American Idiot (album)
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| American Idiot | ||
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| Studio album by Green Day | ||
| Released | September 21, 2004 | |
| Recorded | February 23, 2003 – January 2004 | |
| Genre | Punk rock, Pop punk, Alternative rock | |
| Length | 57:16 | |
| Label | Reprise Records | |
| Producer(s) | Rob Cavallo Green Day |
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| Professional reviews | ||
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| Green Day chronology | ||
| Shenanigans (2002) |
American Idiot (2004) |
Bullet in a Bible (2005) |
American Idiot is Green Day's seventh studio album and a rock opera, released in 2004. It was originally to be released in November 2003. It is the first #1 album for Green Day on both sides of the Atlantic. It is also the fourth Green Day studio album that producer Rob Cavallo has produced. The album was one of the most critically and commercially successful albums of 2004.
This album marked the end of a commercial slump for Green Day. Many had speculated that they would find it difficult to follow up Warning, which in itself had proved slightly less popular than Nimrod. This is also hinted at with the long gestation time of this album, filled in with a greatest hits album (International Superhits!) and a B-Sides album (Shenanigans). This is likely another reason for the band's decision to completely re-invent their style with this conceptual work. All of the album's singles proved very popular, a feat not matched since Dookie. American Idiot was met with critical acclaim, with critics praising its ambition and politics.
Contents |
[edit] The story
A rock opera, the theme of the album largely deals with the nature of individuality and rebellion. Some allusions to contemporary political issues are included, but the story is focused on the life of a troubled teenager struggling for identity in the midst of an uncaring world.
[edit] Awards
American Idiot was nominated for seven Grammy Awards, and won the Best Rock Album of 2005. The opening track of the album, "American Idiot", won an award for best song in a video game in EA Sports' Madden NFL 2005. Green Day also won seven MTV Video Music Awards for the "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and "American Idiot" videos, as well as an amazing seven out of the eight awards they were nominated for.
[edit] Other
There are five videos from the album, "American Idiot", "Boulevard of Broken Dreams", "Holiday", "Wake Me Up When September Ends", and the 9-minute "Jesus of Suburbia".
As of November 2006 American Idiot has sold nearly 7 million copies in the U.S. alone (including digital records) and trails Dookie by 5 million copies worldwide with American Idiot having sold 15 million copies and Dookie selling 20 million.
[edit] The recording
After the release of Shenanigans, Green Day started recording an album called Cigarettes and Valentines. However, near the end of the recording sessions, someone stole the master tracks to the album. After this happened, the band was inspired into writing American Idiot. They felt their writing process had become mechanical and that they needed to release something more relevant. It is a rock opera, similar to The Who's Tommy, or Pink Floyd's The Wall.
- "American Idiot" (file info) — play in browser (beta)
- Sample of "American Idiot" by Green Day
- Problems listening to the file? See media help.
The band tried different approaches than they had been accustomed to in the studio.[1] Other examples include the songs "Jesus of Suburbia" and "Homecoming": multi-movement suites, composed in 5 different parts, that are both more than nine minutes long. In lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong's words, "One day, Mike [ bassist Mike Dirnt ] was at the studio and he wrote a thirty-second song. I don't know, I liked it so I wanted to do one too. The one that I did, I connected to his and then Tré [ drummer Tré Cool ] did one and he connected it to mine and so on and so forth until we had about ten minutes. It was just purely out of having a good time." These thirty-second song sessions were started in frustration when the band was trying to decide what to do after the master tapes of their originally planned album were stolen. "This sounds like a rock opera," Armstrong jokingly remarked during this session. The song "American Idiot" has been described by the band as their public statement in reaction to the confusing and warped scene that is American pop culture since 9/11. Armstrong has said that they chose to write this way because the band has obtained respect and sway in the music world, and that this social commentary is part of their natural evolution as a band.
American Idiot single B-Sides "Shoplifter," "Governator," and "Too Much Too Soon," along with the song "Favorite Son," released on the Rock Against Bush Vol. 2 compilation were recorded in 2003 during the same sessions where they recorded the iTunes-only single I Fought the Law. This was before the American Idiot recording sessions and have no connection to the storyline of the album like many believe. They are clearly the sounds of the band experimenting and finding their post-Warning sound. Further proof they are not from the American Idiot sessions is that the tracks are not produced by American Idiot producer Rob Cavallo. They are also possibly the missing link in the connection between Green Day and The Network, as the tracks were recorded at the same studio around the same time as The Network recorded their album Money Money 2020.
[edit] Awards
American Idiot won a Grammy in 2005 for "Best Rock Album" and was nominated for Best Album, Record of the Year, Best Rock Song ("American Idiot"), Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group, and Best Music Video, Short Form ("American Idiot"). The music video for "American Idiot" was voted 'The Greatest Rock Video Ever' in a Kerrang! Magazine Poll. In the Australian Triple J's Hottest 100 for 2005, "Jesus of Suburbia" entered at #61 making it the longest song ever to place in the chart at 9 minutes and 8 seconds. Green Day also won two Kids Choice Awards Blimps in 2006 for Favorite Musical Group and Favorite Song ("Wake Me Up When September Ends"). They swept the 2005 MTV music awards, winning a total of seven of the eight awards they were nominated for, including the coveted Viewer's Choice Award.[2] In 2005, the album won the Juno Award for International Album of the Year.
[edit] Track listing
All tracks by Billie Joe Armstrong (lyrics) and Green Day (music), except where noted.
- "American Idiot" – 2:54
- "Jesus of Suburbia" – 9:08
- I. "Jesus of Suburbia" – 1:50
- II. "City of the Damned" – 1:51
- III. "I Don't Care" – 1:31
- IV. "Dearly Beloved" – 1:09
- V. "Tales of Another Broken Home" – 2:38
- "Holiday" – 3:52
- "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" – 4:20
- "Are We the Waiting" – 2:42
- "St. Jimmy" – 2:55
- "Give Me Novacaine" – 3:25
- "She's a Rebel" – 2:00
- "Extraordinary Girl" – 3:33
- "Letterbomb" – 4:06
- "Wake Me Up When September Ends" – 4:45
- "Homecoming" – 9:18
- I. "The Death of St. Jimmy"
- II. "East 12th St."
- III. "Nobody Likes You" (Mike Dirnt/Green Day)
- IV. "Rock and Roll Girlfriend" (Tré Cool/Green Day)
- V. "We're Coming Home Again"
- "Whatsername" – 4:12
[edit] B-sides
The following songs were recorded shortly before American Idiot and released as the album's B-sides:
- "I Fought the Law" (a The Bobby Fuller Four cover released on iTunes only)
- "Favorite Son" (released on Rock Against Bush, Vol. 2)
- "Shoplifter" (released on the "American Idiot" single)
- "Governator" (released on the "American Idiot" single)
- "Too Much Too Soon" (released on the "American Idiot" single)
[edit] Bonus versions
In some countries, bonus versions of the album were released.
- The most common version[citation needed] can be found in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It features "Too Much Too Soon", one of the album's B-sides, at the end of the album.
- In the Japanese version,[3] there are 14 tracks, the last track is "Favorite Son", another B-side to the album. Another Japanese version includes a bonus CD, recorded live in Makuhari Messe on March 19, 2005. The Enhanced CD contains live footage and behind-the-scenes featurette from the Japan tour.
- In the French version[citation needed], there are 16 tracks, featuring three of the album's B-sides: "Too Much Too Soon", "Governator" and "Shoplifter". The French version combines "Holiday" and "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" into one track and does the same with "Are We the Waiting" and "St. Jimmy", "Give Me Novacaine" and "She's a Rebel", and "Extraordinary Girl" and "Letterbomb".
- In some special editions, a DVD featuring a 'Making of' and music videos of "Holiday" and "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" can be found.
[edit] Singles
| Cover | Information |
|---|---|
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American Idiot |
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Boulevard of Broken Dreams
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Holiday |
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Wake Me Up When September Ends |
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Jesus of Suburbia
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[edit] Personnel
- Billie Joe Armstrong - vocals, lead guitar, rhythm guitar;
- Mike Dirnt - lead vocals on "Nobody Likes You", backing vocals on all other songs, bass guitar;
- Tré Cool - lead vocals on "Rock and Roll Girlfriend", drums and percussions;
- Rob Cavallo - piano
- Kathleen Hanna - vocals on "Letterbomb"
[edit] Movie adaptation
Shortly after the album was released there was speculation that American Idiot might be made into a movie. VH1 quoted Armstrong as saying "We've definitely been talking about someone writing a script for it, and there's been a few different names that have been thrown at us. It sounds really exciting, but for right now it's just talk." [1] Armstrong later stated that shooting would begin for American Idiot: The Motion Picture in 2006, stressing, "We want to see how it turns out first so that it doesn't suck." [2] On June 1, 2006 Armstrong announced in an interview with MTV.com that "it's definitely unfolding" and that "every single week there's more ideas about doing a film for American Idiot, and it's definitely going to happen," [3] but the band later said, "It is gonna take a little while."[citation needed]
[edit] See also
- In late 2005, Dean Gray released a mash-up version of the album—called American Edit—and became a cause célèbre when the artist was served with a cease and desist order by Green Day's record label. Tracks include "Dr. Who on Holiday" and "Boulevard of Broken Songs"
[edit] References
- ^ Di Perna, Alan. "Combat Rock". Guitar World. Holiday 2004.
- ^ Green Day Authority. "Band Awards - American Idiot" "Green Day Authority".
- ^ American Idiot + Live in Tokyo
[edit] External links
- Official Green Day website
- GeekStinkBreath.net page on the album
- American Idiot at the Internet Music Database
- Unofficial Green Day website
| Preceded by Suit by Nelly |
Billboard 200 Number 1 Album October 9, 2004 - October 15, 2004 |
Succeeded by Feels Like Today by Rascal Flatts |
| Preceded by Encore by Eminem |
Billboard 200 Number 1 Album January 22, 2005 - February 4, 2005 |
Succeeded by The Documentary by The Game |
