Uno! to have "clean" version

[Nina89]

I don't get it. Why would they do that? Parts of the lyric doesn't even make sense anymore.

I was upset and disappointed when I saw thez Green Day shirts are made in china but seeling clean versions is just not green day. they make most of the money on concerts and not for the cds at walmart. I think ppl barely buy cds in stores. only if they really like a band. and who of you would like to buy a censored/clean version?

that version is for mother who want to give their children a nice present but not a version for a big selling

it's really disappointing to see something like that. how can you take their words serious when they don't follow them either?

[melissawebster]

Thought you guys might find this interesting, informative and amusing (the blame game):

The Music Industry Blame Game http://www.digitalmu...kXl_6DE-3pdc7Ug

A Breakdown of Every Single Dollar a Major Label Makes, featuring Warner Music http://www.digitalmu.../2012/120809wmg

The articles are easy to read and don't focus on industry speak or complicated charts or anything. If you look through the comments of the Warner article specifically, the writer of the article explains a lot of the motivation behind the marketing of legacy artists (Green Day) and their catalogue (American Idiot), and answers some of the questions raised on this forum.

[Alan86]

So warner uploaded the explicit version of Kill the Dj to youtube, What does this mean?? probably nothing

[Milo Goes To Pasalacqua]

Clean version of Uno? Who says? Walmart? Well FTS.

Well...on second thoughts...the band probably need this to survive... They are releasing three albums consecutively in a time when no one buys albums anymores... And it's not like they're censoring political views to cater to Walmart with this trilogy. 21CB or AI wasn't comprimised that way, and this one doesn't have a message to spread (well, maybe it's that sex is good, but most mainstream music you'll find in Walmart says that now anyways...) so i can definitely deal with it.

[WhiteTim]

Clean version of Uno? Who says? Walmart? Well FTS.

Well...on second thoughts...the band probably need this to survive... They are releasing three albums consecutively in a time when no one buys albums anymores... And it's not like they're censoring political views to cater to Walmart with this trilogy. 21CB or AI wasn't comprimised that way, and this one doesn't have a message to spread (well, maybe it's that sex is good, but most mainstream music you'll find in Walmart says that now anyways...) so i can definitely deal with it.

AI was edited for Wal Mart the first year of it's release

[Milo Goes To Pasalacqua]

Really? Sorry, why didn't i know that? Wait, i knew there was a version with 'clean lyrics', i always guessed that it just edited out cuss words, which i don't think really diluted the album's message, imho. So what was different about the edited version?

[Iain]

So I decided to pop back on the forum randomly (Hi guys, how's it goin'?), because of recent events laid out by one of my least favourite news websites published an article titled "Green Day changes its stance on Walmart and Censorship". As much as this has upset Green Day fans, I was slightly alarmed yet I actually saw a clarity over the recent move but seemingly, I am lost in the sea of illogical thought and accusation. I thought I'd address a reality to not only give people insight on how this could have taken place, but also to reassure Green Day fans that our favourite threesome in the whole wide world are somewhat innocent so we can still love them so huggy–muggy–much.

Before I begin, I would like to state I had the good fortune to meet Melissa Webster earlier this year at The Kerpunk Festival and was a pleasant experience; as well as that I have a undisputed hatred for The Huffington Post as it is a rather terrible online paper and I highly discourage you from reading it. The article that rose up last weekend is somewhat misleading and in my opinion could do with further research or even so much stretch possibilities. However, these have no place in this post as it is to be unbiased since I am not here to justify Melissa Webster nor slander The Huffington Post.

Now that we've got that out of the way, let's begin.

DISCLAIMER: A LOT OF THE FOLLOWING IS NOT CONFIRMED INFORMATION BUT RATHER COMMON KNOWLEDGE OF THE INDUSTRY, SO EXPECT THIS TO GO OFF ON A LIMB!

What I am seeing here off the bat is the fans are too easy to judge Green Day as if it's totally their decision let alone the fans thinking every last little thing is down to Green Day's say. Wether that be shows, merch, marketing etc. They're way off. This is typical ignorance(lack of knowledge thereof) from fans of any kind, including fans of now who are accusing Green Day of becoming sellouts. The truth is, Green Day are the artist, however there are a lot of layers in any record label from when the artist makes something all the way down to when it's promoted and released.

So let me cut to the chase; I don't think it is Green Day's decision to release uncensored versions of their upcoming Album trilogy as well as distributing through Walmart. It's Reprise and Warner Bros. decision.

Now, allow to explain why. What you see of Green Day is only part of the bigger wheel that makes them successful, because it's not just Green Day, their producers and their manager doing the work. There are graphic designers, public relations, promoters, set designers, technicians, marketing people, directors, promoters and so on, and they need to get paid, no one is doing pro bono work here. There's a good number of people involved in any big time band project, because Green Day don't market themselves let alone have an art direction, or tour to begin with, i.e. a promotions company pretty much has to help Reprise set up a tour. As well as that, there are limited budgets when it comes to that form of business, i.e. budgeting for album production, design etc.

So what has this got to do with this censorship fiasco? You know how on the latter paragraph I mentioned budgets? Well, that album needs to fulfil that budget, as well as profit from it, because Green Day, Reprise, Rob Cavallo, Chris Bilheimer, their marketing dept. and many more who work on the album need to be paid for their work on that record. However, remember, this is an album trilogy, a rather bold move yet can be financially terrifying towards the record company, as that is a lot to create, produce, and sell. This seems unrealistic, but I can easily imagine Green Day wanting to do such an ambitious idea only for Reprise to panic their socks off on such a gamble, so they probably threw in one or two caveats (seemingly fair), however there are also things that Green Day probably didn't expect i.e. selling them through Walmart; I can imagine Billie being pissed off hearing that however Reprise need to sell their records to as many outlets as they can in order to gain a profit. Reprise need to sell these and reach as many audiences as they can otherwise it's hard to make a profit. It's the same thing for everything else; tours, merch, the lot.

On the censored versions, it's obvious Reprise want to release these as to gain more finances from the record as to make a profit from it, but also manage to get the record across to as many audiences as possible since there are people that don't like f@!king swearing and risque contexts. I am also aware American Idiot is practically getting a censored version as well as the American Idiot video on YouTube being censored, while the uncensored version is taken off. Here's what people seem to forget; Reprise are well within their right to do that, and begging Billie Joe or anyone else about this stuff is not going to help because Reprise is their boss. You could argue Reprise is just trying to gain money by reaching out to these audiences as well as outlets, and controlling the content, and you would be totally totally right.

However, if I remember correctly, nobody said you had to buy the censored version. So I don't see why everybody needs to get their pants in a twist over a version they are not buying, and frankly, I don't see Green Day being that mad either.

In short; if you are angry at Green Day over this and even as so far as accusing them as "sellouts" at this point, there's a good chance you're pointing fingers at the wrong people. Not every last little thing is Green Day's decision. Reprise is kinda their boss, and I'm going with the theory that this is all their doing. Give Green Day a break, because I don't think this is their fault and they don't deserve this anger.

Fin.

[Idiotic Tendency...]

...Long! Going to read this later with a cuppa.

[petros]

You could post it at the Uno to have a censored version thread here

[WhiteTim]

Really? Sorry, why didn't i know that? Wait, i knew there was a version with 'clean lyrics', i always guessed that it just edited out cuss words, which i don't think really diluted the album's message, imho. So what was different about the edited version?

Just had the cussing bleeped out nothing else

To some people it takes away from the message some dont care cause they have the unedited version but everyone has a right to believe whatever they choose to believe in

[Malleus]

[Iain]

There may be one on the horizon, but I ain't batten' down no hatches. ;D

[Hermione]

Merged your thread with this one. Please look to see if there's a already a thread on the subject of what you have to say before you make a new one.

[Iain]

Merged your thread with this one. Please look to see if there's a already a thread on the subject of what you have to say before you make a new one.

I forgot the long ass arms of the law existed on this part of th' Internet.

[justcause]

So warner uploaded the explicit version of Kill the Dj to youtube, What does this mean??

Green Day bought their souls back ?

[Iain]

Green Day bought their souls back ?

It means Green Day switched the tapes around when no–one was looking. ;-)

[Hermione]

I forgot the long ass arms of the law existed on this part of th' Internet.

Indeed they do . Great post though! Well said and I agree.

[bringonjennifury]

I am very opposed to censorship. At the same time, I have no idea how to respond when my kids ask me why I do not want them to swear but I listen to music with swearing in it. I used to turn down the volume during swearing when the kids were around, but after they learned the same words from their cousins, I did not bother anymore. I would not mind being able to download radio versions of a few songs so that my kids could share them with their friends, but I would never buy an entire clean album.

[Ryan]

Not surprised, but seeing Best Buy in that list makes me hope that they're also selling the explicit version, as that's the only store near my school I can purchase it (that's close anyway). I bought Awesome As F**k there, so I am optimistic.

Best Buy only sells the explicit versions in their stores. The clean versions can only be purchased from their website.

[Alan86]

Green Day bought their souls back ?

Or they never sold them in the first place and there was an over-reaction to the clean version of UNO.

[justcause]

Or they never sold them in the first place and there was an over-reaction to the clean version of UNO.

Yeah, I was being ironic - maybe it didn't come across.

[Alan86]

Yeah, I was being ironic - maybe it didn't come across.

Oh that absolutely came across. I just felt tge need to say it anyway

[melissawebster]

Before I begin, I would like to state I had the good fortune to meet Melissa Webster earlier this year at The Kerpunk Festival and was a pleasant experience; as well as that I have a undisputed hatred for The Huffington Post as it is a rather terrible online paper and I highly discourage you from reading it. The article that rose up last weekend is somewhat misleading and in my opinion could do with further research or even so much stretch possibilities. However, these have no place in this post as it is to be unbiased since I am not here to justify Melissa Webster nor slander The Huffington Post.

Fin.

Why everybody be hating on my newspaper?

For me to give any kind of opinion on this topic at this point would be redundant, so I'm just going to lurk if that's okay with you guys.

Ian (Fin?)! It's great to see you again! How have you been? You were the one at the festival with the truly awesome Billie Joe artwork that they auctioned off, aren't you?

[gerardsangel4977]

Just wanted to say that "Fin" means done. Finished.

[Johnny.]

To be honest this negative reaction to Uno having a clean version is really pissing me off. Whats the big fucking deal? It's not going to change the way the music sounds, judge that because the record is what really matters, not all these politics about what is punk and what is selling out. Also John Roecker seems to have a lot to say on facebook about this for a shameless name-dropper...