Musicians Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt formed punk rock band Green Day in the Bay Area of California in 1987. The punk rock duo soon became a trio after the addition of drummer Tre Cool, and throughout the years the band has pioneered the contemporary resurgence of their group’s raucous genre. Their diverse and powerful catalog of songs has solidified their status as one of the most influential punk rock bands of all time, and their whopping 75 million albums sold makes them one of the best-selling artists on a global scale.
From their early, minimalist punk roots to their journey into political activism, we explore the stories behind the best Green Day songs.
Contents
- 17. Brain Stew
- 16. Jesus of Suburbia
- 15. Holiday
- 14. Bang Bang
- 13. Still Breathing
- 12. Redundant
- 11. Waiting
- 10. Macy’s Day Parade
- 9. Ordinary World
- 8. Last Night on Earth
- 7. When I Come Around
- 6. 21 Guns
- 5. Wake Me Up When September Ends
- 4. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
- 3. Boulevard of Broken Dreams
- 2. American Idiot
- 1. Basket Case
17. Brain Stew
A classic punk anthem, ‘Brain Stew’ appears on Green Day’s fourth studio album Insomniac, which features some of the band’s most dynamic tracks. Though it’s also included as a stand-alone track on their great hits compilations, to fully appreciate the single listeners should listen to ‘Jaded’ as well, which directly follows ‘Brain Stew’ on the Insomniac album. The songs were released as a joint single in 1996, and the epic style listening experience offers a deeply personal look into frontman Billie Joe Armstrong’s battle with, you guessed it, insomnia. This is a standout example of the band’s ability to expertly balance intensity with rhythm. And the instantly recognizable guitar intro. to ‘Brain Stew’ has become a rite of passage for aspiring guitarists.
16. Jesus of Suburbia
Clocking in at over 9 minutes long, ‘Jesus of Suburbia’ is one of Green Day’s longest tunes. It plays out like an epic, and its length is second only to ‘Homecoming,’ another 9 minute number that appears alongside this track on their infamous American Idiot album. Released as a single, ‘Jesus of Suburbia’ had to be cut down significantly for the radio edit, but its powerful story stays intact even with the shortened length. American Idiot is a concept album, and it follows the tale of “Jesus,” a poor, disenfranchised teen who rebels against his suburban surroundings. The album represents Armstrong’s controversial take on a post-9/11 America.
15. Holiday
Another successful single from the band’s smash hit American Idiot album, ‘Holiday’ acts as a precursor to their popular ‘Boulevard of Broken Dreams’ track. With heavily political lyrics and intense emotions driving the song, when Armstrong was questioned about its meaning he made sure to drive home the fact that the single isn’t “anti-American,” but “anti-war.” He took the writing of ‘Holiday’ very seriously, spending almost three months on the lyrics alone. He channeled folk hero Bob Dylan for the messaging, another anti-war icon who was outspoken about the Vietnam conflict.
14. Bang Bang
Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong described ‘Bang Bang’ as the most “aggressive” song he’d ever written, so much so he had to take a break from his creative process after he completed it. Written in 2014 and released on Revolution Radio two years later, Armstrong penned it after moving into a new recording spot in California. At the time, he was thinking about the ever-present nature of social media and the mass shootings happening in America. Though he knew he’d never understand why someone could do something so horrific, he contemplated the destructive mental state of the people committing the acts of violence, and proceeded to write from there. Both chilling and thought-provoking, the striking single’s explosive energy and catchy hooks helped it top the Billboard rock charts.
13. Still Breathing
An anthemic hit from their Revolution Radio album, ‘Still Breathing’ chronicles the different lives of people who muster up the strength and courage to overcome various inner-battles, including PTSD, loneliness, and addiction. Climbing all the way to the top spot on several Billboard charts, including Mainstream Rock and Canada Rock, critics hailed the song as an example of serious punk-rock songwriting and fans embraced it due to its relatable, dark yet uplifting message. Due to its resounding commercial success, it gave the album as a whole a significant boost, and became one of Green Day’s signature hits from their twelfth studio album.
12. Redundant
‘Redundant’ is an incredibly moving love song that appears on Green Day’s fifth album, Nimrod. A vintage single that features the band fully leaning into their raw punk rock roots, the song describes the deterioration of Armstrong’s marriage soon after the group reached stardom. Offering a glimpse into the couple’s struggles and the emotional turmoil they faced, a surprising message of hope is at its center. Poetic lines point to him and his wife eventually working out their problems. The underrated single showcases a unique example of the singer’s ability to couple creatively-written lyrics with poignant storytelling.
11. Waiting
A positive, uplifting number inspired by the band taking a walk down memory lane one day, ‘Waiting’ celebrates how far Green Day has come along their wild musical ride. Open-ended lyrics allow listeners to draw their own relatable interpretations from the eclectic tune. Hints of both Nirvana (the kings of grunge served as inspiration for the song) and ‘60s folksy group The Mamas and The Papas can be heard throughout the grooving number. Breaking into the top 30 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Chart, ‘Waiting’ proved to be another solid release from the band’s lesser-known but incredibly powerful Warning album.
10. Macy’s Day Parade
By 2000, Green Day had been around for more than a decade churning out hit after hit. They grew significantly as artists throughout the ‘90s, and their album Warning highlights this transformation. Though it didn’t have much mainstream success, the album was creatively satisfying for the group, who felt they released one of the most authentic representations of their band ever. ‘Macy’s Day Parade’ appears on Warning as the final track. While the single is featured on an album focused on artistic progress, the rockers returned to their punk roots with the message for this one. In true punk rock fashion, it’s unapologetic to its core as Armstrong and company take listeners on a minutes-long takedown of America’s consumerist society.
9. Ordinary World
When director Lee Kirk commissioned Armstrong for a song that related to one of his characters from a screenplay he was working on, the songwriter sat down and wrote ‘Ordinary World.’ One of the band’s less “chaotic” tracks, the tune tells the story of a former punk rocker who leaves behind life on the road to settle down with his family. The screenaplay’s character, Perry, was highly relatable to Armstrong and both his life and the fictional life Perry lead served as poignant inspiration for the tune. In true Billie Joe fashion, he related themes of the song to current events, and tied in the longing for a simpler, less crazy, technologically-driven lifestyle into the song’s storyline.
8. Last Night on Earth
A dreamy track with moody undertones, ‘Last Night on Earth’ features Armstrong taking a stripped-down, acoustic-based approach to his songwriting. Written for his wife, the song offers up an intensely romantic experience for listeners, and the intimate history they share together underscores the tune which makes it feel as if it’s a love letter set to music. When he first played the song for her, he played it on piano instead of guitar. Without meaning to, due to the soft nature of the piano as opposed to his trusty acoustic, he sang a few key phrases in a falsetto vocal tone, something he’d never done before. His wife loved the vulnerable touch, so he kept it in the song. ‘Last Night on Earth’ showcases the reality of true love’s ability to harness and tame chaos. Very punk rock 🙂
7. When I Come Around
A huge hit for Green Day early on, ‘When I Come Around’ is a vintage track of theirs that showcases the genius of their minimalist punk rock roots. Appearing on their breakout album Dookie, its memorable melody and Armstrong’s in-your-face, no nonsense vocals drew fans in and helped make it a contemporary punk rock classic. It’s got a timeless feel to it, and the record shows it. Since its debut, the upbeat, grooving tune has sold more than 639,000 copies, making it one of their best-selling hits of the ‘90s.
6. 21 Guns
A reference to the military’s 21-gun salute, a custom that honors the conclusion of something important, this anthemic hit acts as a call for countries to “lay down” their “arms,” and promote peace. The anti-war track remains one of the band’s mainstays for both their greatest hits collections and live sets. It appears on their 21st Century Breakdown album and was a centerpiece for the broadway show, American Idiot, which features Green Day’s biggest and most enduring hits. Since its inaugural show in 2010, the musical has become a widely attended performance art piece honoring the ideals the band stands for including justice, non-conformity, peace, and creative destruction.
5. Wake Me Up When September Ends
A pensive power ballad penned by Armstrong for the group’s American Idiot album, ‘Wake Me Up When September Ends’ remains a fan-favorite. Emotionally charged and autobiographical, the frontman wrote it in honor of his father who died from cancer when he was a young boy. Armstrong has stated he said the song’s title phrase to his mom when he was little and wouldn’t come out of his room after his father’s funeral. The moving track has become an overarching symbol of heartbreaking loneliness, and working to find strength in the midst of tragedy. Armstrong is so emotionally tied to the track, he had to wait a few years after penning it to release it to the public.
4. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
Now considered to be one of Green Day’s most iconic songs, the band received significant pushback when they included ‘Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)’ on their 1997 Nimrod album. The acoustic number, featuring only Armstrong’s voice and strumming guitar, represented a massive change from the high-energy, zany tracks that had become hits and garnered them worldwide attention. Despite industry doubts, Armstrong knew he had something special when he played it for the first time as an encore song at the end of a show. Though he had to chug a beer backstage to even be able to play the pensive number for the crowd, his butterflies quickly faded when concert-goers erupted in a thunderous applause with the song’s final notes. Full of nostalgia and yearning, Armstrong wrote ‘Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)’ for his high school girlfriend when she moved far away to go to a different school.
3. Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Arguably Green Day’s most commercially successful single thus far, the Grammy award-winning ‘Boulevard of Broken Dreams’ revisits American Idiot’s main character, “Jesus of Suburbia.” The American Idiot concept album tells the character’s story in succession via the track listing, and ‘Boulevard of Broken Dreams’ represents his breaking free of quiet American life and venturing out into the world. Playing on the album right after the politically-charged ‘Holiday,’ themes explored include loneliness, the ever-elusive “American Dream,” and regret. Armstrong was originally inspired to write this track after seeing a caption underneath a painting of actor James Dean. The Caption shares the same name as the song title.
2. American Idiot
The American Idiot album was a revolutionary release for Green Day in the early 2000s, and scored them a Grammy for Album of the Year and Best Rock Album. The concept album contains many of the band’s biggest hits, and its title track is in no way a let down. Critical of America’s governmental decisions after 9/11, Armstrong used the writing of this high-energy, scathing track to take out his frustrations. While the song houses a powerful political message, Armstrong has also pointed out that the song stands for “individuality,” and represents the “disenfranchised” as well. The chart-topping hit remains one of the group’s trademark releases.
1. Basket Case
Green Day frontman Billie Joe has long struggled with bouts of anxiety and depression. This early hit offers a personal look into how he deals with the state of his uncooperative mental health. Featuring some of his most creatively written lyrics to date, ‘Basket Case’ turns pain and fear into positives, and uses them as empowering tools for this anthemic track. Armstrong often used the power of the pen to combat his symptoms while growing up, and this tune was the product of one of those late night sessions while overcoming a panic attack. The landmark punk classic would go on to define a new generation of rockers like Simple Plan, giving rise to the contemporary genre often associated with Green Day, Pop Punk.
