Blasphemy & Genocide: Unpopular Green Day Opinions, Part 2

[Tiago Bueno]

I don't think Green Day is past doing their best work, though. Yes, the trilogy may have not been what we expected it to be, but I don't think it should taint our whole idea of what Green Day can do, considering they have blown us out of the water (multiple times) before. I do believe they still have it within them to create another masterpiece.

I really hope so. But all I'm saying is: let's get our expectations right.

[Spike]

And no one complains about Billie's shite 3 minute solos that completely ruin American Idiot live?

He's as good a guitarist as Angus and at least it's not 10 minutes, so yeah

[Guest]

He's as good a guitarist as Angus and at least it's not 10 minutes, so yeah

Philistine.

[Spike]

Philistine.

At least it's possible to tell the difference between any two of Billie's songs

[Certified Nimrod]

Plus, they tried swapping Good Riddance for it as a concert-closer.

Not at the show I went to.

Slightly off-topic, but does anyone else think that GD should just stop making albums, embrace the fact that they're a "greatest hits" band now, and just run with it?

Nononononononono

all i listen to is ai and 21cb.

n00b alert

[AlissaGoesRAWR]

Agreed. State of Shock isn't the best, but it could easily walk onto any Trilogy album. I mean can anyone explain why - purely on the basis of the songs - The Forgotten, Amy, most of Dos, Sweet Sixteen, for example, were chosen ahead of State of Shock?

The Forgotten — Twilight.

Amy — It's ~emotional and stuff.

Sweet 16 — See above. (Actually, I kind of like that one, for personal reasons more than anything. )

Dos — Fuck if I know.

Not at the show I went to.

Me either. I was at the first show when they played Good Riddance on this tour. I bawled like a baby, because I never thought I'd get to see it live. My first show ever, too!

[Z J]

Obviously "Homecoming" is far superior but damn, I'll take what I can get from the Trilogy. At least DRB is listenable.

Slightly off-topic, but does anyone else think that GD should just stop making albums, embrace the fact that they're a "greatest hits" band now, and just run with it?

No, but only because I still would like to hear them create some more music while they have a chance to be relevant. To Ceadog's point, I don't think they are quite popular enough to be like the Rolling Stones. They would lose relevancy somewhat fast if they ceased album making.

Basically what C-dawg said. Everyone shits themselves over the song and honestly it's not that great. It's awkward, long, drawn out and its melody is rather generic. What do the lyrics even mean?

Old toys

This plastic heart

Loners and fools

Are tearing me apart

Bad luck

Bitters and soda

Anguish and shame

The modern fool

Bad sex

Buy me a train wreck

Something for my troubled mind

...?

People's reaction to it reminds of me DRB. It's not THAT good, and seems to try a bit hard to be more epic than it should be. I can think of plenty of more emotional, relatable songs with more epic tension or whatever than Brutal Love. Plus, they tried swapping Good Riddance for it as a concert-closer. Um, fuck you. No.

Brutal Love, to me, is meant to shed light on the relationship between Billie and fan (the brutal love). The song isn't meant to be taken literal and I think those lyrics make far more sense in the context of that relationship. There was an incredible explanation of it online that broke it down line for line (something I do not feel like doing ) and I'm sure I can find it if you need it.

Brutal love is second to Lazy Bones in pure emotion on songs from the trilogy. He puts EVERYTHING he has in to it. And I think it has to do with the relationship between himself and the fans that he writes about.

[Hermione]

They should carry on if they feel like carrying on! If anyone feels motivated to make music and enjoys it they should do it, if people like it it's just a bonus. What do you want them to do, sit at home instead of doing something they love just in case the result isn't "relevant" or successful or doesn't appeal to you when they still have decades of their lives left? I don't understand that point of view at all, if they carried on just to make money or try to stay famous it'd be one thing but to begrudge them carrying on for the love of creating music and performing is crazy. They're not in a band to try and make another iconic album or to be a huge success, they're in a band because they're friends who are inspired to write songs and enjoy being in a band together and the other stuff is just a possible but non essential consequence of that.

I liked the trilogy. I really don't understand why almost everybody seems to hate it. Ok, Dos sucks (except for lazy bones, amy and stray heart) and no song on the trilogy is FUCKING awesome (x-kid is fucking awesome, though), but it's got good songs and shitty songs, like every Green Day album. Out of the 37 songs I can put together 17, 18 songs I really liked and that I listen to every week.

I don't think they should stop making new songs. They just turned 40. They still have a lot to offer. I just think that they should just stop with the sloppy, over produced sound, and that billie joe should stop with the teen lyrics e do some mature stuff.

Just registered on the forum, I'm brazilian, sorry for the bad english.

Welcome! As mentioned above this thread will give you an inaccurate view of how many people dislike the trilogy , as people post their "unpopular" opinions here. You'll see more appreciation for it in other threads. Nothing wrong with your English at all by the way.

[DookieLukie]

No, but only because I still would like to hear them create some more music while they have a chance to be relevant. To Ceadog's point, I don't think they are quite popular enough to be like the Rolling Stones. They would lose relevancy somewhat fast if they ceased album making.

Brutal Love, to me, is meant to shed light on the relationship between Billie and fan (the brutal love). The song isn't meant to be taken literal and I think those lyrics make far more sense in the context of that relationship. There was an incredible explanation of it online that broke it down line for line (something I do not feel like doing ) and I'm sure I can find it if you need it.

Brutal love is second to Lazy Bones in pure emotion on songs from the trilogy. He puts EVERYTHING he has in to it. And I think it has to do with the relationship between himself and the fans that he writes about.

I think Brutal Love was the only song from the Trilogy that I was literally obsessed with when it first came out. Like when you like a song so much that you just keep listening to it over and over again. Kind of like the effect BOBD had on my younger self.

Edited April 22, 2014 by DookieLukie

[Purple Haze]

But pretty good is...pretty good, right? I mean, in general, the trilogy sucked, but there are good songs. Let's face it. They will never make anything like dookie, insomniac, or American Idiot again. Those are fucking awesome albums. The rest is pretty good. I'm fine with good green day albums like kerplunk, nimrod, warning, 21st century breakdown. They already did their best.

I know that "Pretty good" should be a compliment, but a lot of us expect more from Green Day. Dookie, AI and 21CB were fantastic albums (to me anyway ). After all that, the trilogy just kinda fell flat, so "Pretty good" appeared more like "average". Had Green day not released anything good in ages the trilogy would have been received better I think.

Edit: I agree with what Hermione said. You'll no doubt see a lot of trilogy hate from me about certain songs, but I actually do like most of it. Plus there'll also be some people who claim to hate the trilogy just to "go with the crowd". And welcome to the forum!

Edited April 22, 2014 by KIA98

[walking_c0ntradicti0n]

I like the trilogy, the songs i just can't stand are Lady Cobra, NIGHTLIFE, and Drama Queen. Makeout Party is meh. And Amy has terrible album placement, it just doesnt work after Wow! That's Loud! Plus, Wow That's Loud drags on too much

[Clockwise]

Yeah, I don't know why anyone would actually want them to stop making music. At any point, you can stop following them, putting out new music doesn't have to ruin your enjoyment of their older material.

[Z J]

What people are missing here I think is that the "greatest hits" tours really only work well for classic rock bands well past their prime because middle aged adults want to see that one band they idolized as children. While Green Day's time in the spotlight is over for the time being, I don't think that a greatest hits album or a tour would work for them, simply because it is something more aimed toward nostalgia I believe. Ceadog- 1 Me-0

Plus there is the fact that they could still churn out some music worth listening to. Even the harshest critics of the trilogy (me included) can admit that there were glimmers of hope buried beneath the garbage that is the trilogy. They could have put out one solid album with some quality control and nobody would've been calling their careers over. Also if you want to completely disregard the trilogy (fair) then their previous work 21CB added plenty of great songs to their catalog.

I think for a band to be become a "greatest hits" band or a touring band then they have to be incapable of adding great songs to their catalog. I don't think that yet applies to Green Day

[Guest]

What people are missing here I think is that the "greatest hits" tours really only work well for classic rock bands well past their prime because middle aged adults want to see that one band they idolized as children. While Green Day's time in the spotlight is over for the time being, I don't think that a greatest hits album or a tour would work for them, simply because it is something more aimed toward nostalgia I believe.

Green Day sold out Emirates Stadium last year, 50,000 people. How many of them were brought there by the Trilogy? A few hundred? A thousand, if you're being very generous? How many of them were brought there by memories of songs like Basket Case, Longview, When I Come Around, Good Riddance, American Idiot, Holiday, BOBD, WMUWSE, 21 Guns?

Most casual fans of Green Day probably don't even know that the Trilogy was even a thing. Dookie was 20 years ago, and people still want to hear those songs. It's not rocket science.

[Spoopy Doo]

Me either. I was at the first show when they played Good Riddance on this tour. I bawled like a baby, because I never thought I'd get to see it live. My first show ever, too!

Just saw your signature and noticed we were at the same show

[mulder]

All of you that are saying Green Day should stop making new music are nuts in my opinion. Ok, we get it. You don't like the trilogy. But that doesn't mean Green Day can't bring out another awesome album that's on the same level of American Idiot. To me, that possibility still exists. It's not like they're really old and washed up yet like the Rolling Stones. They've still got time.

[Gwen Stacy]

Green Day sold out Emirates Stadium last year, 50,000 people. How many of them were brought there by the Trilogy? A few hundred? A thousand, if you're being very generous? How many of them were brought there by memories of songs like Basket Case, Longview, When I Come Around, Good Riddance, American Idiot, Holiday, BOBD, WMUWSE, 21 Guns?

Most casual fans of Green Day probably don't even know that the Trilogy was even a thing. Dookie was 20 years ago, and people still want to hear those songs. It's not rocket science.

Right, but concerts are for all fans, including the ones who pay for tickets in the pit and know all the words to all the songs. In past tours they've been really good about balancing the old and new materials, but the trilogy tour seemed really short on variety (which, oddly enough, the first shows in Japan in 2012 didn't really seem to indicate would happen). I'm not saying to stop playing the classics, but maybe cut out one or two and cut KFAD down by a minute or two so the setlist can find some room to change.

[Z J]

Green Day sold out Emirates Stadium last year, 50,000 people. How many of them were brought there by the Trilogy? A few hundred? A thousand, if you're being very generous? How many of them were brought there by memories of songs like Basket Case, Longview, When I Come Around, Good Riddance, American Idiot, Holiday, BOBD, WMUWSE, 21 Guns?

Most casual fans of Green Day probably don't even know that the Trilogy was even a thing. Dookie was 20 years ago, and people still want to hear those songs. It's not rocket science.

Yeah I understand that they would still sell tickets I'm not going to argue that. But I see them as a band who has something left to offer creatively, unlike someone like the stones. They are younger and not too far removed from some of their best work so why pack it in now, y'know?

I guess the way I would word my arugment is that they could hang it up and live off of tours and greatest hits but I can't see a reason why they should do that just yet

I concede my first paragraph was ill-conceived

[Z J]

Right, but concerts are for all fans, including the ones who pay for tickets in the pit and know all the words to all the songs.

I'd disagree. Musicians/bands usually do 1 of 2 things: Either they aim to please the mainstream/casual fans which is what GD does with their setlists. Or they pull a Dave Mathews and never repeat a setlist. You could argue more for the latter being a benefit to the hardcore fans then the way GD does it.

[Gwen Stacy]

they aim to please the mainstream/casual fans which is what GD does with their setlists.

Oh come on, hardly. I'm looking at the last US setlist right now and maybe 10 out of 29 songs are hits that people would know. If their setlists were all about the hits then why would they drop 21 Guns? All I'm saying is that I'd like to see another shakeup of the setlist structure. It's been about the same show from the start of the 21CB tour. The jump from the AI to 21CB era was pretty big in terms of how they played their shows and I think it's time to do it again.

[Z J]

Oh come on, hardly. I'm looking at the last US setlist right now and maybe 10 out of 29 songs are hits that people would know. If their setlists were all about the hits then why would they drop 21 Guns? All I'm saying is that I'd like to see another shakeup of the setlist structure. It's been about the same show from the start of the 21CB tour. The jump from the AI to 21CB era was pretty big in terms of how they played their shows and I think it's time to do it again.

The average setlist contained:

KYE

EJN

Holiday

BOBD

Let Yourself Go

WMUWSE

Longview

When I Come Around

Welcome to Paradise

Hitchin A Ride

Brain Stew

Basket Case

She

KFAD

Waiting

Minority

AI

JOS

Good Riddance

That's 19 songs that were almost always on the setlist that can be considered commonly known GD songs. Nearly all of them are either singles, been played on national TV, or been concert staples since the 90's.

The only major single that they ignored was 21 Guns. And that is the ONLY one. Dookie and AI each averaged the highest songs per show.

They cater to casual, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, in fact I support it. But they aren't playing these setlists for hardcore fans

[Gwen Stacy]

EJN, Let Yourself Go, KFAD, and Waiting were not hits at all. Even so, that's only around half or three-fifths of the show. They don't cater to only the casuals. If they did there'd be no reason to ever play over 20 songs at a Green Day show. There's something in the shows for all fans, which is my point. It's not like they're Rush, who'll play 30 songs and maybe 10 hits (if you're lucky). Do they need to play the hits? Absolutely, every show is someone's first Green Day show and they need to hear the songs they know. But I remember going to my first show and not knowing what half the songs were but seeing other people freak the hell out. There always needs to be a balance between the two and all I'm saying is in this last tour it got a bit stale and stagnant. Maybe the next tour would be a good time to mix it up and see what happens.

[Spike]

The only major single that they ignored was 21 Guns. And that is the ONLY one. Dookie and AI each averaged the highest songs per show.

Nice Guys Finish Last, Warning, The Saints Are Coming?

But yeah. I agree, they're clearly a greatest hits band live. But it saddens me.

[Clockwise]

For this last tour, it absolutely was a greatest hits set. I think that was because of rehab and the fall out of that situation, more than anything. From the 21CB tour up until right before rehab, they had varied setlists that catered to hardcore fans just as much as the casual. This last tour was more about reconnecting with the general public after the rehab situation.

[Z J]

EJN, Let Yourself Go, KFAD, and Waiting were not hits at all.

EJN was performed on the Grammys and was a single. Let Yourself Go was far and away the most exposed single on the trilogy with the vma performance and KFAD is something that every "hardcore" GD fan has seen. Waiting was also a single.