Green Day launched American Idiot in September 2004. Soon after it’s launch the album became a massive hit – one of the most revered and critically acclaimed albums of Green Day. This Album is a story about an “idiot American” teenage boy – Jesus of Suburbia (JoS). JoS is a representation of everything the typical American outcasted youth is. He does drugs and drinks ("to fall in love and fall in debt, to alcohol and cigarettes") He's depressed, unloved and hates his Mom (and his step-dad, Brad)
JoS is a cynical character who hates his small town. He leaves the suburbs for the city – hoping to find a new life for himself. There he meets St. Jimmy – who introduces him to a life of drugs, hangovers and homelessness. He also finds his love Whatsername …show more content…
In spite of their humble beginnings as a punk revivalist band with style and substance, Green Day evolved into a different identity. “They were bratty, mischievous and twentysomethings when they hit MTV in 1994, with Billie Joe Armstrong ripping up the furniture, dancing with a monkey, and singing about the joys of masturbation, in the raucous trio's major-label debut, Dookie” [Rolling Stones]. But eventually Green Day grew during the 2000s with albums like American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown – politically charged and about the confused reality of life. “The band had learned to fuse its pop sensibilities with a propensity for album-length storytelling in a way that none of its contemporaries had.” [Rolling …show more content…
“president Gasman” – a reference to Bush family’s oil and gas business that would supposedly benefit from the war. “Pulverize the Eifel tower” is again a comparison to the Nazi’s and also a reference to the fact that the French government criticized and opposed the Iraq war. “Kill all the fags” and “Trial by fire” refers to the ‘justice of war’ where the only rule is to destroy one’s enemies without any regards to rationality or justice.
This also points out that in the process of fighting terrorism – America had itself turned into a barbaric terrorist state that does not respect the sovereignty and democratic principles of other countries in lieu of it’s own greed and intersts.
This entire song can also be looked upon as a piece, that talks about JoS’s journey to the city his expectations while leaving his town and his initial impressions of glowing city. He meets new people [drug dealers] who he thinks are his friends. Under their influence, his pessimism reaches new heights. He is celebrating his downfall “This is the dawning of the rest of our lives – on holiday”. It is believed that he yells his rants about the government [who stops him from buying and selling drugs] to himself while he is under the influence of
JoS is a cynical character who hates his small town. He leaves the suburbs for the city – hoping to find a new life for himself. There he meets St. Jimmy – who introduces him to a life of drugs, hangovers and homelessness. He also finds his love Whatsername …show more content…
In spite of their humble beginnings as a punk revivalist band with style and substance, Green Day evolved into a different identity. “They were bratty, mischievous and twentysomethings when they hit MTV in 1994, with Billie Joe Armstrong ripping up the furniture, dancing with a monkey, and singing about the joys of masturbation, in the raucous trio's major-label debut, Dookie” [Rolling Stones]. But eventually Green Day grew during the 2000s with albums like American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown – politically charged and about the confused reality of life. “The band had learned to fuse its pop sensibilities with a propensity for album-length storytelling in a way that none of its contemporaries had.” [Rolling …show more content…
“president Gasman” – a reference to Bush family’s oil and gas business that would supposedly benefit from the war. “Pulverize the Eifel tower” is again a comparison to the Nazi’s and also a reference to the fact that the French government criticized and opposed the Iraq war. “Kill all the fags” and “Trial by fire” refers to the ‘justice of war’ where the only rule is to destroy one’s enemies without any regards to rationality or justice.
This also points out that in the process of fighting terrorism – America had itself turned into a barbaric terrorist state that does not respect the sovereignty and democratic principles of other countries in lieu of it’s own greed and intersts.
This entire song can also be looked upon as a piece, that talks about JoS’s journey to the city his expectations while leaving his town and his initial impressions of glowing city. He meets new people [drug dealers] who he thinks are his friends. Under their influence, his pessimism reaches new heights. He is celebrating his downfall “This is the dawning of the rest of our lives – on holiday”. It is believed that he yells his rants about the government [who stops him from buying and selling drugs] to himself while he is under the influence of