MUSIC

Green Day’s ‘American Idiot’

Arts and culture in the Bush era.

By Lorraine Ali | NEWSWEEK
Published Dec 13, 2008
From the magazine issue dated Dec 22, 2008

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  • Posted By: angieinindy @ 02/14/2009 1:59:03 PM

    In a word BRILLIANT

  • Posted By: angieinindy @ 12/17/2008 1:21:13 PM

    In response to pmckelvey:
    I think what the article points out is that Green day were the only band, at that time, the Bush era, to tell it like it was - totally frank - during a time when no one else had the guts to do it. We really needed that and it personally gave me back hope which I had been steadily losing. The day I watched the US drop their WMD's on a city that they "thought" had WMD's every bone in my body, every part of me knew this was wrong, knowing people were dying and there was nothing I could do to stop it - and knowing those that could, didn't - I had for so long waited for someone with access to say something - the first time I heard "American Idiot" I called my daughter to tell her and before I could say anything she asked "Mom have you heard Green Day's new song"...(she was still in college - political science major) we are politically active and we were both elated - "it is about time someone said something" Since that time Bushs' rating steadily plummeted, and I truly believe this brilliant artistic piece had a whole lot to do with it.....

  • Posted By: j.maurice @ 12/16/2008 10:10:05 PM

    I've listened to and loved this band for over 16 years and simply put, American Idiot is a brilliant album.... Brilliant lyrics, music and arrangement. In fact, I personally believe it to be one of the, if not THE best rock album I've ever had the pleasure of knowing inside and out.

    My only hope that the next time around, Billy and the boys will have execptional visuals (by way of video and imagry on stage) to highlight and accompany what i'm sure will once again be mind blowing lyrics and soul stirring music. So guys, please lose the fireworks..... you're music deserves much more respect. Can't wait for the new one. Thanks so much for all you do!

  • Posted By: pmckelvey @ 12/16/2008 5:40:02 PM

    Green Day's American Idiot was certainly the anthem song of fear and frustration with the government, but they were hardly the first. Lorraine Ali speaks of Green Day as if they were the first band to be politically active since Bruce Springsteen was big. This is hardly the case. Take a look at the discography of bands like Anti-Flag, Against Me!, Bad Religion, The Casualties, Choking Victims, Dropkick Murphys, The Living End, Propagandhi, Rise Against, Strike Anywhere and System of a Down (Hell, even the Dixie Chicks). Green Day wasn't the first band to say "*** America," They weren't even the first to articulate it with such insight. They were just the first to get away with it. For that, they deserve a lot of credit, but this article treats the subject as if they were the only one speaking out.

  • Posted By: Michelle4103 @ 12/16/2008 12:19:48 PM

    The rock opera continues...Green Day continues to provide political satire through their music...and get better at it!

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