21st Century Breakdown Story...

[VivaLaGloria86]

So I decided to make this topic to discuss the storyline behind the 21st Century Breakdown concept album. We all know about the characters Christian and Gloria, but what do we know in-depth about them beyond that. Considering they are the protagonists in the story who are the antagonists? Is the Peacemaker considered a legit character? And how do they all connect back to The Class Of 13?? I'm just kinda curious on what other Green Day fans think of the storyline to this album...because we know deep down there is! If Green Day were to make this album into a Broadway play or movie, which characters do you think would narrate and sing each song? Just a typical your view of the story so please give your responses just looking for a new fresh view of this album! Thanks

[XxRedundantCastaway86xX]

3 words. Open to interpretation. In my opinion the story is so open and vague that the listener really ends up developing their own interpretation of the story and what it means. In other words there is no actual specific "story" per se, just a basis involving the 2 characters of Christian and Gloria which is pretty much this:

"I look at Christian and Gloria, and it's me. Gloria is one side: this person trying to hold on to this sense of belief, still trying to do good. Whereas Christian is deep into his own demons and victimizing himself over that" - Billie Joe

The rest is really up to what you think the lyrics symbolize and mean to you as an individual. It's actually quite a creative experience, listening to the album and interpreting it as an individual, so that's honestly what I would suggest you do. Because if you ask others what the album means, hell if you ask others what any piece of art "means", they're just going to give you their own interpretation, which although may be interesting, probably would not be as fulfilling as constructing your own.

[Daniel King]

i honestly think, this is a great album, and indeed yes it has a deep story, i dont know if you remember but Billie Joe said that if 21stCB becomes a movie Robert Pattinson and Ellen Page can be Christian and Gloria, and well it could be a great cast, but i dont know another musical?? im a big fan but another musical it doesnt call my attention, it can be turn into a great movie, or somewhat drama/comedy/musical movie and well anyone knows what part should sing Christian and Gloria. Its one hell of a story, i fell in love with the characters the story, the peacemaker... i dont really know what part does he play, if hes another character or just psychological character, you may know Billie writes about losing his mind and other things... The people who didnt like this album that much, and considers a fan, well i think that their fandom went straight to hell lol, its amazing, the story and everything, but i dont know if this could be a movie, i hope it can like a sequel to the American Idiot movie, adapted it as a sequel. but indeed a great story

[-Billiejoezee-]

I THINK we might have had a thread like this before... I'm not so sure.

[fadi_7]

i don't think there is a right or wrong meaning to the album everyone with his opinion and how the lyrics works on his life.

to me it meant that not to be afraid from saying what you think and to question everything

[Kristen M]

I've never found a story in this album. Just a theme and characters. And to me the songs just speak to the social and political problems we live in.

[green day is]

The only thing I'd like to say is that I've always imagined the album as taking place in a post-Bush version of Jingletown.

[desertrose]

Here is an interview I found where they talk about the songs and what they mean.

Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown : track by track

[whatsername..x]

Here is an interview I found where they talk about the songs and what they mean.

Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown : track by track

I love that interview! It's great to know the background behind how the album was written, thanks for posting it

[Mary711]

That was an interesting read. Thanks a lot for sharing.

[green day is]

Here is an interview I found where they talk about the songs and what they mean.

Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown : track by track

Thank you for posting that! It was wonderful to read.

[VivaLaGloria86]

I've never found a story in this album. Just a theme and characters. And to me the songs just speak to the social and political problems we live in.

I completely agree with this. I guess thats always the setting I've truely imagined it in as well.

Here is an interview I found where they talk about the songs and what they mean.

Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown : track by track

This was very helpful and interesting! Thanks for sharing it.

[pasalaska]

The story in 21CB is obviously a lot less defined that AI's story... to me it's more a series or snapshots of Christian's and Gloria's moods and feelings over a period of time in post-Bush Jingletown. What actually happened to the characters to provoke those moods and feelings is what's not totally clear in the story, and is what's open to our interpretation. Some songs give a lot more of the story than others, like Murder City or Static Age, but it's mostly capturing the reactions of Christian and Gloria to events than describing what happens/happened to them.

[peacelovegreenday]

I don't even know if there is really a specific plot, I just think it is the 2 characters and that the listener is supposed to decide what it is for themselves.

[Ashley!]

Here is an interview I found where they talk about the songs and what they mean.

Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown : track by track

wow that was very interesting! thanks for sharing that.

[desertrose]

I found video interviews about the album.

There are some additional comments not mentioned in the interview from the magazine.

Green Day talk about Song Of The Century

Green Day talk about 21st Century Breakdown

Green Day talk about Know Your Enemy

Green Day talk about ¡Viva La Gloria!

Green Day talk about Before The Lobotomy

[desertrose]

Here is more......

Green Day talk Christian's Inferno + Last Night On Earth

Green Day talk about East Jesus Nowhere

Green Day talk about Peacemaker

Green Day talk about Last Of The American Girls

Green Day talk about Murder City

Green Day talk Viva La Gloria (Little Girl)

Green Day talk about Restless Heart Syndrome

Green Day talks about Horseshoes And Handgrenades

Green Day talk about The Static Age

Green Day about 21 Guns

Green Day talk about 21 Guns

Green Day talk about American Eulogy

Green Day talk about See The Light

[green day is]

I found video interviews about the album.

Green Day talk about Song Of The Century

Green Day talk about 21st Century Breakdown

Green Day talk about Know Your Enemy

Green Day talk about ¡Viva La Gloria!

Green Day talk about Before The Lobotomy

Here is more......

Green Day talk Christian's Inferno + Last Night On Earth

Green Day talk about East Jesus Nowhere

Green Day talk about Peacemaker

Green Day talk about Last Of The American Girls

Green Day talk about Murder City

Green Day talk Viva La Gloria (Little Girl)

Green Day talk about Restless Heart Syndrome

Green Day talks about Horseshoes And Handgrenades

Green Day talk about The Static Age

Green Day about 21 Guns

Green Day talk about 21 Guns

Green Day talk about American Eulogy

Green Day talk about See The Light

That's the same interview that was just posted, except it's in video form.

You could have just posted Song of the Century and said, "Follow along through the related videos".

[Hermione]

That's the same interview that was just posted, except it's in video form.

You could have just posted Song of the Century and said, "Follow along through the related videos".

I think "Thanks" was the phrase you were looking for.

[green day is]

I think "Thanks" was the phrase you were looking for.

All I'm saying is that they did a bunch of work for nothing.

[pasalaska]

All I'm saying is that they did a bunch of work for nothing.

for nothing?

It's much easier having them all listed so I can go straight to the video that I want to watch.

You went to the effort of quoting those links for nothing.

[desertrose]

came across this from 2009 article on mixonline interview with Vig about 21st Century Breakdown.

"Vig says that the “concept” nature of the new album did not reveal itself immediately. “I'd probably been going up there for about three months,” he says, “and I remember one day Billie seemed a little depressed. I think he felt he'd hit a wall; he wasn't sure what the focus was. We came in and rather than jamming or putting the songs up and listening, Billie put these big pieces of paper up on the wall in the lounge of the studio and started writing all the titles down, and then next to the title he'd write something about what the song means — he might have a catch phrase or a lyric or something. And then he'd point an arrow from that — like ‘Know Your Enemy’ going down to ‘Restless Heart Syndrome.’ And ‘Christian’ and ‘Gloria’ kept popping up. We cut the [paper] up so we could move them around and try to figure what songs seemed to be ‘speaking’ to each other. We did that for a couple of days, and I think it really helped Billie understand lyrically what was making sense. And for me and for the rest of the band, we could kind of tell musically what was starting to fit in together, and that was the start of a process that helped define where we were going. Maybe at the end of the second day, Billie said, ‘Maybe this is the title,’ and he wrote ‘21st Century Breakdown’ at the top.”

[Bundita]

The Class of 13 probably refers somehow to Joey's high school senior year (2013).

[solongfromthestars]

Those interviews are interesting, I hadn't seen this thread before.

I think I'm one of the few people who feels that 21CB is actually less vague than AI. I guess the characters just spoke to me and when I listen to it I don't know, it's like reading a really intense book. It was kind of a life-changing thing for me. But yeah, it's really up to the listener, everything I see in it is more from a personal point of view. I wrote an analysis back in the day when I was seriously ill and all I had to do was listen to that album, but I'm too embarrassed to post it.

[pieterv]

I wrote an analysis back in the day when I was seriously ill and all I had to do was listen to that album, but I'm too embarrassed to post it.

you can't post that and not post them Anytime you feel like sharing it, please do.

I'd love to see the story, even if it's just one interpretation cleared up.