Spike Posted September 7, 2013 Posted September 7, 2013 As I wrote in a review of 21st Century Breakdown sometime last year: Know Your Enemy is possibly one of the laziest protest songs ever written. "Do you know the enemy?" asks Armstrong, somewhat predictably. 16 times. In 3 minutes. That's an average of once every 12 seconds. Combined with the three note melody which continues throughout all of the verses as well as the chorus and the three chord riff of B, E and A which follows suit, the vast majority of the song's musical content is revealed within the first 22 seconds. Which is probably why this was the radio hit - it's little more than a derivative, over-commercialised, passive aggressive pseudo-protest song for American housewives and stupid people. Even the lead guitar work, the only potential saving grace of this song, is ruined by the amount of times we have the same three notes shoved down our throats. There's some respite from the interminable repetition during the bridge, where Armstrong treats us to a new vocal melody, but within a few seconds we're back to the painful cries of "Do you know the enemy?" In the band's defence, they sound like they really mean it, but conviction alone isn't enough to redeem Know Your Enemy. It's a shame. Green Day are far, far better than this, yet it's this song by which the masses will probably judge the entire album. Whoever made the perverse decision to release this as the album's first single deserves dumping on Alcatraz, with Know Your Enemy being blasted directly into their brain on a constant loop, until they finally understand what it's like to be a listener of modern rock radio.
munns6691 Posted September 7, 2013 Posted September 7, 2013 I actually kind of like Know Your Enemy, its a really good live song. I understand it shouldn't have been the lead single but still
JOE THE X-KID Posted September 7, 2013 Posted September 7, 2013 Know your enemy isn't their best work but I still like it especially live. I like that its repetitive because its meant to be a "call to arms" kind of song.
fromdecimateddreams Posted September 7, 2013 Posted September 7, 2013 ^^ Exactly. They probably play it live because it has a lot of energy and gets the crowd really pumped in the beginning of the show. If you look at their setlists from this recent tour, the first few songs are 99 Revolutions, Know Your Enemy, SWTRLF, etc. Those are all pretty repetitive songs but they all also have lots of energy and are good to start a show with to get the crowd excited before they dive into everything else.
Guest Posted September 7, 2013 Posted September 7, 2013 Then explain why their best opener was 21stCB, possibly one of their least repetitive and most creative songs ever?
Spike Posted September 7, 2013 Posted September 7, 2013 I really hate it when they base their setlists around pure energy. I mean, I get that they have to get the crowd going, but that can easily be done with less repetitive songs. 21st Century Breakdown is the obvious example. They've got far too many good, less repetitive, high-energy songs to have any reason to play KYE anymore.
fromdecimateddreams Posted September 7, 2013 Posted September 7, 2013 Then explain why their best opener was 21stCB, possibly one of their least repetitive and most creative songs ever? I didn't say those songs were their best openers, I just said they're energetic and fun. I dunno about the rest of you guys, but when I'm at the concert I don't spend the whole time critiquing what songs they're playing and what ones they're not. I just enjoy myself regardless.
Guest Posted September 7, 2013 Posted September 7, 2013 I didn't say those songs were their best openers, I just said they're energetic and fun. I dunno about the rest of you guys, but when I'm at the concert I don't spend the whole time critiquing what songs they're playing and what ones they're not. I just enjoy myself regardless. When I saw them a few weeks ago, I actually found it difficult to get into their set for the first few songs. Probably because I wasn't that crazy about them in the least. There's a fine line between energetic and fun and boring and bland.
fromdecimateddreams Posted September 7, 2013 Posted September 7, 2013 When I saw them a few weeks ago, I actually found it difficult to get into their set for the first few songs. Probably because I wasn't that crazy about them in the least. There's a fine line between energetic and fun and boring and bland. To each their own, I suppose. I don't normally find it hard to get into their sets cause I'm already pumped from just being there in the first place, but everyone's different.
Hermione Posted September 7, 2013 Posted September 7, 2013 Anyone who doesn't enjoy Know Your Enemy live should start singing along "Well gotta know the enemy, RAW HAM". I've said it before and I'll say it again, it makes it highly enjoyable. The album's story line is not really existent.Why is that bad though? American Idiot is the only one of their albums that has a linear story line to follow. They never claimed 21st CB had a story line, it just has characters.
munns6691 Posted September 7, 2013 Posted September 7, 2013 This probably isn't unpopular or even the right place exactly but I wanna share my thoughts with people. Right now Bruno Mars is set to be the halftime show for the Super Bowl in February. Green Day should be the show. They would put on an actual performance and be much better than the crap they have had lately.
The Disappearing Boy Posted September 7, 2013 Posted September 7, 2013 So which is better then? Oh love or know your enemy?!
Guest Posted September 7, 2013 Posted September 7, 2013 This probably isn't unpopular or even the right place exactly but I wanna share my thoughts with people. Right now Bruno Mars is set to be the halftime show for the Super Bowl in February. Green Day should be the show. They would put on an actual performance and be much better than the crap they have had lately. Bruno Mars is big right now, whilst Green Day have just had several records completely tank and are now "notorious" as being unreliable at big PR stunts. You do the maths. Besides, BM has a lot more talent than most of the crap on the radio these days. He'll do a decent job. So which is better then? Oh love or know your enemy?! Oh Love, by a whisker. Oh Love I can stand to listen to. If it came on on shuffle, I wouldn't skip it, it's a nice rock tune. KYE is just ridiculously annoying and repetitive. The only time I listen to it is on a playthrough of 21stCB, and even then it sometimes gets the skip.
Hermione Posted September 7, 2013 Posted September 7, 2013 This probably isn't unpopular or even the right place exactly but I wanna share my thoughts with people. Right now Bruno Mars is set to be the halftime show for the Super Bowl in February. Green Day should be the show. They would put on an actual performance and be much better than the crap they have had lately.Bruno Mars is a really good singer (no autotune or any of that rubbish) who writes his own songs, which are about real things not just money and getting women etc. I agree there's lots of crap music acts around at the moment, but he's not one of them.
munns6691 Posted September 7, 2013 Posted September 7, 2013 Maybe I'm just bitter that Green Day has never got the chance even with American Idiot haha. Nothing against Bruno
Guest Posted September 7, 2013 Posted September 7, 2013 Maybe I'm just bitter that Green Day has never got the chance even with American Idiot haha. Nothing against Bruno Not sure how to break this to you but... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMJ6JJ4_cCw
musso_kn Posted September 7, 2013 Posted September 7, 2013 You guys defend Know Your Enemy by saying it's alright or that you don't mind it. I love it and always have done. I love 21st Century Breakdown and always have done. It is absolutely on par with ALL their previous work and a trillion miles ahead of the Trilogy, which is undeniably the weakest set of songs they've ever released. But I'm pretty sure I've said this all before.
WhiteTim Posted September 7, 2013 Posted September 7, 2013 it's repetitive and not really representative of their best work, yet it is currently the only song they play off 21cb and it is still being played on the radio and at every sports event in America. I think it's popularity adds to the disdain for it. The band has 75 songs that are better yet they chose to make this song a staple in the set list. They treat it like one of their best songs when in reality it was the worst song on 21cb. That to me is why I dislike it, outside of its lacking musicality. No Christian Inferno is worst song on 21st followed by horseshoe
Guest Posted September 7, 2013 Posted September 7, 2013 that's not the superbowl though Isn't it? Always assumed it was. Shows my nonexistent knowledge of American Football.
munns6691 Posted September 7, 2013 Posted September 7, 2013 Not sure how to break this to you but... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMJ6JJ4_cCw Yeah i've seen this and while this was cool it wasn't the Superbowl which is the biggest stage Isn't it? Always assumed it was. Shows my nonexistent knowledge of American Football. Yup that was a reopening of the Superdome (Saints Stadium) after Hurricane Katrina.
Z J Posted September 7, 2013 Posted September 7, 2013 Anyone who doesn't enjoy Know Your Enemy live should start singing along "Well gotta know the enemy, RAW HAM". I've said it before and I'll say it again, it makes it highly enjoyable. Why is that bad though? American Idiot is the only one of their albums that has a linear story line to follow. They never claimed 21st CB had a story line, it just has characters. To be clear, I really like the album. I'm saying that because it was supposed to be the rock opera that follows AI I expected a story line. I was explaining my reasons for not liking it right away. Now the story isn't really a problem to me.21 CB is their best opener. I kind of which Billie sang song of the century, but it's still the best song to be the opener. As for the Superbowl, I wish they could. I really do. It would be perfect for them. Unfortunately, the last couple of years they have shied away from rock bands and moved to pop artists like Black Eyed Peas, Beyonce, and now Bruno Mars. Green Day would fit the bill if they got a little mainstream attention. But they haven't had enough of it in recent years. No Christian Inferno is worst song on 21st followed by horseshoe They're all candidates. But the good outweighs the bad with the album, to me.
The Disappearing Boy Posted September 7, 2013 Posted September 7, 2013 No Christian Inferno is worst song on 21st followed by horseshoe Can't stand those two (or KYE), which makes breakdown their worst album in my opinion. Simply for the reason that there is no other album which contains that many songs which I so strongly dislike.
munns6691 Posted September 8, 2013 Posted September 8, 2013 In light of my Superbowl post I got to thinking. If Green Day were to do it, usually a 30ish minute show. What 5-6 songs would you want them/should they do?
Guest Posted September 8, 2013 Posted September 8, 2013 In light of my Superbowl post I got to thinking. If Green Day were to do it, usually a 30ish minute show. What 5-6 songs would you want them/should they do? Not the place to be talking about this. http://www.greendaycommunity.org/topic/92427-if-green-day-ever-did-the-superbowl/ Go revive that thread if you want.
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