Blasphemy & Genocide: Unpopular Green Day Opinions, Part 2

[AlissaGoesRAWR]

16 hours ago, 21guns&novacaine said:

Unpopular opinion: I didn't care for Somewhere Now or Forever Now too much.  But seeing as how the reaction to those two songs is overwhelmingly positive, I'm likely to be a minority (haha) in this opinion.  

16 hours ago, Demon!Dean said:

tbh i think Still Breathing is shit. 

1 hour ago, Libertine Angel said:

I still think pretty much all of RevRad is average at best

You're all wrong. 

/thread

 

[Libertine Angel]

8 minutes ago, AlissaGoesRAWR said:

You're all wrong. 

/thread

 

 

[Billie Hoe]

I feel really really guilty for saying this but I really don't like Tré all that much. I mean like, yeah he's funny and all that, but he's too distant for me to properly be able to care about him. I really wish I did though, I want to love all band members.

[AlissaGoesRAWR]

I've decided my favorite songs on Rev Rad are Bang Bang, Bouncing Off the Wall, Too Dumb to Die and Youngblood. I'm assuming that's unpopular?  

[Libertine Angel]

5 minutes ago, AlissaGoesRAWR said:

I've decided my favorite songs on Rev Rad are Bang Bang, Bouncing Off the Wall, Too Dumb to Die and Youngblood. I'm assuming that's unpopular?  

Bang Bang is totally legit, that's fucking great.

[Chin for a Day]

1 hour ago, Libertine Angel said:

I still think pretty much all of RevRad is average at best

I'm curious as to why you think it is average.  You are a musician and I feel that RevRad is possibly the most difficult and diverse album they have ever done.  Not that it is difficult but comparatively.  It isn't just 3 chord power chord songs.  It shows a continued growth from that.

 

34 minutes ago, AlissaGoesRAWR said:

I've decided my favorite songs on Rev Rad are Bang Bang, Bouncing Off the Wall, Too Dumb to Die and Youngblood. I'm assuming that's unpopular?  

I'm good with the first three, the last one, is the song that should not be named.  

[AlissaGoesRAWR]

3 minutes ago, Scattered Wreck said:

I'm good with the first three, the last one, is the song that should not be named.  

It's so poppy and fun! Curious. Do you like She's a Rebel?

[Chin for a Day]

1 minute ago, AlissaGoesRAWR said:

It's so poppy and fun! Curious. Do you like She's a Rebel?

I do like She's A Rebel and I agree that musically it is poppy and fun.  But, those lyrics are so hallmark card cringeworthy it ruins the whole song for me.  

[Billie Hoe]

3 minutes ago, AlissaGoesRAWR said:

It's so poppy and fun! Curious. Do you like She's a Rebel?

I love Youngblood! It's the only song of the album that properly reminds me of "old" Green Day  

[AlissaGoesRAWR]

23 minutes ago, Scattered Wreck said:

I do like She's A Rebel and I agree that musically it is poppy and fun.  But, those lyrics are so hallmark card cringeworthy it ruins the whole song for me.  

At first I was attracted to the song because of how it sounds and I wasn't surprised that I enjoyed it because the first time I listened to American Idiot as a kid my favorite song was She's a Rebel, and I think Youngblood is reminiscent of that. But after I listened to the lyrics I did think they were a bit cheesy, but in the same sort of way that Billie is already adorkable. It didn't really ruin the song for me and despite containing some cliches it still seems as personable as the rest of the album to me, just on a different subject. Everyone thinks Last Night on Earth is such a romantic song but tbh it seems just as cliched as this song. 

But then again, this is coming from someone who's married to a man who thinks "Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?" is still a valid pickup line so maybe my perception of cheesiness is a bit skewed.  

[Libertine Angel]

54 minutes ago, Scattered Wreck said:

I'm curious as to why you think it is average.  You are a musician and I feel that RevRad is possibly the most difficult and diverse album they have ever done.  Not that it is difficult but comparatively.  It isn't just 3 chord power chord songs.  It shows a continued growth from that.

It just doesn't grab me at all, the lyrics are all pretty cliché & predictable and aside from Bang Bang it doesn't seem to have any real drive or passion, like they're doing it because they feel they should and not because they really want to. How technically well-done it is from a musical standpoint really doesn't matter to me, hence why I love Insomniac so much more than this, RevRad just didn't give me any proper feeling.

[Beerjeezus]

1 hour ago, Scattered Wreck said:

I do like She's A Rebel and I agree that musically it is poppy and fun.  But, those lyrics are so hallmark card cringeworthy it ruins the whole song for me.  

 

42 minutes ago, AlissaGoesRAWR said:

At first I was attracted to the song because of how it sounds and I wasn't surprised that I enjoyed it because the first time I listened to American Idiot as a kid my favorite song was She's a Rebel, and I think Youngblood is reminiscent of that. But after I listened to the lyrics I did think they were a bit cheesy, but in the same sort of way that Billie is already adorkable. It didn't really ruin the song for me and despite containing some cliches it still seems as personable as the rest of the album to me, just on a different subject. Everyone thinks Last Night on Earth is such a romantic song but tbh it seems just as cliched as this song. 

But then again, this is coming from someone who's married to a man who thinks "Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?" is still a valid pickup line so maybe my perception of cheesiness is a bit skewed.  

I agree with both of you on something. Youngblood is a very catchy, bouncy song. It's very likeable or it would be, if it weren't for the lyrics. I can't like lyrics like that even when I try to. It reminds me of She's A Rebel a lot and that's a kind of a disappointment - I don't like it when they recycle old songs. However, Youngblood is musucally much more interesting. I like the instruments in it (and vocals too). When I listened to revrad for the first time I played the whole album twice and then listened to Youngblood one more time. It was stuck in my head for days, it still is. (revrad, my second least favorite from the album gets stuck in my head too. the lyrically worst songs are the catchiest. what a shame.) Youngblood isn't just plain bad, it's bad and fun at the same time. I can hate the lyrics as much as I do but this song still makes me smile whenever I hear it. And I love the "fuck you" part. It's like it came directly from She's The Rebel but as a goofy, tongue-in-cheek remake.

And yes, LNOE is clichéd. It's not a bad song, is's a sappy love song. Tolerably sappy, not like When It's Time

17 minutes ago, Libertine Angel said:

It just doesn't grab me at all, the lyrics are all pretty cliché & predictable and aside from Bang Bang it doesn't seem to have any real drive or passion, like they're doing it because they feel they should and not because they really want to. How technically well-done it is from a musical standpoint really doesn't matter to me, hence why I love Insomniac so much more than this, RevRad just didn't give me any proper feeling.

Try again louder. That's what got me into it I felt about it similarly to the way you described but it's gradually been growing on me since the first listen. I'm not saying it has to be the same for you. Your post just got me thinking about how my opinion about revrad changed. 

[Chin for a Day]

52 minutes ago, AlissaGoesRAWR said:

At first I was attracted to the song because of how it sounds and I wasn't surprised that I enjoyed it because the first time I listened to American Idiot as a kid my favorite song was She's a Rebel, and I think Youngblood is reminiscent of that. But after I listened to the lyrics I did think they were a bit cheesy, but in the same sort of way that Billie is already adorkable. It didn't really ruin the song for me and despite containing some cliches it still seems as personable as the rest of the album to me, just on a different subject. Everyone thinks Last Night on Earth is such a romantic song but tbh it seems just as cliched as this song. 

But then again, this is coming from someone who's married to a man who thinks "Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?" is still a valid pickup line so maybe my perception of cheesiness is a bit skewed.  

When I first heard it I thought it should be an instrumental.  It is a very fun song musically.  I do think Youngblood is musically reminiscent of She's A Rebel, musically, but while I think they both can be classified as "I love you, your perfect" kind of songs, I think the lyrics are written differently.  To me She's A Rebel is adorkable Billie.  He is talking about her strength, her confidence, basically, he is telling us why he loves her so much.  To me Youngblood isn't adorkable Billie, it is insecure Billie.  He is just throwing out one bad cliche after another and none of it makes any sense.  He isn't telling us anything about their relationship.  He is just trying to say things that may be taken as compliments.  I despise When It's Time, for similar reasons.  To me that song is just so passive aggressive.  Every time i hear it, I just want to scream, "for fucks sake grow some balls and tell me you love me!"  I love Last Night on Earth, for various reasons.  The biggest is probably because he sounds so beautiful on it.  But also, there is a purpose to the song, he is telling her what she means to him and that he is hers forever.  

I think Billie's style of writing has always been pretty cliched ridden, but most of the time I think he uses them well.  So, it doesn't bother me that he does.  

Brandon really used that line???   That most definitely would not work on me.

When I hear songs like Youngblood I think of this movie scene and that would so be my reaction.

          

[Sarcasm]

Bang Bang is the only lyric video that should have been made. The others are complete trash. 

[Chin for a Day]

22 minutes ago, Libertine Angel said:

It just doesn't grab me at all, the lyrics are all pretty cliché & predictable and aside from Bang Bang it doesn't seem to have any real drive or passion, like they're doing it because they feel they should and not because they really want to. How technically well-done it is from a musical standpoint really doesn't matter to me, hence why I love Insomniac so much more than this, RevRad just didn't give me any proper feeling.

Well, I have to disagree on the lyrics, I think for the most part they are freakin' brilliant.  I think they are the most personal lyrics he has ever written but also can be applicable to others.   Different people seem to interpret them or use them in different ways and they all make sense.  I think that is a sign of some great lyrics.

I absolutely disagree on the drive, I think they were so motivated because of the diversity in the music.  You have to want to make something new and different.  You don't do that because you have too.  If anything, the fact that insomniac was standard to me shows no real drive or passion.  It was just the same 3 chord power chord songs.          

[Beerjeezus]

12 minutes ago, Scattered Wreck said:

When I first heard it I thought it should be an instrumental.  It is a very fun song musically.  I do think Youngblood is musically reminiscent of She's A Rebel, musically, but while I think they both can be classified as "I love you, your perfect" kind of songs, I think the lyrics are written differently.  To me She's A Rebel is adorkable Billie.  He is talking about her strength, her confidence, basically, he is telling us why he loves her so much.  To me Youngblood isn't adorkable Billie, it is insecure Billie.  He is just throwing out one bad cliche after another and none of it makes any sense.  He isn't telling us anything about their relationship.  He is just trying to say things that may be taken as compliments.  I despise When It's Time, for similar reasons.  To me that song is just so passive aggressive.  Every time i hear it, I just want to scream, "for fucks sake grow some balls and tell me you love me!"  I love Last Night on Earth, for various reasons.  The biggest is probably because he sounds so beautiful on it.  But also, there is a purpose to the song, he is telling her what she means to him and that he is hers forever.  

THIS. Whiny love songs don't work. 

[Libertine Angel]

31 minutes ago, Jane Lannister said:

Try again louder. That's what got me into it I felt about it similarly to the way you described but it's gradually been growing on me since the first listen. I'm not saying it has to be the same for you. Your post just got me thinking about how my opinion about revrad changed. 

I've listened to it about 5 times and every time I've honestly tried to look for good things but come up with "eh, s'alright" every time, Bang Bang is amazing but the rest I get nothing from.

18 minutes ago, Scattered Wreck said:

Well, I have to disagree on the lyrics, I think for the most part they are freakin' brilliant.  I think they are the most personal lyrics he has ever written but also can be applicable to others.   Different people seem to interpret them or use them in different ways and they all make sense.  I think that is a sign of some great lyrics.

I absolutely disagree on the drive, I think they were so motivated because of the diversity in the music.  You have to want to make something new and different.  You don't do that because you have too.  If anything, the fact that insomniac was standard to me shows no real drive or passion.  It was just the same 3 chord power chord songs.          

I don't get that at all with the lyrics, I think the reason they're at once so relatable and subject to many interpretations is that they're so generic, and sometimes just plain nonsensical - take the title track's chorus, what does any of it actually mean?

Diversity isn't always indicative of drive though, consider Cut The Crap (or more specifically the Out Of Control demos) - Joe himself said he was emotionally, physically, mentally and musically drained but it's still a blend of punk and reggae with more than a bit of 50s rock'n'roll at times, plus the ballad of This Is England, pretty far from the traditional Give 'Em Enough Rope formula but you can still hear and feel how contrived it is. I think lyrical quality is a far better indicator of passion, and Insomniac is some of Billie's best writing.

I will say Tré's drumming on RevRad is consistently fantastic though, best he's done in years.

8 minutes ago, Jane Lannister said:

THIS. Whiny love songs don't work. 

I think they can do if they're good enough, I'd take any 1039/SOSH sappiness over Youngblood or When It's Time.

[petros]

I don't know if it's unpopular or not but basing on the fact this is a green day forum full of fangirls and fanboys that won't really judge the album until some time has passed I think it is.
Forever now and Somewhere now are the most generic songs green day have released. Even worse than most of the trilogy songs. 

"My name is Billie and I'm freaking out" is the most cringeworthy thing Billie has ever written. I can't listen to a song that starts like that. And I don't really lose much cause it's basically the same tune playing over the same meh lyrics for 7 minutes. How can this be another green day long song anthem?  It has none of the good elements of Jos or Homecoming or American Eulogy or even Dirty Rotten Bastards.

[Beerjeezus]

14 minutes ago, Libertine Angel said:

I've listened to it about 5 times and every time I've honestly tried to look for good things but come up with "eh, s'alright" every time, Bang Bang is amazing but the rest I get nothing from.

I don't get that at all with the lyrics, I think the reason they're at once so relatable and subject to many interpretations is that they're so generic, and sometimes just plain nonsensical - take the title track's chorus, what does any of it actually mean?

Diversity isn't always indicative of drive though, consider Cut The Crap (or more specifically the Out Of Control demos) - Joe himself said he was emotionally, physically, mentally and musically drained but it's still a blend of punk and reggae with more than a bit of 50s rock'n'roll at times, plus the ballad of This Is England, pretty far from the traditional Give 'Em Enough Rope formula but you can still hear and feel how contrived it is. I think lyrical quality is a far better indicator of passion, and Insomniac is some of Billie's best writing.

I will say Tré's drumming on RevRad is consistently fantastic though, best he's done in years.

I think they can do if they're good enough, I'd take any 1039/SOSH sappiness over Youngblood or When It's Time.

It really started to feel great this week and I've been listening to it since the leak. Of all gd albums, it was the hardest to get into for me but it was worth the effort

Even as a revrad apologist, I have to say this: the title song's lyrics are shite. 

1,039 sappiness is a teenager's sappiness. That's easier to handle than the same thing coming from a guy in his forties. 

[Chin for a Day]

9 minutes ago, Libertine Angel said:

I've listened to it about 5 times and every time I've honestly tried to look for good things but come up with "eh, s'alright" every time, Bang Bang is amazing but the rest I get nothing from.

I don't get that at all with the lyrics, I think the reason they're at once so relatable and subject to many interpretations is that they're so generic, and sometimes just plain nonsensical - take the title track's chorus, what does any of it actually mean?

Diversity isn't always indicative of drive though, consider Cut The Crap (or more specifically the Out Of Control demos) - Joe himself said he was emotionally, physically, mentally and musically drained but it's still a blend of punk and reggae with more than a bit of 50s rock'n'roll at times, plus the ballad of This Is England, pretty far from the traditional Give 'Em Enough Rope formula but you can still hear and feel how contrived it is. I think lyrical quality is a far better indicator of passion, and Insomniac is some of Billie's best writing.

I will say Tré's drumming on RevRad is consistently fantastic though, best he's done in years.

I think they can do if they're good enough, I'd take any 1039/SOSH sappiness over Youngblood or When It's Time.

You are right Diversity doesn't necessarily indicate drive, but in this case I believe it does.  How do you think doing the same 3 chord power chord songs for an entire album shows drive?  I personally thought it showed laziness.  That is how I felt when Insomniac came out and I still feel that way today.  While I will agree there is some good writing on it, I would hardly say it is his best.  He has gotten so much more diverse and intricate musically and lyrically.

I also agree that different interpretations can mean the lyrics are generic, but I think it is virtually impossible to write a generic statement and have so many people touched and moved by them.  There has to be some context around the lyrics that make people feel different things.  

It is interesting that you quoted Rev Rad the song as to what does it mean.  I think that they are one  of the more straightforward.  He is talking about the chaos in the US and how it is played up in the media.

There is nothing good on 1039 except the fact that it showed the potential that was there.

[Beerjeezus]

2 minutes ago, petros said:

I don't know if it's unpopular or not but basing on the fact this is a green day forum full of fangirls and fanboys that won't really judge the album until some time has passed I think it is.
Forever now and Somewhere now are the most generic songs green day have released. Even worse than most of the trilogy songs. 

"My name is Billie and I'm freaking out" is the most cringeworthy thing Billie has ever written. I can't listen to a song that starts like that. And I don't really lose much cause it's basically the same tune playing over the same meh lyrics for 7 minutes. How can this be another green day long song anthem?  It has none of the good elements of Jos or Homecoming or American Eulogy or even Dirty Rotten Bastards.

I'm not a fan of that opening line but the rest of your post is fundamentally wrong. These two songs are nothing but generic (for Green Day standards, anyway. 

[petros]

Just now, Jane Lannister said:

I'm not a fan of that opening line but the rest of your post is fundamentally wrong. These two songs are nothing but generic (for Green Day standards, anyway. 

For you

[Chin for a Day]

7 minutes ago, petros said:

I don't know if it's unpopular or not but basing on the fact this is a green day forum full of fangirls and fanboys that won't really judge the album until some time has passed I think it is.
Forever now and Somewhere now are the most generic songs green day have released. Even worse than most of the trilogy songs. 

"My name is Billie and I'm freaking out" is the most cringeworthy thing Billie has ever written. I can't listen to a song that starts like that. And I don't really lose much cause it's basically the same tune playing over the same meh lyrics for 7 minutes. How can this be another green day long song anthem?  It has none of the good elements of Jos or Homecoming or American Eulogy or even Dirty Rotten Bastards.

I have to agree with Jane.  Why do you think they are generic?  Forever Now is possibly the best anthem Billie has ever written.  It flows much better than JOS and Homecoming.  It much more seamless

[Beerjeezus]

2 minutes ago, petros said:

For you

Objectively, Somewhere Now happens to be one of their most harmonically richest songs. It's one of the least musically generic things they've ever done. 

[DookieLukie]

I think Forever Now is overrated just because it's long. The first part of the song is the only part I listen to. Somewhere Now, however, is a really really great song.