musso_kn Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 Geek Stink Breath is the fourth track and first single from Green Day's fourth studio album and second major label release, Insomniac. Complete with a heavy distorted guitar sound and a rather graphic music video, the song signifies a departure from the more melodic, light hearted numbers that made Dookie such a massive success. Despite the change in style, Geek Stink Breath still performed moderately well in the charts, reaching 27 on Billboard Hot 100 and 16 on the Offical UK Singles Chart. Written by Billie Joe, who was experimenting with a lot of drugs at the time, the song's lyrics are quite clearly a straightforward description of the effects of regular methamphetamine abuse. The line 'my pulse is beating out of time' is a reference to the way in which meth can accelerate and deregulate heart rate, while the phrase 'killing my complexion' alludes to the rashes and scars that can break out as a result of constant usage. Of course, the video draws on another problem associated with meth use: rotting teeth. According to a biography I recently watched, the footage in the dentist's office was not staged. In fact, the patient, who had a history of meth abuse, was a good friend of the band. As it stands, the closest I've ever been to smoking something involved me - nearly - burning my mouth off with a hot barbecue skewer (don't ask!). I've never swallowed anything much stronger than a couple of capsules of paracetamol. Yet, Geek Stink Breath remains one of the my favourite Green Day songs. On one hand, the aggressive guitar tone is almost infectious. However, being the nerdy biologist, chemist and (hopefully!) future pharmacist that I am, I also find the effects of certain substances on the human body, and the way in which in this song cleverly summarises the complications induced by meth, tremendously fascinating! I was also at one point, at the naive age of twelve, rather 'scared' by the opening of this song. From what I can tell, someone lets out what I like to call a 'monster burp'. When I was younger, the noise simply hurt my ears. Anyway I leave you with the lyrics and a live performance on Saturday Night Live in 1994: I'm on a mission I made my decision To lead a path of self destruction A slow progression Killing my complexion And it's rotting out my teeth I'm on a roll No self control I'm blowing off steam with methamphetamine Don't know what I want That's all that I've got And I'm picking scabs off my face Every hour my blood is turning sour And my pulse is beating out of time I found a treasure filled with sick pleasure And it sits on a thick white line I'm on a roll No self control I'm blowing off steam with methamphetamine Don't know what I want That's all that I've got And I'm picking scabs off my face I'm on a mission I've got no decision Like a cripple running the rat race Wish in one hand shit in the other And see which one gets filled first I'm on a roll No self control I'm blowing off steam with methamphetamine Don't know what I want That's all that I've got And I'm picking scabs off my face http://www.youtube.c...h?v=7yYeVgg3g_Q Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cob Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 Probably my favorite song from Insomniac. Probably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaraGreenDay Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 My favorite from Insomniac...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vespertine Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 Never been a great fan of Geek Stink Breath. It's probably one of my least favorite songs off Insomniac (which, btw, is one of my favorite albums). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gdpony Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 I found a treasure filled with sick pleasure My favorite line from the song. Drugs are fun and dangerous at the same time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musso_kn Posted April 7, 2013 Author Share Posted April 7, 2013 Drugs are fun and dangerous at the same time. Just like rock 'n' roll itself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HolyHandGrenade Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 Just like rock 'n' roll itself I feel like a rebel when I listen to The Beatles... The thrill! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St. Christian Of Suburbia Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 Fun fact: I have the 15th highest expert guitar score for this song on Green Day Rock Band out of all PS3 users. Just thought I'd share, I'm kinda proud of that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OhTheGuilt. Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 Great song, one of the best from Insomniac. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PigSniffingGlue Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 Great work Fatima hot barbecue skewer? sounds painful Interesing insight on that song. I love it, so happy they played it at some of the recent shows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DecanoLP Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 One of my least favourite songs they've ever written. The refrain is just so annoying... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musso_kn Posted April 7, 2013 Author Share Posted April 7, 2013 Great work Fatima hot barbecue skewer? sounds painful Interesing insight on that song. I love it, so happy they played it at some of the recent shows. It was pretty bad I still have the scar, though it's quite faint now. Anyway, I didn't notice this song on the recent setlists! I'm glad it's there though, it would be great number to jump around to.One of my least favourite songs they've ever written. The refrain is just so annoying... Noooo....But if anything, I'd say it's kind of sinister sounding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K!ngForADay Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 Never really got into Geek Stink Breath until recently, when I bought Insomniac. The lyrics are great and the heavy distorted guitar is awesome. There's just somethinh about it that doesn't make it one of their greats. I don't know, maybe it's too repetitive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 It's an absolute blast to play, that's for sure. That riff is so addictive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
November's Storms Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 Hated it at first, but it slowly grew on me. I rarely listen to Insomniac anymore (it used to be my favourite...those were darker days!) but I do remember really enjoying the effect this song had on me. Made my worries about eating too much sugar seem so mild in comparison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThibautDookie Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 One of the songs that has that angry sound of Green Day, awesome song ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Blue Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 my favorite from Insomniac Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemo. Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 One of the GD songs I really can't stand. Idk why... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 Great review! If I were to write this, I'd have chosen the same performance, but It's Saturday Night Live 1994!!!!!! Please fix it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moonflower93 Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 When me and my sister watched International Supervideos, GSB was on it and she is like *skip this* and im like I like this video... the teeth scare me * every time i'm over at my sisters house *not my aunts with my sister* i always make her watch GSB. btw this is a great review Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
That Punk Kid. Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 I finally bought Green Day: Rockband last night, and for the first time I realized that Billie says the title of the song at the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musso_kn Posted April 7, 2013 Author Share Posted April 7, 2013 Great review! If I were to write this, I'd have chosen the same performance, but It's Saturday Night Live 1994!!!!!! Please fix it! Done I finally bought Green Day: Rockband last night, and for the first time I realized that Billie says the title of the song at the end. Actually, I only noticed this a few weeks ago myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 I finally bought Green Day: Rockband last night, and for the first time I realized that Billie says the title of the song at the end. Done Actually, I only noticed this a few weeks ago myself. I was always too lazy to check lyrics, so for a long time I thought he was saying "NON. STOP. VIBES." at the end. No idea why though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11Greendayfan Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 Love this song. I remember always blasting this in my cd player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarcasm Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 Awesome OP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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