Billie Joe - Song Writing Skills & Inspirations

I think we were all aware of Billie's political status and his feeling towards President Bush. In this thread you can discuss what you think inspired Billie Joe to make "American Idiot" and take such a big risk on this album. Do you think Any other parts of American Idiot were political besides "Holiday" and "American Idiot". Also, how do you think Billie's song writting style compares on American Idiot to other albums? With every album came a different vibe of song writting and styles, and there is also variety with in each album. For example, "Good Riddance" and "Grouch" were both on Nimrod, but are very different styles of songs. How do you feel about song writting styles and which are your favorites. So, use this thread to discuss Billie Joe's song writting habbiats and what you think makes him tick.

For me, I can't say I have a favorite style, because it's sort of like a mountain.As you get older, you climb to bigger and better things and the old stuff stays at the bottom as a foundation, supporting you so you can go on to new. So without the snotty, sarcastic lyrics Billie wrote for Dookie, I don't think we would have ballards like Good Riddance or Macy's Day Parade.

I think I remember reading somewhere that another inspiration for AI came directly from the Media attention in Iraq and how it had become entertainment and reality TV, does anyone remember what interview that's from?

I_worship_tre_Cool:

I think I remember reading somewhere that another inspiration for AI came directly from the Media attention in Iraq and how it had become entertainment and reality TV, does anyone remember what interview that's from?

I think he said something like that on 100% Green Day on Fuse.

He said something along those lines in the "Times Talks" interview.

I can't really choose a favorite style either. I love the 1,039/SOSH and Kerplunk stuff, kind of upbeat love songs. And I love how BJ can change styles so fluidly, from a biting rock anthem to a ballad.

And as much as people knock it, I love American Idiot. The whole album could be considered political to some extent, because it sort of captures the atmosphere in in Bush's America. I think it's the album for a generation.

'Kay, well, I did like the sound of American Idiot, but most of the lyrics didn't impress me. I AM on Bush's side, soo..
Anyway.. I think Billie Joe went way out of line with American Idiot, I didn't approve. Not because it 'sold out', because I know selling out isn't necisarely[sp?] a bad thing. But the lyrics itself didn't make me jump for joy - "THIS IS THE BEST SONG EVER".
Billie's writing habits.. I think y'know, change a lot. What makes him tick - real life issues, family issues, or something that just pops up by looking at something. Whether looking at a tree made him think of some lyrics for Homecoming, or the fact Bush when into war made him think of some lyrics for American Idiot.
But, my views on American Idiot aren't too great. It made a bunch of young people who don't know what the hell is going on drag them to hating our president, when they don't know if they should or not. But, I'm not getting into a Bush arguement.
Just saying

Megan.:

'Kay, well, I did like the sound of American Idiot, but most of the lyrics didn't impress me. I AM on Bush's side, soo..
Anyway.. I think Billie Joe went way out of line with American Idiot, I didn't approve. Not because it 'sold out', because I know selling out isn't necisarely[sp?] a bad thing. But the lyrics itself didn't make me jump for joy - "THIS IS THE BEST SONG EVER".
Billie's writing habits.. I think y'know, change a lot. What makes him tick - real life issues, family issues, or something that just pops up by looking at something. Whether looking at a tree made him think of some lyrics for Homecoming, or the fact Bush when into war made him think of some lyrics for American Idiot.
But, my views on American Idiot aren't too great. It made a bunch of young people who don't know what the hell is going on drag them to hating our president, when they don't know if they should or not. But, I'm not getting into a Bush arguement.
Just saying

But was it Billie's fault they are idiots and didn't know how to handle politics? It wasn't his fault the youth of the nation is ignorant. It made alot of teemagers politically active and let them form views on politics too.

I_worship_tre_Cool:

Megan.:

'Kay, well, I did like the sound of American Idiot, but most of the lyrics didn't impress me. I AM on Bush's side, soo..
Anyway.. I think Billie Joe went way out of line with American Idiot, I didn't approve. Not because it 'sold out', because I know selling out isn't necisarely[sp?] a bad thing. But the lyrics itself didn't make me jump for joy - "THIS IS THE BEST SONG EVER".
Billie's writing habits.. I think y'know, change a lot. What makes him tick - real life issues, family issues, or something that just pops up by looking at something. Whether looking at a tree made him think of some lyrics for Homecoming, or the fact Bush when into war made him think of some lyrics for American Idiot.
But, my views on American Idiot aren't too great. It made a bunch of young people who don't know what the hell is going on drag them to hating our president, when they don't know if they should or not. But, I'm not getting into a Bush arguement.
Just saying

But was it Billie's fault they are idiots and didn't know how to handle politics? It wasn't his fault the youth of the nation is ignorant. It made alot of teemagers politically active and let them form views on politics too.

Nope. It wasn't. It just made me mad. I didn't say it was his fault. Though it made them view politics, it made most view them the wrong way.

I think it's really obvious to hear BJ's progress in life. Whether it be experience, age or what-not.

But what an AMAZING songwriter.

Megan.:

I_worship_tre_Cool:

Megan.:

'Kay, well, I did like the sound of American Idiot, but most of the lyrics didn't impress me. I AM on Bush's side, soo..
Anyway.. I think Billie Joe went way out of line with American Idiot, I didn't approve. Not because it 'sold out', because I know selling out isn't necisarely[sp?] a bad thing. But the lyrics itself didn't make me jump for joy - "THIS IS THE BEST SONG EVER".
Billie's writing habits.. I think y'know, change a lot. What makes him tick - real life issues, family issues, or something that just pops up by looking at something. Whether looking at a tree made him think of some lyrics for Homecoming, or the fact Bush when into war made him think of some lyrics for American Idiot.
But, my views on American Idiot aren't too great. It made a bunch of young people who don't know what the hell is going on drag them to hating our president, when they don't know if they should or not. But, I'm not getting into a Bush arguement.
Just saying

But was it Billie's fault they are idiots and didn't know how to handle politics? It wasn't his fault the youth of the nation is ignorant. It made alot of teemagers politically active and let them form views on politics too.

Nope. It wasn't. It just made me mad. I didn't say it was his fault. Though it made them view politics, it made most view them the wrong way.

RIGHT TO BE OFFENDED AND TO OFFEND.

I love love love Billie's amazing song writing skills.

I don't think I have a favorite time period. Although I must say I have a least favorite. Althought Warning is my favorite album, I just don't think his lyrics are that impressive. I love the lyrics for Warning but then the others are just impressive.

I do love his younger songs because he is like.. THE PERFECT example of a teenager. Its actually quite scary. He feels love, he wants to be alone, he pissed at people, he wants to be accepted...etc

Its hard because each album is so different. The sounds, the lyrics the mood, yknow?

I just fucking love his lyrics. I have an obsession with song lyrics in general.

I love all of Billie's songs! I dont have a favourite out of his 'styles' of writing. I like his older stuff from 1039 Smoothed out Slappy Hours and American Idiot, (and ofcourse everything inbetween ). You can definately tell how the lyrics and style of writing changed as they got older, and now we can enjoy the mature American Idiot, and the younger -more teen like styles of writing in earlier albums, if you get me? Then theres Nimrod which is somewhere inbetween, with songs like Good Riddance (time of your life) which is a great, mature type song, and King For a Day which isnt all that serious, and you can just have fun listening to it.

iamkiller:

Megan.:

I_worship_tre_Cool:

Megan.:

'Kay, well, I did like the sound of American Idiot, but most of the lyrics didn't impress me. I AM on Bush's side, soo..
Anyway.. I think Billie Joe went way out of line with American Idiot, I didn't approve. Not because it 'sold out', because I know selling out isn't necisarely[sp?] a bad thing. But the lyrics itself didn't make me jump for joy - "THIS IS THE BEST SONG EVER".
Billie's writing habits.. I think y'know, change a lot. What makes him tick - real life issues, family issues, or something that just pops up by looking at something. Whether looking at a tree made him think of some lyrics for Homecoming, or the fact Bush when into war made him think of some lyrics for American Idiot.
But, my views on American Idiot aren't too great. It made a bunch of young people who don't know what the hell is going on drag them to hating our president, when they don't know if they should or not. But, I'm not getting into a Bush arguement.
Just saying

But was it Billie's fault they are idiots and didn't know how to handle politics? It wasn't his fault the youth of the nation is ignorant. It made alot of teemagers politically active and let them form views on politics too.

Nope. It wasn't. It just made me mad. I didn't say it was his fault. Though it made them view politics, it made most view them the wrong way.

RIGHT TO BE OFFENDED AND TO OFFEND.

O_o K.

Megan.:

iamkiller:

Megan.:

I_worship_tre_Cool:

Megan.:

'Kay, well, I did like the sound of American Idiot, but most of the lyrics didn't impress me. I AM on Bush's side, soo..
Anyway.. I think Billie Joe went way out of line with American Idiot, I didn't approve. Not because it 'sold out', because I know selling out isn't necisarely[sp?] a bad thing. But the lyrics itself didn't make me jump for joy - "THIS IS THE BEST SONG EVER".
Billie's writing habits.. I think y'know, change a lot. What makes him tick - real life issues, family issues, or something that just pops up by looking at something. Whether looking at a tree made him think of some lyrics for Homecoming, or the fact Bush when into war made him think of some lyrics for American Idiot.
But, my views on American Idiot aren't too great. It made a bunch of young people who don't know what the hell is going on drag them to hating our president, when they don't know if they should or not. But, I'm not getting into a Bush arguement.
Just saying

But was it Billie's fault they are idiots and didn't know how to handle politics? It wasn't his fault the youth of the nation is ignorant. It made alot of teemagers politically active and let them form views on politics too.

Nope. It wasn't. It just made me mad. I didn't say it was his fault. Though it made them view politics, it made most view them the wrong way.

RIGHT TO BE OFFENDED AND TO OFFEND.

O_o K.

It's in the laws.. of the U.S. at least.

So, meaning, you have the right to be offended by his words but he has the right to offend you.

iamkiller:

I think it's really obvious to hear BJ's progress in life. Whether it be experience, age or what-not.

But what an AMAZING songwriter.

WORD.

Billies songwriting has changed over the years and so has he, he writes about where he is at at the time.
American Idiot maybe political but at theend of the day this is his opinion, and if people choose to follow it well thats their problem, and if people dont like it they still have to except freedom of speech.
I have always wondered how he comes with some of his lyrics, i would love to be inside that mans head.

the thing I find amazing is the lyrical content Kerplunk.
It can be vary deep/reflectful-mature at times.
Considering the fact that those words came from a 18/19/20 year old kid, that's just....yeah.

+Maiku-San+:

the thing I find amazing is the lyrical content Kerplunk.
It can be vary deep/reflectful-mature at times.
Considering the fact that those words came from a 18/19/20 year old kid, that's just....yeah.

Yeah i agree with you, I mean i think that has to be one of my fav albums, and i was looking at the lyrics the other day, they are also meaningful and rather intrucate (sp?) for some one of his age.

iamkiller:

Megan.:

iamkiller:

Megan.:

I_worship_tre_Cool:

Megan.:

'Kay, well, I did like the sound of American Idiot, but most of the lyrics didn't impress me. I AM on Bush's side, soo..
Anyway.. I think Billie Joe went way out of line with American Idiot, I didn't approve. Not because it 'sold out', because I know selling out isn't necisarely[sp?] a bad thing. But the lyrics itself didn't make me jump for joy - "THIS IS THE BEST SONG EVER".
Billie's writing habits.. I think y'know, change a lot. What makes him tick - real life issues, family issues, or something that just pops up by looking at something. Whether looking at a tree made him think of some lyrics for Homecoming, or the fact Bush when into war made him think of some lyrics for American Idiot.
But, my views on American Idiot aren't too great. It made a bunch of young people who don't know what the hell is going on drag them to hating our president, when they don't know if they should or not. But, I'm not getting into a Bush arguement.
Just saying

But was it Billie's fault they are idiots and didn't know how to handle politics? It wasn't his fault the youth of the nation is ignorant. It made alot of teemagers politically active and let them form views on politics too.

Nope. It wasn't. It just made me mad. I didn't say it was his fault. Though it made them view politics, it made most view them the wrong way.

RIGHT TO BE OFFENDED AND TO OFFEND.

O_o K.

It's in the laws.. of the U.S. at least.

So, meaning, you have the right to be offended by his words but he has the right to offend you.

Oh. I thought you were offended by what I said. o_o

Megan.:

iamkiller:

Megan.:

iamkiller:

Megan.:

I_worship_tre_Cool:

Megan.:

'Kay, well, I did like the sound of American Idiot, but most of the lyrics didn't impress me. I AM on Bush's side, soo..
Anyway.. I think Billie Joe went way out of line with American Idiot, I didn't approve. Not because it 'sold out', because I know selling out isn't necisarely[sp?] a bad thing. But the lyrics itself didn't make me jump for joy - "THIS IS THE BEST SONG EVER".
Billie's writing habits.. I think y'know, change a lot. What makes him tick - real life issues, family issues, or something that just pops up by looking at something. Whether looking at a tree made him think of some lyrics for Homecoming, or the fact Bush when into war made him think of some lyrics for American Idiot.
But, my views on American Idiot aren't too great. It made a bunch of young people who don't know what the hell is going on drag them to hating our president, when they don't know if they should or not. But, I'm not getting into a Bush arguement.
Just saying

But was it Billie's fault they are idiots and didn't know how to handle politics? It wasn't his fault the youth of the nation is ignorant. It made alot of teemagers politically active and let them form views on politics too.

Nope. It wasn't. It just made me mad. I didn't say it was his fault. Though it made them view politics, it made most view them the wrong way.

RIGHT TO BE OFFENDED AND TO OFFEND.

O_o K.

It's in the laws.. of the U.S. at least.

So, meaning, you have the right to be offended by his words but he has the right to offend you.

Oh. I thought you were offended by what I said. o_o

Nah.. I'm pretty laid-back

I just found this ..


I go into the darkness through me same only

which you would make?

what is it, which I would make?

I do not know myself.

at the moment.

Attacks of the concern of the fear crises

who are the brutal majority

my heart blows.

as if it to excape. would be??

I look at over.

of my environment.

everything is in-wound.

in the dark covering of the night.

My eyes begin themselves have lose in the darkness.

becomes more translucent. at my opinion.

I feel a feeling.

I am free.

in order to make, what I like.

Are you it?

by Billie Joe Armstrong





I look firmly upward on its face

I knew this smile on

I swim in its affectionate eyes, and see.

Its hochnaesigen lips over-accumulate up

I can only introduce itself, only one dream dun day.

I can only dream.

it seems I observes it in repetition.

As if the whole days, how it is, but the same.

Repetition again, but it is a Feenerzaehlung.

I can dream, but soon I see another day?

Does she dream about another night?

my dear, dear Adrienne

however, it is and always, another night

will be only another windy night

by Billie Joe Armstrong for Adrienne



Is that known ?