History Headscratchers / GreenDay

** A "green day" is a slang term used to describe a day spent doing nothing but lounging around and smoking cannabis. Hence [[WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs a lot of their early work]].

*** Green Day is a song on one of their earlier EPs about a day spent smoking pot. The song was re-released on 1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours.

** Because someone decided to create those pages. This is not Wiki/TheOtherWiki, you're free to create pages for pretty much anything.

** Given that Music/DavidBowie (who wrote "All The Young Dudes" for Mott the Hoople after they rejected "[[Music/ZiggyStardustAndTheRiseOfTheSpidersFromMars Suffragette City]]") has a songwriter credit on "21 Guns", it seems this was intentional.

** Because they are {{Rock Opera}}s, with a story and tropes of their own. Other albums, like TheWall have pages as well.

** As well as "Telephone Line" by ElectricLightOrchestra and [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXd9ISNMkqs the Route 209 music from]] ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl''. Hey, with only so many (appealing) original melodies possible in music, it's bound to happen.

** Because someone decided to create those pages. This is not TheOtherWiki, you're free to create pages for pretty much anything.

* How come Green Day gets a RockBand game? They're nowhere near as popular and influential as the Beatles in their heyday.

** Isn't the slogan of 7-11 "Thank Heaven for 7-11?" Or does the motto have nothing to do with 7-11? Was GreenDay just mashing up words?

** Also, I swear the guitar solo is the melody from the theme song to {{Full House}}.
** Oh my gosh, yes. I've always heard the Full House theme in that and thought I was crazy for it.

*** And they are reasonably influential. They may not be the most influential band in the world, but they were the TropeCodifiers for PopPunk and are almost solely responsible for the PopPunk explosion of the late nineties and early two-thousands.

**** Well, technically...it does.

----

** Isn't the slogan of 7-11 "Thank Heaven for 7-11?" Or does the motto have nothing to do with 7-11? Was GreenDay was just mashing up words?

* What is it with A LOT of supposed fans refusing to accept Billie Joe's bissexuality even tough he came out of the closet more than a decade ago? ''And'' has a freaking song (Coming Clean) about it?
** It's unfortunate, but it doesn't surprise me. Homosexuality, for various reasons, is becoming more and more widely accepted in the western world. Bisexuality, on the other hand, is seen as something significantly different to many people. Views range from bisexuality being impossible (i.e. nobody is ''really'' bisexual, they're just confused), to bisexuality being a state of indecisiveness or a blatant excuse to be promiscuous. Heck, human sexuality itself is still largely misunderstood by most people.
* As mentioned in another section, I'm bugged by the song "Good Riddance". Specifically, the snotty superiority some people display by snidely telling listeners they've misinterpreted the song. Even more so when it's lumped with other songs where the misinterpretation would be clear from reading the lyrics. I ''defy'' anyone to tell me with a straight face that Green Day's "proper" interpretation could be found by JUST the lyrics alone. And don't bring the title into it; [[NonAppearingTitle it doesn't appear in the lyrics]], so Green Day could reasonably foresee that their song would come to be known as "Time of Your Life". If they'd wanted the title to be a clue, they should've done something about that.
** It's not clear from the lyrics alone. There is nothing in the lyrics that suggests the "proper" interpretation to be right, although there's nothing that suggests it isn't, either ([[LyricalDissonance apart from the tune]]). I heard somewhere that the song was originally written when Armstrong was feeling less bitter about a break-up, so he wanted to keep it subtle, but then the situation [[ItGotWorse got worse]], so the title was added as an afterthought.
** Umm...The phrase "I hope you had the time of your life" alone should suggest exactly the what the song is about. It's something that would almost always be said either with dripping sarcasm or abject pain from someone who was bitterly hurt.
** There doesn't seem to be any indication the song is supposed to be ironic. It sounds like, "This meant a lot to me, I hope it means a lot to you."
** Agreed. This troper considers it a bittersweet "Well, goodbye and good luck, it was nice while it lasted," and those who trumpet the "correct" interpretation should wake up in English class the next time they're discussing the DeathOfTheAuthor principle.
** The 'True Meaning' is bull. The interpretation of most people is correct, as a previous troper said, as the song was written when Armstrong was less bitter. The thing was, at this point for the band, they didn't do a lot of very serious stuff. They decided they wanted to lighten it up a bit, which is the origin of the title, as well as Billie Joe swearing in the opening. Green Day just felt it was a bit too soppy, and needed at least a bit lightening up.
** That's the great thing about Green Day songs, many of them are written in hindsight from the point of view of an angsty teenage squatter punk. The songs can be taken either literally or sarcastically without being out of context (e.g. American Idiot). This more than anything else is what makes them so popular; they can appeal to a wide range of people.
*** Confused? CalvinAndHobbes does something similar, and its a good reference point for anyone familiar to it.

* What does Green Day even mean?
** A green day is a slang term used to describe a day spent doing nothing but lounging around and smoking cannabis. Hence [[WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs a lot of their early work]].

** I recall watching MTV back when the album Dookie first came out, and a VJ made the claim that both "Green Day" and "Dookie" were "bathroom references," in her words. Ever had a case of diarrhea that [[{{Squick}} caused your shit to turn green?]] This is what I have always assumed the VJ meant. Of course, this doesn't necessarily mean that this was the interpretation the band members had in mind when the chose their name. (It is not unheard of for musicians to be deliberately inconsistent and/or offensive when asked "What does your band name mean?" for the fiftieth time in the same day.)

* The debate over Green Day and whether or not they are 'punk'. There are so many thoughts that come to mind about it, I have to divide it into parts to make it easier for anyone who wants to explain them.
** I realise this is a [[InternetBackdraft contentious]] thing to say, but punk as I understand it is simplistic, emotionally charged music usually centered around political statements. Green Day's music (after American Idiot) is simplistic, emotionally charged and centered around political statements. My understanding is that people don't like calling Green Day punk because they don't like the sound of Green Day. But wouldn't that just make it ''bad'' punk, or is the actual definition of punk 'simplistic, emotionally charged music usually centered around political statements that I like'?
*** Punk doesn't have to be remotely political. Lyrically, it doesn't have to be remotely ''anything''.
**** Yeah, hence the phrase 'usually' in that statement.
** How does wearing make-up make Green Day less punk?
** Who gives a shit in the first place? How does it make the Green Day/punk better/worse if Green Day are/aren't punk?
** Does anyone over twenty still care about those labels?
*** I can't speak for everyone, but I like having a built-in iTunes function to sort my music by what it sounds like. Therefore, I need to have something to put in the genre field, and it helps if it's a meaningful description. (But since grouping similar-sounding songs is the purpose, I don't factor in the musical heritage of the band or the lyrical content or whatever, just the sound.)
**** Just label it Pop Punk. Its the result of punk music being influenced by the pop mainstream. As long as you aren't a 15 year old wannabe, and realize that Pop is as valid as any other form of music, then it won't bug you and will be accurate, while keeping it out of your Ramones and Sex Pistols playlist.
***** To the [[BrokenBase more-punk-than-thou]] crowd, what's [[GreenDay a band]] whose singer has a AOR-perfect voice? '''[[REOSpeedwagon Not]]''' punk. Most of the same folks think TheRamones and CheapTrick are cool. Oh well, whatever, nevermind.
****** The iTunes genre thing doesn't work half of the time anyway. Or if it does, Reel Fish is Pop and Reggae and Less Than Jake are Indie Rock.
** "Alt-punk". Y'know, like Blink-182. See? No muss, no fuss.

* I'm a HUGE Green Day fan, but it really bugs me how all their ballady songs (ie, Good Riddance, Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Wake Me Up When September Ends, 21 Guns) all get ridiculously overplayed. It also bugs me when people think that WMUWSE is about 9/11... it's about Billie Joe's father who died of cancer when he was 10.
** Well, with all due respect, I'm a fairly big Green Day fan, too, and while the 9/11 interpretation irks me a bit, I understand why it exists. "September" is right in the title there, and being on Green Day's most political album, it's not unbelievable that Armstrong would talk about 9/11. His father's death is probably not something most casual listeners know about, so they probably wouldn't even be able to equate it with that. And it's not like the album helps dissuade people from the 9/11 interpretation:
*** It's the 11th track on the album
*** In the lyric book (which, for those who don't have the album, doubles as a "journal" of the protagonist), the song takes place on September 10th
*** September 10 was also the day Billie's dad died. Shit, no wonder it gets confusing!
** Even the music video is about the Iraq War, which seems to be a subject automatically connected to 9/11. So, honestly, I think "Wake Me Up..." is just a case of being publicized as what it isn't. Someone likely thought it would be easier to relate to (and hence, more successful as a single) if it was put out there as a September 11th tribute. Though, if they actually ''listened'' to the lyrics, the fact Armstrong mentions that "7 years" and "20 years has gone so fast" in a song released in 2004 might hint them to the fact that 9/11 wasn't really what was on his mind when he wrote it. ...Or they might think he was just thinking ''way'' far ahead.
** Armstrong also mentions "like my father's come to pass" in the chorus, so that could've made it more deciding.
* How come Green Day gets a RockBand game? They're nowhere near as popular and influential as the Beatles in their heyday. This isn't a member of the {{Hatedom}} talking, as both bands get the same "meh" from me. (Blame [[SeinfeldIsUnfunny this]].) It just seems very strange that a fairly recent punk/alternative band who had an album named ''Dookie'' gets similar treatment to the band that revolutionized how popular music would be written and performed for decades to come.
** It sounds perplexing at first (you think "''Really?!''"), but after sitting on it for a while, the wisdom of it shines through. First off, they're one of the most popular acts from the last 20 years. True, literally dozens or even hundreds of bands are more important or influential to music, but influential doesn't sell units. The importance of those older bands falls into PraisingShowsYouDontWatch most of the time, because everyone says they're incredible, but the "Classic Rock" stations are always playing the same songs over and over. To the average listener, they feel unapproachable or too legendary to get into ("You need to '''really''' listen to it"). The unfortunate fact is that old [[TheDoors Doors]] and {{CCR}} records can't be easily found in mainstream music stores anymore, and if they can, it's probably a GreatestHitsAlbum. By this point most people know them more by their name power than their music. As for Green Day, they can be heard on modern rock stations, they are a band of this generation, and the target audience of these games does keep them as a mainstay on their playlist. The other thing to think about is that many of their songs are actually difficult and reasonably catchy across the breadth of their work, something you can't generally say about most older bands (since most people know them for their singles). Finally, Green Day has a distinctive image that can be sold; people know their faces, people know their fashion-style, and some people know their eras. There are bands with imagery that would translate well to a game (Music/PinkFloyd), some have difficulty (Music/LedZeppelin), some have pure fun (Music/{{Kiss}}) and some have multi-generational appeal (Music/{{U2}}). Green Day has every single one of those things. You know what they say: [[BonJovi 100,000,000 Green Day Fans Can't Be Wrong]].
*** If it's any condolence, Harmonix in a recent survey presented some of the bands up for consideration to get a game: Music/PinkFloyd, Music/LedZeppelin, Music/{{U2}}, Music/{{Queen}} and Music/{{Eagles}} (Zeppelin in the lead). Being RB exclusives, Music/TheWho, Music/{{ACDC}} and Music/JimiHendrix are also likely choices. As for band attitudes, U2 and The Who are very interested in music games, Roger Waters said he'd consider it, and Jimmy Page should be warming up to the idea now that stringed instruments have been announced (because he found the prospect of buttons annoying).
** Yes, they are not Music/TheBeatles, but you have to consider what Green Day is in music history. Before Green Day, punk was a little known genre of rebellion and striking the majority. Green Day brought this to the mainstream. They are the ones who basically told the world "Be you, fuck everyone else." Also, they are one of the few bands who did not let fame change their music. Yes, there is some musical differences between say, Kerplunk, and American Idiot, but that is a given. No matter the band, their sound always evolves. No band gained success on staying the same the whole time. They got their own game because they changed the face of punk rock, like The Beatles changed the face of music.
*** ... I'm sorry ''what''? Man, you are gonna shit bricks when you discover Nirvana.
* Something about the album "21 century breakdown". It just...doesn't seem like "green day" to me. it's nothing like "dookie" and "american idiot"
** Did American Idiot sound like anything they had done before, though? It's a very different style, yes, but it's just what the band decided on.

* What's with all the new Green Day haters? Yes, it's different then everything they've done before, but it's still great. It's getting (or gotten, it's a pretty thin line) to the point where you won't be taken seriously as a fan if you like anything they've done semi-recently. American Idiot is my favorite album by them, and 21st Century Breakdown is my least favorite (it's still great though). Somehow ''liking'' what they do makes me ''less'' of a fan?
** [[FanDumb That sort of attitude]] is hardly unique to GreenDay fans, unfortunately.
** Green Day used to be fun. They used to be sarcastic and at least somewhat witty. Then they got all serious and preachy. Dookie dealt with serious themes, but it did it with a snarl, and a wink and a laugh. American Idiot did it with a snarl, a sneer, and a frown.
** See ItsPopularNowItSucks. When you have as much money as they do you tend to not give a shit.
-->I was a young boy who had big plans,
-->now I'm just another shitty old man
-->I don't have fun and I hate everything
-->the world owes me, so fuck you!
--> [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xKI8s0Zn3w "The Grouch"]]
** Particularly people who are mad about their ''lyrical'' development. Are we really supposed to be disappointed that they've moved beyond [[DatingRosiePalms "Bite my lip and close my eyes/Take me away to paradise"]]?

* Doesn't Billie realize that Billie is the ''femimine'' spelling of Billy? Its like the difference between "Joe" for a male and "Jo" for a female.

* I just hate when people think listening to Green Day automatically makes them "rebellious" and "nonconformist" and "badass". They talk about how they're "sticking it to the man" by listening to Green Day while talking about how they hate the government and other such things they often do not know shit about. There are also several people like this that I've met who think ''American Idiot'' was actually their first album.
** As aforementioned, the first is hardly unique to Green Day fans. Refer to most of Hot Topic's clientele for more examples. As for the second, you really can't attribute someone thinking a band's breakout album was their first to anything other than [[DidNotDoTheResearch not looking it up]].

* Okay, so I'm a HUGE Green Day fan, and adore pretty much everything about them. So, my two favorite albums by them are ''American Idiot'' and ''21st Century Breakdown''. Something that's always bothered me is that whenever I tell people this they automaticall think I don't like the old music, when this isn't true at all. I love pretty much everything by this band. It just annoys me that when you say you like "new" Green Day, people automatically assume you can't like "old" Green Day as well.
** And sorry for my little rant here, but that's annoying too. To me, there isn't "old" or "new" Green Day. Yes, the sound may be a little different, but it's all the same band to me. Okay, rant over.

<<|ItJustBugsMe|>>

** As well as "Telephone Line" by ElectricLightOrchestra and [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXd9ISNMkqs the Route 209 music from]] ''PokemonDiamondAndPearl''. Hey, with only so many (appealing) original melodies possible in music, it's bound to happen.

** Because they are concept albums, with a story and tropes of their own. Other albums, like TheWall have pages as well.

** It sounds perplexing at first (you think "''Really?!''"), but after sitting on it for a while, the wisdom of it shines through. First off, they're one of the most popular acts from the last 20 years. True, literally dozens or even hundreds of bands are more important or influential to music, but influential doesn't sell units. The importance of those older bands falls into PraisingShowsYouDontWatch most of the time, because everyone says they're incredible, but the "Classic Rock" stations are always playing the same songs over and over. To the average listener, they feel unapproachable or too legendary to get into ("You need to '''really''' listen to it"). The unfortunate fact is that old [[TheDoors Doors]] and {{CCR}} records can't be easily found in mainstream music stores anymore, and if they can, it's probably a GreatestHitsAlbum. By this point most people know them more by their name power than their music. As for Green Day, they can be heard on modern rock stations, they are a band of this generation, and the target audience of these games does keep them as a mainstay on their playlist. The other thing to think about is that many of their songs are actually difficult and reasonably catchy across the breadth of their work, something you can't generally say about most older bands (since most people know them for their singles). Finally, Green Day has a distinctive image that can be sold; people know their faces, people know their fashion-style, and some people know their eras. There are bands with imagery that would translate well to a game (PinkFloyd), some have difficulty (LedZeppelin), some have pure fun ({{Kiss}}) and some have multi-generational appeal ({{U2}}). Green Day has every single one of those things. You know what they say: [[BonJovi 100,000,000 Green Day Fans Can't Be Wrong]].
*** If it's any condolence, Harmonix in a recent survey presented some of the bands up for consideration to get a game: PinkFloyd, LedZeppelin, {{U2}}, {{Queen}} and {{Eagles}} (Zeppelin in the lead). Being RB exclusives, TheWho, [[Music/{{ACDC}} AC/DC]] and JimiHendrix are also likely choices. As for band attitudes, U2 and The Who are very interested in music games, Roger Waters said he'd consider it, and Jimmy Page should be warming up to the idea now that stringed instruments have been announced (because he found the prospect of buttons annoying).
** Yes, they are not {{The Beatles}}, but you have to consider what Green Day is in music history. Before Green Day, punk was a little known genre of rebellion and striking the majority. Green Day brought this to the mainstream. They are the ones who basically told the world "Be you, fuck everyone else." Also, they are one of the few bands who did not let fame change their music. Yes, there is some musical differences between say, Kerplunk, and American Idiot, but that is a given. No matter the band, their sound always evolves. No band gained success on staying the same the whole time. They got their own game because they changed the face of punk rock, like The Beatles changed the face of music.

*** If it's any condolence, Harmonix in a recent survey presented some of the bands up for consideration to get a game: PinkFloyd, LedZeppelin, {{U2}}, {{Queen}} and {{Eagles}} (Zeppelin in the lead). Being RB exclusives, TheWho, [[{{ACDC}} AC/DC]] and JimiHendrix are also likely choices. As for band attitudes, U2 and The Who are very interested in music games, Roger Waters said he'd consider it, and Jimmy Page should be warming up to the idea now that stringed instruments have been announced (because he found the prospect of buttons annoying).

* Why do ''American Idiot'' and ''21st Century Breakdown'' have their own pages? I understand that they are very different from Green Day's older material and polarizing for fans, but I can't think of any other band who has separate pages for their different albums. Even bands whose albums are much more different or polarizing than Green Day's (see: [[{{GunsNRoses}} Guns 'N Roses]]).