SOMERTEN Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 Thanks again Andres for working so hard at keeping everyone informed. It was also great to read the lyrics in this format as I lost the will to live waiting on the artwork downloading from GreenDay.com.I have always felt that Billie was a true poet and his lyrics here are grabbing me already. In particular Gloria where he talks about the character making her bed in salad days and smashing her knuckles into winter. Beautiful sympathetic observation of how difficult growing old can be. It's going to be a bloody long month waiting on this album coming out!I totally get why Billie used the 'n' word and he is likely aware of the controversy it will cause. What concerns me is the morons out there that will mis-interpret this. Look at Brandon Flowers declaring to the world Green Day were calling American's 'Idiots', thick or what?
masshysteria1 Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 Thanks again Andres for working so hard at keeping everyone informed. It was also great to read the lyrics in this format as I lost the will to live waiting on the artwork downloading from GreenDay.com.I have always felt that Billie was a true poet and his lyrics here are grabbing me already. In particular Gloria where he talks about the character making her bed in salad days and smashing her knuckles into winter. Beautiful sympathetic observation of how difficult growing old can be. It's going to be a bloody long month waiting on this album coming out!I totally get why Billie used the 'n' word and he is likely aware of the controversy it will cause. What concerns me is the morons out there that will mis-interpret this. Look at Brandon Flowers declaring to the world Green Day were calling American's 'Idiots', thick or what?As Andres pointed out, the first thing I thought of was the use of the word "faggot" in AI and the controversy surrounding that. I'm absolutely loving the fact that Billie uses any damn word he pleases to say what he needs to say, and let the pathetic people like Brandon Flowers say what they want, controversy will only help the album.
frankiessister Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 Yeah, good old Brandon Flowers didn't get at all what AI was about - never thought that the guy was so dumb.Same thing will happen with 21st CB, lots of people won't get Billie's point and there will be a shitload of controversy.This is the whole point of the lyrics, raising a discussion as Billie himself once put it. He's already won.
justcause Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 As Andres pointed out, the first thing I thought of was the use of the word "faggot" in AI and the controversy surrounding that. I'm absolutely loving the fact that Billie uses any damn word he pleases to say what he needs to say, and let the pathetic people like Brandon Flowers say what they want, controversy will only help the album.The interesting thing about Brandon Flowers' response was that it showed American Idiot hit home with him and caused him to think. If a work of art makes you angry, it's because it's touched a nerve in you that you maybe never knew existed.
Greenday_Aussie Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 Brandon Flowers is a moron. The Killers could have been so good, and then they fucked it up by turning that band into a joke, its like freakin techno rock?! Hes just jeleous of Billie./teenie defence moment Anyway, I really like Viva La Gloria's lyrics, really well written.
Katarina. Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 I'm so excited. I copied and pasted the lyrics and tracklist onto a word document. I want May 15 now!Haha, I've done the same thing I want May 15 now!
.Holly Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 Those are some powerful lyrics, I love them! Some of them are pretty disturbing too...awesome! I don't think I can wait any longer!!!
Tiffx Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 What song did he use the word nigger in?I must've missed that.
Eirik Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 What song did he use the word nigger in?I must've missed that.American Eulogy: Mass Hysteria, and he's not saying it himself, he's quoting someone who's saying it.
Parley Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 If a work of art makes you angry, it's because it's touched a nerve in you that you maybe never knew existed.Or because you misinterpret the artist's meaning.
Tripe Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 I'm still stoked that the Know Your Enemy single is being released on my birthday this week. I win! Omg... I just realized... my mom's birthday would have been May 15. Wow... that's weird. I like it though...My birthday is May 15th, so yeah....I think the new album will be one of my best birthday presents this year. You mom must have been awesome, as all May 15 babies are.
Agija Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 The lyrics are so good. Can't wait to hear the songs.
Dylan. Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 These are just my interpretations of the album.21st Century BreakdownI think that this song is about the early life of Christian. He's a thirty something year old with a bitter attitude towards the world. It hasn't affected him much but it's affected people around him.Know Your EnemyI think that this song more than anything is about Christian protesting. It's all pretty generic stuff so you can tell that he has not been affected too much by anything yet.¡Viva La Gloria!A song about how Christian meets Gloria and is infatuated by her. She has had tragedies happen to her again and again. She has been affected by the world, or she feels like she is. But it's them falling in love.Before the Lobotomy This song is about the calm before the storm. Christian and Gloria are starting their life as a couple out together and life isn't magnificent but it's not bad. I believe that this song was written to symbolize the 90's in general and how everything was going so great before it all fell to pieces.Christian's InfernoThis song talks a lot about fire. I think in certain points we are left to infer that Christian and Gloria were affected by a fire. But the more I read the lyrics, I realized that the fire that is talked about over and over in the album is just a metaphor for the fall of the 21st Century. Christian loses his job, house, anything worth sticking around for.Last Night On EarthOnce again, the song talks about fires. It is a love song in the bitterest of ways. Christian has just lost everything but to prove to Gloria that no matter how tough it is, he will always stick around, he tells her that he will do whatever it takes to maker her happy.East Jesus NowhereGloria is the type of person who in the midst of tragedy wants to turn to religion to ease the pain. Christian has always held a lot of bitterness towards religion. So, instead of just leaving, he convinces her that religion is just a "march of dogs" so to speak.PeacemakerGloria is shaken by Christian's nihilistic attitude towards the world and becomes angry with him. Christian however is too busy drinking a lot to care. Gloria decides that if they need to get wasted together to stay connected, then she will. In a way, alcohol is their peacemaker.Last of the American Girls This song is yet another brilliant love song for Gloria. However, it is different in this tone. Christian has stepped back and looked at her being stronger than he could ever hope to be in a trial like this and loves her more than he has ever loved her.Murder CityIt is unclear what has happened but they are still shit out of luck. They sit looking for a solution to their problems but in the mean time, they are desperate for anything. They are on the streets and looking for hope. They are desperate for change but too proud to ask for help.¿Viva La Gloria?This song is about Gloria finally giving in to the pain and wanting to give up. For once, Christian is the one who wants to stay in it with her and makes her feel guilty about wanting to give up. In the end, they both stay together just because they love each other more than themselves.Restless Heart SyndromeThis song is about Christian and Gloria's new painkiller. They go through so much that the only way to stay sane is to get high. They do it for each other though, so they feel right about it.Horseshoes and HandgrenadesThis song was hard to decipher but I'm going to take a stab in the dark and say that this song was written about Christian and Gloria being so bitter about the world that they are literally telling the rest of the world to fuck off because they can beat they can survive it.The Static AgeThis song is also very hard to decipher. I am guessing that it has to do with feeling foggy and like the whole world is just not right. Once again I am not completely sure.21 GunsIt's a really weird song because it comes without warrant. The Static Age is so happy that it doesn't seem to be the predecessor to this type of song. But that is how I am taking to mean. I think that it reflects the world and how the greatest tragedies happen without warning or indication. I am saying that this song is about the death of either Christian or Gloria. It doesn't truly give an indication either way. But either way, the person who lived is close to giving in. I will say that I think it is Gloria that died.American Eulogy I will say that this song is about all the pain in him. It's sort of so much pain that it exists outside of himself and it spreads like a fire. He feels like everything is in Mass Hysteria. Even to the point where he considers killing himself.See The LightI think that Christian sort of comes to terms with reality. He doesn't like it but feels like he wants to live for her. All he wants to know is if it is worth the fight. So we are left with him, much like the rest of the world, continually searching for a beam of light to shine through the darkness and give us an indication of if it is worth fighting for.
musse Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 I like the lyrics. I'm already in love with Christian and Gloria ^^
J'net Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 In what seems like a down year for music (from my perspective anyway), GD is gonna shine through it. These lyrics are hard-hitting and I'm really looking forward to the music to go with them.I completely agree. These lyrics are SO powerful that I'm gearing up for some uncomfortable discussions with some of my friends who know how I feel about Green Day. I can just imagine that I'm going to be discussing these lyrics on so many levels. And that's absolutely awesome. Billie's lyrics have always been thought-provoking for me, and he's truly surpassed himself with these. I think any associated controversy will cause more people to pay attention to what he's saying - even if they hate it - and hopefully provoke some thoughts in a lot of people who've never really listened to Green Day before.
pooldude256 Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 American Eulogy: Mass Hysteria, and he's not saying it himself, he's quoting someone who's saying it. Hmm, I was wondering what that was all about. I had just scanned the lyrics, and upon further inspection found it.It's music. Let them use any damn word they want. Hell Billie has used whore and faggot before, and in the modern age those are more offensive words.The only thing "nigger" means today is buddy or friend, at least in how often blacks say it to themselves. We're all taught it's such an evil word, but it isn't. Sure it would be a sensitive topic for someone who was alive in the '60s and before, but that period is gone, we are for the most part a non-racist country.However, I don't see Wal-Mart even considering selling the album simply because they are so PC that that word will put them over the edge. Hope the same thing doesn't happen with other stores though.Sorry if I'm bringing up an old debate...I guess this kinda confirms that Nick Martin guy's claim that stores were flipping out at the lyrics. Every time that word is mentioned there's a lot of people who will come forward and condemn the word to show they are a "better person." And don't think it will just be conservatives...liberals fought for a lot of civil rights reforms, and might criticize it too.Gotta love the controversy though. Gonna make this interesting.
J'net Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 ... we are for the most part a non-racist country.I'm glad you think so, but I can't agree. In some ways, I think we've made great progress, but in others, we are even worse than back in the bad old days. I'm glad that there are people who can sincerely make a comment like yours, but there are so many others who are full of hate. Just look at some of the comments that were made about Obama while he was running for office. I got emails forwarded to me that made me ill - I wouldn't even read them - just hit delete. I think Billie's use of this word will cause an uproar among certain people, and again, I think that's a good thing.
pooldude256 Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 I completely agree. These lyrics are SO powerful that I'm gearing up for some uncomfortable discussions with some of my friends who know how I feel about Green Day. I can just imagine that I'm going to be discussing these lyrics on so many levels. And that's absolutely awesome. Billie's lyrics have always been thought-provoking for me, and he's truly surpassed himself with these. I think any associated controversy will cause more people to pay attention to what he's saying - even if they hate it - and hopefully provoke some thoughts in a lot of people who've never really listened to Green Day before.That's a really good point. Maybe it will get people off their romps and up doing something about the world. And from the looks of it, it is going to get great reviews from the critics, which never hurts. Hopefully people look inside the lyrics and don't pay attention to just the music. Because there is a message here in this album that most bands wouldn't even consider writing, and that's how not only this country but the whole world is on, as the title says, a breakdown.
J'net Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 Hopefully people look inside the lyrics and don't pay attention to just the music.I hope so, too! All these people at my work were telling me, "Wow, that Green Day song that started off the NCAA finals was great! I didn't know they were so good ..." and other such comments. I wanted to say, "Did you hear him say 'violence is an energy' and 'gimme gimme revolution?'" But I decided to wait and let them buy the album first .
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