Gloria and Christian in the words of Green Day
Facebook does have its share of pleasures - most times, subtle; some times, astronomical. Tonight, was one of those rare moments when Facebook gave me exactly what I was looking for.
21st Century Breakdown – the latest (eighth, if I am correct) album to be released by the biggest punk bands to be around now – Green Day (though I know, quite a few purists may disagree on tagging them as punks now). Nonetheless, though originally scheduled for a 15th May release, Green Day has been liberal and loving for their fans and ‘leaked’ the album on various websites (mtv, vh1, rhapsody).
Image courtesy - wikipedia.org
Though I was initially unfazed after watching their lead single ‘Know Your Enemy’ (which has been getting considerable airplay on vh1 these days) – and I’m still not, after listening to the entire album – the full album does have considerable weight to throw around. Conceptualized as a narrative, this tells the story of Christian and Gloria (which naturally solves my curiousity regarding the relevance of the couple on the album’s cover), how they find themselves completely screwed up by the state of affairs in their homeland (America) now, how and who (no prizes for guessing, if anyone says W) did it, and how they think they could manage to find salvation. Traces of ‘American Idiot’ are obvious; though, this does send out a loud political message, which serves as a direct descendant of the preceding album, however maintaining a distinct voice for the message contained within at the same time.
I’m not getting into details (saving up for the review print column I do); do listen to the album and form your own opinion though. Facebook mentions quite a few links (http://blog.rhapsody.com/greenday, http://theleak.mtv.com and http://theleak.vh1.com), though they don’t seem to work from here (guess Green Day still a bit too patriotic, and sought to serve interests of only their US fans). You can access the full album at http://www.wmuk-apache.co.uk/greenday/player.swf.
Till then, I’ll try using this to get over the other astronomical feeling that has been bothering me since earlier in the evening.
Tongue N' Cheek - Dizzee Rascal
brooklynati - tanya morgan
All Eyez on Me - 2Pac
May 11th, 2009 at 2:28 am
Gary said:
Eighth STUDIO album – Yup!
Like you said, sellouts to the purists – Yes! Nevertheless, I’m a fan still…
A lot like American Idiot! Yes, absolutely… I really think they should get their arses back to Dookie and Nimrod Times… They’re just proving the Gilman Boys right! If you know what I mean…
P:S: I downloaded the album, if you want it!
May 20th, 2009 at 2:03 am
Natalie said:
You’re right, they’re straying from their genre. It seems like their music gets weaker as time goes on. I was disappointed about 21st Century Breakdown.
May 20th, 2009 at 2:03 am
Natalie said:
I still love them though.
May 20th, 2009 at 10:14 am
asif said:
@ Natalie: of course, Green Day is still loved…they have already done way too much of work in the manner of Dookie, Nimrod…individually 21st cent. is a good album, but if u compare it with american idiot, its hard not to find similarities…thks for the comment…
May 21st, 2009 at 10:21 am
Laura said:
When I first listened to it I didn’t think it was that great, I was a little disappointed. I use to be a big fan, of their old stuff too, Dookie, Nimrod… and this was a long time coming. Then I listened to it again, and I love it. I don’t know why Know Your Enemy is the single, I think its the worst song on the album. I love love love Viva La Gloria! I like their rock opera themes and some fans are disappointed that they stray too far from their Dookie days, cause obviously they did get more ambitious and serious. Back then, they were young, so why not sing about pulling out teeth and basket cases? It would be stupid, the age they are now, singing about that sort of stuff. The themes they do now are appropriate…
May 21st, 2009 at 12:11 pm
asif said:
@Laura: agree with you on Know Your Enemy…after having heard the album in its entirety more than a few times, yes, it comes across as the weakest…Gloria…aah yes…with its soaring anthemic chorus, a song u absolutely fall in love with…and btw, there still are musicians who lament about loss of love and things worse than pulling out teeth and basketcases, even though they maybe well past their fifties
, so the change at green day is for the better…thks for the comment…
May 21st, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Adele said:
yeah. i was exactly the same. i was really disappointed when i first listened to it, but i love Green Day so much that I thought I’d give it another chance. The more I listen to it, the more I love it. It is a really good album.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
AprilNguyen said:
I was never a fan of Green Day. But this album makes me do. I love it right at the first time.
I agree that this one’s got lots of traces of American Idiot. But you can’t deny it’s great, right?
And I don’t think “Know your enemy” is the worst song but it’s just not good enough to be a single. It would be better with “21st century breakdown” or “iViva la Gloria” or “Viva la Gloria”.
And 21 Guns is absolutely the right choice for 2nd single. Do you think so too?
May 30th, 2009 at 2:21 am
asif said:
@ april: good that u became a green day convert after 21st cent breakdown, even though it may not be their best work…but yes, it is definitely a good album, one of the best out this year…I respect your views on know your enemy…there’s nothing like it being the worst song…more like not being the best of the lot to be the lead single…viva la gloria definitely…21 guns is a good choice, though I’d rather prefer a track with a slightly more anthemic quality, which is missing in 21 guns…thks for the comment though…it does seem u’ve taken in the album well…cheers
June 15th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
andrea said:
Oh yeah… that’s Green Day baby
July 18th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Rahz said:
Hey, love ur comments on the latest GD album. I gotta say I totally love Green Day, for their music, for what they stand for, the way they look, talk, their love for fans. Theyre awesome. And I have noticed a change in recent albums to their older stuff (dookie and Insomniac anyone?) but change, big or small, is inevitable i think at some point. Theyre still the same people tho and they still make some good damn music
I must say tho, my favourite (ok one of my favourites) song is Last Night on Earth, PURELY because I feel the emotion and Im a bit of a soppy cow! But its not the best song, esp for GD. I dont like christians inferno to be honest, but the rest are great, especially Horseshoes and Handgrenedes, and East Jesus Nowhere. Maybe one of them two songs would have been a better 1st single?
July 22nd, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Maria said:
Green Day will always be the best punk/rock band in the world. And their new album is just great! If you really listen to it, and try to understand it, you will find out, that there is a very beautiful story in it, and the lyrics are just amazing and very epic. There is nothing better then Green Day. There will never be.
August 6th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Bowlbo said:
i really enjoyed the album on the whole, and having been drawn into green day through american idiot (srry dookie was not in my time) i find that 21st cent. holds up to just as amazing as american idiot. the only question i had was of the story behind christian and gloria, i mean i understood the plight of st jimmy/jesus of suburbia in their last album and i also get the statements that are made in their music, but i couldnt find a story as solid within 21st cent compared to american idiot. if someone could explain it thatd be great. and @maria cheers! greeen dayyy rockkkksss! \m/
August 7th, 2009 at 2:13 am
Maria said:
@Bowlbo : Ha haa, yea, they really do! They always does! And thanks
August 7th, 2009 at 10:57 am
asif said:
@ maria: agreed, that green day is a fantastic band…though I don’t really subscribe to the thought of calling any band the ‘best’ in any genre…I’ve always felt musical talent is rather much too diverse to categorize anyone as the best…too subjective a decision…but then everyone is entitled to an opinion, and I respect yours…as for the story, yes it is well put within the album…
@ bowlbo: there is no music which was not in your time…every form of music ever created belongs to all generations…give dookie a listen, and u would see green day in a different light…the story of christian and gloria may not be as explicitly in the forefront as st jimmy on american idiot…and it may not sound as solid now, because we already have an american idiot and 21st cent breakdown touches upon pretty much the same topics, except in a slightly different manner…
@ rahz: thks…appreciate it that u liked the comments…last day on the earth isn’t that bad, and we all have our softer sides, so nothing wrong :p horseshoes and handgrenades cranks up the tempo and energy well enough, so it does qualify well as a single…
August 8th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Maria said:
It is “Last Night on Earth”
And the thing I said about that Green Day was the best punk/rock band ever… Just my opinion. I know, that other people might think something else, but I really love Green Day, even though I know that “love” is a kind of empty word because it’s used in random. But I really do. And that’s just… Well, I don’t know. Green Day is not just a punk/rock band, they are so much more. They are the attitude, they are the style, the things they stand for and much more than just the music. They are Billie, Mike and Tré. They are riots. They are all that. And that makes them Green Day. Not just a band. Also a posture. And three role models. And they’re good at it.
By the way, do you know who Gloria really is? I mean, what’s her real name? And what about Christian?
May 18th, 2010 at 5:57 am
Crazy Canuck said:
Been a fan since Dookie days. In order for a band to grow their music needs to evolve and that is precisely what Green Day has done. I love this release and those of you stuck in 1994 should listen with an open mind and ear. Viva la Green Day!!! Can’t wait, Aug 18, Molson Ampitheatre. See you then GD!!!!
July 5th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
gee.ell.oh.arr.ei.ay. said:
@Crazy Canuck i agree people are insane if they think that it sucks just because it’s not like their 90s stuff. i personally think there’s a difference between selling out, and evolving your music into something different that just happens to be more accepted in the mainstream world.
i love every moment of green day’s music, from the rawest punk to the verging on pop rock, every chord, every solo, every drum fill played by that nutcase, every creative bass groove…they’re amazing for managing to change so much and still be around