Billie Joe's lyrical ability

[J'net]

You are so wrong trust me on this one

And YOU are so right, hon!!!

[Aramos]

I feel like Billie tries to hard. That is, he's subconsciously floated away from the common American, that, consequently he has to try really really hard.

Eminem, Cobains, and Mccartny's lyrics seem much most fluent and passionate.

[Tiffx]

I feel like Billie tries to hard. That is, he's subconsciously floated away from the common American, that, consequently he has to try really really hard.

Eminem, Cobains, and Mccartny's lyrics seem much most fluent and passionate.

I kind of see what you mean. But I'm a subjective Green Day fan and I loovee Billie's lyrics. His lyrics are the only lyrics that really make me pay attention and they kind of force me to explore the depth of their music more.

[somedaygirl]

Aramos, have you listened to McCartney's lyrics lately? Dude's been writing the lyrical equivalent of Hallmark cards for the last 30 years.

As for Billie's lyrics, I love them - whether he's being snarky, silly or serious - but more importantly I think they're part of the GD package. I find it difficult to think of the lyrics without the way the music makes me feel and vice versa. In the same way the music with other lyrics wouldn't work any more than the lyrics with other music. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

[Viva La Junkpile]

In my opinion, Billie Joe is a VERY good lyricist. He's not the best, no, but who the hell is? Honestly, you can't judge who's the best or even the top ones either; it's purely based on tastes and opinions. Some people don't even care about lyrics, some people just like catchiness of lyrics, some people like pretentious over-done lyrics, some people like dark lyrics, and others like ones they can relate to, etc. All you can ask yourself to answer "is he a good lyricist?" is: Is it lyrically interesting? As in symbolism, relate-ability, stresses, repetition, meaning, etc... And: Do YOU like it?

Armstrong is most certainly comparable with many other lyricists, but that group of lyricists may not be in your tastes either. You see? I've had a Poem & Song course, among other similar, at my college, and Armstrong was one we studied for MODERN LYRICISTS. We covered all genres in order quite quickly, and Green Day were obviously important enough to mention.

[Billie of Suburbia]

I think Billie Joe is an amazing lyricist I can barely write that good. Once in a while I write a song thats like "wow I didn't know i could do this" You Know?

[Soroush]

he is great in it. the lyrics that he writes is not just about usa. every poeple in every country find them related to them in some ways. he is so genius