Green Day - American Idiot - 9/21

[Joeboo835]

www.greenday.com

Comes out September 21st.

[Rypro 525]

from what i hear, american idiot is a concept album and with some 8 and 10 minute punk songs, true?

[DJLinus]

Thanks for the heads-up. They've gotten better over the years - I really like Warning and Nimrod.

[fashionvictim86]

I'm overjoyed to see a Green Day post here about their new album. If you're a GD fan you can tell by my username that I love them (Fashion Victim and 86 are both GD songs).

[Joeboo835]

haven't heard any rumors on what the new album will be like. I'll keep an eye out.

[Rypro 525]

from ew.com

delivers ''American Idiot,'' a bold, polished punk opera. While the music will keep their constituency happy, the lyrics -- which refer to ''a redneck agenda'' and ''a land of make-believe that don't believe in me'' -- will have more than fans thrashing.
THIS IS NOT 'DUDE, WHERE'S MY PUNK OPERA?' Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, 32, says ''AI'' is as personal as it is political. ''I was thinking about how, when you get to be 18 or 19 years old, you feel like life isn't what you expected it to be, and you feel alienated from pretty much everything -- from your hometown, from your school, and even, on a lot of levels, from your friends.''
GOING TO GREAT LENGTHS ''AI'' will test the attention spans of punk fans -- who generally digest their tunes in three-minute chunks -- with a few songs clocking in at nine minutes. ''This is definitely something that can sabotage success,'' says Armstrong.
NEXT The album is set for a September release. Armstrong, with band members Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool, will follow it with a tour. But a warning to longtime Green Day fans: ''Our plan is to be able to play this record from front to back,'' he says, ''without playing any old material.''

[MasterCXtreme]

Excellent, Excellent news. Green Day's definitley one of my favorite bands, they never disappoint.

''AI'' will test the attention spans of punk fans -- who generally digest their tunes in three-minute chunks -- with a few songs clocking in at nine minutes.

That sounds like a great idea, i'm sure it'll work.

[fashionvictim86]

Yeah, I heard the new album is pretty good from what some reviews are saying.


I can't wait till my GD site gets up and running again, so I can finally post some news!

[Frank TJ Mackey]

the cover of the album is a heart in the shape of a grenade

[fashionvictim86]

Yup.

http://greenday.net/aidiot.jpg



They actually had the entire album done earlier this year. Then they decided to scrap it and start all over from scratch. THEN it was supposed to come out 9/14 but they pushed it back 9/21, so I really hope they don't do it again, I mean, I've been waiting almost 4 years for new material, that's enough!

[Joeboo835]

There's a 10 second clip from their new single (radio release is August 3rd) on their website.

I really hope this isn't a political album. I mean, one song is ok, but not the entire album.

[fashionvictim86]

I'm with you Joeboo835, but I'll love them anyway. American Idiot will be released Tuesday (8/3) and it's going to be awesome. I can't wait for the tour as well.

[zak52]

Originally posted by fashionvictim86
American Idiot will be released Tuesday (8/3) and it's going to be awesome.
Where did you get that date from?

[fashionvictim86]

It's the single. It was annonnced by my good friends at GD.com and GD.net.


I'm owner of the site greendayauthority.com so I know all the news. :P

[Sierra Disc]

I was a bit lukewarm on "Warning" but I think I might have to pick this one up based on the cover art alone! :D

[Joeboo835]

Anyone hear this yet?

[fashionvictim86]

Yes! Joeboo835 you can hear it at my website, www.greendayauthority.com

[Rypro 525]

really like the song. now is this version shortened?

[zak52]

:up: I like it. Thanks for posting it.

[fashionvictim86]

Nope, but unforunatly it's censored. GreenDay.com was supposed to post the official verison tonight (I don't know if it'll be censored), but they haven't done it yet.

[Joeboo835]

awesome song. thanks for posting it. Ihave about 50 friends heading to your site to listen to it.

I couldn't be more excited for the album to come out.

[zak52]

I heard it today on 99.1 WHFS here in the Baltimore/DC area.

[efftimmy]

Thanks fashionvictim86. The song sounds great.

Howard Stern played about 15 seconds of it the other day.

[MasterCXtreme]

Hey Fashionvictim86, I dig your site. I'm a huge Green Day fan and I'm looking forward to this album too. Thanks for the single... it sounds okay... but their stuff usually grows on me so we'll see.

[fashionvictim86]

The video to American Idiot is now posted on my site. You need a player to play AVI format though. www.greendayauthority.com

[MahatmaPetey]

i'll have to download a few songs before i consider buying it. If its at all similar to Warning, i'll happily stay away from it.

[Josh H]

I heard it the single the other day, and didn't think much of it. Just sounded like one of the mediocer filler songs on their past couple albums. Not very impressive for a single IMO, but not horrible either.

[fashionvictim86]

MahatmaPetey: I don't think it'll be like Warning at all.

Josh: It's doing very well already. It's #10 on Billboard Modern Rock and it's #3 at iTunes.

[benedict]

-confused-

[WestEndRiot]

i was searching the inventory system at work and i came across two listings for American Idiot (actually 3, two for the album and one for the single)...one being a regular version and one being a special edition. i remember reading somewhere that there was rumored to be two editions but this seems to confirm it. it didn't list any extras included with the SE but i've heard it may come with an expanded booklet. time will tell i suppose.

[PJsig08]

Originally posted by DJLinus
Thanks for the heads-up. They've gotten better over the years - I really like Warning and Nimrod. Let's be serious, Dookie was obviously their all-time high. Man, that was and still is one hell of an album.

[WestEndRiot]

Originally posted by PJsig08
Let's be serious, Dookie was obviously their all-time high. Man, that was and still is one hell of an album.

Dookie will be their legacy but there is no question that they are a better band today than they were in the early/mid ninties. i think RATM was another good example of this. their debut cd set the bar high but as a band and as musicians they continued to get better. Renegades really showed how dynamic their sound could be.

[Joeboo835]

You can hear another song off the new album "Holiday" if you go to greenday.com and go to the link to Launch.

[whynotsmile]

their friggin club tour in LA sold out in 2 minutes. i was in line but still didnt get it. damn kroq bastards for buying the tickets

[fashionvictim86]

it didn't list any extras included with the SE but i've heard it may come with an expanded booklet. time will tell i suppose.


It's going to have a 52-page color book, so it's going to be like the Warning Special Edition they have out.

[Joeboo835]

This album is just incredible. Easily their best. I can't wait to listen to it on a real stereo instead of computer speakers.

[Grimfarrow]

I concur. This is definitely their best album, far better than even Dookie.

[fumanstan]

The 9 minute song Jesus of Suburbia is kind of a cop out, as there's an obvious break/change in melody 2/3 of the way through that easily could have been a seperate track.

Boulevard of Broken Dreams :up:

[wedge]

You can stream the entire album on mtv.com in a section called "The Leak". I'm not a huge Green Day fan but it is fairly impressive.

[Josh H]

Thanks for the info wedge!

Wow, this is a great album!. I wasn't crazy about the title track, but that's by far the weakest song on the album.

[fashionvictim86]

My website had the record streaming a few days before the release on MTV's the Leak. So I got the entire album beforehand. My favorite songs are Boulevard of Broken Dreams and Wake Me Up When September Ends. Wake Me Up is by far the most personal and emtional song Billie Joe has ever done (It's about his father who passed away September 1982 -- he had throat cancer).

[Absolut]

I'm a huge Greenday fan. I always have been. I thought Warning was their best record to date and was a little disapointed when I heard the title track to the new album. It sounded like a step back to me. It genuinely made me sad. I heard another song earlier today and it literally made me smile. If the rest of the album is as good as what I heard this morning then this is going to be a great one. I can hardly wait to hear the rest later today.

[Fry]

I noticed that on the hot topic website, they have the cd available to order. Doesn't that seem kind of strange, being a few days before the cd is even out? Or is it just that you can preorder it and it will ship on the 21st? There is no indication on the site that it's a preorder.

http://www.hottopic.com/store/product.asp?LS=0&ITEM=250869

[Frank TJ Mackey]

Yes, the title track sounds like the same old stuff, but they did it (in my opinion) because of the "name" of the song and the lyrics.

the rest of the album is really cool, especially the 9-minute songs.

But i prefer them moving into rock more than short punk stuff.

[nodeerforamonth]

Originally posted by PJsig08
Let's be serious, Dookie was obviously their all-time high. Man, that was and still is one hell of an album.

I agree. This may even be BETTER than "Dookie" (though it's way too early for me to say it). I can't stand their politics, but this album is excellent.

I was really impressed with this album. Thanks to whomever posted the link to hear the whole album.

[Grimfarrow]

I can't wait for "Holiday" to be the second single. So everyone can sing to the lyrics like, "Seig Heil to the President Gasman".

[nodeerforamonth]

Oh, I did notice a couple blantant ripoffs though. One song is a direct ripoff of Iggy's "The Passenger" and another is a ripoff of Cheap Trick's "She's Tight" (I think). Note for note.

Great album though. Production is great too.

[Joeboo835]

There is a ton of The Who influences on this album. Homecoming is a good example.

[fashionvictim86]

I can't stand their politics, but this album is excellent.

I can't stand their politics either. I read Billie Joe's comments, and I'm like dude you're so off. But he'll always been my idol and my inspiration and we're all entitled to our own opinons.


I don't know if Holiday will be the next single, a lot of us think it'll be Boulevard of Broken Dreams. I think that song could shoot right up to #1 if it comes out.

[fumanstan]

I'm already hearing Boulevard of Broken Dreams on the radio on KROQ, i think that's next as well.

[slop101]

I don't see what's so "off" about his politics, as it's not really even politics he's talking about. His main point is that the current administration does not speak for him or his ilk, which is basically true.

[Josh H]

Originally posted by fumanstan
The 9 minute song Jesus of Suburbia is kind of a cop out, as there's an obvious break/change in melody 2/3 of the way through that easily could have been a seperate track.


To be fair, on the case it's listed as.

2. Jesus of Suburbia
I. Jesus of Suburbia
II. City of the Damned
III. I Don't Care
IV. Dearly Beloved
V. Tales of Another Broken Home


Homecoming is also broken down into 5 sections.

[fashionvictim86]

funmanstan Yeah I heard that the radio stations were playing it already. Of course there's only 2 around here that I know even play American Idiot.

[nodeerforamonth]

Originally posted by fashionvictim86
I don't know if Holiday will be the next single, a lot of us think it'll be Boulevard of Broken Dreams. I think that song could shoot right up to #1 if it comes out.

I think every song on there could be a great single! They could even chop up "Jesus Of Suburbia" and the second to last song into about 4 other songs each and have 8 more singles!

Great album. May be my favorite one yet. Easily the best one since "Dookie".

[Frank TJ Mackey]

There is a regular CD and a $22+ Book with cd and 52-page book with lyrics etc.??


Who has bought the regular cd version of American Idiot and does it include the full lyrics or is that just on the expensive special book edition?

THANKS to anyone with an answer for me.

[Obey The D]

Originally posted by Frank TJ Mackey
There is a regular CD and a $22+ Book with cd and 52-page book with lyrics etc.??


Who has bought the regular cd version of American Idiot and does it include the full lyrics or is that just on the expensive special book edition?

THANKS to anyone with an answer for me.

The lyrics are included with the regular CD.

[Gdrlv]

Never been a big Green Day fan but bought it after reading so many good reviews. After a few listens, this really is one of the must have albums of the year. A fucking masterpiece.

[the narrator]

only heard a few songs so far, but I like what i've heard

[JP5683]

Hmmmm. Interesting. I got it a few hours ago, but just had time to listen through once.

My CD player didn't like switching the tracks the way they were set up, going from one song to the next without a break, it kept skipping.

And what's up with the silence and then buzz?

JP

[nodeerforamonth]

Originally posted by JP5683
Hmmmm. Interesting. I got it a few hours ago, but just had time to listen through once.

My CD player didn't like switching the tracks the way they were set up, going from one song to the next without a break, it kept skipping.

And what's up with the silence and then buzz?

JP

?? Sounds like you got a bad copy...

[Josh H]

Yeah, sounds like a defective disc. There are 13 tracks on the CD.

[Joeboo835]

This is one of those albums that just floors ya. I was NOT expecting something this good. I would have been happy with another Nimrod or something similar. But this album is one of the greatest of all time in my worthless opinion. I just can't stop listening to it.

What would REALLY be cool is if they found the other album and released that too.

[Grimfarrow]

I haven't bought (or even been interested) in a Green Day album since the last one....and that was Dookie, over ten years ago...

But this is easily one of the best albums I've bought in a long, long time. And to think I was waiting for a new Sigur Ros instead!

[DJLinus]

I picked this up yesterday, but haven't listened to it yet (for this, I want to give it one long, uninterupted listening). I got it from Best Buy and it came with an insert with a code for a free download of the song "Shoplifter" at Napster. Anyone get this song? How is it?

[nodeerforamonth]

Originally posted by DJLinus
for this, I want to give it one long, uninterupted listening

That's the best way to listen to it. It really flows well.

[Josh H]

Extra song isn't great, and is very short. Under 2 minutes.

[Eddie W]

Josh, how did you access this bonus track? My insert says to go to www.bestbuy.com/greenday, but all I get is a BB logo & it says the page is unavailable.

[Josh H]

Just go to www.napster.com, download the napster lite thing, put the code in and it will download automatically.

I got the same page yesterday.

[nodeerforamonth]

Do you have to give your credit card info and all that?

[Josh H]

No, not if you select Napster Lite and skip the free trial.

[fumanstan]

Originally posted by nodeerforamonth
I think every song on there could be a great single! They could even chop up "Jesus Of Suburbia" and the second to last song into about 4 other songs each and have 8 more singles!

Great album. May be my favorite one yet. Easily the best one since "Dookie".

I've actually heard Jesus of Suburbia played in its entirety on KROQ as well. Pretty cool.

[DJLinus]

I was going to make a comment about Green Day bringing this to Broadway a la Tommy and then I saw this...

From Dark Horizons (http://www.darkhorizons.com/news04/040922k.php)

Green Day Bring "Idiot" To Film
Posted: Wednesday Sept. 22nd, 2004 11:37pm (Au-EST)

Author: Garth Franklin
Source:

Green Day are considering bringing their just-released album "American Idiot" to the big screen according to MTV. Singer Billie Joe Armstrong said this week "We've definitely been talking about someone writing a script for it, and there's been a few different names that have been thrown at us, It sounds really exciting, but for right now it's just talk".

A lot of comparisons are already being made to "Tommy", the 1975 movie based on The Who's rock opera of the same name. That film starred Roger Daltrey as the title character, a blind, deaf and dumb boy who becomes a world-champion pinball player and cult hero. Fellow musicians Elton John, Eric Clapton and Tina Turner co-starred.

Of the comparison, Armstrong says "They used musicians, so I guess we'd have to use musicians too. Maybe we'll have, you know, Tim Armstrong come out as Whatsername [the central character of the final song] and we'll get the Madden brothers [Good Charlotte's Benji and Joel] to, I don't know, play some kind of schizophrenic character or something like that".

Along with a fictional movie based on the album, which hit stores Tuesday, Green Day are also considering a documentary about the making of the album.

[JP5683]

The 13th track says it's 6:44. It fades out around 4 min, and then around 5, a loud buzz comes on until the end.

Maybe this is to tell you the CD is over, start again?

JP

[Joeboo835]

I just got tickets for the show here. great seats, can't wait.

[KV12482]

Originally posted by Joeboo835
I just got tickets for the show here. great seats, can't wait.

If you're actually from Minnesota, my guess is you bought tickets to the Target Center show. And even if you have great seats at the Target Center, you still cant understand a word the band says. I wish they would have played at the Xcel. :(

[GeoffK]

Picked up the CD yesterday... have to say I am VERY impressed.

It's one of the better CDs I've bought lately!

[GHackmann]

Originally posted by JP5683
The 13th track says it's 6:44. It fades out around 4 min, and then around 5, a loud buzz comes on until the end.

Maybe this is to tell you the CD is over, start again?

JP
The 13th track is supposed to be 4:14. It sounds like your CD player is playing the data track (which sounds like a really loud buzz) as part of the last track. Either your copy is mispressed, or your CD player doesn't know how to deal with mixed audio/data CDs.

I picked this CD up on Tuesday, and I have to agree with everybody so far. Green Day really out-did themselves on this one.

[JP5683]

Yeah, it showed as 6:44 in my PC, 4:14 in my portable.

What is the data track?

All I can get out of the 'enhanced' part of the disc is a page to enter my email, and a page to buy ringtones.

JP

[mdc3000]

I am loving this album... it is a masterpiece as others have said... and tonight I get to see GREEN DAY play it in it's entirety!!!!!! I am super psyched for the show tonight and hopefully will be getting the band to autograph my copy of IDIOT this afternoon... A very Green Day indeed. Glad to hear others are enjoying the album as much as I am. I'll update with info about the show tomorrow!

MATT

[Joeboo835]

Originally posted by KV12482
If you're actually from Minnesota, my guess is you bought tickets to the Target Center show. And even if you have great seats at the Target Center, you still cant understand a word the band says. I wish they would have played at the Xcel. :(

I agree 100%, but what can you do?

[Buford T Pusser]

I picked it up at Target today. $9.99 minus 10 percent with our Target Visa. Hope it's worth the cash!

[mdc3000]

The Toronto show on the American Idiot tour was insane. Probably one of the best shows I've ever seen... EVER. They kicked the roof of the joint, rocking through all 13 Idiot tracks, then coming back and playing Longview, Brain Stew/Jaded, Minority and ended the night with a fantastic cover of Queen's WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS, with Billy Joe wearing a fake Freddie Mercury moustache.... a brilliant show....also of note, they were RECORDING the show... I think they might be making some of these IDIOT shows available as part of a LIVE disc... AWESOME.

MATT

[Frank TJ Mackey]

i really think they should do the American Idiot track list live and in order for more than just the 4 shows.

screw all their hit singles, this sounded really cool.

i guess i'll pick up the dvd when it comes out, which you know it will.


BTW - the import single has 2 versions (like normal)

CD1
1. American Idiot
2. Too Much Too Soon (b-side)

CD2
1. American Idiot
2. Shoplifter (b-side; enhanced track on album)
3. Governator

I wonder what the "Governator" b-side could be about? ;)

[zak52]

I think this album is only so-so. I wanted to give it plenty of listens before judging it, but I just don't see me playing this album very often.

[fashionvictim86]

Green Day has a reputation for being an amazing live band. I've seen them twice and they blew everyone away. Especially when they played with blink 182. Blink came on second, and a ton of people left the stadium during their set.

Governator is sung by Mike Dirnt so it's a little bit different. It's an ok song, but I reccomend Too Much Too Soon more. Shoplifter is an ok song but it's not the best. I've only listened to it a few times and I was disappointed to see that was the one Best Buy has because I had already gotten Shoplifter weeks before AI was released.

[MahatmaPetey]

someone brought this into work the other day and played it while we were closing up. it surprised me, i actually enjoyed it quite a bit (though i'm not a big fan of the title song). Not their best, but a big improvement over Warning, so i'll definitely pick this up.

[BJacks]

Picked it up today. I'm really digging the song "Holiday."

[Patman]

How long is "Are We The Waiting"?

[Josh H]

2:42

[Sir_Fireboard]

Picked it up today. I'm really digging the song "Holiday."Same here. I swear I listened to it 20 times in one day last week. Don't bother to comment on how sad that is, I already know -ptth-

How long is "Are We The Waiting"?
Are you wondering because it just suddenly cuts off and goes straight into St. Jimmy? That was what confused me about that when I first heard it

This is hands down my second best album of the year (beind Matt Good's 'White Light Rock & Roll Review'). I can honestly say I love every track on it and it's highly replayable.

[Patman]

Yeah, the sudden cut off had me wondering. Thanks for confirming it wasn't just me or my player.

Believe it or not, but I tried out this album based on Stephen King's suggestion in one of his EW columns (best of 2004 type of diatribe). It's loud and infectious. I was surprised at how much of this album I had heard felt familiar to me.

[Chrisedge]

This is the best album of 2004. I REALLY hope it wins the grammy.

[Joeboo835]

I agree with you Chrisedge, but we all know Usher will win somehow.

[sherm42]

I just got this CD a couple days ago and I cannot stop listening to it. Another vote here for the best CD of the year.

[nodeerforamonth]

I was surprised at how much of this album I had heard felt familiar to me.

Well it IS pretty derivative (though a great, great album). Note for note ripoffs of Cheap Trick, Iggy Pop, Johnny Cash, & more....

[WestEndRiot]

Well it IS pretty derivative (though a great, great album). Note for note ripoffs of Cheap Trick, Iggy Pop, Johnny Cash, & more....

not to mention Grease, Tommy, The Wall, and Monty Python. there is a definate difference between a "ripoff" and a "tribute" or "homage." i think the cd has nothing but the second two.

[cungar]

Could someone help me out. I haven't heard the Monty Python reference. WHere is it?

[nodeerforamonth]

not to mention Grease, Tommy, The Wall, and Monty Python. there is a definate difference between a "ripoff" and a "tribute" or "homage." i think the cd has nothing but the second two.

Maybe the difference is whether they knew they were doing those riffs (Cheap Trick "She's Tight", Iggy Pop "The Passenger", Cash "Ring Of Fire", etc...) note for note. If it was conscious, then it was a tribute. If not, then it was a ripoff.

[thegame370]

I know im late but i finally got this CD and i cant stop listening to it! Im not one of those people who get a new CD and download the whole thing to thier iPod, Dell DJ, etc., i always only pick the ones i like, but with this album it was different. Almost every single song is perfect and the ones that arent are still f#cking awesome! Its one of the few albums i put entirely onto my Dell DJ. Im loving this CD, it better win AOTY at the grammy's (screw Usher!)

[postpunk]

I was not a fan of Green Day when they first started to generate some attention. I wrote off Dookie as, well... dookie. But I picked up their greatest hits collection a while ago and got last year's brilliant American Idiot, and the more I listen, the more I am convinced that Green Day is the latter-day Clash. Green Day matters, in a day and age when very few artists do. And they know their history... Much like the Clash, they're not afraid to trot out their album collection and put their influences out there. I think American Idiot one of the best albums (I love using that word) of the past 10 (20?) years! And the record's quality is flawless - the performance and production are state of the art, like a U2 album. Grammy! (Like that means anything any more... but still.)

[Rivero]

The album's good but comparing them to the Clash?? The best album of the past 20 years? Come on, now.

[postpunk]

You're reading too much into my post, I think...
The Clash comparison was on two points -- the acknowledgement of their influences in their music (similar to the sprawling, genre-bending London Calling), and their punk social commentary (give The Clash (UK version) a spin focus on "I'm so Bored with the U.S.A.", "White Riot", "Hate & War", Career Opportunities", etc.). I don't think American Idiot is the best album of the past 20 years (I would bestow that honor to something like Sign 'O' the Times -- another sprawling, genre-bending opus, or London Calling). I think it's one of the best albums of the last 10 years, perhaps 20.

Regardless, this is all opinion, so no offense meant or taken.

[nodeerforamonth]

I don't see the comparison (probably because I'm not really a fan of the Clash or the Jam), but Green Day has been compared to the Clash (and the Jam) for 16 years now.

[parker63]

Maybe the difference is whether they knew they were doing those riffs (Cheap Trick "She's Tight", Iggy Pop "The Passenger", Cash "Ring Of Fire", etc...) note for note.

I'm trying to figure out which song has the "She's Tight" riff?

BTW: I haven't liked every single track on an album in a long, long time until this one. It's excellent.

[nodeerforamonth]

I'm trying to figure out which song has the "She's Tight" riff?


Can't remember ("Jesus Of Suburbia"?), but it's not the main riff of "She's Tight" that's being used. It's the bridge. Oh... the part that goes (in the Cheap Trick song) right before "she says I'm home all alone... home all alone... then I get off the phone".

I know I messed up the lyrics to that one, but it's the part of "She's Tight" that's right before it.

[Squirrel God]

Great album. Love the coherence.

[GuessWho]

Are there any GD sites that have a full explanation of the St Jimmy story?

[JPRaup]

here you go


American Idiot (1. "American Idiot") describes media coverage of the War in Iraq and the hold media has on our perception of government and world events.

The album tells the story of Jesus of Suburbia, who lives with his negligent divorcee mother in a suburb called "Jingletown, USA". His younger years were spent on a "steady diet of soda pop and Ritalin", watching television, experimenting with drugs (2-I. "Jesus of Suburbia"), and loitering in front of convenience stores. He doesn't seem to like his parents very much and apparently, they drink, smoke, do drugs, etc.

Disillusioned with life in Jingletown (2-II. City of the Damned) and its effect on his psyche (2-IV. Dearly Beloved), Jesus decides to leave Jingletown for "The City" (2-V. "Tales of Another Broken Home").

At first his vacation seems exciting and he is happy to go out on his own (3. "Holiday"), but Jesus later finds himself alone in spite of The City's crowd (4. "Boulevard of Broken Dreams"), so he eventually decides to radically change his personality (5. "Are We the Waiting"). In doing so, he adopts a new moniker, "St. Jimmy", and lifestyle, that of an unpredictable, tough, and rebellious criminal (6. "St. Jimmy"). During this transformation, he begins doing drugs. (7. "Give Me Novacaine").

Jesus meets Whatsername, a girl who fascinates him - she is a real rebel, not someone pretending to be one like he is (8. "She's a Rebel"), and they begin dating. As he slowly metamorphosizes into St. Jimmy, he falls thoroughly in love with her, but he is unable to give her what she deserves due to his personal insecurities (9. "Extraordinary Girl"). In a letter to Jesus/Jimmy, Whatsername expresses her frustration towards him, and tells him she's leaving both him and The City (10. "Letterbomb").

Track 11, "Wake Me Up When September Ends", is about Billie Joe Armstrong's father, who died when he was 10-years-old. On the VH1 show Storytellers, Billie Joe mentions that this song is the only song that veers from the overall plot of the album. Seeing as it has a date in the liner notes along with the other songs, and has lines such as let's ring the bells again, like we did when spring began which was a happier time in the story, the track probably has dual meanings, in that he is now alone again.

Eventually Jesus decides to abandon his St. Jimmy identity, which he had been using as a crutch. In order to abandon his title, Jesus feigns suicide as St. Jimmy (12-I. "The Death of St. Jimmy").

Following his supposed suicide, Jesus gets arrested on East 12th St. (12-II. "East 12th St.") (Note: East 12th Street is the real location of the police station in East Bay, California where Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong had to fill out paperwork for his DUI in 2002) much like his personal life (12-III. "Nobody Likes You"). He decides to return to Jingletown to escape this trap (12-V. "We're Coming Home Again") and is left with his memories of what could have been had he stayed with Whatsername (13. "Whatsername").

The singles "Shoplifter", "Too Much Too Soon", and "Governator" are billed as "non-album tracks", but both are significant to the story. Where they fit in is of question. The song "Favorite Son" was orignally meant to appear on American Idiot. However, the band decided to release it on volume two of the Rock Against Bush compilation.


more here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Idiot

[JPRaup]

and even more

The storyline follows the life of Jesus of Suburbia who lives in a small suburb. He spent his earlier years "on a steady diet of soda pop and ritalin", trying out different drugs and spending the rest of his time around a local 7-11. (Track 2-1 - Jesus of Suburbia & Track 2-2 - City of the Damned)

Tired of his life in the small town Jesus of Suburbia starts to break down (Track 2-4 - Dearly Beloved) and leaves to start a new life in "The City" (Track 2-5 - Tales of Another Broken Home)

He is very excited to be able to start a new life in "The City" and starts to have fun causing all sorts of mischief (Track 3 - Holiday). But eventually he wakes up to reality and notices that he is all alone with no one else (Track 4 - Boulevard of Broken Dreams) He then spends some time to reflect on his situation and decides he must change to adapt (Track 5 - Are We the Waiting) He then becomes a rebel, spending his time with other criminals in an alley doing drugs and other things (Track 6 - St. Jimmy). We then see a struggle between Jesus Of Suburbia and his alter ego, St. Jimmy. He is sitting there with some drugs and is unsure what to do. Jimmy is telling him that he “won’t feel a thing”. This is where he really breaks free and starts to integrate into Jimmy(Track 7 - Give me Novocaine).

Soon after, Jesus/Jimmy meets Whatsername, a true rebel, unlike himself, who had been acting like one. He then becomes obsessed with her and the two start dating (Track 8 - She's a Rebel). During their time together Jesus begins to become even more into what he wanted to be, a true rebel, but now he has compromised his ability to provide for Whatsername and starts to have thoughts that he should let her go (Track 9 - Extraordinary Girl). Whatsername then tells Jimmy through a letter that she can't keep up this life and is going to leave both him and "The City" (Track 10 - Letterbomb). Here Jimmy is once again left alone with no one but himself.

With the next track on the album (Track 11 - Wake Me Up When Semptember Ends) the story is somewhat sidetracked and Billie Joe begins to sing about his personal life, although there are certain parts in the song that could refer to the story and there could be some double entendre. Jesus of Suburbia/Jimmy’s father could have been the one who had died. The song also reflects to better times during his childhood.

Realizing he is alone again, Jesus sheds Jimmy, his alterego of sorts. No longer can Jesus continue to hide behind Jimmy, and thus in his mind, as he sheds him, Jimmy in a way commits suicide. Jesus is now alone to figure out who he truly is(Track 12-1 - The Death of St. Jimmy). He then gets a successful desk job (Track 12-2 - East 12th St.) filling out paperwork, which he finds very boring, compared to his previous life of walking the streets and causing trouble. He then decides to return home to start anew (Track 12-5 - Homecoming).

After coming back home, he spends his spare time imagining what his life could have been like had he been able to stay together with Whatsername (Track 13 - Whatsername). Here it is also mentioned that there was a “Whats'hisface” and asking if Whatsername married him.
[edit]

Song Summary

1. American Idiot
* Although you may think this song doesn't fit in it does. It tells of the state that Jesus of Suburbia grew up in due to the American economy and everything going on. We also see in songs like 'Holiday' that he truly loathes the U.S. government and the President.
2. Jesus of Suburbia
1. Jesus of Suburbia
* We learn of Jesus of Suburbia's life. He has a steady diet of soda pop and ritalin and feels that no one in the town believes in him.
2. City of the Damned
* Jesus of Suburbia we learn likes to spend time at the local 7-11 where he is taught how to do drugs and that it's like no one cares about where he is growing up and that the town has been isolated.
3. I Don't Care
* Quite simply, he doesn't care anymore and has given up faith in the town because no one else seems to.
4. Dearly Beloved
* Here Jesus of Suburbia starts to break down and almost becomes insane. He joins therapy and tries to fill a "void".
5. Tales of Another Broken Home
* Here the Jesus of Suburbia makes up his mind that he is going to leave the suburbs and go to the big city.
3. Holiday
* As the title suggests, Jesus of Suburbia is out on a holiday in the city and is having lots of fun and causing lots of trouble. We also get a clear indication of how 'American Idiot' fits into the concept as he represents himself as "The representative from California" (meaning Ah-nuld the Governor)
4. Boulevard of Broken Dreams
* After a night of fun and mischief everything slows down for Jesus of Suburbia and he realizes he is alone without anyone but his shadow beside him.
5. Are we the Waiting
* This song delivers almost the same message as 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams' only there seems to be many more people who are also in Jesus of Suburbia's position. "Are we the waiting?" suggests that its not only JOS that feels alone and misunderstood, but much of his generation.
6. St. Jimmy
* Jesus of Suburbia realizes that he needs to become something he's not and creates an alter-ego called St. Jimmy.St. Jimmy is a rebel and a criminal who makes friends with other rebels where they spend their time in an alley. Jimmy also allows JOS to escape from himself; he is now free to be someone else, someone who he thinks he wants and needs to be.
7. Give Me Novacaine
* Here we see a struggle between the Jesus of Suburbia and Jimmy. He is there with some drugs and "Jimmy" is pressuring him to take them. Eventually Jimmy prevails and then the character begins to assimilate into Jimmy.
8. She's a Rebel
* Here Jimmy meets Whatsername. A real rebel unlike himself in whom he soon becomes obsessed and with her help he starts to really become a true rebel.
9. Extraordinary Girl
* Although he is now a rebel Jimmy compromises Whatsername somewhat and can barely support her. He realises how great she is and begins to have thoughts of ending the relationship.
10. Letterbomb
* Here Whatsername sends Jimmy a letter telling him that they were breaking up and that she was leaving him and The City because she couldn't take it anymore.
11. Wake Me Up When September Ends
* Although the story seems to be pushed aside it could actually relate to the song even though it is about Billie Joe's personal life. Jesus's father could be considered dead as numerous other songs on the album make reference to a stepdad in Jesus' life named Brad. If this is the intent, the song could be about Jesus coming to terms with the insecurities and issues that lead him on his way to the City.
12. Homecoming
1. The Death of St. Jimmy
* In this song, the suicide of St. Jimmy may represent Jesus of Surburbia's shedding of this alterego. (though, with some regret, considering the lines "You taught me how to live.") He leaves "St. Jimmy" behind, and in his mind, this mirrors a suicide on St. Jimmy's part. Now, JOS is left to find himself once again, no longer can he hide behind this mask of St. Jimmy.
2. East 12th St.
* Jesus of Suburbia now gets a desk job filling out paperwork. He soon gets tired and quits. He then starts to have a small break down again.
3. Nobody Likes You
* Again, Jesus of Suburbia has to come to grips with the fact that he has no one, and feels unwanted.
4. Rock and Roll Girlfriend
* This song is one of Jesus's friends, or possibly a rival, named Tunny writing a mocking letter to him about how he's come to success as a rock star while Jesus has become another one of society's drones. It's Jesus' regrets about what could have been. (note that this song is Written and Sung by Tré Cool. This song seems to be an autobiography of Tré: I play the shit out the drums/and I can play the guitar)
5. We're Coming Home Again
* Jesus of Suburbia then decides that it's time to cut his losses and come back home.
13. Whatsername
* Now back home, Jesus of Suburbia thinks back and wonders what his life could have been like had he and Whatsername stayed together, and what Whatsername is doing now.

[Flashback]

I know this album has been out for a while but I just heard Jesus of Suburbia and was immediately caught by surprise.

One part of the song is a direct ripoff on Motley Crue 'On With The Show'
Another was a direct rip on the Alarm '68 Guns' and another on the Beatles.

Not sure this has been covered but what about the early parts of this song and has anyone brought this up before?

[Rocketdog2000]

You know, without a doubt I think this is Green Day's best album, and was also one of last years very best, too.

But that was last year. Now, it's become so damn over played on radio, that I don't care if I ever hear another song off of it for a good l-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ng time.

Don't you hate how they do that?

[sherm42]

There is a simple solution to that: Don't listen to the radio! Radio sucks these days. It's not worth listening to.

I never get sick of my albums. If I sense that I am starting to get sick of a CD, I retire it for a little while. No song is overplayed in my world.

[Buford T Pusser]

There ya go sherm or should I say Mr. 42.

I'll give that comment a strong agreement.

[DJLinus]

There is a simple solution to that: Don't listen to the radio! Radio sucks these days. It's not worth listening to.

I never get sick of my albums. If I sense that I am starting to get sick of a CD, I retire it for a little while. No song is overplayed in my world.

Ha ha. Exactly. If an album/song gets overplayed, it's my own fault.

[Buford T Pusser]

You are charge of your destiny. Or something like that.

[mkdevo]

I know this album has been out for a while but I just heard Jesus of Suburbia and was immediately caught by surprise.

One part of the song is a direct ripoff on Motley Crue 'On With The Show'
Another was a direct rip on the Alarm '68 Guns' and another on the Beatles.

Not sure this has been covered but what about the early parts of this song and has anyone brought this up before?

the first time i heard the song, i noticed a section that, to me, sounded like Bryan Adams' 'Summer Of 69'..

this section:

City of the dead,
At the end of another lost highway,
Signs misleading to nowhere,
City of the damned,
Lost children with dirty faces today,
No one really seems to care

sounds like this:

Standin on a mama's porch
You told me that you'd wait forever
Oh and when you held my hand
I knew that it was no or never
Those were the best days of my life

(the music, not the lyrics, obviously)

[Flashback]

the first time i heard the song, i noticed a section that, to me, sounded like Bryan Adams' 'Summer Of 69'..



I missed that part but someone at the bar claimed the Adams part after I brought up that Motley Crue was being covered in one break of the song (notes/tempo etc.) , then I heard the Alarm version at another part. Now I am sure they did this on purpose but I could not find anyone/thing to back it up. And I could of sworn the Beatles were covered at the end - but that was after I was trying to think what next so I could be wrong . But I defintiely know that the Crue/Alarm was covered.

[Rocketdog2000]

There is a simple solution to that: Don't listen to the radio! Radio sucks these days. It's not worth listening to.

I never get sick of my albums. If I sense that I am starting to get sick of a CD, I retire it for a little while. No song is overplayed in my world.


Usually I don't listen to radio anymore - but it seems like whenever I do, can't go 5 minutes without hearing something off of American Idiot. Maybe it's just the over play/over hype of it that's left a bad taste in my mouth about it. In another 6 month to a year, I think even Green Day is going to be sick of this album, if they aren't already.

Anyway - I usually don't get sick of my CD's either - as I've got somewhere in the neighborhood of 5,000 to choose from. And like you sadi, there are some things that you never get tired of. Just wish that wasn't the case this time.

[Flashback]

Well I found one review that caught part of what I heard...

The second track, “Jesus of Suburbia,” sprawls into five parts and twice as many minutes. Musically, the separate sections flow without notice. Green Day play the cards they have been dealt (short punk rock songs) and cleverly intertwine them into a larger piece for the first time.

The only criticism I have with it concerns “City of the Damned.” Motley Crue’s “On With the Show” has the same chord structure, chorus, and refrain. It’s a shame that Green Day had to plagiarize a B-side from one of the pioneers of heavy metal, thinking no one would notice, and it ruins the originality of the entire work.

[Absolut]

Well I found one review that caught part of what I heard...

The second track, “Jesus of Suburbia,” sprawls into five parts and twice as many minutes. Musically, the separate sections flow without notice. Green Day play the cards they have been dealt (short punk rock songs) and cleverly intertwine them into a larger piece for the first time.

The only criticism I have with it concerns “City of the Damned.” Motley Crue’s “On With the Show” has the same chord structure, chorus, and refrain. It’s a shame that Green Day had to plagiarize a B-side from one of the pioneers of heavy metal, thinking no one would notice, and it ruins the originality of the entire work.
There are so many influences on that album, particularly the longer songs that you could write a dissertation on it. Here's a post from another forum that I thought was pretty good and it doesn't even come close to touching on them all. Just because they wear their influences on their sleeves doesn't mean it's plagiarism just as to think that Green Day's work wasn't going to be derivitive and the sum of their influences would be wrong.

i mentioned in some thread that jesus of suburbia rips off a bunch of songs. some are extremely blatant. someone asked me to make a list. so i downloaded the mp3 and went through it and tried to remember what the songs were that i was reminded of.... some of em are pretty damn obvious, while others might be open for debate... the numbers are the time in the jesus song where the ripoffs occur. so fire up your mp3's and follow along...

0:00 - Don Henley "The Boys Of Summer"

ok, this is a small stretch, but the chord progression and melody definitely hint at this, especially if you compare it to the punk rock Ataris version of Boys Of Summer... this part of the song reminds me of something else too, but i can't put my finger on it. when i remember or figure out what it is, i'll add it.

0:26 - Green Day "Basket Case"

i'm not sure if it counts if you're just ripping yourself off but you can sing along "am i paranoid or am i just stoned" with this portion of the jesus song and then it breaks and goes into the same chord progression just like basket case.

1:52 - Motley Crue "On With The Show"

this is pretty much exact and pretty blatant, chord progression and melody are extremely similar, and i'd be willing to bet that the green day dudes were motley crue fans at some point before they discovered operation ivy.

2:24 - Bryan Adams "Summer Of 69"

this one's pretty blatant too. i don't know how anyone could miss this. in fact, at the point of coming up with the song when realizing they were ripping off Bryan Adams, that's when it might be wise to go ahead and come up with a new part instead.

3:42 - Leonard Bernstein "America"

not exact, but very close in feel.

4:23 - Black Sabbath "Children Of The Grave"

chord progression is exact. melody is not, although it seems like more than coincidence that the lyrics at this point of the song include "we are the kids of war and peace" over the main chord progression from children of the grave.

5:26 - ??
6:33 - ??

these last two parts which make up the main themes of the second half of the song are really driving me nuts. they are reminding me very strongly of something, but i can't figure out what. it will probably come to me in a dream or something, at which point i will update the post.

[Flashback]

The last 2 parts ... I thought was The Beatles (just heard this song 3x's mind you and started listening for the rips) and for sure (I think :lol:) The Alarm's 68 Guns. I have to get a copy of this song since I always miss half of it and just perk up when I here On With The Show note for note and tempo.

Did not hear Sabbaath at all but will give it a shot next time.

Thanks for the reply for some reason my search skills blow and I could only find a few blurbs on this.

[GatorDeb]

Well I think I'm a little late to the discussion but just got this and it is AWESOME. I had heard American Idiot before (the song itself) and liked it. I also like the first part of Jesus of Suburbia and Holiday. Haven't really spent a lot of time with the songs. Great, great album.

[Rypro 525]

Well I think I'm a little late to the discussion but just got this and it is AWESOME. I had heard American Idiot before (the song itself) and liked it. I also like the first part of Jesus of Suburbia and Holiday. Haven't really spent a lot of time with the songs. Great, great album.
My favorite song on the album is actually the other 9 minute epic Homecoming. Favorite part would have to be when the drummer gets his moment to shine and sing (about 4:30 in)