Unpopular Green Day Opinions

[Mar]

99 Revolutions annoys me. It could have been so much better. It's a decent rallying song, good verses, a catchy riff, but let down by such a lazy chorus, an an unimaginative bridge.

I'm still baffled (and slightly angry) about Billie's huge boner for that song. Just because it was written about something important doesn't mean it's automatically an important or great song. It certainly isn't good enough to be an opening song AND be the rallying point/name of the tour.

21CB the album ceased to grab my attention until I started listening to it all the way through. That's generally how I listen to new music now, just repeatedly throwing the full album in the Rhapsody que and listening to the music in the background of whatever I'm doing.

Speaking of which, Viva La Gloria! was a song that immediately caught my attention. Beautiful intro. Very underrated song.

Also Uptight is very creative lyrically but it just doesn't connect with me like some of their other lyrical master pieces. The chorus doesn't have the hook or vocal runs that I really like to latch on to either.

VLG would have been a much better single choice than EJN (which is so overrated IMO).

[The Grouch is Tracy]

I'm still baffled (and slightly angry) about Billie's huge boner for that song. Just because it was written about something important doesn't mean it's automatically an important or great song. It certainly isn't good enough to be an opening song AND be the rallying point/name of the tour. :

And, by the time the album came out, it was just over being topical anymore.... which I think reflects badly on the band and might make people subconsciously question their relevance.

I feel the same way with the lines "Video games and the towers fall, homeland security will kill us all" from 21 CB. I understand that Billie wants to address current, heartfelt issues, but it seems to me that if you miss that little window of opportunity to address an issue while it is actually in the spotlight that your chance of influencing "hearts and minds" is greatly diminished.

They did so well with Working Class Hero and The Saints Are Coming as benefit / awareness - raising songs because that format allowed them to be released quickly. I do realize that they were both covers and that this likely expedited the whole process too...

I prefer more timeless GD songs personally.

[Anaïs.]

VLG would have been a much better single choice than EJN (which is so overrated IMO).

NO.

[AlissaGoesRAWR]

I'm still baffled (and slightly angry) about Billie's huge boner for that song. Just because it was written about something important doesn't mean it's automatically an important or great song. It certainly isn't good enough to be an opening song AND be the rallying point/name of the tour.

The concept of Billie having a huge boner at all is kind of baffling to me.

But seriously. It's not relevant anymore, Occupy was dead on arrival imo, just what was "trendy" at the time, and come at me if you want to argue against that. (Last time I said that I got chastised on here...)

But I still get excited when I hear it now because its lyrics are the first words I ever heard spoken from Billie's mouth. And I hate myself for it every day.

And, by the time the album came out, it was just over being topical anymore.... which I think reflects badly on the band and might make people subconsciously question their relevance.

That's basically what I said when they announced the tour name and everyone was all "NUUU! OCCUPY! FIGHTING FOR PEOPLE'S RIGHTS AND SHIT!"

[Spike]

Calling the tour 99 Revolutions was an absolute joke. "Hey everyone, let's go join the Occupy movement by paying loads of money to a conglomerate organisation so we can go see a cash cow band."

[UNICORN VOMIT]

Yeah I hope they don't open with 99 Rev here for soundwave. I have nothing against the song but it really means nothing here in Australia. It will be interesting to see the direction of the setlist thought - can't f***ing wait

[Z J]

Problem with OWS is that everyone had a different reason for being there, and a different/no solution in mind. After hearing Billie talk about how some people just seem like they protest for the sake of protesting, I agree with his thoughts on the topic.

I don't think calling it the 99 Revolutions tour was about getting people to join the OWS movement at all

[JOE THE X-KID]

East Jesus nowhere should have never been dropped from the set...

[munns6691]

Going back to the trilogy I think I've figured out my issue with it. I enjoy it and like one half of the songs more than the others. It seems that at least half of the songs were written with Billie having the Hot Tubs on his brain but then converting them to Green Day songs. In reality they should have had 2 albums, one by Green Day and one by the Hot Tubs.

Also, Nimrod is awesome and 21st CB is great too.

Piano is an area I wish they'd explore more. Not in "The Forgotten" vein, it doesn't have to be sappy but more in the Viva La Gloria intro or the bridge-chorus transition in 21 Guns. If they'd get a little more creative with the notes, I think it would work really nice and they've proven themselves to be incredible at building the tempo toward an explosive ending, perfect for piano.

As for the second half of Viva La Gloria, I had viewed it as negligible at first. I really only listened to the first half then never really paid the second part any notice. But a little while ago I really started to enjoy it. Big sound, very well produced I think and I like the vocal. Very anthemic. I like the backing vocals.

Falling in broken glass and slashing through your spirits

I can hear it like a jilted crowd

and

You found a home in all your scars and ammunition

are lines that I really like. The lyrics are very good throughout the whole thing I think. But in the end it is the beginning that sets it apart from their other material

I love Viva La Gloria but I wish I could hear what a piano version would sound like

[Hermione]

I don't think there's anything, like, ethically wrong with calling it the 99 Revolutions tour, it's a song on the albums that they believe in the message of. But I do think it was a terribly lame name choice . It doesn't evoke the key themes or overall feel of the albums the tour was supporting AT ALL, in fact out of the 37 songs it's probably the one that's least like any of the others. It made it sound like they hadn't moved on from American Idiot and 21st CB and their new music must just be more serious/political stuff like that. Or worse it made it sound like they were trying to give that impression to "sell" the tour based on the image of an old more successful album even though they have moved on. Should've called it the Fuck Time tour!

East Jesus nowhere should have never been dropped from the set...

Agreed! In my top 5 favourite Green Day songs ever, and the "saving" the kid part was fantastic. Wish they'd get rid of Holiday instead, same type of vibe minus the child saving awesomeness plus there's already American Idiot on the set to provide a rallying singalong from that album.

[Guest]

Going back to the trilogy I think I've figured out my issue with it. I enjoy it and like one half of the songs more than the others. It seems that at least half of the songs were written with Billie having the Hot Tubs on his brain but then converting them to Green Day songs. In reality they should have had 2 albums, one by Green Day and one by the Hot Tubs.

But there's only about 2 or 3 songs with a FBH sound on the Trilogy? Even Dos, which is the "party" album, doesn't sound remotely like the Foxies.

[Mar]

I don't think there's anything, like, ethically wrong with calling it the 99 Revolutions tour, it's a song on the albums that they believe in the message of. But I do think it was a terribly lame name choice . It doesn't evoke the key themes or overall feel of the albums the tour was supporting AT ALL, in fact out of the 37 songs it's probably the one that's least like any of the others. It made it sound like they hadn't moved on from American Idiot and 21st CB and their new music must just be more serious/political stuff like that. Or worse it made it sound like they were trying to give that impression to "sell" the tour based on the image of an old more successful album even though they have moved on. Should've called it the Fuck Time tour!

Well said. I think the name change from Uno! Dos! Tre! Tour (as it was billied pre-rehab) to 99 Revolutions was very much an attempt to capitalize on that more successful image, for sure.

[munns6691]

But there's only about 2 or 3 songs with a FBH sound on the Trilogy? Even Dos, which is the "party" album, doesn't sound remotely like the Foxies.

Not the musical style of the songs because they made them into Green Day songs, but more like the lyrics and themes of the songs. I wish they'd made those songs using the Foxie formula

[Z J]

Holiday is one of their top 10 songs for me. Lyrically it is probably top 3. And the breakdown in the middle is awesome live.

Never remove it from the setlist.

[Spike]

Holiday is one of their top 10 songs for me. Lyrically it is probably top 3. And the breakdown in the middle is awesome live.

Never remove it from the setlist.

This. It was the first song I heard from American Idiot, when they did it live for the AOL Sessions, and it's what made me fall in love with the band in the first place. It's such a simple bass solo, but absolutely fantastic. I'd also argue it's their most important song ever politically, too. And the backing vocals are really fun. I just love everything about it. EJN has some of my favourite lyrics by any band ever, but sound-wise it feels like a half-arsed attempt to recreate Holiday, and the last chorus is lacking the energy needed to give the song the big finish it deserves. For that reason, if it was a case of choosing between EJN and Holiday, I'd go with Holiday every time.

[Anaïs.]

EJN has some of my favourite lyrics by any band ever, but sound-wise it feels like a half-arsed attempt to recreate Holiday, and the last chorus is lacking the energy needed to give the song the big finish it deserves. For that reason, if it was a case of choosing between EJN and Holiday, I'd go with Holiday every time.

I'll agree the last chorus is weak, but I don't think the sound is a half-arsed "Holiday". It's far more ferocious and pounding, and heavier, at least to my ears. In terms of sound, it's probably my favorite off 21CB besides the title track. Lyrically, of course, it's far and away the best on the album.

[walking_c0ntradicti0n]

No need to flame shield; I'm not easily provoked.

Honestly? It's the last song on the album, so I never got far enough to actually listen to it much. By that point, the album just seems so drawn out I'm like "next, please." And it also sounds just like "You Shook Me All Night Long..."

Oh, i didnt listen to the album in order, i jumped around it on Grooveshark and listened to it while playing video games. and never noticed it sounded like shook me all night long till you just said it... but the second the background vocals came in im like "well this aint bad at all" then the chorus before the solo i thought "holy shit i get why this is last on the album" except it aint last on my ipod anymore cause i added Hearts Collide and Lights Out as bonus tracks or something

[Hermione]

But there's only about 2 or 3 songs with a FBH sound on the Trilogy? Even Dos, which is the "party" album, doesn't sound remotely like the Foxies.

I disagree, I think the albums as a whole have a retro/rock and roll feel to them that isn't exactly the same as but is reminiscent of the Foxies. Lots of similarities in the lyrics as well. And I think about half the songs on Dos are strongly Foxies-like.

Holiday is one of their top 10 songs for me. Lyrically it is probably top 3. And the breakdown in the middle is awesome live.

Never remove it from the setlist.

I do love the song and enjoy it live. I just always feel that if I demand they add a song to the setlist I should be realistic and choose one to sacrifice to make room for it

Incidentally I've just thought of another reason to get rid of Holiday in favour of EJN: it doesn't have the fabulous heart attack inducing loud bangs in it any more! Literally the only point in the show I notice/remotely care about the lack of pyro.

[Guest]

I disagree, I think the albums as a whole have a retro/rock and roll feel to them that isn't exactly the same as but is reminiscent of the Foxies. Lots of similarities in the lyrics as well. And I think about half the songs on Dos are strongly Foxies-like..

Lady Cobra, Fuck Time (because it's a Foxies song anyway), Stray Heart (Mother Mary copy paste)... any others? Maybe Troublemaker or SWTRLF, but while garagey, they sound nothing like FBH.

[mallorymaloney]

Is it really that unpopular of an opinion that Green Day's ((newer)) music essentially sucks dick now, or am I alone on this one ...?

I'm a completely different type of fan now than I was a couple years ago ... Bit sad, really. I hardly even listen to them at all anymore, and often find myself skipping past any GD song when it starts to play on my phone.

[UNICORN VOMIT]

"Any GD song" ^^ aw that's sad and unpopular I would think.

[Guest]

Is it really that unpopular of an opinion that Green Day's ((newer)) music essentially sucks dick now, or am I alone on this one ...?

I'm a completely different type of fan now than I was a couple years ago ... Bit sad, really. I hardly even listen to them at all anymore, and often find myself skipping past any GD song when it starts to play on my phone.

Nah, I'm pretty much the same. There's a couple of songs on the Trilogy I like, and I occasionally listen the older stuff if it comes on shuffle, but other bands have taken GD's place in a big way. I think the Trilogy era has resulted in a good few disillusioned older GD fans moving on.

[mallorymaloney]

"Any GD song" ^^ aw that's sad and unpopular I would think.

Yeah, it's like the shittiness of their new music and all the bullshit that happened in the most recent era has affected my like for their music overall ...

Nah, I'm pretty much the same. There's a couple of songs on the Trilogy I like, and I occasionally listen the older stuff if it comes on shuffle, but other bands have taken GD's place in a big way. I think the Trilogy era has resulted in a good few disillusioned older GD fans moving on.

Fuck, so glad I'm not alone on this one. Only difference is I haven't found any 'replacement' bands, so there's this huge hole in the musical portion of my life.

[Guest]

Fuck, so glad I'm not alone on this one. Only difference is I haven't found any 'replacement' bands, so there's this huge hole in the musical portion of my life.

Biffy Clyro and Jawbreaker are my replacements, if that helps. Biffy Clyro in a much bigger way though.

It's ironic the year I finally up on join GDC is the year I start losing interest in Green Day

[Hermione]

Lady Cobra, Fuck Time (because it's a Foxies song anyway), Stray Heart (Mother Mary copy paste)... any others? Maybe Troublemaker or SWTRLF, but while garagey, they sound nothing like FBH.

I must have a looser definition of Foxies like, I'd include all those plus Makeout Party (especially the dirty break down in the middle, it's like 27th Avenue Shuffle), Wild One (more like a slow Foxies song) and Wow That's Loud (totally psychedelic!). Maybe Baby Eyes for the guitar and lyrical content too.