The Story of Green Day's "American Idiot"

[@jkl5901]

I kinda want to thank whoever stole the person who stole those demos.

[@henrywalton5967]

They must have thought green day can do better, I'll steal everything and maybe they will start from scratch! Lol

[@Solidsnaik]

Henry Walton yes and that person was Billie Joe Armstrong. It always sounds like such a far-fetched story. Who steals an album and doesn’t leak it?

[@spippy2901]

Somebody should stealFather of All Motherfuckers

[@trsidn]

@@Solidsnaik you do have a point

[@chaoticproductions3922]

Then steal the demos form him so you can hear some never before heard Green Day

[@chopsuey--]

I'm glad you're telling this story. People always call Green Day sellouts for making this album without realising what actually happened and how they completely changed their style. P.s.- Never realised how relevant the title track's lyrics are, especially in the recent years.

[@ivansali6109]

Agreed on that last part. Specially these lines: "Welcome to a new kind of tension All across the alien nation Where everything isn't meant to be okay."

[@TajinPickle]

Thatguy WhoDoesThings I completely agree btw your pfp is awesome I love nofx

[@WarPigstheHun]

Never cared what the fuck was a sellout. The only people complaining were lowlife scum that spent all their money on rock concerts and complained that they had bad jobs (because they flunked out of school)

[@jcam.hart8]

@@ivansali6109 *idiot nation

[@SonofSethoitae]

@@jcam.hart8 Nope, it's alien nation. Right from the liner notes: www.scribd.com/doc/225913513/Digital-Booklet-American-Idiot

[@fetamean]

When I heard: "I read the graffiti on the bathroom stall like the holy scriptures of the shopping mall," when I was like 10 or younger, I swear that was some of the most compelling lyricism my mind could comprehend.

[@mcrmakesmedance]

American idiot isn’t an album, it’s an experience

[@nicholasdibari9095]

Why didn’t he talk about “Wake Me Up When September Ends” and “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” ????!!!!

[@webbskul]

He did talk about boulevard And September isn't part of the story

[@christiankallio8586]

@@webbskul Wake Me Up When September Ends could fit into the story. It's right after Letterbomb and the way I see it, it's Jesus of Suburbia/St. Jimmy being depressed after Whatshername breaks up with him, And yes I know the real story behind the song but I'm saying in the context of the rock opera what's it about

[@webbskul]

@@christiankallio8586 meh fair point

[@zbolt_]

The real question is, why didnt he talk about the deluxe edition songs

[@srehh5529]

@@christiankallio8586 Just because it can, doesn't mean it is. I personally think 21st Century Breakdown can fit into that huge missing chunk of City life conflicts that happened with Jesus and Whatsername's during the mid-section of American Idiot's storyline. That part of AI's plot was too vague and undetailed. But so far as canon goes, Gloria and Christian from 21CB aren't the same characters as Jesus and Whatsername.

[@jadedjimmy]

What always has intrigued me and (still does intrigue me) is how intentional every single line of every song on this album is. Like, with maybe the exception of Wake Me Up When September Ends, you know that every line is somehow correlated with the plot and and has either a metaphorical or literal meaning. Like, "The 7-11 to the fear of breaking down", or "Am I retarded or am I just overjoyed?", or "Try to fight fire, setting fire / is not a way that's meant for me" or "Forget me nots, second thoughts live in isolation / heads or tails and fairy tales in my mind", to name a few My point is that this album is chock full of lines that I keep re-discovering and realizing that I didn't give much thought to before. It all means something. And the way you perceive the album I think changes over time, but you're never at a loss for what you think it means. It's accessible but endlessly captivating.

[@nathancochrane2616]

This album quite literally changed my life and I'm so happy it did❤

[@theworldsmith5489]

So happy you’ve grown a lot since I last watched you. By the way, my 3 favorites are good riddance, wake me up when September ends, and basket case

[@MelodyYoung]

Jesus of Suburbia is still one of my favorite songs. I don't really know why, but I really connected with American Idiot when I was younger and it still has a good nostalgic feeling now when I listen to it.

[@aarona.m4267]

Can you do one on 21st century breakdown?

[@zakkmccrack0]

I'm an Italian 17yo kiddo, and I discovered this album on 2009 when I was 5. I think that this album need to be studied at school. Full of meaning And above all it makes us reflect on society.

[@GoldPrince2468]

4:24 This sounds like Ring of Fire. Instead of a burning passion, it’s a smoldering apathy.

[@Stopitpls]

This needs more views, and this channel needs more subscribers. You’re massively underrated.

[@blackferdinand2260]

Praise be the Gods! Another Polyphonic video

[@v-g-z3689]

This is a pretty damn good breakdown of the album. Well done, whoever´s behind it!

[@averagejoe6031]

I was born when this album came out. 17 years later and I only now discovered it and I fell in love instantly. I love it so much and Love the message. Even if I’m embarrassed to tel people I listen to it

[@Puzzle-Queen]

I really have to agree that Green Day has got it right, the system, the government is very bad. I was born in 2004 and after that, I was born into a horrible world from then on. Everything is bad. Just a lot of hate all around the world 😔 it sad to think of.... Green Days American Idiot and Holiday album just basically illustrated how I saw the world.... I hope that what's occuring right now with the protests and the outbreak, things would change for the better.... But it's all in the hands of the people to take charge and get ahold of our freedom...

[@cowsareblue572]

Wdym "American idiot and holiday album"? Do you think holiday is an album?

[@wolfplayer7815]

Graduate high school then go on adventure and experience true freedom

[@hebercotiz]

Man! great video! As a non-native English speaker, very often I miss some details or background on most of the music I Like. Thanks for making this album more awesome to me.

[@deathjunior7755]

Jesus of Suburbia will always be my favorite greenday track.

[@elliottotbc]

Please make it a movie Green Day

[@trayusv1211]

HBO's been working on an american idiot film since 2016

[@tvbnine793]

I wanna see an animated American Idiot musical film, that'd be hilarious

[@tvbnine793]

Nah ordinary world was it's own project

[@MrC1utch337]

there already is...slc punk. or at least the two story lines are very similar.

[@WhooNiki]

Elliott Harlow Totally!!! It would also be cool to have it as a book or a graphic novel 😍😍😍

[@KPT437]

This is a great channel! Great work! Love your Beyoncé video.

[@emerald7810]

American Idiot was one of the first few CD's I ever bought for myself as a teenager. I listened to it so many times that I can practically recite it from memory, and it still resonates every time.

[@danielpurser135]

DO RUSH DO RUSH DO RUSH

[@alexmiom]

YES YES YES! 2112!

[@jamoman0277]

Daniel Purser yesssssss

[@ThisIsReadyMade]

Daniel Purser Hell yeah!

[@handlesarestupid154]

2112 is pretty self explanatory

[@monio.9444]

Great GREAT video! Thank you! I only wish it was longer.

[@CMT_Crabbles]

I remember someone asked me to play music, and since all I know is Alt Rock, I ended up playing American Idiot because I figured it was popular. Turns out it was cliche and everyone hated it 😅

[@nickmontoya1]

Letterbomb and Whatsername still haunt me, and probably always will. Same shit going on with me as I'm sure it is with everyone, I wonder how whatsername has been.

[@annadeneris8384]

This album is a masterpiece

[@spork4267]

I first listened to American Idiot when I was in 5th grade, now as an 11th grader, it's still my favorite Green Day album.

[@ssalamander2134]

Do one on the Black parade

[@JawJX]

Most of us would have rewritten those demos but they're choice to make a new concept really paid off, and became one of the best albums of all time

[@boopadoop5296]

4:48 Mike's look though

[@Aussiewhatevercontentimakenow]

Can you do one for 21st century breakdown

[@Happy_Cheese-h7u]

I would absolutely love this. 21cb is the most underrated Green day album (based on the albums I've listened to)

[@ShelbyxPwns]

American Idiot is one of my favorite albums of all time! I remember I got it in 6th grade, and it was the first CD I ever got that had the "WARNING: EXPLICIT CONTENT" label on it and I felt like SUCH a badass.

[@theboulderboulded5776]

If he did a poster with all the different Pictures representing the songs, I would buy the hell out of it.

[@dylanwakefield7466]

Got this album for my 7th birthday, back then I just loved the album the whole way through because I just loved the music. As I got older and began to get the lyrics I loved it even more. This is the first album I ever owned and tbh I think it’s still my favourite album of all time

[@rolandkatsuragi]

"Dearly Beloved" is noteworthy as it goes against the rage and apathy throughout the rest of the track.

[@Billy_D]

Video about Tool?

[@gmzplayer]

R. Batinic fuck yeah!!

[@XBBBBBXx]

asked for that a few videos ago and got 500~ likes so maybe?

[@applehack97]

about Lateralus to be more precise

[@sinistergrey3]

Yes, this please, Tool video on Lateralus would be AWESOME

[@hydrahunter4629]

You know, I love how everyone says that Jesus of Suburbia is Green Day's Bohemian Rhapsody, but they also have two other contenders, one of which is from the same album: Homecoming and Dirty Rotten Bastards

[@RockerLock]

this video is just as long as the Jesus of Suburbia full music video

[@Johnbrowningmusic]

You made me love this album even more somehow

[@freerunAR]

This is one of my favorite albums of all time, and Jesus of Suburbia is my favorite song of all time!

[@dylanrondeau4936]

Literally would give a heart emoji to this video if possible. This was awesome!

[@christianruiz2816]

great videos man! keep it going!!

[@benny2446]

The fact that this album’s story is still relevant to today’s society in America is why I have so much respect for Green Day

[@thomstephenson4033]

I think that Jesus of suburbia is honestly the best song in the album

[@LucasAlmeida-dz5xh]

Maybe the guy who stole the tapes for “Cigarettes and Valentines” was a time traveler who was sent to ensure American Idiot happened 😂

[@alexanderkundert5958]

That background music is pretty cool.

[@Happy_Cheese-h7u]

7:51 I may be wrong, but I thought that part was about Billie Joe having to fill out paperwork because he was arrested for drunk driving. The facility refers to the police station. Could be wrong tho

[@thy1fallen]

dude Wake Me Up When September Ends was mising

[@ThatNBAguy123]

This album is so amazing lmao, i literally paused this video and went and listened to American Idiot after he showed it

[@reaperthekilljy6060]

The art for the lyrics Is amazing!

[@irisgobert5893]

They're just amazing and this album is a timeless masterpiece

[@siccandtwistted]

Love it great video

[@medes5597]

I didn't realize the band thought the list their edge I "Warning". I bought that album when I was 13 and I'm pretty sure it's the reason I ended up loving folk punk and 50s/60s music. Sure when I got older I realized parts of "Warning" was borrowed so heavily from the Kinks that it borders plagiarism (seriously the song "Warning", the title track and second single, is almost musically identical to "Picture Book" by the Kinks) but I still love it like I did at 13. It's one of the few green day records that's stuck with me my whole life so far. American Idiot is clearly heavily inspired by The Who's rock operas, similar naming conventions and song construction. I'm surprised you didn't mention that. I actually really like this record, but it kind of ruined Green Day for the next few years because they were constantly trying to do something *more*. More than a standard album, more than a standard rock opera, more than just 12 songs on one cd, etc. It's only recently they've rediscovered the joy and brilliance of 12 different 3-minute songs on one. In and out like a punk band should be.

[@friendlyneighbourhoodbridg1354]

Tbh the album is even more relevant now. I’m SO GLAD that they decided to start from scratch!

[@NoCommission-bo6vh]

ive been trying to find you again for years and finally, finally i found you

[@r33s3s_]

This was published on my birthday and this is my favorite album.

[@lillyjandrisits3797]

This album should become a book!!!

[@reviewer8248]

Whenever I sing American idiot (the song) in my head I always sing the guitar riff too

[@c.w.r.794]

So, there’s a Green Day musical. I love it. I have to give thanks to my dad for playing the album on my way to first grade. Yes, first grade. Needless to say, this album cemented itself into my brain and is responsible for me being how I am. A loud, brash, and brutally honest person.

[@yungsircashregister]

I love Letterbomb. It's my favorite Green Day song.

[@kevindoyle1884]

Such a brilliant analysis

[@b0bbinrobin]

Me and some of my siblings liked Green Day when younger. i still listen sometimes. was not something we shared that much with each other. more than acknoledgement, better off sharing with each other more id say. Once I even went to see my dad and I took back my dinosaur toy i had gotten as a gift. but got left behind when i kinda moved to sweden, human behavior many times.

[@senorpigeon9564]

Warning is pretty good. People didn’t appreciate it because it’s new and part of the ska genre.

[@zaydoesmusic]

(New fav video)

[@ChelseaMonday]

This album saved my life, still love it

[@jacobklosinski8914]

Can you do welcome to the black parade next

[@joshelderkin9592]

ive hated on this album for yearsssss because i was like 12ish when it came out and from all the singles being twelve-fifteen i just automaticly judged that they were suddenly 'trying to hard' cause i was an asshole lol im gonna have to give it an adult listen

[@i.m.h.3917]

Josh Elderkin the only teen like album I’m not ashamed of liking!

[@xtremespeedx-thethinkingch2781]

Love this album

[@TheFancifulFish]

such a great album

[@buzinaocara]

"We live in a society" the album.

[@dontbringthosegreenbeans]

Everyone: this was a well made video and I love American Idiot Me: what about Wake Me Up When September Ends? 😭

[@rngsilvercraft3995]

Wow,I didn't know this was a concept album

[@Noctali_Volkova]

And here in 2020 this song describes how society is perfectly. Except when this song came out there was still some awareness in people of where society was going. But now I feel like everyone is nearly blind to this idea and won't understand this concept. Such a heavy feeling in my heart to think about tbh

[@sarowie]

Whatshername: In the lyric booklet of the CD, her name was scribbled out - so I think he does not want tobe remembered of her name (and thus his past life)

[@gretchenbrearley452]

Jesus of suburbia is my favorite song EVER

[@darkskinwhite]

this video reminded me of a feeling I havent felt in a looooooong time. a weird blurry image of being a super youngin lol. thanks for the video sun.

[@istolethismonkeynft7068]

green day and punk rock is what got me thru 6th grade, i wish i could thank them

[@lux1020]

this was a *really* fantastic video. very well done :))))

[@stevensalas1]

I loved this analysis. It would be great to see a "Understanding NOFX - The Decline."

[@jasmineallen1242]

This ironed out so many details I always wondered.

[@jannisbmrt]

Letterbomb is probably the most underrated Green Day song

[@LinusKnight]

since it was a concept album follow up, can you also do 21st Century Breakdown and Father Of All

[@kopflos7423]

Amazing story and amazing music that means something and has a message!

[@bitesized4503]

Searched for genius green day, found this and I prefer it to anything genius has ever done

[@drakawinkle584]

American Idiot is a modern rock opera. All the songs are powerful.

[@alfiethompson-lilley90]

Can u review other green day albums like 21st century breakdown? Or nimrod?

[@pasta1549]

The fact that this beautiful album is still, for the most part, still relevant scares me. To me, it just shows how America hasn’t really changed

[@fikzer6184]

You should review about 21st Century Breakdown next.

[@extrapuddly8376]

saw this on broadway. legendary

[@theshortest8769]

I love this video...make more..

[@jamesWilliams-py5zy]

That's eleven minutes that I shouldve been asleep

[@crusader7616]

Wow those album covers made for each song were sweet as shit I'd buy a few if they were shirts

[@DaPunkShadow]

Where did you get the concept art from thats along with the lyrics?

[@klawis]

It's from an artist that has an FB page called KLHR Design. Go check it out, he's cool. He makes tons of concept art from other bands too

[@cerignola12]

Disappointed there was no mention of all the melodic and lyrical teases on this album. For instance at 2:23 in Jesus of suburbia the vocal uses the melody from summer of '69 by bryan adams. At 7:00 the melody is basically Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash and at 7:42 he says I walk this line, another cash song. The more rockin part of holiday at 1:52 is the same as the end (at 2:38) of minor threat's cashing in. There are a lot more examples too. I think St. Jimmy is a jawbreaker song but I can't remember. What's her name is the same chord progression as the wallflower's one headlight. I still can't believe I've never heard anyone talk about all this. It had to be intentional.

[@brogan-guffey]

Bro he said warning was bad for me I love that album it is amazing

[@aidannolastname]

Dearly Beloved is my favorite part of Jesus of Suburbia

[@angelaalvarado-nowack4799]

HAVE THIS ALBUM!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@chaosof99]

You should do this kind of analysis for "David Comes to Life" by Fucked Up

[@sued_]

The song is still relevant about America