How Green Day's most personal track became a meme

[@Middle8]

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[@big_sea]

yes

[@MalcyTheMarionette]

Was at a Green Day concert here in Sweden 2022. And hearing him sing "40 years have gone so fast" instead of "20 years" made me cry... A lot

[@rockintelligence]

Aww... That's sad but at the same time so beautiful. Thanks for sharing, William☮️

[@WyytRabytt]

same

[@-steady-8215]

I know you would never actually get to know or feel it. But liking your comment is my way of sending a lot of love to you because that's what came inside of me after reading it.

[@3_MiL]

GAAAAAY

[@funkmon]

Man I'm old

[@Uglier.]

waited until September ended I see…

[@GIEEATSGUNS]

☠️

[@TheRealP1mpt12mYOYT]

🇹🇩

[@rowanspringer5462]

💀

[@K0I_F1SHH]

@@GIEEATSGUNS OMG UR HERE HII I LIKE GREEN DAY TOO!

[@vivi_stardust]

"Have fun, get a life at the same time." Well said, Billie.

[@casvandijk03]

And don't forget... "Shut the fuck up when october comes"

[@Bluebird-tj6kb]

I recently saw Green Day perform and when they played Wake me up i still could see the grief in Billie Joe's eyes. I guess it's something that never leaves, you just have to learn how to live with it.

[@beatrizgomes4094]

Yeah, I watched their performance last month at Rock in Rio… he updated the lyrics to “40 years has gone so fast”… you don’t forget, but you can deal with it in a better way

[@theirishpotato6588]

@@beatrizgomes4094 kewl

[@thisisyoutubehandle]

I remember him saying once that he won't deal with the pain in therapy or in other ways because then he couldn\t perform the song anymore with the same feeling. Kinda reminds me of Freddi saying that he wont fix his teeth because that might affect his vocal chords in a negative way.

[@boodlebubby6147]

I grew up singing this song with my dad in the car. He died when I was 13, and I can't really listen to it casually anymore. Anyway, I wanted to say that it absolutely is true. It's been 6 years, and it doesn't go away. It gets lighter, and you learn to live with it, but grief has a funny way of sticking with you, like it's trying to be there for you because the person you lost isn't.

[@jasonshaneyfelt1039]

You were lucky. I've seen Green Day live twice and each time they played virtually every single one of their hits, among several other minor hits and non-hits, except for Wake Me Up When September Ends. They play it very rarely as I understand.

[@WhaleManMan]

Billie: *makes emotional song about fathers passing* Twitter: "soMebody wake uP thE gUY fRoM GrEEN DaY"

[@unoriginal_name7091]

Lots of artists deal with this insensitivity, and it really sucks. Maynard James Keenan hates performing Wings for Marie live because half the crowd are jeering at him to play something like The Pot. Unfortunately, a lot of the music-consuming public doesn't respect the vulnerability that a lot of artists put in their music. Rivers of Nihil has a song called The Void From Which No Sound Escapes which, besides featuring an absolutely _transcendant_ saxophone solo, captures the hollowness of that relationship perfectly.

[@kalobadams7803]

I think this style video is better than the in person videos. There are too many other music channels doing that. What makes this one special is that it’s different.

[@rapidtomato3955]

I completly agree, its a nice face but it can sometimes be distracting.

[@caivsivlivs]

what's an in person video i can check out to see the style you're talking about?

[@pablokorona]

A mix is fine, these design heavy videos take so much extra time to make though. Being on screen helps alleviate some production time, and I welcome that.

[@j.avocado]

@@caivsivlivs Maybe referring to in-camera narration?

[@totallynotataco3537]

@@caivsivlivs someone recording their face while they're talking, kinda boring if you ask me visuals are much better although much harder and time consuming

[@Lil_failure]

imagine if billy Joe Armstrong actually made a song called 'shut the fuck up when October comes'

[@cassidygrey616]

Honestly it sounds like something he would do

[@SpareMango]

I love the song. Really tired of hearing the same corny joke every single year especially when it's something so serious and heartfelt.

[@EnergeticSpark63]

hey

[@kool_koala_slays_4ever]

Same. It’s so sad that others don’t take it seriously.

[@EnergeticSpark63]

@@kool_koala_slays_4ever hey

[@sam_9228]

@@kool_koala_slays_4ever song sucks

[@somber087]

those people are insensitive

[@pennyforyourthots]

I don't understand why this became everybody's funny September song. Doesn't "September" by Earth wind and fire already fill the comedy roll? This should be the sad September song, because it totally is. Just like the transition between seasons, both songs represent the clashing emotions that come with the transition from Summer to fall.

[@nakedmario6155]

Don’t you remember?

[@andreilindstrom5770]

Role* not roll

[@izthistle6196]

It’s just more well known ig

[@jwlsiee]

its the irony of using the sad song for humour

[@karateman302]

I think it might be because of how popular green day is among millennials and gen z.

[@MyNipplesArePointy]

Okay 'Shut the Fuck Up When October Comes' is pretty hilarious, not going to lie. Still, this song is fuckin beautiful. It's beyond anything I can comprehend.

[@veggiewillymass]

I already knew the story behind the song but you explaining the historical context that caused the song to become an anthem brought tears to my eyes. Like you said "Wake Me Up When September Ends" is a true testament to the power of music.

[@magdarozaschavez5481]

"maybe shut the fuck up when october comes" LOVE HIM

[@luisaluz9257]

Green Day played at Rock in Rio on September 10th of 2022, and Billie looked really emotional, he even changed the lyric to "40 years have gone so fast", it broke me so much. I watched the whole concert, and it was beautiful ( they had the best performance of the edition! ). Any artist that writes such personal songs and has the strength to perform them and share their feelings with the public has my total respect, and people shouldn't be joking about such things.

[@nightwing8446]

Uploaded it on Oct 1st. Well played Sir.

[@BugsyFoga]

It’s crazy how this song gain a double meaning, the prospective of Billy who sees it as his way to remember his late father, and the perspective of the people who sees it as memory of those who they lost in 9/11, September really just brings out the sadness in people.

[@wiquid]

I was born in September… Only proves your point further

[@passwordnyaapa2760]

Baa dee yaa this is the september Baa dee yaa this is the september yeah

[@jakel8627]

For me it's about 9/11. I remember the music video of that young man leaving his girlfriend for Iraq, and getting shot at the end.

[@DrBeauHightower]

Timing 10/10

[@manband20]

One thing I want to argue is the song itself fits perfectly into the album's "Jesus of Suburbia" narrative. It happens right after Letterbomb, which is the song where JoS loses Whatsername and is brought back from his drug-induced stupor he'd been in since becoming St. Jimmy. Letterbomb itself is the thesis statement of the entire album and says that JoS only became who he is because of his abusive father. Then his dad dies. Wake Me Up is supposed to be JoS coming back to reality and coming to terms with all of the guilt and trauma and neglect and lack of closure he is now dealing with now that the entire reason why he became a rebellious teenager is gone. Like Bojack Horseman said when his mom died, "I had so much left to say to her." After September, we get Homecoming, which is JoS coming to terms with himself and his feelings and turning his life around. It's only because Whatsername left him and his dad died that he was able to finally grow up and return back to suburbia and live a normal life.

[@oktover3031]

My father passed 7 years ago on September 27th 2015. This song really does hit home

[@noone-pg4lr]

I’m sorry for loss homie stay strong and use all he hast taught you to be the best man you can be honor his memory

[@The_Horse-leafs_Cabbage]

I remember this song becoming a point of catharsis for me. My main father figure, my grandfather, passed away in September 2008. He was only 59 at the time, and I was just starting my freshman year of high school.

[@Advent3546]

Billie Joe: Please stop. I'm singing about missing my dead dad. Internet: Ha ha wake up Green Day ha ha.

[@manwithamic2372]

I lost my brother in September of 2017, needless to say this song Always hurts but comforts at the same time

[@syahosullivan1647]

i dont know much about music but the explanation on the piano notes was really insightful

[@tidy5156]

It's also complete bs, sadly. A fith chors doesn't feel empty. It's literally the most stable interval. Also, it is not ambiguous at all in this context as other instruments play the third.

[@syahosullivan1647]

​ @tidy Context + Personal Perspective + Interpretation

[@JR-sc7hx]

“2004 was truly the year that rocked the world” 2020: hold my beer

[@iancrowley420]

2004 rocked the world, 2020 straight up fucked it in the ass

[@frenchiesottises8193]

The song, now that I'm older and have been through some stuff, really drives home just how somber and depressing September is as a whole. Billie Joe's father dies, 9/11 happened, and, if you're from the South like me, you'd know September is the month for peak hurricane activity. Irma, Maria, and Dorian were some of the worst ones. It's even said some people's mental health gets worse during this month because of the seasonal change. Even if you didn't go through any major events, September just has enough depressing history that you get what Billie Joe's feeling when he says "Wake me up when September ends." This month is just depressing and you wanna sleep through it so you don't have to deal with it.

[@laniebugg]

That is all so true. It just sucks when your birthday is September 1st.... 😮‍💨

[@TheEldritchHyena]

@@laniebugg My birthday is September 24th. Definitely feels kinda awkward reading all these comments from people saying the month of September is super depressing for them... But hey, what can you do?

[@rapidtomato3955]

I love how pristine the editing style is, teach me your ways......

[@Willy691]

I lost my father and paying close attention to the lyrics make my cry and I want to tell Billie Joe thank you for an amazing song

[@madmonty4761]

Tell hin

[@dinodude6481]

About 2015 I had my best friend over and while waiting to ask my dad something he started playing When September Ends on what I think was rock band 3 and my friend ran off crying. When I went to ask him what was wrong I just sat there comforting him as I realized the memory of his father who passed away in September one or two years ago from cancer was brought back to light. Realizing the emotional impact this song has for so many people has helped me to grow as a person and I hope that others who take it at face value can soon understand that too.

[@thecustomizer2008]

Shut The Fuck Up When October Begins should be his next song

[@SteventheThorn]

Perhaps the greatest Green Day song. One of the most powerful laments of this century.

[@twez349]

i don't care what other thinks about this song but it was the first song I had heard of Green Day and has an unmovable impact on me. This Song swallows me in everytime I play it.

[@pablokorona]

Such consistent killer production value. You deserve more views.

[@justinhamilton8647]

Lost my dad september 9th (also my moms birthday, what a coincidence) and this song hits hard every September and to see twitter making the same old jokes every year is so sad

[@davidnissim589]

Both of the Green Day shows I went to, Billie didn't sing the line "Like my father's come to pass," and he looked like he was about to cry during both of those times. This song has been hard for him to sing for 18 years now, so it feels kinda insulting that people are taking his most vulnerable song and turning it into a joke.

[@rEdf196]

Wake Me Up, makes me think of of my favorite Vancouver alternative rock radio station of the early 1990's Coast 1040 The Spirit Of Radio which went silent in the final minutes of September 31st 1993.

[@gringlejr]

HOLY I AM A ACTUAL FAN AND IT IS SO F ING ANOYING THAT THIS IS THE ONLY REPRESENTMENT THEY GET

[@YoursUntruly]

Now: And keep- When September ends: Listening.

[@EJames359]

Damn, and here's me growing up thinking the song was about 9/11.

[@niccole3542]

I always thought that too until I saw the real meaning behind it.It was coincidentally written 20 years after his dad's death and a year after 9/11.I never understood how the was meme-worthy despite how depressing it is.If people want a song about September to joke about there is Earth,Wind,and Fire .

[@ninja_tony]

Yeah, it's definitely not written about 9/11 specifically, but that's one of my favorite things about music, songs can take on entirely different meanings separate from what the songwriter even had in mind. To Billie Joe, it's about his father, but to a lot of people that grew up in a post-9/11 world and as fans of the band, it still works very much as a solemn reminder of how 9/11 changed the world. ESPECIALLY in the context of the rest of the album being a direct attack on Bush and the war in Iraq, which stemmed from the 9/11 attacks. It works on so many levels, which just makes it that much more powerful a song I believe.

[@Advent3546]

You timed the release of this video perfectly

[@OuRLiFeISaDrEaM]

This song hit me in the nuts because I first started hearing after hurricane Katrina and if you don’t live here. You won’t get it. But if you do then you know the city was shutdown all of September. So naturally. It’s quite emotional.

[@micktheman6]

One of the greatest punk albums ever

[@bench5236]

As someone who lost their father as well, the start of October sucks cuz wake me up is a song I associate with that loss so it’s like being slapped with the grief when I open social media that week.

[@lunar.enigma08]

my mom died in february 2011 and holy shit to i relate to this song. whenever february rolls around, the seasonal depression kicks in, and even if it is the shortest month, it still does drag on forever. people don't truly understand what it's like to lose a parent until it actually happens. every single word hits me right in the heart like a bullet whenever i listen to wake me up when september ends. the song has made me cry before. and i still cry over my mom. the grief never goes away.

[@Nerdtendo6366]

My local radio station has played this song in November

[@smallsam52]

Another killer video, you never miss. Appreciate you

[@Middle8]

Thank you 🙏 appreciate you too man

[@romeokoroma3341]

⁠ for your next video can you please do how Rock artists inspire and influence by Bob Marley.

[@devilsoffspring5519]

It's strange that Wake Me Up is so iconic for Green Day especially considering what album it's from. Jesus Of Suburbia is one of their absolute best.

[@alexkeawe]

Hearing this song live is so incredibly powerful. The emotion is so palpable that it thickens the air and gets stuck in your throat. When he sings, "40 years have gone so fast," it's chilling, made the air on the back of my neck stand up

[@Rick01650]

This ability of music to transcend from the individual to the societal level is just beautiful! Also, amazing video once again, love your in-depth research and editing style

[@SylvesterAshcroft88]

32 stitches cover of wake me up when september ends, is probably one of my favourite songs ever, and reminded me of this incredible song not long ago!

[@ryandupuis5860]

This song means cross country to me of all things. Every September for 4 years I was "drenched in my pain again" when the races began. The sadness doesn't come from grief though, it comes from nostalgia.

[@DeSlagen8]

Dude your video editing just makes them so exciting to watch

[@scrayden1377]

This song became a anthem for me when one of my life chapters was closing at the end of September

[@LaurierLachance]

I’ve heard this story told many ways over the years and thanks to your beautiful editing and story telling, I was totally captured. Thank you for your great work!

[@Capitan_Doug_Keith]

I lost my grandmother in September of 2020. That March and that September drove me to the point my gf actualy tricked me into seeing a doc. Best decision I've never made. Still, the song is special to me. Rock on, Billy Joe

[@QuicklyXplained]

You never cease to amaze me with the editing of these videos! Seriously, I can only imagine the absurd amount of time that goes into this

[@officialj-rem4756]

This is genuinely a really well put together video!!

[@NCschell]

I lost one of my best friends to suicide on September 25th, 2019. Even though I've always loved this song, he is now the first person I think of when I hear it.

[@madmonty4761]

Suicide💀

[@danielthecholo]

Legit heard this song at the bar last night. Was reminded how sad the song was.

[@coyoteprime3239]

I lost my dad at 8, same type of cancer as Billie Joe’s dad. I see Billie joe as someone just like me, a role model of how he dealt with the exact same thing, and came out stronger. I lost my dad in September and Wake me up when September ends, and boulevard of broken dreams especially connected to me. I was sent to an all boys school and had no friends for years, constantly bullied. I walked alone, not knowing my worth. Billie joe’s music got me through all of that. Thank you.

[@nationsquid]

Such a beautifully done video. Thanks for making this.

[@dishman4694]

I hate how irony works. Billy’s pain fuels our own of September.

[@daughterofrageandlove]

this is such an insensitive topic to joke about. he still gets emotional over his father passing and thats to be expected. just because billie is famous doesn’t mean that he’s unaffected by jokes people make ABOUT HIS DAD PASSING AWAY. some people on the internet need to gain respect for themselves and others. rest in piece billies dad 🕊🪦

[@Poketrainer92]

September 21 Earth Wind and Fire September 30 Greenday

[@ninja_tony]

The true lesson to be learned in all of this is that the most important events usually happen in September, and only musicians are wise to that little known fact lol

[@brandoneadie3122]

God, these videos are SO well made!

[@legendarybruh7942]

Vids are great, feel like I'm always walking away with something for these songs I already love

[@rapidtomato3955]

Is no one gonna talk about how he posted this when september ended...

[@alvanosm]

TY. Love your KZbin channel 👍

[@rachaelvaughan1017]

I also hold that song close to me as my father passed in September as well so I completely understand and the fact that it was turned into a meme is really messed up.

[@philippeamon7271]

I can't imagine any malice in it. The reality is, if you're an artist, you must drawn on your pain for your art. But that doesn't allow you to control or dictate how that art is interpreted.

[@maytale.7184]

Thank you for making this 💚

[@jacobk.8744]

I kept listening

[@tabletalenovo9695]

this video has really good design and storyboarding. Will use it for inspo

[@Katawesome]

AMAZING BEAUTIFUL VIDEO PERFECT EDITING IM CRYING THANK U

[@timkirsten6184]

Love this vid and channel. So much work goes into each vid. Keep it up :)

[@riichobamin7612]

"Wake Me Up When September Ends" was one of the favourite song of one of my cousin who committed suicide in high school. I always remember him when I hear this song.

[@sedxeu5250]

Props for analyzing everybits of the song deeply! from the lyrics, to the chords

[@littleredyeti2298]

Everything bad happens in September, change my mind

[@zaaknicolas7638]

love your vids

[@TODD1968ification]

When I hear this song it reminds me of when I lost my older sister and father ten days apart. That sad month is February for me. Awesome group and song.

[@evie-rd8tc]

man i had no idea that was what this song is about. Makes me relate to it even harder than I thought I did. I lost my dad 2 years ago and it's flown by and I've also really struggled to write about it in my poetry. My father died March 1 so I also really relate to it shaping a whole month when it happens on the first day.

[@TrippleNineSIXBandOfficial]

My first Green Day show was the Hurricane Katrina benefit performance of wake me up when September ends at Gillette Stadium in 2005. Don’t worry that wasn’t the only song they played as they played the full 2 1/2 hours 😂🎉

[@elianafajardo3413]

Hey so I only found this channel last night & I’ve already seen most of your videos. You do real good work, it is safe to say, i’ve subscribed & can’t wait to see what you do next!!! As a side note, it would be really awesome to see a video dedicated to Fall Out Boy’s evolution, discography, or even lyrics. I think you’d be able to cover the subject very well!

[@harrry4052]

Ohh, dang fr, i'd love that too! But I think the only time he has done a video dedicated to a band as a whole was Coldplay, otherwise he does breakdowns of albums or singles (tbf i would love even that 😩)

[@kyfisher3662]

that and 5th chords are just the main sound of the genre they play lol

[@yuganter09]

Just subbed to you great work on this video

[@Android-17]

Great video

[@Mycatprincess2022]

I think the posts that are like "this is the only day you can share this" with a screenshot of a character referencing a specific date are partially to blame. They get shared by people who might have never even heard or seen the original quote in context. Usually, that kind of stuff is just interaction-bait and harmless, but sometimes you end up with stuff like this, an insensitive application of the format.

[@uonakelep]

You always ulpoad videos on songs and artists I like

[@theepicricemaker6611]

What was with the pause at the end wtf 😂

[@Middle8]

😉

[@I_sued_walmart]

This song makes me cry every time I hear it.

[@lucasjacobs2928]

English is not a native language. In school I loved Green Day but only understood fragments (for example: for a long time I thought Holiday was about school holidays or something) but I always understood wake me up when September ends. It’s safe to say music can cross language barriers.

[@Sonny_McMacsson]

September ended and I'll always remember the 21st night of it.

[@ericjayfederizo3549]

Something with this song that made me cry.

[@DukesMusic84]

Billie Joe has always worn his heart on his sleeve with these lyrics, he's just cool and he shows other guys it's OK to be that way. Including me, I have a bunch of albums out with Green Day as an influence.

[@JackMcSomeone]

In Australia, AFL fans use the song as a meme for the teams that didn't make the finals (playoffs), which usually takes place throughout the entire month of September

[@raytheturtle]

My first breakup was the end of August. This song was what I played on repeat

[@WWNbroadcasts]

I think it’s amazing that a song that is for grief for everyone whether its Billie Joel remembering his father or people remembering 9/11 or the war in Iraq that’s what makes a song great

[@Dexy83]

Totally lost on me until I realized that it's October 1st thus, September has ended. 🤣

[@yeahno8294]

My Grams died in September and I completely understand. My Grams was my safe place she was my savior from sexual abuse and always made me feel safe and loved losing her was like losing My safe place and every September I feel the loss harder and deeper than any other time of year

[@Wandervenn]

As someone who goes through the same thing every November, it kinda sucks that everyone has made it a funny thing to pile onto every year

[@IAm-No1]

They’re my favourite band and it seriously annoys me when people make the same stupid jokes about a genuinely heartfelt and emotional track. It’s really disrespectful and they need to quit it.

[@paulmcgrath6118]

Boo boo, billie can wipe his tears with his millions of dollars , it’s a joke, get over it

[@dylanburton4955]

@@paulmcgrath6118 It’s not even a good joke though

[@paulmcgrath6118]

@@dylanburton4955 no it’s but that funny , but the fact that people worship a multi millionaire rock star so much that they get triggered by such a crap joke - that does actually make it funny . If billie himself finds it offensive then he needs to stop taking himself so seriously

[@sarascarpati887]

​@@paulmcgrath6118 seriously? Is that all that you have to say?

[@paulmcgrath6118]

@@sarascarpati887 Yes . Why ? Do you want everyone to tip toe over everything. Billie is punk and punks should be able to take a joke and not take life so seriously. Not just punks, but everyone. He should be happy the song is so popular. I doubt his dad would be offended

[@WhatsInANameArts]

My great grandmother passed away in September of 2016 and I never really got to know her because when I was finally old enough to really understand and get to know her, her age had taken away her ability to talk and function independently. I only ever got to visit her around once or twice a year, sometimes less and it was always only for a few hours mostly spent helping my grandpa clean up her house for her and my great aunt. I find it somewhat heartbreaking that it's been 7 years. I don't have the locket she passed down to me anymore and that fact still hurts but I'm more terrified of forgetting how her hugs felt. I'm taking her name as my middle name soon when i change it legally, I'll never forget her even if it still hurts. I'm sad she won't get to see me graduate and go to college but that's ok cuz I know she'll be with me anyway.