyrics, but even a song doesn't have the best of them or if they're just fucking stupid as long as I like the song, whether that be because of the music or how it sounds or because it's catchy, it's all good for me. I'm just not one to get hung up on lyrics. If they are dumb it doesn't ruin the song for me. Every song doesn't have to mean something or relate to me. I can just love it because I like to sing along with it or it makes me dance. So that's my take on it.

The only song that I can think of that I don't mind the lyrics but don't like the music is Last of the American girls.

[Ritz]

I started loving Green Day because of their lyrics. Their music is awesome too.
When I describe Green Day to my friends I always say: Green Day is one of those bands who have the perfect combo of music and lyrics. This is the primary reason that I love them so much. You can relate to most of the lyrics and the music always catches your attention. But most of the bands lack either good lyrics or good music.

[elisa]

the first thing that came to mind was Before The Lobotomy. I love the lyrics but I'm very fond of the intro.

[DannyDirnt]

I like all their lyrics, but in American Idiot I like the music a lot more than the lyrics. It's just so catchy. Also Warning.

[Homero]

I love "Brat" but I don't like the lyrics, I mean I do like them but I can't really relate to them so I don't listen to that song much.

[laly]

This may be getting repetitive But I love Rotting's music (it's different and beautiful) but I don't like the lyrics because of the whole dying part... not even mention Billie Joe's way of sing it.

[Femme Gauche]

This may be getting repetitive http://www.greendaycommunity.org/public/... But I love Rotting's music (it's different and beautiful) but I don't like the lyrics because of the whole dying part... not even mention Billie Joe's way of sing it.

I love Rotting because it is so dark... But at the same time it is very depressing. It was a while before I really closely listened to that song, but when I did, I was like "...shit".

[SamMacs]

The first song that comes to my mind is Static Age, musically it's one of my least favourite Green Day songs but I really like the lyrics.

[EastCaitlinNowhere]

there's none really that are coming to mind right now except the verses of Before the Lobotomy, I'm just not a big fan of them

[Homero]

This may be getting repetitive http://www.greendaycommunity.org/public/... But I love Rotting's music (it's different and beautiful) but I don't like the lyrics because of the whole dying part... not even mention Billie Joe's way of sing it.

I don't listen to that song because of that I also don't listen to "haha you're dead" because of the lyrics (But I think both are great songs)

[Heather.]

There are sooo many songs that I probably found myself liking exclusively because of the lyrics, and that in turn made me appreciate the music. I do think lyrics can carry a song better than music, for me. I notice this especially on Insomniac, where I'm not so very fond of the "aggressive sound" of the album, it's still up there on my top albums list because the lyrics pull me in... Stuart and the Ave, Tight Wad Hill.

A good example from Uno is Troublemaker.... that song would be irredeemable to me if I wasn't so fond of the "until death do we party" line But because of that line, I'll listen to it again.

[kaylubd]

The lyrics on insomniac are pretty awesome. they did make me appreciate that album a lot more when I paid attention to them

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[laly]

I don't listen to that song because of that http://www.greendaycommunity.org/public/... I also don't listen to "haha you're dead" because of the lyrics http://www.greendaycommunity.org/public/... (But I think both are great songs)

Yeah, those are harsh lyrics in Ha Ha You're Dead... but I like it! I find it funny, especially on the part "you were an asshole, and now you're gone". I wonder for who Mike wrote it...

[Lauren]

I'm agreeing with everyone on Before the Lobotomy. The lyrics are pretty good, but, while there's no Green Day song I hate, the music for that one is one of my least favorites.

Westbound Sign is one of those songs that, if the lyrics weren't good, I probably wouldn't like that much. but the lyrics kind of make the music better. It's not bad music, just nothing special.

[Homero]

There are sooo many songs that I probably found myself liking exclusively because of the lyrics, and that in turn made me appreciate the music. I do think lyrics can carry a song better than music, for me. I notice this especially on Insomniac, where I'm not so very fond of the "aggressive sound" of the album, it's still up there on my top albums list because the lyrics pull me in... Stuart and the Ave, Tight Wad Hill.

A good example from Uno is Troublemaker.... that song would be irredeemable to me if I wasn't so fond of the "until death do we party" line http://www.greendaycommunity.org/public/... But because of that line, I'll listen to it again.

I agree with everything you said (altough Insomiac is not on my top albums list), especially with that line of troublemaker, I also listen to that song for that haha and I love the party mood

[porksoda]

Like the lyrics, but not the music:
-"Boulevard of Broken Dreams". Too radio-rock for me.
-"Are We The Waiting". Great lyrics, just don't like the music.
-"Macy's Day Parade". Again, great lyrics, but I'm not into how slow the song is.

Like the music, but not the lyrics:
-"One Of My Lies". I don't like songs about 'getting high.' Just not my cup of tea.
-I used to hate "Take Back", because of the way Billie screams, but now I love it.
-I'm finding that I'm not too fond of "Carpe Diem's" lyrics, not that they're bad, I just don't like how cliche the chorus is. I like the music a lot though.
-"Christian's Inferno". I think the song would be much better if it weren't talking about Christian.

[Heather.]

I just realized I actually like the lyrics to See the Light, but the song is so irredeemably boring musically, its message was totally wasted.

[localinsomniac]

Love Espionage, can't stand the lyrics...

[spark in the night]

Oh nice thread. I'm going to compile my list a little bit later.

But yes there quite a number of songs where the lyrics are all the same stuff and I'm sick of it.

river of a shadow of a doubt like a nuclear bomb in the dawn's early light

[spark in the night]

Yes Lyrics, No Music

Extraordinary Girl
Pulling Teeth

Rotting
On the Wagon
Fell for You
Warning


No Lyrics, Yes Music

All the Time
Troublemaker
¿Viva La Gloria?
Murder City
Horseshoes and Handgrenades
The Static Age
Before the Lobotomy


Actually a lot of 21CB because I can't relate to the lyrics at all. But the extra piano on nearly all the songs are great.

[localinsomniac]

Actually a lot of 21CB because I can't relate to the lyrics at all. But the extra piano on nearly all the songs are great.

Now that you mention it, I kind of hate most of the lyrics on this album too.

Good Riddance is a song whose lyrics I like, but would pass on the music.

Love the music, not necessarily the lyrics- Sassafras Roots. I don't hate them, but they get a little repetitive.

[Jane Lannister]

I don´t like music on whole 21st Century Breakdown...I think, it has too radio-friendly sound and it gets boring quite fast...However, I like some lyrics for example See The Light. But it feels like it's all made to look wise, intellectually and the real meaning gets lost...
I really love all the lyrics on Insomniac - they are more important than music. Many of these songs have deeper meaning but are musically very simple...and also all these ironic songs like Ha ha You're Dead - I find them incredibly funny :-)
Someone mentioned Rotting...I don't like the lyrics - I'm fascinated by them becouse every time I hear it I'm just sitting and feeling depressed. Anyway, I don't like the way Billie sings it

[No Rhyme Or Reason]

Generally I love both the lyrics and music of all of their songs. Except for the few that I don't like, but I still feel like the music and lyrics are about equal.

There are two songs where I love the lyrics but not the music: Hold On and Walking Alone. And both times the melody and overall tune is fine.... but that harmonica If they could just take out the harmonica (and replace it with just the guitars in Walking Alone) that would have been great.

And then Alligator - I like the music, but the words are really stupid. I can't get into it because of that.

But I think it's just those three songs. Billie's a great lyricist, and their music is equally wonderful.

[Lauren]

Like the music, but not the lyrics:
-"One Of My Lies". I don't like songs about 'getting high.' Just not my cup of tea.

Yes.

One of My Lies is one of the songs I'm on the fence about. I actually really like the lyrics other than "all I wanna do is get real high", but that's kind of enough to ruin the song for me.
I dunno, it just seems like they were kind of lazy and just used the first thing that came to mind that rhymed with 'lies'.

Then again, that also kind of makes sense with the song... so it's hard to say.
I just wish sometimes it didn't have it.
but other times, when I'm goofing around, I love singing it. but then it makes the more serious verses not sound as serious...

[Lauren]

I'm bumping this up now that the trilogy has been released. There are a lot of new songs that I like either the lyrics or the music, but not both.

 

I like the music for Wow! That's Loud, but don't really care for the lyrics.

 

Same with Nightlife. It was interesting to hear a rap song, but I wish it was more like a funny rap or something

 

I think Fell For You's lyrics could be a little better. I don't know "pissed in the bed" kind of ruined it for me.

 

I really like Lazy Bone's lyrics. the music is okay, nothing special though. The lyrics make the music more bearable, though. If they were sucky lyrics, I wouldn't like it. Kind of like what I said with Westbound Sign (although I think Lazy Bone's is better than Westbound Sign).

 

I like Amy's lyrics. They're not my favorite, but I like them. I don't like the way the song came out, though. I like the melody, but it's not really a track I like listening to. I'd probably like it live if Billie does it on acoustic.

 

It's easier to find songs where I don't like the lyrics but love the music than when I like the lyrics but don't like the music. The lyrics definitely make a song sound better. People just don't write really amazing lyrics and make the melody crap! It's mostly the other instruments I don't like, the melodies are great, though.

[Mara Garcia Green Day]

I love all the music and lirycs but i think that i have to say "Ashley", i love the music but i don´t like so much the lirycs, i think that i don´t feel very connected with the song. And i just don´t like Panic Song lol 

[Jane Lannister]

This may be getting repetitive But I love Rotting's music (it's different and beautiful) but I don't like the lyrics because of the whole dying part... not even mention Billie Joe's way of sing it.

I like Rotting - both music and lyrics but Billie's singing makes me laugh every time I hear it.

 

I don't like Before The Lobotomy lyrics....music is ok but I hate that  "brutality of reality" line. It's the worst rhyme ever