History Music / TwentyFirstCenturyBreakdown

''21st Century Breakdown'' is the eighth studio album by Music/GreenDay, released in 2009. It was released as a follow-up to their comeback album ''Music/AmericanIdiot'', produced by Butch Vig of Music/{{Garbage}} and ''Music/{{Nevermind}}'' fame, and is similarly a RockOpera ConceptAlbum.

->''"They're playing the song of the century\\

That sings like American eulogy\\

Of forgotten hope and the class of 13\\

The album follows [[BattleCouple two lovers]] named [[MeaningfulName Christian]] and Gloria]] as they witness the many new trials faced by the common man in the recent years of America (mainly told in first-person from the point of Christian).

[[caption-width-right:300:''"21st century breakdown / I once was a lost but never was found..."'']]

''21st Century Breakdown'' is the eighth studio album by Music/GreenDay, released in 2009. It was released as a follow-up to their comeback album ''Music/AmericanIdiot'', produced by Butch Vig of Music/{{Garbage}} and ''Music/{{Nevermind}}'' fame. The album is a RockOpera that follows [[BattleCouple two lovers]] named [[MeaningfulName Christian]] and [[ThemeNaming Gloria,]] who are followed in the story as they witness the many new trials faced by the common man in the recent years of America (Mainly told in first-person from the point of Christian).

Several of the themes looked at by [[AntiHero Christian]] (who is [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation most definitely *not*]] [[WesternTerrorists a terrorist]]) include [[CorruptChurch religion,]] [[UsefulNotes/AmericanPoliticalSystem politics,]] and [[BestServedCold vengeance,]] along with being heavily involved in his relationship with Gloria. He is very cynical about most large organizations, and feels he and Gloria must stand up for TheEveryman. Gloria, meanwhile, is trying to hold onto her original beliefs while trying to help Christian as well.

* MohsScaleOfRockAndMetalHardness: Ranges from 1 ("Song Of The Century") to 7 ("Christian's Inferno").

The album saw the band's best chart performance to date, reaching #1 in various areas around the world such as America, the UK, and Europe. It additionally won the GrammyAward for Best Rock Album. Critics were generally favorable to the album, while nitpicking was common around the album's concept and its lingering sense of familiarity compared to ''Idiot''.

[[caption-width-right:300:''21st century breakdown / I once was a lost but never was found...'']]

-->They're playing the song of the century
-->Of panic and promise and prosperity
-->Tell me a story into that goodnight
-->Sing us a song for me

-->Sing us the song of the century\\

Sing us a song for me

''21st Century Breakdown'' is the eighth studio album by Music/GreenDay, released in 2009. It was released as a follow-up to their comeback album ''Music/AmericanIdiot'', produced by Butch Vig of {{Garbage}} and ''Music/{{Nevermind}}'' fame. The album is a RockOpera that follows [[BattleCouple two lovers]] named [[MeaningfulName Christian]] and [[ThemeNaming Gloria,]] who are followed in the story as they witness the many new trials faced by the common man in the recent years of America (Mainly told in first-person from the point of Christian).

* CoolPeopleRebelAgainstAuthority: DeconstructedTrope in the same way as on ''Music/AmericanIdiot''.

* UsefulNotes/{{Detroit}}: Quietly implied to take place there, as stated in "Peacemaker" ("Oh I am a killjoy, from Detroit...") and "Murder City" (a play on it's most famous nickname, the Motor City).
* EpicRocking: The title track is just over 5 minutes long, as is "21 Guns".
* {{Expy}}: Christian and Gloria can be seen as either these or {{Suspiciously Similar Substitute}}s for [[Music/AmericanIdiot Jesus of Suburbia and Whatsername]], although there are shades of difference: Christian is smarter and more insane; Gloria is more world-weary.

%% ZCE * NewMediaAreEvil: "The Static Age"

** The tune to the "Restless Heart Syndrome" chorus is also played at the beginning of "¿Viva la Gloria? (Little Girl)", which is the song before it.

Sing us a song for me

Several of the themes looked at by [[AntiHero Christian]] (who is [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation most definitely *not*]] [[WesternTerrorists a terrorist]]) include [[CorruptChurch religion,]] [[AmericanPoliticalSystem politics,]] and [[BestServedCold vengeance,]] along with being heavily involved in his relationship with Gloria. He is very cynical about most large organizations, and feels he and Gloria must stand up for TheEveryman. Gloria, meanwhile, is trying to hold onto her original beliefs while trying to help Christian as well.