Green Day on Twilight soundtrack

[Billie's Banana]

when I heard that I was like: "OMG noo"

but now I think: Hey it's not that bad. I mean it's just Twilight It could have been worse..

so I think wait and see!

[Eponine]

Now this is what actual condescension is. "Idealized Green Day" and "real Green Day"??? That we're all just delusional and can't see the reality or are unwilling to see it and acknowledge it? Seriously?

Here's a reality check: Three fucking years ago, Green Day flat-out said they would not put their music in Walmart because of censorship they likened to the 1950s. That's not tradition. That's fact. Now they not only put it in Walmart, but they recorded different versions of their songs to accommodate their complete 180 turn-around.

Here's another reality check: Our perception of the band is based on the image they themselves have presented to the world up until four months ago, and their music reflected that image. That's not an inability on the part of the fans to see the band as they really are. That's the band itself either lying about who they are or being hypocrites because they caved on the marketing.

Yes bands change and grow, but this? This is like they've just overnight become completely different people. Maybe they were always like this, but just better at faking it before. I don't know. But this marketing strategy is so commercialized and transparent that you better hope the tweens see something special in them enough to stay loyal over the long-term, because a lot of their established fans are jumping ship.

And FYI, I just became a Green Day fan and heard their music for the first time less than two years ago, so I'm one of those "new" fans you're talking about, NOT a delusional "older" fan who's put them on a pedestal I'm unwilling to knock them off of. Trust me when I say my eyes are wide open when it comes to this band.

Whoa, I'm sorry, I think you misjudged my tone. I was trying to tailor my language to remove any bias, but I guess that backfired. I didn't intend to be condescending I'm sorry.

By idealised Green Day I didn't mean we're all delusional. That was poor choice of words. What I meant was, my initial impression of Green Day was something that was heavily tied in with a lot of their cultural and political opinions that I absolutely identified with. This came from the music and stuff the band said, and their general background as people. I want to see the band continue in this direction. This is how i see and identify Green Day. But what's happening now, and what they're doing, goes against a lot of that. There is now a massive difference between how I remember GD/want them to be, and what they are actively doing (or allowing to happen). And that makes me, and other people, angry. This was the point I was trying to make earlier, in response to someone saying they didn't see how anyone could care about the marketing stuff.

Secondly, when I said change/grow I didn't mean positively. By changing priorities I meant changing emphasis on money/commercial success. I don't know how much of this is a genuine change or a revelation, so I didn't want to accuse GD of anything. But I do agree that their changing stance on Walmart is bullshit.

And by older fans I just meant people who became fans before the current stream of marketing, I wasn't trying to be elitist or anything. We can all see what's happening, I was trying to explain why some people might find it upsetting. I guess in my attempt to stay out of the argument and kind of circumnavigate my own opinion, I just made is sound like I was attacking the fans who were angry, and I'm sorry. That was absolutely not my intention, especially when I actually agree with a lot of the complaining in this thread.

[Dori_Epiphone]

Just found that xD http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCCUZXVr3dc

[greendaytodeathandback]

Ah shite. Now Kirsten's face will be imprinted on a Green Day song. Please say they won't do one of those collab vids where they incorporate some of the movie into the video and have the lads playing in a forest.

No offence to the girl, but I don't want her moodiness in one of Green Day's videos

[gerardsangel4977]

Yeah, you completely missed the point.

Angry birds "plushies" only emphasizes my point. It's a game geared towards the tween set and is completely inappropriate in comparison to the content of the music on the albums.

I never said "Oh Love" was offensive. It's the exact opposite of offensive, which was my point. It's the safe, tepid, "clean" song on the album that is also for the tween set.

And I never once said anything that was condescending or looking down on that age group. My only point in all of this is that the music isn't appropriate for that age group, that the marketing is way over-the-top geared towards that age group to the exclusion of their older (and I'm talking teenagers and up) established fanbase, and that it flies in the face of everything the band has self-promoted themselves to be up to this point. It's hypocritical. It hurts Green Day's public image. And personally, I think it's a stupid marketing approach for the long-term success of the albums and the band.

I don't give a shit about marketing to that age group when it's right for the band and the music. Justin Bieber is a perfect example of an appropriate match for that market. And more power to him. But Green Day has primarily stood for something a whole lot less shallow up to this point, where it wasn't completely and utterly all about just making money off the backs of the biggest market demographic. They may have done some of these things in the past, but it wasn't their entire marketing strategy like it is now and it's the reason there have been so many fuck-ups with it, and it's why there's been so much controversy and debate about it this time around.

This entire marketing strategy reflects a complete disconnect between the band, the music and the fanbase, and unlike American Idiot and Dookie, and to an extent 21st Century Breakdown, nobody will be talking about these albums a year from now, and especially not ten years from now, despite the fact the music is incredible and makes as big a statement. And that is entirely the fault of the marketing.

And you have missed *my* point entirely, which is that Green Day *is* appropriate for young audiences, at least from a marketing standpoint (from a sheer content standpoint, I firmly believe what is or is not appropriate is entirely up to the individuals within that age group and their corresponding parental units). You see, because of the emotional and cognitive development that occurs during adolescence, people are most idealistic and rebellious during that phase of their life. Therefore, if you are trying to promote a band like Green Day that purports itself to be both idealistic and rebellious, that's where your prime audience is going to be. Then, throw in the fact that Green Day has an entire back catalogue full of songs about alienation and apathy and pining over girls (all subjects which are highly relevant to a youth audience), along with the fact that the members of the group are significantly attractive (thus appealing to the overactive hormones), and you have an absolute perfect storm of a product for that demographic. So, they aren't just appropriate for the audience; they're ideal for it.

That is why they've always been able to attract such a young following, and why they continue to advertise toward that demo, even now (by the way, I love that you claim to not have anything against younger fans, but then state that Justin Bieber is appropriate for that age group, but Green Day is not because they aren't that shallow. You may not realize it, but that viewpoint says a LOT about what you think of young people, and it is not flattering. Do you seriously think people that age are only capable of appreciating crap like Bieber? Should they not be allowed to have other options like the rest of us?) And let us not forget the immense long-term benefits that come from successfully capturing a youth audience: contemporary relevance, expansion of fanbase into future generations, thus contributing to overall longevity, and the heightened potential for creating life-long fans. Billie Joe even mentioned in an interview during the 21CB era that he was disappointed to find the audience at a Van Halen show he attended was comprised solely of middle-aged yuppies, that he loves the diversity he finds in Green Day's audience, and that he hopes their shows never get to that point. So he is clearly reluctant to let that part of his audience go.

That said, the youth market is not the *only* audience that Green Day markets to anymore. They are in a very unique and strange position of being able to play to both sides of the generational fence, which is why, in addition to things like playing the VMA's and donating a song to Twilight, they've also booked performances on Good Morning America, Jimmy Kimmel and Ellen (even if the latter two were both, unfortunately cancelled), done interviews with the likes of BBC Breakfast and ABC Nightline, and licensed their music out to CSI and the NFL. None of which have tween girls as their target audience, last I checked.

And, for the record, since I know you're still relatively new to Green Day fandom, and this is your first time actively participating in new album promotion and hype, I'm going to give you a bit of fair warning: Everything Green Day says and does causes controversy and debate amongst the fans, not just now, but always. No matter what it is, there's always some portion of the fanbase that disagrees, and since we're all a bunch of hyper-opinionated bastards, arguments happen. Welcome to GDC!

[Forever Now]

I don't like the Twilight movies but I can't wait to hear the new song!

[EmmaCharlatan&Saints]

Ah shite. Now Kirsten's face will be imprinted on a Green Day song. Please say they won't do one of those collab vids where they incorporate some of the movie into the video and have the lads playing in a forest.

No offence to the girl, but I don't want her moodiness in one of Green Day's videos

Can she even express moodiness

[Tooooooooooooom]

everyone needs to remember that the marketing campaign isn't meant to be aimed at the REAL fans.....its to try and get people who wouldn't normally buy the album to buy it!

[melissawebster]

Reality check: You're not stanning for an underground punk band. This is a mainstream rock band which has sold over 65 million albums worldwide. They've always marketed their songs/albums, and always will, in one way or another. Calm down!

Oh jeez. What is it with you people? Anytime somebody expresses a difference of opinion that is negative about the band, you dismiss it and tell them to "calm down," like they're being irrational. I have never seen Green Day as a punk band and wasn't around during that time. I'm not punk. I'm talking about American Idiot and the exact things they said and did during 21st Century Breakdown. Of course they've always marketed their albums, but not in the way they are doing now. And their success has been BECAUSE they marketed themselves as being people wholly committed to their beliefs. Beliefs that resonated with me and made me a fan. Now, with the marketing of the album trilogy, those beliefs have disappeared and their music is no different than any other trained monkey out there.

Whoa, I'm sorry, I think you misjudged my tone. I was trying to tailor my language to remove any bias, but I guess that backfired. I didn't intend to be condescending I'm sorry.

By idealised Green Day I didn't mean we're all delusional. That was poor choice of words. What I meant was, my initial impression of Green Day was something that was heavily tied in with a lot of their cultural and political opinions that I absolutely identified with. This came from the music and stuff the band said, and their general background as people. I want to see the band continue in this direction. This is how i see and identify Green Day. But what's happening now, and what they're doing, goes against a lot of that. There is now a massive difference between how I remember GD/want them to be, and what they are actively doing (or allowing to happen). And that makes me, and other people, angry. This was the point I was trying to make earlier, in response to someone saying they didn't see how anyone could care about the marketing stuff.

Secondly, when I said change/grow I didn't mean positively. By changing priorities I meant changing emphasis on money/commercial success. I don't know how much of this is a genuine change or a revelation, so I didn't want to accuse GD of anything. But I do agree that their changing stance on Walmart is bullshit.

And by older fans I just meant people who became fans before the current stream of marketing, I wasn't trying to be elitist or anything. We can all see what's happening, I was trying to explain why some people might find it upsetting. I guess in my attempt to stay out of the argument and kind of circumnavigate my own opinion, I just made is sound like I was attacking the fans who were angry, and I'm sorry. That was absolutely not my intention, especially when I actually agree with a lot of the complaining in this thread.

No worries. I'm sorry for misunderstanding.

[greendaytodeathandback]

Can she even express moodiness

That girl couldn't express pain if a lion bit her in the ass

[melissawebster]

And you have missed *my* point entirely, which is that Green Day *is* appropriate for young audiences, at least from a marketing standpoint (from a sheer content standpoint, I firmly believe what is or is not appropriate is entirely up to the individuals within that age group and their corresponding parental units). You see, because of the emotional and cognitive development that occurs during adolescence, people are most idealistic and rebellious during that phase of their life. Therefore, if you are trying to promote a band like Green Day that purports itself to be both idealistic and rebellious, that's where your prime audience is going to be. Then, throw in the fact that Green Day has an entire back catalogue full of songs about alienation and apathy and pining over girls (all subjects which are highly relevant to a youth audience), along with the fact that the members of the group are significantly attractive (thus appealing to the overactive hormones), and you have an absolute perfect storm of a product for that demographic. So, they aren't just appropriate for the audience; they're ideal for it.

That is why they've always been able to attract such a young following, and why they continue to advertise toward that demo, even now (by the way, I love that you claim to not have anything against younger fans, but then state that Justin Bieber is appropriate for that age group, but Green Day is not because they aren't that shallow. You may not realize it, but that viewpoint says a LOT about what you think of young people, and it is not flattering. Do you seriously think people that age are only capable of appreciating crap like Bieber? Should they not be allowed to have other options like the rest of us?) And let us not forget the immense long-term benefits that come from successfully capturing a youth audience: contemporary relevance, expansion of fanbase into future generations, thus contributing to overall longevity, and the heightened potential for creating life-long fans. Billie Joe even mentioned in an interview during the 21CB era that he was disappointed to find the audience at a Van Halen show he attended was comprised solely of middle-aged yuppies, that he loves the diversity he finds in Green Day's audience, and that he hopes their shows never get to that point. So he is clearly reluctant to let that part of his audience go.

That said, the youth market is not the *only* audience that Green Day markets to anymore. They are in a very unique and strange position of being able to play to both sides of the generational fence, which is why, in addition to things like playing the VMA's and donating a song to Twilight, they've also booked performances on Good Morning America, Jimmy Kimmel and Ellen (even if the latter two were both, unfortunately cancelled), done interviews with the likes of BBC Breakfast and ABC Nightline, and licensed their music out to CSI and the NFL. None of which have tween girls as their target audience, last I checked.

And, for the record, since I know you're still relatively new to Green Day fandom, and this is your first time actively participating in new album promotion and hype, I'm going to give you a bit of fair warning: Everything Green Day says and does causes controversy and debate amongst the fans, not just now, but always. No matter what it is, there's always some portion of the fanbase that disagrees, and since we're all a bunch of hyper-opinionated bastards, arguments happen. Welcome to GDC!

I didn't say the tween demographic is shallow or even that Justin Bieber is shallow. I said completely transparent, commercialized marketing of these albums was shallow, and Green Day wasn't, up to this point, all about that to the exclusion of everything else. And you can explain it away and misquote me and give all the personal stories and examples you want, it does not change the fact this entire marketing strategy is about making as much money as possible off this one demographic. Green Day has turned into a band of trained monkeys and corporate shills, which makes the music itself meaningless. Maybe they've always been like this, but this is the first time it's been so obvious.

This is the first time they've actually changed their public image and (what they've claimed to be anyway) their personal beliefs for the sole purpose of accommodating this market. The album artwork for all the albums before this trilogy reflected the band's image and their music. Now it reflects the tween demographic. Do you see the difference? The marketing and promotions before this trilogy reflected, for the most part, the band's image and their music. Now it reflects the tween demographic. Everything they've been doing for the last four months has been about the demographic, NOT the public image the band has presented to the world up to this point. And the stupid thing is it was so completely unnecessary. They have been successful on that public image their entire careers. Why did they feel the need, this time around, to actually revolve their marketing strategy around a demographic that, as you so succinctly pointed out, would buy their music anyway? Selling their souls to the tweens has never been who they are or what they're about, and it wouldn't have mattered as far as selling records goes.

And the tween demographic is not going to stick with this band in the long-term. A few like you might, but for the most part, they're not even as likely to buy the albums. They will download a few songs, maybe go to a concert, maybe buy a t-shirt, and then move on to the next big fad that's been over-saturated and hyped to the extreme.

[HeeeyOhhhBillieJoe]

I don't think you people understand the business.

Green Day don't have to like Twilight.. they've been honest that they think the Saga sucks dick, but as they say "money talks".

You have to admit them being on the soundtrack is good exposure for their music and that's what comes first.

Them agreeing to be on it isn't them selling out to the tweens it's just good marketing.

Bands like Radiohead, Muse, Death Cab For Cutie etc all agreed to featured.. it doesn't make them look bad whatsoever so I don't think Green Day deserve bad rep for it when those other bands don't get hated for it.

Then again Green Day are always that band that gets criticized for every single thing they do.

[kate_ochoxx]

Muse was on the first Twilight soundtrack. Honestly this isnt very surprising

[EmmaCharlatan&Saints]

That girl couldn't express pain if a lion bit her in the ass

This is so true. Its depressing shes regarded as an actress my bedroom wall has more emotion

[greendaytodeathandback]

This is so true. Its depressing shes regarded as an actress my bedroom wall has more emotion

And she may very well now be emotionless with the hyperactive Green Day. What a sight this will be

[Pieces of Truth]

This is so true. Its depressing shes regarded as an actress my bedroom wall has more emotion

Tré in drag could do a so much better job But the movie would still suck

[EmmaCharlatan&Saints]

And she may very well now be emotionless with the hyperactive Green Day. What a sight this will be

Tré in drag could do a so much better job But the movie would still suck

Would be a helleva lot more interesting though

[Ritz]

Yeah I hate that bitch. K-Stew is UGH.

[greendaytodeathandback]

Hhahahahahahhahaha that made me laugh so so much

[melissawebster]

Tré in drag could do a so much better job But the movie would still suck

Nothing could possibly suck with Tre in drag. That's always worth the price of a ticket.

[Vespertine]

Oh jeez. What is it with you people? Anytime somebody expresses a difference of opinion that is negative about the band, you dismiss it and tell them to "calm down," like they're being irrational. I have never seen Green Day as a punk band and wasn't around during that time. I'm not punk. I'm talking about American Idiot and the exact things they said and did during 21st Century Breakdown. Of course they've always marketed their albums, but not in the way they are doing now. And their success has been BECAUSE they marketed themselves as being people wholly committed to their beliefs. Beliefs that resonated with me and made me a fan. Now, with the marketing of the album trilogy, those beliefs have disappeared and their music is no different than any other trained monkey out there.

They're not even promoting this album properly, though. Most of my friends have not even heard of Uno! or Dos! and Tre! yet and a few of them didn't even know Green Day was still around. I think fans are the only ones getting this feeling. Plus, their album being available at Walmart doesn't seem to be helping that much to be honest. I don't even know why you are so annoyed by that.

Like it's been pointed out a hundred times already, Green Day have always contradicted themselves. Since you're a new fan, I think you should get used to the idea of Green Day being a contradictory band. It's always been that way. Isn't there an old interview where the guys joke about making a rock opera album, like it was the last thing they would do? Yeah.

They need to sell albums. They're a mainstream band and they're signed to a major label. I'm all for massive promotion, as long as it results in more people listening to great music and less people listening to Gangnam Style.

[melissawebster]

They're not even promoting this album properly, though. Most of my friends have not even heard of Uno! or Dos! and Tre! yet and a few of them didn't even know Green Day was still around. I think fans are the only ones getting this feeling. Plus, their album being available at Walmart doesn't seem to be helping that much to be honest. I don't even know why you are so annoyed by that.

Like it's been pointed out a hundred times already, Green Day have always contradicted themselves. Since you're a new fan, I think you should get used to the idea of Green Day being a contradictory band. It's always been that way. Isn't there an old interview where the guys joke about making a rock opera album, like it was the last thing they would do? Yeah.

They need to sell albums. They're a mainstream band and they're signed to a major label. I'm all for massive promotion, as long as it results in more people listening to great music and less people listening to Gangnam Style.

Haha! LOVE the Gangnam Style statement!

Yeah, the whole Walmart thing not making a difference is what I predicted a couple of months ago, which is exactly why they shouldn't have sold their souls for it in the first place and pissed off their fans in the process. Alienating their fanbase in lieu of flash-and-burn pop star marketing is the only complaint I've had throughout this entire promotional roll-out. My being a new fan has no bearing on it. This is my professional opinion, based solely on my professional experience, education and training in marketing and public relations. Of course they have to market the albums, but like you, I don't believe it's being done properly, and because they're my favorite band, it pisses me off because I want it done properly and I want Green Day and these albums to be as successful as possible.

[Rumpelstiltskin]

really ?

[gerardsangel4977]

And the tween demographic is not going to stick with this band in the long-term. A few like you might, but for the most part, they're not even as likely to buy the albums. They will download a few songs, maybe go to a concert, maybe buy a t-shirt, and then move on to the next big fad that's been over-saturated and hyped to the extreme.

What's funny about this is the "few like me" make up a significant chunk of this forum's population....and another significant chunk of it is people who are still in that age group and who may or may not move on from the band in a few years time. But even if they do, Green Day will ultimately be fondly remembered by them as a significant part of their formative years. Hooray nostalgia!

My sister, the one I mentioned sharing a room with? She was one of the ones who moved on. She didn't buy 21st Century Breakdown or Uno, even though she went through all the trouble of collecting all of Green Day's prior albums. Probably won't buy Dos or Tre either. Didn't even know who the Foxboro Hot Tubs were, til I explained it to her the one day. And she hasn't participated in any forum discussions or wore any Green Day merch in years....BUT when tour time comes around, she always wants to go. In fact, if I ever failed to mention to her that the band is going to be in town, she would have my head on a platter. Because this band still meant something to her then, even if it doesn't capture her interest anymore, and in those moments, she gets to go back and be a 13-year-old emokid again instead of a 21-year-old Education major.

And then you have someone like Lady Gaga, who clearly ended up miles away from anything resembling punk rock, yet still gushes in interviews (and to the band members) about how Dookie was the first album she ever bought and what the band meant to her as a young girl. And tweets during their performance at the VMAs about how she's still a 14-year-old Green Day stan at heart. And maybe her fans, after reading that stuff, might decide to check out Green Day for themselves. It's like the gift that keeps on giving!

You've made it clear that you don't care about any of my personal anecdotes or experiences or even factual claims, but I have to ask you this: Do you really think that people like me aren't important to the success of this band? Or the people like my sister? Or the Lady Gagas and Florence Welches and Serena Williamses and Paramores of the world? Is our combined impact really that small to make the entire demographic worthless?

They're not even promoting this album properly, though. Most of my friends have not even heard of Uno! or Dos! and Tre! yet and a few of them didn't even know Green Day was still around. I think fans are the only ones getting this feeling. Plus, their album being available at Walmart doesn't seem to be helping that much to be honest. I don't even know why you are so annoyed by that. Like it's been pointed out a hundred times already, Green Day have always contradicted themselves. Since you're a new fan, I think you should get used to the idea of Green Day being a contradictory band. It's always been that way. Isn't there an old interview where the guys joke about making a rock opera album, like it was the last thing they would do? Yeah. They need to sell albums. They're a mainstream band and they're signed to a major label. I'm all for massive promotion, as long as it results in more people listening to great music and less people listening to Gangnam Style.

LOL yes! The bookmobile interview! Man, is that ever priceless to watch, in hindsight I also remember the band saying, in interviews for AI, that they were initially afraid to go in that direction because of how it would be perceived, but then said "Fuck it! If the fans fucking hang us, fuck it!" And Billie mentioning going on the message boards after they announced they were doing a concept album and seeing everyone talking about what a terrible idea it was. Best Bad Idea Ever, if you ask me. But oh did it ever piss some people off....

I think sometimes, given the distance from it, that people forget how much of a stir American Idiot actually caused for the fandom. New sound, new look, a sizable dose of politics injected into the mix (which are divisive enough as it is, before you throw in the fact that Billie once said he'd never write about politics), media saturation and merchandising out the wazoo....an assload of new fans coming in, while plenty of old ones jumped ship due to the vast variety of evils they felt the band had committed in their attempts to pander to a newer, younger audience and recapture their faded glory.....So, you know, FUN TIMES.

Or what about the time Billie Joe got asked if he would consider making American Idiot into a musical, and he said "over his dead body" And then Michael Mayer came along....and that was that. I wouldn't say the musical divided the fandom quite as wholly as the AI album did, but man was that one hell of an extended shitstorm (which will likely rear it's head again once the film version comes out, I'm sure).

[PanicAttack!]

As ridiculous and irrelevant as franchises like Angry Birds and Twillight is, as ridiculous and irrelevant is it to let it come between you and your favorite band.