Hermione Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 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 Still far from the majority of the albums/songs/lyrics though. There's a bit more fun and silliness than usual for sure but that was the point, and I think there's plenty of darker/deeper/more thoughtful stuff as well.
Anaïs. Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 Still far from the majority of the albums/songs/lyrics though. Doing the math, it's a third of the albums' material. I'd say we have a problem.
Z J Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 Still far from the majority of the albums/songs/lyrics though. There's a bit more fun and silliness than usual for sure but that was the point, and I think there's plenty of darker/deeper/more thoughtful stuff as well. A listed like a whole albums worth of songs that fit just my narrative But the thing is, the deeper darker stuff was very underwhelming for me. The Forgotten was serious, but filled with vagueness and cliches. Wild One is so slow the melody (or lack thereof) takes me right out of the song. 99 Revs was a lame protest song from them. DRB is nonsense lyrically. Baby Eyes and Walk Away are as well. There are some good ones, I love Lazy Bones, I love Brutal Love, but they're in the minority.
Spike Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 99 Revs was a lame protest song from them. See also: Know Your Enemy. To be fair though, I think 99 Revolutions could have been great had it been released at the right time. The whole Occupy thing had basically died off by the time the song came out, so a lot of its impact was lost. Lines such as "And I'm 99 percent sure that something's wrong / It’s all wrong" are a bit weak though. Very vague, like much of the Trilogy. So ultimately it's not that bad as a protest song, but it's hardly up there with Minority, Warning or American Idiot.
Z J Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 See also: Know Your Enemy. To be fair though, I think 99 Revolutions could have been great had it been released at the right time. The whole Occupy thing had basically died off by the time the song came out, so a lot of its impact was lost. Lines such as "And I'm 99 percent sure that something's wrong / It’s all wrong" are a bit weak though. Very vague, like much of the Trilogy. So ultimately it's not that bad as a protest song, but it's hardly up there with Minority, Warning or American Idiot. I have to disagree on Minority and American Idiot. Minority's verses are some of the best writing they've done. The intro guitar is cool. And the harmonica as well . AI was the perfect protest song. It took so many people by surprise and it left an impression. The lyrics capture the times so perfectly, although maybe that was an impact I felt just by being American at the time. And we've already discussed Warning I believe. 99 Revs shows some promise in its verses, but the timing and choruses are just off.
Spike Posted January 24, 2014 Posted January 24, 2014 I have to disagree on Minority and American Idiot. Minority's verses are some of the best writing they've done. The intro guitar is cool. And the harmonica as well . AI was the perfect protest song. It took so many people by surprise and it left an impression. The lyrics capture the times so perfectly, although maybe that was an impact I felt just by being American at the time. And we've already discussed Warning I believe. 99 Revs shows some promise in its verses, but the timing and choruses are just off. I know, my point was Minority, American Idiot and Warning are fantastic, whereas 99 Revs and KYE aren't. I think the choruses could have been infinitely better with a bit of tweaking to the backing vocal arrangement. That could have made all the difference, because it's so nearly there as it is.
The Disappearing Boy Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 It definitely is the choruses that let the song down. There verses are pretty good, and even the song arrangement is a bit different for the trilogy (verse chorus verse chorus solo bridge verse ending, with riffy bits in between), but the horrible repetitiveness of the chorus brings it down. I mean, why not add another verse in at the end, instead of two choruses?
munns6691 Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 I think Loss of Control gets too much shit, it's actually one of the better third of songs on the Trilogy. Also all the songs where the lyrics don't make sense should have been left for the Foxies to do.
HolyHandGrenade Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 I think Loss of Control gets too much shit, it's actually one of the better third of songs on the Trilogy. Also all the songs where the lyrics don't make sense should have been left for the Foxies to do. Loss of Control's guitar reminds me of Letterbomb for some reason.
DookieLukie Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 I think Loss of Control gets too much shit, it's actually one of the better third of songs on the Trilogy. Also all the songs where the lyrics don't make sense should have been left for the Foxies to do. I love the line "Serve your shit up to pigs." Such a great comeback!
munns6691 Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 Loss of Control's guitar reminds me of Letterbomb for some reason. I can make a sort of connection now that you say something. I'd never compare the two though because Letterbomb is in a category far above anything from the Trilogy. I love the line "Serve your shit up to pigs." Such a great comeback! I think it's "Serving shit to the pigs" but yeah, I agree
Heather. Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 This is going to be a pretty damn unpopular opinion (borderline heretical): I love Green Day, but I really wouldn't mind if Billie Joe did a solo career and the band split up. I don't actively *want* them to break up, I love Mike and Tre, but it wouldn't really bother me as long as Billie Joe kept writing and recording music. This is a very recent realization for me largely due to my increasing respect for Billie's individual talents given Foreverly and his theater work now.
munns6691 Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 This is going to be a pretty damn unpopular opinion (borderline heretical): I love Green Day, but I really wouldn't mind if Billie Joe did a solo career and the band split up. I don't actively *want* them to break up, I love Mike and Tre, but it wouldn't really bother me as long as Billie Joe kept writing and recording music. This is a very recent realization for me largely due to my increasing respect for Billie's individual talents given Foreverly and his theater work now. While I like Billie Joe the best, I still think they work much better together. I don't doubt Billie could do it with random backup bands playing behind him, but why not just play with Mike and Tre forever? Billie basically can lead the band in any direction he wants as the song writer and they all enjoy doing it together, which is their biggest strength as a band in my opinion.
Anaïs. Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 This is going to be a pretty damn unpopular opinion (borderline heretical): I love Green Day, but I really wouldn't mind if Billie Joe did a solo career and the band split up. I don't actively *want* them to break up, I love Mike and Tre, but it wouldn't really bother me as long as Billie Joe kept writing and recording music. This is a very recent realization for me largely due to my increasing respect for Billie's individual talents given Foreverly and his theater work now. See, I wouldn't listen to anything Billie did solo, but I'd still rather see them split than record another awful album. :/
DookieLukie Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 See, I wouldn't listen to anything Billie did solo, but I'd still rather see them split than record another awful album. :/ I'd take another bad album. Just proud of my boys
Z J Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 I know, my point was Minority, American Idiot and Warning are fantastic, whereas 99 Revs and KYE aren't. I think the choruses could have been infinitely better with a bit of tweaking to the backing vocal arrangement. That could have made all the difference, because it's so nearly there as it is. My bad hahahaJust thinking about something the other day; I think that in the event that Green Day ever releases a Greatest hits CD, I would much prefer they re-record the songs. Not unprecedented, but also not likely. I just feel like I'd be bored with a greatest hits CD if it was still the original recordings.
Heather. Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 While I like Billie Joe the best, I still think they work much better together. I don't doubt Billie could do it with random backup bands playing behind him, but why not just play with Mike and Tre forever? Billie basically can lead the band in any direction he wants as the song writer and they all enjoy doing it together, which is their biggest strength as a band in my opinion. I don't disagree. But I'd be curious to find out what direction it would go. I hope this isn't just me thinking "OK, Green Day has gone stale" or "I've heard every Green Day song there is to hear." I'm sure this thought process is just a result of the over-saturation with the trilogy and there will be a future Green Day album that, hopefully, wows the shit out of me and reminds me why I like the guys as they are. See, I wouldn't listen to anything Billie did solo, but I'd still rather see them split than record another awful album. :/ I'm not sure But "another awful album" is a weird term to me because I don't think Green Day has ever made an awful album. Sure, I don't listen to Dos, but it's still a good album because I like Green Day's sound and what they do. The worst Green Day album imaginable would still be pretty listenable to me.
jakdokinori Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 I guess we get the both of best worlds as we'll undoubtedly get new Green Day music somewhere down the line, and Billie Joe's still exploring different projects like Foreverly and even though it might just be a one off, this collaboration with Miranda Lambert.
Spike Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 I don't see why the band would have to split up for any of them to have solo projects and explore new avenues. Countless members of very successful bands have side projects that allow them to try new things. Look at Dave Grohl, Brandon Flowers, Mark Tremonti, Robert Plant, etc. Billie is already doing his own thing, ie Foreverly, so there's no reason why that couldn't continue at the same time as Green Day.
jakdokinori Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 I don't see why the band would have to split up for any of them to have solo projects and explore new avenues. Countless members of very successful bands have side projects that allow them to try new things. Look at Dave Grohl, Brandon Flowers, Mark Tremonti, Robert Plant, etc. Billie is already doing his own thing, ie Foreverly, so there's no reason why that couldn't continue at the same time as Green Day. Exactly! I mean Mike has The Frustrators too, and I think Tre's done a couple of things with that band Flash Back Heart Attack or something? Just shows that even though they're together as a band, they're still three individual musicians who explore avenues outside of Green Day.
Mykee Mexx Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 Maybe the freedom to have sideprojects ist the reason why they stick together. Could be like a holiday from Green Day for everyone doing something different. And then meet again to have fun with a band named Green Day.
jakdokinori Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 Maybe the freedom to have sideprojects ist the reason why they stick together. Could be like a holiday from Green Day for everyone doing something different. And then meet again to have fun with a band named Green Day. Yeah I suppose you could argue it's a little like a relationship. Sometimes you just need a little space from each other, even if it's just for a while, and it makes you appreciate the time you're together more.
Z J Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 just listened to a 1993 demo tape of Dookie. Fucking great. Is this is the tape they submitted to the record label? If so, very very cool
Guest Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 just listened to the 1993 demo tape of Dookie. Fucking great. Is this is the tape they submitted to the record label? If so, very very cool Which one? There're 3 of them
Z J Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 Which one? There're 3 of them no idea….. this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGAVeTUkRWg
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