My Green Day.
All of us have their own experiences how they got into this amazing band called Green Day. And I often hear people saying proudly that they've been fans of the "first hour" so to say, that they've been listening to Green Day since their very beginnings. I am someone, and I am very honest about that, who only really got into Green Day through American Idiot. And I don't think it's a bad thing at all.
It doesn't matter how long you've been listening to a band, and it doesn't make you a hero or better than the others if you have known them since forever. To be honest, I was way too young when they first got big. I am 20 years now and I was born in 1987. When Green Day had their first big success in Germany in 1994, I was only 7 years old. Back then I only listened to kids music.
But nevertheless, in 2004, Green Day released the song (and soon after that the album) American Idiot. I remember a German presenter, Markus Kavka, announcing the song on MTV, telling how glad he is that they have returned. I kinda remembered them, they seemed familiar but I didn't yet know why and from where. I kinda liked the song but to me at first it was just one of those songs that you hear, you like, but don't necessarily buy.
Soon though, there was a new song catching my attention, and I couldn't get away from it. Boulevard of Broken Dreams. And to be honest I think Green Day conquered most of their "new" fans through that song, me included. I love the melody and Billie Joe's voice in it, and the atmosphere is so different than in any other rock ballads. This song was the real starting point.
I went to the shop and bought the Maxi CD of Boulevard of Broken Dreams, including two other live songs from American Idiot and I enjoyed them. My older sister noticed my growing interest in Green Day and told me that a friend of hers has the American Idiot Album and that she could get it for me. And then, she also said that she brought the Dookie CD back then. My sister was 20 when Dookie came out, and she was a fan. Nevertheless, she lost interest in them. So she gave the CD to me. I was happy.
This was the starting point for my love for Green Day. One by one I bought all of their other CDs, and fell in love with them. And suddenly I realized why they have seemed so familiar to me. Not just that my sister used to listen to them, but also because I remembered some of their songs from when I was a teenager. Good Riddance (Time of your life), or Minority. I have heard them before.
I remember being sad because I missed their Germany tour, but I was even happier when I noticed that they would be playing on Live 8 in Berlin and that I could go there. Even though they only played 4 or 5 songs it was great. I hope they come back to Germany for a big tour again, so I can see them live again.
But what makes this band so special to me?
To start with, Green Day is simply Green Day. You can't really compare them because there is no one like them. But this alone doesn't make a band worth listening to. First of all I absolutely love Billie Joe's voice. I can't really describe it but when you hear a song you just know it's Billie Joe. His voice is so calm, yet powerful.
I love the songs because they have a deep meaning, and I can relate to so many of them. And yet, even the sad songs don't seem depressing, even those can cheer me up. I love their music all around, it just makes fun, makes me wanna jump, makes me wanna run around and sing aloud. When I look at other bands I always find songs that I don't like. It's different with Green Day. I can't name you one single song that I don't like.
The topics of their songs cover all kinds of issues: love and heartbreak, sex and fun, hate and rage, friends and enemies, politics and economy. And they always come up with new surprises.
And even if I don't listen to them every day, their CDs are some of my most precious ones that I have. I am very glad that I have discovered this amazing band for me. And I am not sad at all that I haven't noticed them earlier. Actually, I'm happy I didn't because this way it was way more intense because I experienced the whole Green Day experience of more than 15 years so far in only 4 years till the present day.
It is my very own special Green Day experience.
It doesn't matter how long you've been listening to a band, and it doesn't make you a hero or better than the others if you have known them since forever. To be honest, I was way too young when they first got big. I am 20 years now and I was born in 1987. When Green Day had their first big success in Germany in 1994, I was only 7 years old. Back then I only listened to kids music.
But nevertheless, in 2004, Green Day released the song (and soon after that the album) American Idiot. I remember a German presenter, Markus Kavka, announcing the song on MTV, telling how glad he is that they have returned. I kinda remembered them, they seemed familiar but I didn't yet know why and from where. I kinda liked the song but to me at first it was just one of those songs that you hear, you like, but don't necessarily buy.
Soon though, there was a new song catching my attention, and I couldn't get away from it. Boulevard of Broken Dreams. And to be honest I think Green Day conquered most of their "new" fans through that song, me included. I love the melody and Billie Joe's voice in it, and the atmosphere is so different than in any other rock ballads. This song was the real starting point.
I went to the shop and bought the Maxi CD of Boulevard of Broken Dreams, including two other live songs from American Idiot and I enjoyed them. My older sister noticed my growing interest in Green Day and told me that a friend of hers has the American Idiot Album and that she could get it for me. And then, she also said that she brought the Dookie CD back then. My sister was 20 when Dookie came out, and she was a fan. Nevertheless, she lost interest in them. So she gave the CD to me. I was happy.
This was the starting point for my love for Green Day. One by one I bought all of their other CDs, and fell in love with them. And suddenly I realized why they have seemed so familiar to me. Not just that my sister used to listen to them, but also because I remembered some of their songs from when I was a teenager. Good Riddance (Time of your life), or Minority. I have heard them before.
I remember being sad because I missed their Germany tour, but I was even happier when I noticed that they would be playing on Live 8 in Berlin and that I could go there. Even though they only played 4 or 5 songs it was great. I hope they come back to Germany for a big tour again, so I can see them live again.
But what makes this band so special to me?
To start with, Green Day is simply Green Day. You can't really compare them because there is no one like them. But this alone doesn't make a band worth listening to. First of all I absolutely love Billie Joe's voice. I can't really describe it but when you hear a song you just know it's Billie Joe. His voice is so calm, yet powerful.
I love the songs because they have a deep meaning, and I can relate to so many of them. And yet, even the sad songs don't seem depressing, even those can cheer me up. I love their music all around, it just makes fun, makes me wanna jump, makes me wanna run around and sing aloud. When I look at other bands I always find songs that I don't like. It's different with Green Day. I can't name you one single song that I don't like.
The topics of their songs cover all kinds of issues: love and heartbreak, sex and fun, hate and rage, friends and enemies, politics and economy. And they always come up with new surprises.
And even if I don't listen to them every day, their CDs are some of my most precious ones that I have. I am very glad that I have discovered this amazing band for me. And I am not sad at all that I haven't noticed them earlier. Actually, I'm happy I didn't because this way it was way more intense because I experienced the whole Green Day experience of more than 15 years so far in only 4 years till the present day.
It is my very own special Green Day experience.
I completely agree.
my story is a bit different,
but still. Green Day has completely changed my life, and will ALWAYS be my #1 favourite band<33
Bubble Wrap., November 9th, 2007 at 05:42:12am
Excellent blog.
I was a fan who got into them with American Idiot too. But I, like vonny, fell in love with them on that lovely program called rage. American Idiot was just so angry yet addictive - no other song at the time gave such an out-there message.
And Billie has such a distinctive voice, I agree. It's just... him.
Couldn't agree with you more ;)
The Brightside., November 8th, 2007 at 08:36:53pm
Very good blog. When I started listening to Green Day ( which was when American Idiot came ) I also recognized songs like Good Riddance and Basket Case. Green Day made me realise a lot of things, in fact, and even though I don't listen to them as much as I used to, they will always be special to me :)
Mr. Teatime, November 8th, 2007 at 01:55:07pm
Great blog. ^_^
I have to say too, American Idiot was the album that really got me into them, even though I'd heard Good Riddance and knew it was Green Day.
Riot on the Radio, November 8th, 2007 at 07:10:10am
Cool story.
I got into them during American Idiot as well.
=)
threeam., November 8th, 2007 at 03:12:07am
My mother is in Reichelsheim..She's visiting her mom, sister, brother in law and nephew.
O_O
captain america, November 8th, 2007 at 01:07:57am
Damn forward! [Sorry, I read it in a story..]
o_o
I can honestly say that I've only been a fan since American Idiot...ish.
My uncle gave me Warning and Shenanigans when I was like 10, but I sold them. Cause I wasn't really into music much then. Then they came on the radio, and we used to listen to this really old like 90's radio station and I constantly heard When I Come Around, Hitchin' A Ride and Good Riddance...
But I didn't actually start obsessing until the American Idiot era.
My mom is in Germany right now..
:D
*wishes she was there with her mommy*
captain america, November 8th, 2007 at 01:05:01am
damn straight.
i agree with you 100%. when i was little, (7-10ish) i was in love with NSYNC. now, ive matured into Green Day. yeah, my first album was American Iidot, but i know as much about the guys as a fan thats been listening to them for 10 years. i cant help when i was born, or what my parents let me listen to.
Gianna; Joseph, November 8th, 2007 at 12:24:34am
Great blog.
Everything you said there is true for me too. Except American Idiot is the song that got my into them. I was watching Rage, and there was just crap music on. Then this guitar riff started playing and I fell in love with them, and the film clip and..everything.
And I like what you said about Billie's voice. Because it's so true. There are so many American bands out there and all of their voices sound the same, but you just know when it's Billie singing. ...Like in the song Roshambo by The Network. It is so him singing. :tehe:
vonny, November 7th, 2007 at 10:58:22pm
really good blog....i want to respond to it but i cant. lol Becuase Green Day means so f*cking much to me and my whole experiance with them and their music was so.....mind blowing that it really is close to impossible to convey those emotions into words.
OMG c_x_c, November 7th, 2007 at 06:38:22pm
Nice :D
I agree. I didn't really get into them before American Idiot came out either.
But I saw them on MTv once when I was about...10/11...ish...maybe 12(not quite sure xD) on Top ten at ten, and there was this list top of the 90's, and Basket Case was one of the songs there, and I loved it so I got my dad to download it for me and burn it on a cd.
Very useful info right? x]
Wino Forever, November 7th, 2007 at 05:30:09pm
Wow. Very good blog.
I was listening to Green Day since I was 9.
Along with Metallica, Sex Pistols & The Clash.
:D
And I totally agree with the 'But what makes this band so special to me?' part.
(Y)
brompton cocktail., November 7th, 2007 at 03:18:06pm