Why Green Day Never "Sold Out" (my opinion)
When Green Day performed on American Idol, I noticed a lot of comments labeling them as "sellouts". Let's have a list of things Green Day have done that have made them labeled as sellouts:
1. Signed to a major label
2. Become famous
3. Brought punk into the mainstream
4. Performed on American Idol.
1. Signed to a major label.
When a major record label wants to sign any artist, it's because it can sell albums. And yeah, that could mean signing pop stars like Britney Spears. But it could also mean signing genuinely talented bands. If a band is good, and can sell records, record labels are going to notice them, whether the fans like it or not.
2. Became famous.
This being a Green Day fansite, I think we can all agree that Green Day has a lot of talent. And the songs are really good. That's why they became famous. They worked hard to get where they are, but they are still sellouts? Would you go to a record store, pick up a CD and say "Hell yeah, this band rocks. But they sold 10 million CDs, so I hate them." That's not being honest with yourself.
3. Brought Punk Into The Mainstream.
Punk is just good. All good types of music will eventually make it into the mainstream, because it's too good for people to not take notice. At least the MTV viewers will prefere punk rock to shallow Britney Spears. Get over it.
4. Performed on American Idol.
I hate the show, as well as a few people I know. But the most people disagree with me. They were just spreading awareness of the genocide in Darfur to a wider audience than if they performed on, say, Rachel Ray.
And there you have it.
1. Signed to a major label
2. Become famous
3. Brought punk into the mainstream
4. Performed on American Idol.
1. Signed to a major label.
When a major record label wants to sign any artist, it's because it can sell albums. And yeah, that could mean signing pop stars like Britney Spears. But it could also mean signing genuinely talented bands. If a band is good, and can sell records, record labels are going to notice them, whether the fans like it or not.
2. Became famous.
This being a Green Day fansite, I think we can all agree that Green Day has a lot of talent. And the songs are really good. That's why they became famous. They worked hard to get where they are, but they are still sellouts? Would you go to a record store, pick up a CD and say "Hell yeah, this band rocks. But they sold 10 million CDs, so I hate them." That's not being honest with yourself.
3. Brought Punk Into The Mainstream.
Punk is just good. All good types of music will eventually make it into the mainstream, because it's too good for people to not take notice. At least the MTV viewers will prefere punk rock to shallow Britney Spears. Get over it.
4. Performed on American Idol.
I hate the show, as well as a few people I know. But the most people disagree with me. They were just spreading awareness of the genocide in Darfur to a wider audience than if they performed on, say, Rachel Ray.
And there you have it.
Your reasoning is so idiotic it hurts my brain.
1. Signed a major label - %90 of the time major labels don't sign good musicians than they do put crappy music on the radio to make money off morons who don't know what good music is.
2. Became famous - Yes to the exact same people who listen to Justin Bieber. Not punk fans.
3. Brought Punk Into The Mainstream - Crappy pop punk. Soft punk that 14 year old girls listen to.
4.Performed on American Idol. - I don't understand how this is not selling out? They most likely performed on this show just to make money, which is the very definition of SELLING OUT.
DiversifyUrSelf, September 17th, 2010 at 02:11:45pm
Oh, you misguided souls. Please let Stregano inform you of a few reasons why Green Day is labelled as sell outs. Please keep in mind that I randomly did a google search for "green day sold out" and this was at the top, so congrats on that.
First off, Green Day is not punk in any way, shape, or form. They are very politically driven pop-punk. There is a pretty big difference there.
Selling out:
When you sell out, it means that you leave behind what you stood for or leave behind what you sung about/sing about, or leave behind some type of moral or other item for money.
Green Day has sold out completely and go against what they sing about. Green Day did it smart though. I will give them that. They do not focus on talking bad about major corporations very much. They mainly talk about the government. Keep in mind that selling out does not mean that you are any worse of a band. Normally, if the band is good enough and stable enough, they can survive the sell out and still be a decent band. Fallout Boy is an example of the opposite. Their very early stuff was pretty good. Now, in 2010, yeah, anybody know where they went after the corporations made them switch their style to the point where even in a music video they admit to changing from being sold out? Green Day sold out, but managed to stay a good band through the process.
Selling out sometimes means you get worse. All selling out means is that you gave in to the major corporations and will let them toss you around like a rag doll. You think Green Day is rich? Green Day would be lucky to even get 10% of the profits they make. The rest go to the corporations. Selling out does not mean you are magically bad. I am unsure where people get that from. Yes, they sold out. It is very clear and right there in your face that they sold out. Disputing that is ludicrous since they are in cahoots with Warner Brothers, Fox, and even now MTV.
Where they mess is up when they talk about America as a whole and also us followers to what people tell us we should like. Green Day will follow money. Yes, if a band is good enough, corporations will pounce on them like they did Green Day. Green Day was just edgy enough to make suburban kids think they are listening to punk, but just nice enough to not flip out and punch a random person to fight against what they sing about.
Green Day will do anything for money. This is not punk. That has nothing to do with punk. I bet if a rich 14 year old stuck up girl wanted their autograph, they would smile and be happy to do it.
Here are examples of major corporations they have sold out to/in cahoots with:
Fox (Simpsons Movie)
MTV (Green Day Rock Band)
Warner Brothers (own Reprise, their record label)
See, you guys have a strange misconception of what punk truly is. Punk is not a genre of music. It is a way of life. It is a way of fighting all that is soul-less and wrong. Punk is not just music. That is why Green Day is not punk. If you want to get technical with music genre's, they are an off-shoot of punk that Major corporations latched onto called pop-punk (also holds bands like Sum 41 and Blink 182). Bands that are a little edgy, but still nice enough to where 14 year old stuck up girls will still like them because they are not too extreme.
These major corporations are so huge and such a huge problem to where even the government themselves are trying to step in and do something (Health Care reform, higher taxes).
Did you know that a bill was passed so that major corporations are not limited to whom they can contribute money to? It is true. Major corporations can contribute limitless amounts of money to any person they want in their campaign. That is how out of control the corporations have gotten.
To sit there and say that Green Day is punk when they are truly monkey boys to the system that will jump at anything and everything for a buck, well, I am sorry, but that is incorrect.
Here is a great example of a band that got famous, went mainstream, was still not punk, but did it all under a smaller label: Offspring. Well, they eventually sold out, but they sold 10 million albums BEFORE they sold out. Under a smaller label, they did this. This goes to show you that true talent will sell regardless of whether they are signed to a major corporation or not. You can still be rich from a smaller label IF you are good enough.
You can be famous and not sell out. You can be rich as all hell and not sell out. But when you do things for Warner Brothers for money, do things for Fox for money, and do things for MTV for money, you have sold out.
Green Day did not bring punk to the mainstream because they are not punk. They are pop-punk and helped launch that musical sub-genre of music. Hey, I can sit here and hum Beethoven's 7th Symphony, but that does not make me a composer or a classical musician.
I will say, congrats to Green Day with all of their success. They are doing very well for themselves. Unfortunately, my misguided souls, they are sellouts. Does that mean that they suck? Of course not. They will simply jump on anything for a buck and "sell themselves out" to the highest bidder.
I hate to say it, but this entire blog entry is incorrect.
Stregano, May 31st, 2010 at 03:03:03am
its nothing to do with the fact they've signed to a major record label or have "become famous", its everything to do with the fact they've sold out in everything they stood for. the music they produce isnt punk, it never was and never will be. they've slated bands which helped them get to where they are, the fact they charge you to become a member of their site doesnt strike you as a bit ott? greenday have gone, listen to dookie and then listen to their new album. you notice anything?
monkeypants01, June 8th, 2009 at 03:30:01pm
they just love making music, and thats all they care about, just making their music.
PenguinPunk, July 14th, 2007 at 02:35:53am
Sex Pistols signed to EMI and The Clash to CBS. No punk isn't mainstream at all.
I love GD cause of their music and I honestly don't give a crap about them signing to Reprise. All those hardcore punks who bash them have no idea what they are talking about cause punk went mainstream a long time ago. If dislike bands for their music and actions and there is nothing to dislike with GD.
worn-out astronaut., June 14th, 2007 at 10:15:59am
Amen.
Sandwich-Masta, June 13th, 2007 at 07:50:46pm
I don't even care. I'll listen to them anyway. I like their music, I like their personalities, and I think that's all that matters.
Vicious;
"Green Day brought simple, slightly political pop/rock music into the mainstream." -- They certainly didn't. There are hundreds of other bands out there who have 'introduced' political music to the mainstream. Green Day was 'introduced' into the mainstream back in 94, and Dookie was definitely NOT political.
Hello, My Name Is Asshole, June 13th, 2007 at 05:08:00pm
1. So basically, if a band doesn't get signed to a major label, you're saying that they're not good enough to sell records?
2. That's fair enough.
3. They aren't punk. And I'd go as far as to say they never have been. It should probably be "Green Day brought simple, slightly political pop/rock music into the mainstream. Everyone had heard of it already, but shut up".
4. Right. An audience that won't even know what genocide means, and like GD because they think the singer is hot.
Best Before: They did not "put everyone on the line" by slamming the government. It was mildly political, nothing compared to some other bands.
Vicious.., June 13th, 2007 at 10:55:56am
I agree.
More people think they sold out though because of how they changed their look and sound for American Idiot.
Idiots, in my opinion. How is scaring the crap through George Bush (They did it) and slamming the government putting everything on the line, 'selling out'
14 year old "punks" need to learn their facts.
Fashion Zombies!, June 13th, 2007 at 08:49:11am
Green Day are who they are.
I'm sure they don't give a flying f*ck what other 'fans' say about them being sell outs. if fan's think they're sell outs, then in my opinion they aren't fans ... The fans are people who don't give a sh*t on what show GD perform as long as we get to see close up's of them. :D
nice points btw.
Tre Cool Junkeh, June 13th, 2007 at 01:59:29am
I don't even care if they sold out or not. It doesn't bug me where they perform or anything. I just like their music.
ohmygodshutyourbutt, June 12th, 2007 at 09:20:38pm
I strongly agree with every point you've made.
Powerful blog. ;)
threeam., June 12th, 2007 at 09:00:42pm
What I find funny about your last point is that people b*tch about them playing American Idol, but are perfectly ok with them being in the Simpsons movie. Dude, the Simpsons and American Idol are on the same network.
But people who think like this (in a negative way; you weren't being mean about anything) are why I love Green Day, because no matter how much people judge them and and scrutinize them; they still do whatever the hell they want.
Kurtni, June 12th, 2007 at 08:54:29pm
1. They had signed to a major label back in like '94 so I don't think that comes into it.
2. Yeah I agree with this point.
3. Green Day are not a punk rock band and they had been mainstream ever since Dookie took them out of the "underground"
4. They performed on American Idol?! I didn't know that.
Revol, June 12th, 2007 at 05:05:18pm