21st Century BreakDown - The diferences between the DEMO and the Official version

[Darkirion]

Somebody here have alwready perceived that the versions are diferent? I am Brazilian so my english insn't too good, but Billie Joe talk about Mexico in the DEMO version instead "Video games to the towers fall" and a many other things.

Listen and give your opinion.

And if it's possible, it would to be good if we can write the original letter version modified.

Thank U all for the shit talking.

[Sarahnade.]

I like the demo better.

[Lauren]

Demo owns the official version.

I loved the piano intro.

Another difference is after the first round of "oooooohs", in the demo, it's piano doing the riff, but in the official, it's lead guitar doing the riff.

[saintcarlos]

No "Hey!" on the demo.

[Brian]

With a bit more editing, the demo would be more of a masterpiece than it already is.

[Jaymee!!]

With a bit more editing, the demo would be more of a masterpiece than it already is.

This

While I do like the album version, there are certain things about the demo that I enjoy more. For instance, the piano at the beginning, and how he says 'From Mexico to the Berlin Wall' instead of 'video games to the tower's fall'

Also the second part of the song, when the guitar speeds up, goes faster in the demo (I think, I haven't listened to it in a long while) and I liked it more.

[DeJennsitized]

I like them both, but I think I prefer the album version.

The tempo change at the end, with the guitar solo bit, is an octave higher or something than the demo, and makes it sound much more grand.

The irish jig guitar part is more defined in the album version, as are the drums.

The piano part got on my nerves a bit after listening to the demo loads, and I think the simplicity of the acoustic and piano is better.

[Jacob.]

they shouldv'e kept the piano intro to this song from the demo cause the beginning in the offical version is the same riff used in see the light

[Sarahnade.]

While I do like the album version, there are certain things about the demo that I enjoy more. For instance, the piano at the beginning, and how he says 'From Mexico to the Berlin Wall' instead of 'video games to the tower's fall'

This. I loved that line. And the piano entrance was lovely.

[JHyena86]

With a bit more editing, the demo would be more of a masterpiece than it already is.

This.

I loved the demo. Sadly the file I had stopped working on my iPod, which I've still not figured out...I was sorta disapointed that they changed it all. I had to re-learn the words...for 2 weeks I kept getting them confused But now I like both...

[thenextsexpistol_mak]

This

While I do like the album version, there are certain things about the demo that I enjoy more. For instance, the piano at the beginning, and how he says 'From Mexico to the Berlin Wall' instead of 'video games to the tower's fall'

Also the second part of the song, when the guitar speeds up, goes faster in the demo (I think, I haven't listened to it in a long while) and I liked it more.

same hrere

[Blu]

I think you are all crazy for even listening to the demo. They didn't want us to. I'm kind of glad they changed it because that's what demos are meant for. I never listened to the demo, but they are meant as a rough draft. They aren't meant as something a fan should get hold of an take to heart and memorize. You shouldn't even be comparing which is better. You weren't even supposed to have the demo. Someone stole it from the band you love and gave it to you and then you disobeyed their wishes and listened to it greedily like you would die without it. I think the final is fantastic. I don't care about the demo. I don't care that I never heard it. The band didn't want me to hear it, so I don't want to hear it. I love what they gave me a lot.

[Rae'n'shine]

I think you are all crazy for even listening to the demo. They didn't want us to. I'm kind of glad they changed it because that's what demos are meant for. I never listened to the demo, but they are meant as a rough draft. They aren't meant as something a fan should get hold of an take to heart and memorize. You shouldn't even be comparing which is better. You weren't even supposed to have the demo. Someone stole it from the band you love and gave it to you and then you disobeyed their wishes and listened to it greedily like you would die without it. I think the final is fantastic. I don't care about the demo. I don't care that I never heard it. The band didn't want me to hear it, so I don't want to hear it. I love what they gave me a lot.

This. I never heard the demo either because I waited until the album came out. I'm glad I never heard it, the official song is amazing, imo.

[bjrules]

I liked the demo when I first heard it, and then when I heard the album version I prefered the demo, but now I much prefer the album version of the song.

[Reject-All-American]

I think you are all crazy for even listening to the demo. They didn't want us to. I'm kind of glad they changed it because that's what demos are meant for. I never listened to the demo, but they are meant as a rough draft. They aren't meant as something a fan should get hold of an take to heart and memorize. You shouldn't even be comparing which is better. You weren't even supposed to have the demo. Someone stole it from the band you love and gave it to you and then you disobeyed their wishes and listened to it greedily like you would die without it. I think the final is fantastic. I don't care about the demo. I don't care that I never heard it. The band didn't want me to hear it, so I don't want to hear it. I love what they gave me a lot.

I agree. I never listened to the demo, I had no idea it got leaked. If the band we all love doesn't want us to hear it, then we shouldn't listen to it. Its just that simple.

[Fuzz]

I'm glad I listened to the demo, I enjoy listening to how it progressed. This would be better had the band let us hear the progress, instead of it being leaked without their permission.

i don't think one is better than the other. i think the changes are pretty minor that it didn't change how i felt about the song.

[Juan]

The mixing was rough at best. You know Studio quality and all but not panning or anything. The album version is more of a Wall of Sound kind of thing. The solo is double tracked (2 parts actually), Billie's vocals are different too and lyrically...they should've kept that line

[heartscollide]

I get really confused when listening to the real version because of the demo.(lyric wise)

I think they should have had the piano intro instead though.

But I still think the actual version is much better.

[saintcarlos]

I think you are all crazy for even listening to the demo. They didn't want us to. I'm kind of glad they changed it because that's what demos are meant for. I never listened to the demo, but they are meant as a rough draft. They aren't meant as something a fan should get hold of an take to heart and memorize. You shouldn't even be comparing which is better. You weren't even supposed to have the demo. Someone stole it from the band you love and gave it to you and then you disobeyed their wishes and listened to it greedily like you would die without it. I think the final is fantastic. I don't care about the demo. I don't care that I never heard it. The band didn't want me to hear it, so I don't want to hear it. I love what they gave me a lot.

this makes me feel...uncomfortable. I disobeyed

[novacaine_kid]

I'm glad I got to hear the Demo. It sparked a whole new level of excitement for the album and allowed us to hear for ourselves the progress they had made. It's bad that it was stolen from the band, I agree with that much. But its not like anyone made any profitable gain from it, I'm guessing pretty much everyone who listened to the demo went out and bought the album anyway.

The piano intro was awesome, better than the acoustic guitar riff on the finished version, In my opinion. But overall the finished version sounds a lot better but I guess thats the advantage of expensive studio technology

[Mar]

I vastly prefer the final version to the demo. In fact, I rarely listen to the demo (can't remember the last time I did), because while I don't think it's bad, it's incomplete, and a song this amazing deserves to be heard at its best and fullest, and I think the final version does that. The buildup riff in the beginning just makes me so excited and pumped up to listen to the song/album, and I just think that the demo doesn't do it justice, which is why I prefer the final version.

[BuriedInAHole]

The demo was way better And I was so happy that it was released at my birthday

[The Breakdown]

I'm glad I listened to the demo, I enjoy listening to how it progressed. This would be better had the band let us hear the progress, instead of it being leaked without their permission..

Agreed. It would be nice to hear the demos of all the songs. But hey, we wish right?

Maybe if like a 21st Century Breakdown equivalent of Heart Like A Handgrenade was released maybe then we can hear it.

[tvrman]

I think you are all crazy for even listening to the demo. They didn't want us to. I'm kind of glad they changed it because that's what demos are meant for. I never listened to the demo, but they are meant as a rough draft. They aren't meant as something a fan should get hold of an take to heart and memorize. You shouldn't even be comparing which is better. You weren't even supposed to have the demo. Someone stole it from the band you love and gave it to you and then you disobeyed their wishes and listened to it greedily like you would die without it. I think the final is fantastic. I don't care about the demo. I don't care that I never heard it. The band didn't want me to hear it, so I don't want to hear it. I love what they gave me a lot.

Some of your comments are a little strong unless you know how the demo got 'out there'.

Over the years I have heard demos and alternate takes from various bands, sometimes these are released, leaked by the band or acquired by knowing a friend who knows a friend (of the band).

Demos are a work in progress and they can help you appreciate the creative and thought processes of the band. But they are what they are - demos. You will always find something in a demo that interests you more than the official release, but I have yet to find a demo that surpasses the official releases with one notable exception - I hate what Spector did to the Let It Be album. You have to think about the track itself and how it fits into the rest of the album, oh and trust BJ's judgement.

tvrman

[Guest Shangri-La]

Butch Vig can kiss my ass. I love everything about the demo so much more than the studio version, especially the "last one born/first one to die" part and the opening piano.

The mixing was rough at best. You know Studio quality and all but not panning or anything. The album version is more of a Wall of Sound kind of thing. The solo is double tracked (2 parts actually), Billie's vocals are different too and lyrically...they should've kept that line

They took out the best line of the entire song! "I'm taking a loan on my sanity for the redemtion of my soul" <pure genius if you ask me.