AlissaGoesRAWR Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 I, too, felt that the trilogy seemed forced. They've always been good about mixing humor with real issues - personal, political, social, or otherwise. To my mind, they've always been a band that more so mocked the rockstar lifestyle instead of living it (as in, in the Holiday video, the dancing girls weren't meant to be taken seriously). The trilogy, however, was very serious about the drugs, sex, and rock 'n' roll. It was overall a pretty humorless set of albums, and that's not like Green Day at all. The Holiday girls were a joke. The Oh Love girls were the real deal, and that bothered me tremendously. The trilogy felt forced to me because it felt like they were REALLY trying to prove that they weren't too grown up after making two political albums. But in trying to prove how they could still let loose and have fun, they managed to take that way too seriously, and it wasn't fun at all (for me). I don't know... Green Day is so great at evolving. And as they got older, I felt albums like American Idiot and 21CB were an excellent step in the right direction - they were both clever, masterfully written albums that I think they should be very proud of. And I noticed that they, not just as musicians, but as people, seemed to become a lot more mature during those eras. And it was a good thing. After all, when you're 40 and have teenagers of your own, there's no harm in growing up and evolving. I'd get awfully tired of their music if they continued making the same music they did when they were 20. I think the trilogy was a huge step backward, particularly in terms of writing. They don't need to write sharp political commentary all the time or anything, but many of the trilogy songs just sounded very juvenile to me. And as someone who really isn't into the whole "drugs, sex and rock 'n' roll' scene, and who loved Green Day so much because they WEREN'T that type of band, I felt very alienated. It didn't resonate with me at all, and Green Day's music always resonates with me. There are some excellent songs scattered throughout, but overall, I don't like the final product. It's not the band I fell in love with. Sorry, that was a bit long-winded. This trilogy drove a major wedge between me and Green Day, so I tend to get rather rant-y about it. In short, I think it was forced because even if the recording happened organically, the themes of the trilogy felt like they were really out to prove something. And over the years I've come to accept that Green Day is often trying to prove something with their albums (that they're still punk, that they're adults, that they're not too grown up, etc). But this time, it didn't sit well with me. WHY did you have to remind me the Oh Love video existed? The "BMXcellent tits" line would be awful if your creepy 11 year old brother wrote it. Why is it good coming from a 40 year old married man? WHY did you have to remind me Billie actually used the word "tits" in a song and thought it was clever?
JOE THE X-KID Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 The Oh Love video is pretty embarrassing to be honest, I used to like it strangely. Kill the dj and stray heart are pretty cool videos though
Hermione Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 Hmm yes a man who dresses up in thongs, feather boas and Pot Noodle cups on stage, who's in a band that's famous for its silly sense of humour, containing a drummer who regularly shouts out "suck big titties" at the end of one of their most serious songs when they play live, makes a jokey play on words involving the word tits in a song, how very forced. Sure the "BMX" line is intentionally obnoxious....but just because it fits with the rest of the song doesn't make the line good. It isn't at all clever because there is no clear correlation between a BMX and tits. There is! Imagine there's this obnoxious character "standing at the traffic lights" checking out this woman and saying "I like your BMW" that she's driving. Then it sounds like he's about to compliment another vehicle that might be in the road, a BMX, but in fact he's following up his compliment to her car with a compliment to her tits. The joke is that the sentence changes halfway through from an innocent comment to a lecherous comment. Makes sense, and it's in a silly style to fit with the character and the lighthearted feel of the song.
Jax Teller Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 Billie said "tits"... This is a big surprise. Hmm yes a man who dresses up in thongs, feather boas and Pot Noodle cups on stage, who's in a band that's famous for its silly sense of humour, containing a drummer who regularly shouts out "suck big titties" at the end of one of their most serious songs when they play live, makes a jokey play on words involving the word tits in a song, how very forced. There is! Imagine there's this obnoxious character "standing at the traffic lights" checking out this woman and saying "I like your BMW" that she's driving. Then it sounds like he's about to compliment another vehicle that might be in the road, a BMX, but in fact he's following up his compliment to her car with a compliment to her tits. The joke is that the sentence changes halfway through from an innocent comment to a lecherous comment. Makes sense, and it's in a silly style to fit with the character and the lighthearted feel of the song.
Spike Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 I think the fact that Billie is just now saying "tits" in a song when he hadn't for the entirety of their immature-punk-brats phase says a lot about the forced quality of the Trilogy. Although the 'forced' nature of the Trilogy was my point initially, I couldn't agree less with this. That's just a bit of fun.
Asa. Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 "BM-Excellent tits" is a fuckin' rad line, whether or not it really makes sense
Mykee Mexx Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 BMXcellenttits is one of my favourite stupid lines of the Trilogy. Could imagine a t-shirt with it written across my AUDIXcellent tits.
AlissaGoesRAWR Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 Hmm yes a man who dresses up in thongs, feather boas and Pot Noodle cups on stage, who's in a band that's famous for its silly sense of humour, containing a drummer who regularly shouts out "suck big titties" at the end of one of their most serious songs when they play live, makes a jokey play on words involving the word tits in a song, how very forced. There is! Imagine there's this obnoxious character "standing at the traffic lights" checking out this woman and saying "I like your BMW" that she's driving. Then it sounds like he's about to compliment another vehicle that might be in the road, a BMX, but in fact he's following up his compliment to her car with a compliment to her tits. The joke is that the sentence changes halfway through from an innocent comment to a lecherous comment. Makes sense, and it's in a silly style to fit with the character and the lighthearted feel of the song. If you have to explain a joke in a paragraph, isn't it typically considered a bad/unfunny joke?
Spike Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 If you have to explain a joke in a paragraph, isn't it typically considered a bad/unfunny joke? I think the point is it shouldn't actually need explaining.
AlissaGoesRAWR Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 I think the point is it shouldn't actually need explaining. That's basically what I meant.
Spike Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 That's basically what I meant. I'll shut up then
AlissaGoesRAWR Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 I'll shut up then No, you're on my side! Keep talking!
Hermione Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 Well I didn't need an explanation, can't help it if other people do
DookieLukie Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 Hmm yes a man who dresses up in thongs, feather boas and Pot Noodle cups on stage, who's in a band that's famous for its silly sense of humour, containing a drummer who regularly shouts out "suck big titties" at the end of one of their most serious songs when they play live, makes a jokey play on words involving the word tits in a song, how very forced. There is! Imagine there's this obnoxious character "standing at the traffic lights" checking out this woman and saying "I like your BMW" that she's driving. Then it sounds like he's about to compliment another vehicle that might be in the road, a BMX, but in fact he's following up his compliment to her car with a compliment to her tits. The joke is that the sentence changes halfway through from an innocent comment to a lecherous comment. Makes sense, and it's in a silly style to fit with the character and the lighthearted feel of the song. Which song does he yell that after?
Spike Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 Which song does he yell that after? JAR. It's noticeable on Awesome As Fuck but you have to be paying attention.
Dirntbag Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 This thread certainly has grown then hasn't it? Anyway; most people won't care because it's superficial, but I think that Mike's long hair and when he has this haircut are the best things to ever exist.
Z J Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 Hmm yes a man who dresses up in thongs, feather boas and Pot Noodle cups on stage, who's in a band that's famous for its silly sense of humour, containing a drummer who regularly shouts out "suck big titties" at the end of one of their most serious songs when they play live, makes a jokey play on words involving the word tits in a song, how very forced. There is! Imagine there's this obnoxious character "standing at the traffic lights" checking out this woman and saying "I like your BMW" that she's driving. Then it sounds like he's about to compliment another vehicle that might be in the road, a BMX, but in fact he's following up his compliment to her car with a compliment to her tits. The joke is that the sentence changes halfway through from an innocent comment to a lecherous comment. Makes sense, and it's in a silly style to fit with the character and the lighthearted feel of the song. "compliment another vehicle that's in the road" is the part of this explanation that just doesn't make any sense. Nobody does that. It isn't funny, or clever. People don't ride BMX bikes around. The only reason the BMX comes in to play is it starts with the same two letters as BMW. Breaking down a line that much just to describe a meaning that chances are isn't there feels like overkill. Green Day has shown great ability in the past in being able to create clever/non-serious lines. Take Blood Sex and Booze as the PERFECT example of how Billie could have written the trilogy. BS&B is just as lecherous but it uses clever rhyme schemes and language. It isn't as blatant. Longview is another example. The difference between say Dookie and the Trilogy is this: Dookie had sophomoric themes with superb lyricism (And they were 20, which matters). The trilogy has sophomoric themes with sophomoric lyrics (And they're 40, also matters)
walking_c0ntradicti0n Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 You had me until "The Beatles." i actually used to like the Beatles back in like 3rd grade, then i started listening to green day more
The Disappearing Boy Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 This thread certainly has grown then hasn't it? Anyway; most people won't care because it's superficial, but I think that Mike's long hair and when he has this haircut are the best things to ever exist. That second haircut is ludicrous beyond measure and every record of it should be deleted from human memory. For deciding to have it done, Mike should be subjected to psychological testing and locked away and never released. The hairdresser should be executed. Other than that, it's fine.
Mar Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 The only time I really liked Mike's hair was in the 21CB era and maybe the U.S. leg of the 99 Revolutions tour And while we're talking appearances, I've always thought Tre reminded me of Josh Charles from Good Wife, Dead Poets Society, etc.
Hermione Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 "compliment another vehicle that's in the road" is the part of this explanation that just doesn't make any sense. Nobody does that. It isn't funny, or clever. People don't ride BMX bikes around. The only reason the BMX comes in to play is it starts with the same two letters as BMW. Breaking down a line that much just to describe a meaning that chances are isn't there feels like overkill. Green Day has shown great ability in the past in being able to create clever/non-serious lines. Take Blood Sex and Booze as the PERFECT example of how Billie could have written the trilogy. BS&B is just as lecherous but it uses clever rhyme schemes and language. It isn't as blatant. Longview is another example. The difference between say Dookie and the Trilogy is this: Dookie had sophomoric themes with superb lyricism (And they were 20, which matters). The trilogy has sophomoric themes with sophomoric lyrics (And they're 40, also matters)Well yeah it is overkill to break it down that much, and it shouldn't be necessary when really it's clear that it's just a word play where you expect a BMX bike reference after the BMW car reference but it surprises you by turning into the word excellent and a lecherous comment. It's a simple, silly joke, one line of a song, but if people wanna pretend they don't get it just because it's silly then I'll oblige And that's the thing, it is one line. Most of the lines aren't sophomoric, there's only the occasional song/verse/line that's anything like as silly as that on the albums. What about the rest?
JOE THE X-KID Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 I didn't mind Mike's hair from Warning on, but before then it was like UGH, figure it out! Figure it out hahaha perfect response
AlissaGoesRAWR Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 Figure it out hahaha perfect response I try to forget Mike's long, beginning-the-trilogy-era hair ever existed.
JOE THE X-KID Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 I try to forget Mike's long, beginning-the-trilogy-era hair ever existed. haha oh dear I forgot about that, not the best idea Mike ever had...
Z J Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 Well yeah it is overkill to break it down that much, and it shouldn't be necessary when really it's clear that it's just a word play where you expect a BMX bike reference after the BMW car reference but it surprises you by turning into the word excellent and a lecherous comment. It's a simple, silly joke, one line of a song, but if people wanna pretend they don't get it just because it's silly then I'll oblige And that's the thing, it is one line. Most of the lines aren't sophomoric, there's only the occasional song/verse/line that's anything like as silly as that on the albums. What about the rest? I get the line, I just don't think it's a funny/clever joke/play on words. As for other examples of the sophomoric lyrics/themes: the rest of Troublemaker, Makeout Party, Sex Drugs and Violence, A Little Boy Named Train, Fuck Time, Stop When The Red Lights Flash, Missing You, Lady Cobra, Nightlife, Let Yourself Go, Fell For You, and Loss of Control all fall in to one or both of the categories for me. Some of them have fine concepts but just aren't executed as well as the band is capable of. Some are great instrumentally (Missing You) but the lyrics just aren't as good as I've become used to seeing from Billie Joe
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