Songs Billie changed

[stuart telegraph]

This is the first topic I have ever started, I mostly just read and sometimes reply. Been a fan since Dookie and a member here since 2008.

Anyways, I have noticed that on a few songs, Billie sings them slightly different live than how they are on the album. I'm not talking about mistakes or how he screams those lines in Murder City to create effect, no, rather what drew me to this is when he sang Macy's Day Parade in St. Louis, I noticed he brought the note down on the word hope in the line "economy sized dreams of hope". I think that way ties in better with the next line of "when I was a kid..." Also on Viva la Gloria, the line: "don't let your bonfires go out", he seems to sing with more conviction than he did on the album, which makes me wonder, with all the lyrical changes made after it was recorded (america is calling instead of falling, and Mikes line about not being a daydreamer and disengaged from American Eulogy for example) how different might the album be if it was recorded now, or even a month later than when it was? Because, as we know, there were alot of last minute changes made, and maybe how they're performing the songs now reflect on how they might have done them differently.

Any opinions welcome.

[Clayish]

How are we supposed to know?

[bass boy]

im geussing they just change it to make it sound better or just make it sound diferent. lots of bands do this. id think it would be hard/boring to sing the same song, with the same old lyrics and tune.

[leacalifornia]

thats what makes their live songs so unique!

the basic idea is still behind the songs... but I think they mostly just interchange some lyrics they may have edited before they released the album or they sing lines that billie thought conveyed the idea better but just like to sing something different at the shows... :/

[Peace and Rainbows]

That's why they are such an awesome live band

[*withoutadoubt*]

This is the first topic I have ever started, I mostly just read and sometimes reply. Been a fan since Dookie and a member here since 2008.

Anyways, I have noticed that on a few songs, Billie sings them slightly different live than how they are on the album. I'm not talking about mistakes or how he screams those lines in Murder City to create effect, no, rather what drew me to this is when he sang Macy's Day Parade in St. Louis, I noticed he brought the note down on the word hope in the line "economy sized dreams of hope". I think that way ties in better with the next line of "when I was a kid..." Also on Viva la Gloria, the line: "don't let your bonfires go out", he seems to sing with more conviction than he did on the album, which makes me wonder, with all the lyrical changes made after it was recorded (america is calling instead of falling, and Mikes line about not being a daydreamer and disengaged from American Eulogy for example) how different might the album be if it was recorded now, or even a month later than when it was? Because, as we know, there were alot of last minute changes made, and maybe how they're performing the songs now reflect on how they might have done them differently.

Any opinions welcome.

Hi! I think Billie does what he feels at whatever particular time he is singing a song. Maybe because it seems fitting, or he wants to stress something, or maybe just to do something a bit different. It's great because you never know what to expect, even if you know a song, note for note.

For example, the added notes he's been singing in the middle of 21 Guns are beautiful, and I love the changes he's made.

[Sharmellow]

Cheryl said it all. I'm glad he does it, he keeps us guessing. He varies it up. I mean, the way they perform live, it's so much more personal. Perhaps that's what he's trying to accomplish. To connect with the crowd. That's maybe why Billie does that.

[*withoutadoubt*]

Cheryl said it all. I'm glad he does it, he keeps us guessing. He varies it up. I mean, the way they perform live, it's so much more personal. Perhaps that's what he's trying to accomplish. To connect with the crowd. That's maybe why Billie does that.

Yeah, that's true, too. He seems to have different energy depending on the crowd, so maybe he does certain things to stir them up or whatever.

I wanted to say, too, that I am really glad we got to listen to the 21CB demo way back when because we got to hear the lyric changes first hand - it's a process, and that was a little piece of it we were able to witness. (Even tho we weren't supposed to, lol.)

^I also have to say that I LOVE your name change! Very clever, and it made me literally LOL.

[Sharmellow]

Yeah, that's true, too. He seems to have different energy depending on the crowd, so maybe he does certain things to stir them up or whatever.

I wanted to say, too, that I am really glad we got to listen to the 21CB demo way back when because we got to hear the lyric changes first hand - it's a process, and that was a little piece of it we were able to witness. (Even tho we weren't supposed to, lol.)

^I also have to say that I LOVE your name change! Very clever, and it made me literally LOL.

Exactly. I've noticed him having different energy volumes when watching some of the concert videos on youtube. Some crowds respond better than others.

I know! For reasons like you have stated is why we appreciated leaked demos.

And thank you! <3

I'm so glad people get a laugh out of my new username. I was slightly worried that people wouldn't catch the humor in it.

[parinaz]

Who cares?

wait, was it me who said this?

[MusicalDeviant]

If you think about it, plenty of their songs are in fact changes from their original versions.

Static Age is an example of this

[Clayish]

If you think about it, plenty of their songs are in fact changes from their original versions.

Static Age is an example of this

Proof?

[Femme Gauche]

I mostly figure that he changes them up to make a point that is particularly relevant at that moment in time and still plays on the feeling of the original lyrics. *shrugs*

[madie]

They can't be exactly like the CD version every single time!

[Lauren]

bands who try and copy the recording exactly when they play live are lame.

Proof?

instead of singing "screaming at you", he goes "1,2,3,4"

to be honest, i don't like this change.

[Ila Reto]

i think its kind of cool, like the lyrical changes.

back when they were first talking about the album, before its release, they posted some lyrics.

which are totally different.

such as from Before the Lobotomy:

"Sign my love a lost memory, from the end of the century"

used to be

"charlitans and lost memories, like the end of the century"

and dont even get me started on the demo lyrics, which i think would have fit much better with the album.

[E!!i]

I like Brain Stew live when he sings the line "Dried up and bulging out my skull" different.

[Li Sa]

so they're are not getting boring every song a little bit different everyday

[bjrules]

I also like the piano bit that they put in "21 Guns". I really wish that was on the album, that song sounds even better live.

[Hermione]

Cheryl said it all. I'm glad he does it, he keeps us guessing. He varies it up. I mean, the way they perform live, it's so much more personal. Perhaps that's what he's trying to accomplish. To connect with the crowd. That's maybe why Billie does that.

I'm glad he does it too, I love it. They are the best live band

My absolute favourite thing is how Billie used to sometimes sing "How now brown cow" in place of the line "When I come around"

[farley drexel hatcher]

There's also "Am I retarded, or am I just unemployed?" which I love XD

Who knows, maybe even Billie goes back on forth on lyrics occasionally. Maybe he can't decide what's totally right for the moment so changes accordingly XD

I'm glad he does it too, I love it. They are the best live band

My absolute favourite thing is how Billie used to sometimes sing "How now brown cow" in place of the line "When I come around"

Haha yes! He is so random XD

And I have to agree with 21 Guns live, the added notes in the beginning and the piano solo better the song in my opinion.

[Anja]

My absolute favourite thing is how Billie used to sometimes sing "How now brown cow" in place of the line "When I come around"

Omg really? I've never heard him sing that line.

[bollard_11]

There's also "Am I retarded, or am I just unemployed?" which I love XD

Who knows, maybe even Billie goes back on forth on lyrics occasionally. Maybe he can't decide what's totally right for the moment so changes accordingly XD

Haha yes! He is so random XD

And I have to agree with 21 Guns live, the added notes in the beginning and the piano solo better the song in my opinion.

agreed +2

21 guns live is well better than any studio version

[Clayish]

For some reason, whenever they play Homecoming live, Billie Joe always seems to say "Please come me only.." instead of "Please call me only..."

[xjernpqvrnbfv]

For some reason, whenever they play Homecoming live, Billie Joe always seems to say "Please come me only.." instead of "Please call me only..."

i think they should play it more often! i looooove homecoming