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1. Opinion 2. Opinion. Maybe you don't understand the the lyrics behind the song, which is possible since you're not in the US. To me, as a resident of the US and someone who pays a little attention to the happens in the country, the lyrics are actually quite clever and very true. 3. I'd argue "Daddy's little nightmare and mommy's little soldier" 4. Compared to what? It sounds incredible actually. 5. And how do they do this? Your blanket statement provides no example(s).

1. What don't you like about it, other than "shitty"? It sets up the topic of the song. 2. These kinds of swings is what I love about Green Day. 3. Bull shit. 4. Cool. 5. Lyrics make no sense to YOU. Again, like I said to the last person, you're not from the US (according to your profile here) and might not pay too much attention to the affairs of this country so I wouldn't expect you to understand the lyrics. In the last 15 years, Billie hasn't been too direct with his lyrics, he's always using metaphors and sarcasm to convey his point. You have to really read between the lines and connect the dots to understand his lyrics. And in this song, if you're not in the US or paying close attention to what's happening here, then you're just not going to get it.

Judging from that facebook live video Billie says if you enjoy bang bang you'll love the rest of the album looks like you'll probably have to skip this one budday. bummer

I get what you mean by that, it's a happy sounding chorus for a dark theme. But I think they've done that on purpose; this song is from the perspective of the shooter, so while it may be dark to an onlooker, the jubilant tone actually serves to make it even darker. This guy's having all these thoughts about this horrible stuff, yet he's happy about it. That really emphasises the twisted mentality of a mass shooter.

I haven't checked this thread for a couple of days.

I don't agree with you at all, but the biggest that stuck out was the uninspired lyrics. I actually think this is some of the best lyrics Billie has ever written. It is really difficult to capture the how manic a mass shooter must feel and the thought process they go through and I really feel that the lyrics capture that.

I love "hurrah hurrah" its like we are celebrating something atrocious & I feel such guilt saying those words.

Also I'm sorry but the song is catchy as fuck. I got various lines going over and over in my head at various times of the day.

Ha. The Jinx reference is a good one. I've loved that song since they played it during the band interview on Modern Rock Live before Nimrod came out. I've had nothing but the utmost respect and adoration for that song for the 19 years since. It's always been one of my absolute favorites, and if you had told me that BB was going to be 50% as good as Jinx I would have been thrilled. Well, it's not 50% as good. It's better. Jinx is an incredible song, don't get me wrong, but I like to think I've evolved as a fan as the band has evolved as songwriters and musicians. And on every level BB is better, in some cases (drumming and structure) by a long shot. Jinx will always hold a special place in my heart, but for those who throw out some of the old greats (I'll throw Westbound, Scattered, and Letterbomb out as some of their all time best) and try to criticize BB by comparison- well, I don't think that's fair...to the old classics. BB is on a new level. I'll never lose my love for the old stuff, it's in my DNA at this point. But BB is a superior tune. How lucky are we as fans that this is even in the discussion? I never thought in a million years that in 20 years this band would create new material that would be better, but they have. Incredible.

For real, a rational criticism of the song is very welcome especially when I think back to the many "lol it's shit, lol at you for liking it" comments posted to shut down any appreciation of the trilogy that were actually annoying. There's going to be negative as well as positive comments posted about any song (as there should be, people have different opinions and different likes and dislikes) and I know which kind of negative comment I prefer to read! Be thankful for intelligent and polite posts like Tom's that can lead to interesting discussions and don't prevent anyone else from sharing their enjoyment of the song, it would be boring if everyone's opinion was identical.

Ah, and here we have an example of Green Day fans being cunts to anyone who doesn't toe the line, regardless of how clearly, respectfully, and intelligently the dissenting opinion is expressed. Most of the people disagreeing with Tom are coming off as very childish - it's not a good look for you.

I really loved Billie's stripy pants and cool shirts on the 21CB tour

#fans

Blablablablablablablablablablablabla

HANDSOME AF

Your first post on this thread was "I wrote this on Twitter. It's like Kerplunk, Trilogy, Dookie and Insomniac had a baby. Kewl song." Now it seems you hate it just because mostly everyone else likes it. What's this obsession you have with being in the minority? Hating AI and 21CB, loving the trilogy and now disliking this song

His "be silently drawn" tattoo continues to be my absolute favorite. I love that it peeks out just a bit.

Dude, don't take it so personally. Yes, it is an opinion. I'm entitled to express it. Don't cry. We don't all need to suck the holy dick of Green Day with every release. And don't automatically assume that because someone has a different opinion to yours they don't understand. I pay a whole lot of attention to American news. I teach journalism. A whole module I teach is comparing US and British media and the history/culture that lead to those differences. Especially the gun and mad shooting debate - we had the IRA through the 70s, 80s and early 90s. I understand tragedy. I understand the power of the NRA, the unregulated and bipartisan media hurling agenda dressed as news and the psychological effect that has on a less than educated, deracinated public. But I do not think this song tackles it well. It is lyrically clumsy, melodically stale, and deeply shallow in it appprach. You want entering the psyche of a psychopathic killer, listen to Goodbye Earl by the Dixie Chicks. Guilty Conscience or Kim by Eminem. In comparison, this sounds and reads like a bloke who is describing something he has seen on the TV, not something he had a genuinely connection with. It feels emotionally inauthentic. The 'daddy's little psycho line' is a good lyric, but it's a shite sounding hook. It isn't catchy and tbh, I'm dreading hearing it live. Contrast the melody and production with the leading singles of American Idiot, Dookie, Nimrod especially, and it's just not at that high level. This is not a song relevant for (mainstream) radio. When you have guitar bands like Foals, Tame Impala, Arctic Monkeys, The 1975 and Catfish and the Bottlemen making immediate, sexy, youthful rock of various shades over the last few years this just doesn't stand up - and they're struggling against a general trend away from rock, especially politicised rock. I'm not a musician but I know the sound of quality production when I hear it, and Killing In The Name Of... this is not. Just because I don't think ita great doesn't mean to someone else it can't be, likewise, just because you think it is doesn't mean everyone else has to. Objectively this is not their best song ever. Subjectively you may think this is a strong piece of music, but objectively the whole of the world isn't going to agree with that.

I'm confused that some don't find the "I wanna be a celebrity martyr/The leading man in my own private drama" to be a super catchy chorus. But whatever. This is an EXCELLENT lead single in my opinion—after not being in a great place as a fan after the Trilogy, I've been so wanting them to win me back. They won me back and then some with this song. It mixes their older sound and their newer sound. It's smart and it's loud and it's catchy. It is, without question, exactly what I hoped it would be and maybe even a bit more. They make me really, really proud.

I'm glad you said this because I was actually wondering if that was an issue. As someone who was affected by a mass shooting (not with people very close to me, but affected none the less), I thought the lyrics were so accurate and true it was creepy. Really, just brilliant.

Well we can agree to disagree, I think the lyrics are brilliant

Further proof that Billie pulls/makes the best faces!

Aw Hubby just rang to say turn the radio on Bang Bang is playing

Congrats MTV, you figured out Photo bomb and Vietnam do indeed rhyme

Just a reminder that this thread is for discussing Bang Bang, not for discussing Steven Seagull (however much more interesting you may find him ).

Man, reading Seagull's contrarian, attempt at coolness posts is going to be pure torture for the next month. #fortydaysinthedesert PS - Is Comrade Tom the old mod Tom?

Actually the song has 2 choruses. The 'Bang Bang give me fame" one and the "Celebrity martyr" one. Both are really catchy to me And in the trilogy, the choruses take up like half the songs or more and it gets too repetitive. This song has more variety

Spot the difference.... (I can't believe there's 22 years between these two pictures)

There are a couple bands that sound like GD though. Like Foxboro Hot Tubs and The Network. Sometimes it sounds like they're the exact same band

I agree with you. I mean, people are totally entitled to their opinions about music, obviously—it's so subjective and it's all a matter of taste. But for me, no one sounds like Green Day but Green Day. They have a very distinct sound, which is impressive given that they try so many different types of songs (Peacemaker, for instance, somehow sounds like Green Day even though it's so different for them). I've heard plenty of bands that are similar to one another, but that's never happened with Green Day. Listening to how that distinct sound has grown and developed over the years is something special. They know how to innovate. I can't help but feel lucky that my favorite band—who became my favorite band because they created some of my favorite songs—CONTINUES to create new songs to add to my overall favorites list.

Best lead single since American Idiot. Yes, that's my opinion. No, I won't dig up a fuck to give if you disagree.

Well I can see how the song doesn't appeal to everyone especially because there is not a single song in the world that every single person loves equally. I guess the lyrics may seem uninspired or dull to you because you either have a hard time to reflect with the lyrics or the topic just doesn't appeal to you at all, or whatever reason. I just don't agree with your last point, saying "A general tired feeling of 40 year olds desperately trying to be relevant and edgy". I could say that you desperately feel the need to express your view on Green Day being 40-year old teenage wannabes because they aren't those 20-year olds who made Dookie, but that would be just as much bullshit. Saying that means it doesn't matter what they would release because it would always sound forced and desperately trying to sound younger except when they would sound like 50+ geezers pumping out a hoompa-loompa album because that's what old guys should do.

In no specific order: Boring riff. Uninspired lyrics, making a dull, half baked political point with all the guile of a 15 year old writing their first song. No real hook to speak of. Tinny production. A general tired feeling of 40 year olds desperately trying to be relevant and edgy, when really they should embrace a less youthful, more distinguished energy.

I like this GD community.

He's a keeper

It's fine that you don't like the new single. But I think there's a line between honestly not liking a song because of reasonable reasons and simply trying too hard to show everyone how you differ with your opinion.

Being a Green Day fan and not liking American Idiot it's like buying a burger and then you only eat the bread.

To be fair, I don't think the song 'perfectly captures' the mindset of a shooter, because do we really know that mindset? And are all those mindsets the same? But I think Billie Joe was just exploring the possibilities of it - because of course he has no genuine connection with a mass shooter, come on! Some of the lyrics are jarring, contradictory, maybe even a bit clumsy, but I'm pretty sure that's intentional. That's not me trying to change anyone's mind - just explaining why I personally love the lyrics. I love the song. There've been songs I haven't liked, and I don't think it's fair to insinuate that because people love this song, they love everything the band put out. Though even if they do, lol who even cares? Good for them, whatever. It doesn't affect my opinions of the music. Edit: @Comrade, I don't question your love of the band btw. I'm a huge fan of a TV show that could do better a lot of the time and I rag on it a lot, but it's my show, y'know? I want what's best for it. And I can see it's the same for you and GD. I just don't agree with your assessment of the song on this occasion. And that's totally fine!

I find it a little ironic that people complain that song X sounds like song Y when there are a ridiculous amount of songs out there, even in this genre alone. You are always going to get songs that sound like other songs, but the best thing about it is when a particular band tries to change or update their sound to make it fresh again, people complain that it sounds too different to their older material. There really is no way to win, no matter what.

I'm am so ridiculously excited for this album. I'm excited to go out and buy it and play it over and over. I kinda didn't get that excitement around the trio so this time I'm totally ready for Green Day back at their best. And I love Bang Bang. I'm taking it at face value, as an angry song about a shitty situation. Fans have and will continue to constantly set their own expectations for Green Day's music. It's expected that every single song they release will either be something radically new or something alike to the Dookie era. Sometimes I think you just gotta take what comes, and appreciate that our band are still releasing music and loving it. We're kinda lucky in that respect!

Just want to say I too think these are some of the best lyrics Billie has ever written. He perfectly captures how these mass shooters develop a god complex as their actions are amplified by social media. Even going beyond the typical mass shooter in America (sad that I have to say that), just look at how terrorist organizations are now using social media as a means to spread fear—releasing execution videos and the like. I'm more than capable of being critical of Green Day, but this is a brilliant song in my eyes (and ears!). I think is very much the point Rolling Stone was trying to make when they put that Boston Marathon Bomber on their cover—whether you agree with them doing that or not, the point was that these people become as notorious as rock stars in this digitally-charged world. I appreciate this song because I haven't heard any songs about the gun problem in my country. They might be out there, but they're not being played on major radio stations, to my knowledge. But as an American, I've become increasingly frustrated with the fact that these shootings continue and yet so many are against getting more comprehensive gun control laws. It's probably the biggest issues I take with the U.S., so this song really just hit home for me. I'm lucky to live here for a lot of reasons, but I'm tired of having it cross my mind that I could get shot in a mall or a movie theater. It shouldn't be a regular problem, and yet it is.

You could say that, but that would be implying that is what I mean. It isn't. I'm not calling them teenage wannabe's. I don't want them to take backward steps and make a Dookie-like album. Don't assume it's one or the other. I can see why people like the song. It's by the numbers Green Day and fans will eat that up. I adore the band, but I'm most critical of the music I love the most. It's not that I can't relate to Bang Bang, its that there is nothing to relate to. The song that sprung to mind when I heard this was Christian's Inferno. I'm (not) sorry if legitimate criticism of a song you like offends you, but criticism is just as valid as praise. As I say, I look forward to the rest of the album. Especially the introspective and love-based content. That is Green Day at their best. The politics have always been ham-fisted, hidden by occasionally sensational music and melody. Bang Bang has neither of those to hide behind, and so is exposed as remarkably average.

THIS! I wrote this yesterday. -shitty static intro that should be completely removed -weird bridge that ruins the fast pace -no catchy chorus -not to mention that the riff sounds like Territorial Pissings -lyrics make no sense +guitar tone sounds like something from Kerplunk +that "world war zero" scream 4/10

To you that may be the case but to me its an evolved version of the same sound, the signature sound. Even KYE and When I Come Around have very similar song structure. Green Day really havent changed all that much over the years besides the different themes the albums carry and have almost flawlessly pushed out one amazing album after another for their entire career. The same can't be said for most bands out there. You are truly missing out on some of their greatest highlights if you dont give those albums a chance. Jesus of Suburbia for example is easily one of their best songs ever made and you are only losing out if you choose to be closed minded about it.

Thank you... that definitely is the best quality version of Bang Bang I've heard. Thanks again.

Yeah, I agree with you here. I'd rather have too much than too little- we can all put together our top 10/15/20/ whatever playlists from the Trilogy and enjoy at our leisure. I was and still am stoked we had 37 new songs to pick and choose through. The fact that it was a commercial disappointment was a bummer I guess (although I liked it during the tour since it kind of culled out some of the casual fans and I was able to get awesome tickets for three shows), but at the end of the day we got the albums plus Demolicious. Tons of new material to experience and enjoy during the last 4 years. Not a bad outcome compared to what fans of some other bands experience.

If you're going to make a double album, you may as well just say "fuck it" and release a triple album like they did. There's really no point on saying stuff like "They should've released a single album with these songs", they did what they have to and I'm glad.

I love his shoes

In the case of American Idiot, yes. HDTracks' purpose is to not only provide lossless audio, but provide it in the highest quality possible, usually what it gets sent to mastering at. On average, it seems to be 24bit at 96kHz audio. Comparing that to a CD, those WAV files are encoded 16bit at 44.1kHz. So, A LOT of audio data is lost when the songs are mastered for CD. 44.1kHz means that 44,100 times per second, the encoder (in a CD's case, a WAVE encoder) looks at the audio stream and takes a snapshot of the sound. Each snapshot has 16 bits of data in it. With 96kHz and 24bit, that's more than double the amount of samples per second and 50% more audio data per sample. Now, will 99.9% of people notice a difference? Nope. Ok children, class is over for today.