Green Day’s Fifty Greatest Songs (Ranked)
50. Blood, Sex & Booze (Warning — Track 2)
Green Day has proven time and time again it has never been afraid to get really personal. Nowhere does this ring truer than in “Blood, Sex & Booze,” a track that, beyond its grotesque lyrics, has an absolutely groovy and refreshing instrumental backbone.
49. ¿Viva La Gloria? (Little Girl) (21st Century Breakdown — Track 12)
“Little Girl” describes a character whose desire to overcome a severe drug problem gets crushed by the environment around her. The piano introduction sets a beautifully somber tone that dominates the song.
48. Words I Might Have Ate (Kerplunk! — Track 12)
One of the early signs that Green Day wasn’t your typical Bay Area Punk act, Kerplunk!’s closing track goes acoustic. It sounds nothing like anything Green Day has recorded, and yet, it’s catchy as hell.
47. One for the Razorbacks (Kerplunk! — Track 2)
“One for the Razorbacks” makes this list because it’s catchy, original, and has a kickass guitar solo (by early Green Day standards). And yes, this song is about a girl from Arkansas[1], hence “razorback.”
46. Makeout Party (¡Dos! — Track 6)
Dirnt’s mesmerizing bass work successfully challenges Billie Joe to bring his guitar solo A-game. Despite the (understandable) flack the Trilogy gets, one thing is for certain — there are some kickass guitar solos laced throughout the three records.
If not for the stale lyrics, “Makeout Party” could very well be a top 20 Green Day song.
45. Before the Lobotomy (21st Century Breakdown — Track 5)
A look at the character development of Christian and Gloria, 21st Century Breakdown’s two main characters, “Before the Lobotomy” is definitely one of Green Day’s more theatric pieces. You can have your gripes with 21st Century Breakdown all you want, but if you don’t like this song, you’re nuts.
44. Nuclear Family (¡Uno! — Track 1)
¡Uno! is my least favorite Green Day album. Compared to the band’s catalog, including the two succeeding Trilogy records, it falls flat. There are a handful of standouts, notably “Let Yourself Go,” “Rusty James,” and “Angel Blue.”
“Nuclear Family” is the highlight of this album, and that’s a damn shame, because it’s probably the best song in the entire Trilogy, meaning the full collection of 37 songs peaks at Track One.
43. Emenius Sleepus (Dookie — Track 12)
Mike Dirnt penned this 1 minute 44 second piece that gets buried in an album full of hit singles. Illustrating the interaction between two lifelong friends who have a falling out, “Emenius Sleepus” hits listeners on a deeply personal level, especially that last verse:
Anybody ever say no?
Ever tell you that weren’t right?
Where did all the little kids go?
Did you lose it in a hateful fight?
Well done, Mike.
42. Private Ale (Kerplunk! — Track 5)
Yes, I am well aware of what this song is about (hint — you absolutely should take the lyrics literally). I still don’t know what exactly a “private ale” is, though.
41. Christie Road (Kerplunk! — Track 4)
Christie Rd. is a street near Rodeo, CA (where the band members grew up).[2] It was the hangout spot. The track lyrics are pretty straightforward — the narrator is bored at home, and wants to go to Christie Rd.
If the succeeding album, Dookie, represents a chronological journey for this character, he probably never actually left his house.[3]
40. King for a Day (nimrod. — Track 16)
Unafraid to speak out on social issues[4], “King for a Day,” features a story of a cross-dressing narrator and his un-embracing father. The simple lesson of this song — embrace who you are.
On stage, this song is still an enthusiastic live staple. In the late 1990s, Billie Joe would strip completely down to a thong. Since the mid-2000s, the band performs the song with a medley including The Isley Brothers’ “Shout!” among other classic pop hits, complete with a horn section.
39. Desensitized (Shenanigans — Track 2)
I’ve always been a huge fan of this song, but it took me a while to truly understand how brilliant it is.
I first heard it in elementary school. I had become a devoted Green Day fanatic by mid-2005, having purchased all the band’s records, including Shenanigans. Every time “Desensitized” came on, my younger brother and I would laugh at what sounded like a man being beaten with a baseball bat, a metal garbage can, and broken glass. It was almost cartoonish.
It took me more than 10 years to finally realize what this track is about. The word “desensitize”[5] means to “make [an individual] insensitive or nonreactive to a sensitizing agent.”
This song is about how people consume news and media (especially war) as if it’s entertainment… which brings us full circle to my brother and me having once found pleasure in the extended introduction featuring a man being beaten.
I’m desensitized, and I feel dirty for it.
38. At the Library (39/Smooth — Track 1; 1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours — Track 1)
The first song off the first album, “At the Library” is about the high school crush you’re too shy to approach. Surprise (not)! In the end, it turns out she has a boyfriend. Maybe, we’ll meet again someday.
37. Burnout (Dookie — Track 1)
When you sign onto a mainstream record label, you’re going to ostracize the hipsters. That’s exactly what happened with Green Day. 924 Gilman’s biggest act was actually barred from returning to the venue until 2015.[6] Talk about petty.
But none of that mattered. Green Day became a household name with the release of their major record label debut Dookie, greatly due to the relatability of the album’s lyrics. “Burnout” is just one of many stories, but perhaps the best, about teenage angst, lacking motivation, and drug use. It sets the tone for the next half hour, and is still a fan favorite to this day.
And we didn’t even touch on those incredible drum fills.
36. American Eulogy (21st Century Breakdown — Track 17)
In case American Idiot didn’t get the point across, Green Day reaaaaally hates mainstream media and the powers that be.
Mike Dirnt takes the vocal lead on “Modern World,” the second section of this two part song, delivering a powerful message about the failures of those in charge.
As “Letterbomb” is widely regarded as the fan-favorite track from American Idiot, “American Eulogy” earns that title for 21CB.
I am a nation without bureaucratic ties.
Deny the allegation as it’s written — f*ckin’ lies!
35. J.A.R. (Jason Andrew Relva) (released as a single for the movie Angus in 1995; later released on the 2001 compilation record International Superhits!)
Originally recorded as an outtake for Dookie, the song was released as a single and featured in the movie Angus in 1995. It’s dedicated to Mike Dirnt’s childhood friend, Jason, who died in a car crash in 1992.
34. Church on Sunday (Warning — Track 3)
“Church on Sunday” is the song your diehard-Green-Day-fan friend will tell you to listen to when you want to start getting into the band, even if said friend knows you should really be starting things off with Dookie.
I’m not complaining, though. This is a stellar song, and my dream Green Day setlist[7] would always include this as the show opener.
33. Geek Stink Breath (Insomniac — Track 4)
Methamphetamine — a common topic explored on 1995’s Insomniac. “Geek Stink Breath” chronicles the negative effects of the drug (also referred to as “geek”). The music video, which shows graphic footage of a patient getting his tooth pulled, was banned in multiple countries.
32. Bang Bang (Revolution Radio — Track 2)
When the band claimed this track would capture its iconic ’90s sound and ’00s political consciousness, many laughed due in part to the belief that Green Day hadn’t released a quality album since American Idiot.
Yet, “Bang Bang” shocked the masses — instrumentally, it was reminiscent of Insomniac. Lyrically, it exhibited socially conscious themes found throughout American Idiot.
31. Waiting (Warning — Track 10)
It’s rare you’ll find a Green Day song with an overtly positive message, but “Waiting” is exactly that. That message — against all odds, just go for it.
I like to think that message directly inspired the creation of American Idiot…
30. Letterbomb (American Idiot — Track 10)
Many diehard Green Day fans will say this is their all-time favorite song, and that’s fine by me. It may just very well be Green Day’s favorite Green Day song, as not only did Billie Joe proclaimed it his favorite track off American Idiot[8], but the band also performed it at the 2012 Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.[9]
Ironically enough, “Letterbomb” wasn’t played much on American Idiot World Tour. Yet, the track has since found its way into live sets on the band’s most recent tours — 99 Revolutions[10] and Revolution Radio[11].
29. Pulling Teeth (Dookie — Track 6)
Double-decker sandwiched between four hit singles (“Longview,” “Welcome to Paradise,” “Basket Case,” “She”), “Pulling Teeth” is a Dookie deep cut that deserves more recognition.
Lyrically, it’s about an abusive relationship between boyfriend and girlfriend, with the former unable to find a way to leave the toxic relationship. Sonically, the song is rather peppy, so it actually comes across as quite humorous.
28. East Jesus Nowhere (21st Century Breakdown — Track 8)
Despite its mainstream label status, Green Day has never been afraid to tackle tough issues, such as how religion often pours into politics.
27. St. Jimmy (American Idiot — Track 6)
The turning point in American Idiot, this track introduces us to the fearless yet insecure alter ego of Jesus — St. Jimmy. It’s three minutes of pure energy, and yet the band somehow manages to significantly increase the tempo at live shows.
26. She (Dookie — Track 8)
I think Rolling Stone sums this one up well:
“When Green Day released “She” as the fifth and final single from Dookie in May of 1995, America was starting to get a little sick of the band. Their music had dominated MTV and radio for the past year, and they were starting to reach the saturation point. “She” was the only single from the disc not to reach the Top 40, and that was a clear sign to Warner Bros. to stop milking the album. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad song — quite the contrary. “She” is a brilliant, short and sweet kiss-off to an ex-girlfriend that has aged quite well.”[12]
25. The Judge’s Daughter (39/Smooth — Track 10; 1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours — Track 10)
“[It’s] about a ‘judge’s daughter’ back in [high] school,” Billie Joe once wrote, “Had a crush on her and I thought her dad would throw me in prison.”[13]
Billie Joe’s guitar solo perfectly captures the raw style that oozes through Green Day’s earliest records, and John Kiffmeyer (aka Al Sobrante)’s drum work is absolutely top notch.
24. Boulevard of Broken Dreams (American Idiot — Track 4)
You’d think it’s a slightly overrated song, but then you remember just how epic that instrumental outro is, and how this is an all-time great concert moment for any musical act ever.
Then you also remember how pivotal this track was in revitalizing Green Day’s careers, helping them reach an even larger audience, including myself.
Sometimes you just have to appreciate the mega hits, no matter how overplayed they are.
23. Forever Now (Revolution Radio — Track 11)
My name is Billie and I’m freaking out.
Billie Joe cited this as the most honest line he’s put to paper.[14] That makes sense — it illustrates the anxiety found in tracks like “Basket Case.” It also shows the disdain Billie Joe has for the current state of politics, especially the 2016 election cycle.
No doubt, this song should have been the album closer. “Ordinary World” should have been a bonus track.
22. Misery (Warning — Track 6)
“Misery” narrates the tales of four hapless losers named Virginia, Mr. Whirly, Vinnie, and Gina, and the consequences that result from their poor decisions. It’s one of the band’s most ambitious tracks, featuring mariachi brass, strings, and an accordion.
21. 80 (Kerplunk! — Track 8)
Named for Billie Joe’s eventual wife, Adrienne (“Adie”), “80” is the defining love song in Green Day’s extensive musical catalog, and is rightly regarded as one of the strongest songs from the pre-Dookie era.
20. Nice Guys Finish Last (nimrod. — Track 1)
1997 marked a clear point where the band was heading in a different direction sonically. “Nice Guys Finish Last” is the closest thing to the band’s signature sound up to that point, which is why I’m kind of shocked it didn’t chart better.
19. Minority (Warning — Track 11)
I said AYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Perhaps no song gets a Green Day concert more hyped up than this one. It’s pretty much always the main set closer before the encore, and it should be.
Green Day’s first significant dabble into politics is all about embracing that outcast status, and about telling the powerful to shove it where the sun don’t shine.
18. Worry Rock (nimrod. — Track 7)
I’m not fully confident that I know what a “worry rock” is. The closest answer I could find is that a “worry stone” is a polished gemstone which you can rub for stress relief (like a stress ball). There’s definitely moments in this song where the narrator needs solitude to just completely let loose:
Yelling at brick walls and punching windows made of stone.
The worry rock has turned to dust and fallen on our pride.
The rest of the song describes a cycle of physical abuse between two lovers, with neither one conceding wrongdoing or blame. The song ends on a promising note, with the narrator trying to broker peace. How do you think the lover will respond? Acceptance or rage? Well…
I’m starting to think the seemingly random track order on nimrod. was actually intentional. “Worry Rock” is immediately followed by “Platypus (I Hate You),” indisputably Green Day’s most angry song.[15] Like, it’s not even close. I’m convinced its placement on the album was a strategic move.
17. Who Wrote Holden Caulfield? (Kerplunk! — Track 11)
Billie Joe’s self-proclaimed “favorite song from Kerplunk!”[16] is about the main character from JD Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye:
“It’s a song about forgetting what you’re going to say…It’s trying to get motivated to do something because your elders tell you, you have to get motivated. So then you get frustrated and you think that you should do something but you end up doing nothing. But then you enjoy it.”[17]
16. Brain Stew/Jaded (Insomniac — Tracks 10 & 11)
Sometimes, simple is best — this statement doesn’t ring truer than it does with “Brain Stew,” whose repetitive descending guitar riff is likely Green Day’s most recognizable.
And, of course, you can’t mention “Brain Stew” without its bouncing-off-the-wall younger brother “Jaded”. It’s one of Green Day’s most high energy tracks, and you’re in for a real treat if you hear it at a live show. That instrumental drum and bass break between these two tracks will hype you up.
In fact, I’m still very bitter they left it off Bullet in a Bible.[18]
15. Having a Blast (Dookie — Track 2)
One of many masterpieces from Dookie, this song has dual meaning.
Literally, it’s about a suicide bomber. That helps explain the iconic mushroom cloud that graces Dookie’s album cover.
Figuratively, and more fittingly for the album’s themes, the narrator is so fed up with everything around him that he will take his anger out on anybody — no matter how insignificant or minuscule the concern.
The track’s final verse is not only a testament to Billie Joe’s incredible songwriting, but also a vividly harrowing illustration of a character fighting conflicting thoughts in his own mind.
Do you ever think back to another time?
Does it bring you so down that you thought you lost your mind?
Do you ever want to lead a long trail of destruction, and mow down any bullsh*t that confronts you?
Do you ever build up all the small things in your head to make one problem that adds up to nothing?
To me it’s nothing…
14. Homecoming (American Idiot — Track 12)
The longest Green Day song to date chronicles the pivotal moments of American Idiot antagonist St. Jimmy’s return to home, and shedding himself of his alter ego, once again becoming Jesus.
Five parts, nine perfect minutes, one tragic story, and THREE band members singing. That’s right — Billie Joe, Mike (“Nobody Likes You”), and Tre (“Rock and Roll Girlfriend”) sing on this track.
This song is particularly fantastic because something new pops up every time I listen to it. For example, toward the end of “Rock and Roll Girlfriend,” you can hear Billie faintly singing don’t wanna be an American idiot behind Tre’s I haven’t drank or smoked nothing in over 22 days. I’ve listened to this track literally hundreds of times, and just noticed that small detail recently.
13. When I Come Around (Dookie — Track 10)
I may catch some heat for leaving this track out of the top ten, but doesn’t that really just speak to the beauty and depth of Green Day’s catalog?
“When I Come Around” is the anthem of indifference that rock n’ roll deserved. Too many times, we’ve heard passionate songs from artists about partners they love, and about lovers they hate.
And it’s not necessarily that the narrator doesn’t love his partner, rather he can fully accept if their relationship will fall apart.
If you read my piece from August 2017, where I rank the tracks on Dookie, you’ll find this song to be rather low. I guess you can say that, since then, I’ve “come around.”
YEAAAAAAAAAAAAH…
12. Stuart & the Ave. (Insomniac — Track 10)
Placing this song this far up on the list is primarily an ode to Mike Dirnt, whose bass style was the driving force that allowed Green Day to rise to stardom in a genre so long dominated by the guitar.
It also exhibits a maturity that the band continues to build upon to this day, with its lyrical content showing a narrator who is far more proactive than the characters in previous songs.
I’m beat down and half brain dead, the long lost king of fools
I may be dumb, but I’m not stupid enough to stay with you.
11. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) (nimrod. — Track 17)
I hate music hipsters who proclaim, “I don’t listen to the hits” because they are too stubborn to look beyond popularity. I say this because I once was one of those people.
I HATED “Time of Your Life.” Why? Because it was too popular. Because it was the only Green Day song my local classic rock radio station would play. Because casual fans thought this track was one of nostalgia, even if it was really of sarcastic cynicism.
These are all stupid reasons to dislike a song, because none of them actually have to do with the song itself! Block out the exterior noise, and actually analyze the track. Good riddance to my musical entitlement.
10. Hitchin’ a Ride (nimrod. — Track 2)
Have you ever experienced a rainstorm in the Rocky Mountains? It’s all sunshine, and out of nowhere BOOM — thunder, lightning, torrential downpour, and winds ripping down trees… then a few minutes later — storm comes full stop… the sun emerges again, and the only trace remaining of the mayhem is your own fear and sweat. That’s what “Hitchin’ a Ride” is like.
A soft violin introduces the song. Then, we’re immediately thrusted into that crawling iconic bassline and riff. Don’t forget that groovy military-style beat Tre lays down. The storm (song) reaches its climax with the instrumental bridge — “my tongue is swelling up again……. SHEEAAOOOOOO.” More mayhem and chaos… and just like that, a smooth strum of a B 6/9 chord. It’s all over.
9. Welcome to Paradise (Dookie Version) (Dookie — Track 5)
Re-recording[19] an already pretty awesome song paid off, with the Dookie version of “Welcome to Paradise” being quite possibly the tightest song the group has ever made.
The lyrical content describes a narrator who slowly adjusts to a new environment — crime-ridden Oakland, CA. Three weeks into his ordeal, he’s crying to return home to his mother. Six months after he left his mother, he finally feels at home. It’s very similar to Jesus/St. Jimmy’s story arc in American Idiot, and in the case of “Welcome to Paradise,” you’re left wondering if the narrator truly embraces his situation, or if he eventually caves.
Of course, you can’t talk about this song without mentioning the instrumentation, especially during the breakdown after the second chorus. The bass breakdown is museum-display worthy, and the drums throughout the entirety of the song have convinced me that this is Tre’s best effort with Green Day.
8. Holiday (American Idiot — Track 3)
I have a unique appreciation for this song because it reminds me of Bruce Springsteen’s “Lost in the Flood[20],” a hidden gem from The Boss’s 1973 debut album Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J., which beautifully illustrates stories of chaos and war. In that case, Bruce criticized America’s action in Vietnam, while also showing the chaos occurring amongst a country divided at home, in the form of violence in the streets of New York City. In “Holiday,” Billie Joe criticizes America’s foreign policy action, while also showing the interior conflicts going on between protestors and the government at home.
7. The Grouch (nimrod. — Track 3)
“The Grouch” manages to capture the instrumental style of pre-record deal lore, while also sounding extra tight. Its lyrical content is something out of Dookie, if Dookie was a record they sold in the adult section of your local video store.
6. Basket Case (Dookie — Track 7)
After all these years, millions of plays on the radio and at club venues that blast 1990s/2000s pop punk anthems, “Basket Case” still somehow feels fresh. I attribute this reality to the track being way ahead of its time, having brought a taboo issue (anxiety) into the mainstream. It’s an issue far too many people face, and thus, to many, it’s always going to be relevant on a deeply personal level.
The song is also pivotal for Green Day’s career, as the popularity of Dookie could be credited to this single more than the record’s other four. If you ask someone in their 30s where they first heard of Green Day, expect them to say, “I heard “Basket Case” on the radio in ‘94/’95,” or “I saw the music video for “Basket Case” on MTV.”
5. American Idiot (American Idiot — Track 1)
I remember the exact day I became a Green Day fan — February 14th, 2005 — a true Valentine’s Day love story.
I was watching a DVR recording of the 47th Annual Grammy Awards. Quentin Tarantino introduced a band I had actually never heard of (due primarily to the fact that my parents raised me on solely ’60s and 70’s classic rock). That band, called Green Day, blew my mind with a performance of “American Idiot.”
On February 15th, I bought American Idiot, the album, on CD. From that day, through at least the end of 2006, I didn’t listen to any other band.
4. Jesus of Suburbia (American Idiot — Track 2)
Green Day’s most audacious song to date, “Jesus of Suburbia” will not only continue to reign supreme on stage in the band’s encore sets, but it will also influence theatrical songwriting as we know it for years to come. Hell, it even influenced Green Day’s songwriting (“American Eulogy” and “Forever Now” are just a few examples).
It takes serious guts to release a 9-minute song, let alone as a radio single,[21] especially when the one constant throughout Green Day’s repertoire was making relatively short tracks. Until the release of American Idiot in 2004, Green Day’s longest song was “Misery” from 2000’s Warning (5:06). And that song is so drastically different than anything Green Day has ever made, that if we judge time length based on one of the band’s more typically formulaic tracks, the longest song is “Longview,” from 1994’s Dookie (3:59).
Furthermore, I actually calculated the average song length of every studio album track[22] Green Day released: two minutes, 48 seconds.
“Jesus of Suburbia” plays the pivotal role on American Idiot of introducing the album’s main character — Jesus. It’s a five-part opus that goes as follows:
(I) I love this messed up life I’m living. à (II) I actually don’t fit in with this environment. à (III) Nobody cares about me. à (IV) I’m getting really sick and tired of this fact. à (V) I’m leaving home.
Jesus believes he’s on the right track to a better life, but his heartbreaking story arc throughout the album will prove that untrue.
3. Stuck with Me (Insomniac — Track 3)
You’ve probably already heard the story — this track was originally titled “Alright,” but an album misprint resulted in it receiving the name “Stuck with Me,” which was a name intended for a completely different track. That other track would eventually be released as an outtake on Shenanigans under the name “Do Da Da.”[23]
To me, this song is a battle cry for outcasts who don’t want to be part of the mainstream, which is an obvious theme that engulfs Green Day’s catalog. It’s about rejecting the notions of trying to fit in with something you’re not — basically the classic stuff that helped Green Day get so popular in the first place.
Dirnt shines once again here (doesn’t he always?), but what makes his work on this track particularly unique is that the bassline lays low. It isn’t quite as in your face as it is on tracks like* “J.A.R.” or “Longview.” That actually makes the song all the more impressive.
*P.S. — that’s not at all a negative jab at “J.A.R.” or “Longview.”
2. Macy’s Day Parade (Warning — Track 12)
It took some serious maturing on my end to finally give this song its fair due. Admittedly, I used to turn off Warning after “Minority.” I never gave this song a chance on the stupid basis that it was “too soft.” Stupid, stupid me.
A look into this song will reveal a beautifully verbose account of consumerism and the pursuit of material things. Much like “Desensitized,” it warns of the effects of becoming numb to harmful things. An acclaimed single from a commercially underwhelming album, “Macy’s Day Parade” is an absolute gem, and should still be regarded as such.
1. Longview (Dookie — Track 4)
“Longview,” to this day, is still Green Day’s most important song. Having signed to major record honcho Reprise, Green Day initiated the ire and rage of a once loyal Bay Area following.
Despite leaving its cult following in the rearview (a reality that the band would confront later on “86,”[24] a deep cut from Insomniac), the band would continue to utilize its signature sound — emphasis on the drums and bass.
The result? Dookie’s first single.
A song that was in the works as early as 1992, “Longview” is named for the small town in Washington where the track was first premiered on stage.[25] I can imagine it was as impressive to hear back then as it still is today, with it being a pivotal moment in Green Day’s live sets (usually coupled with a fan onstage to sing the last verse).
Honestly, what’s more iconic? Tre’s smooth rolling drums to open the track? Mike’s bizarre bassline, which he composed whilst on an acid trip[26]? Or Billie Joe’s ode to laziness and masturbation in the track’s picturesque lyrics? Whatever you think is the best part, one thing is for certain — these components come together to form timeless art.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
A. Despite ¡Tre! being my favorite record from the Trilogy albums, no tracks from it made the list. I guess I consider that to be more of a cohesive and tolerable album, while in the case of ¡Uno! and ¡Dos!, I just really enjoy a handful of individual songs.
B. Just to put it on the record, these are my five favorite Green Day albums:
5 — Insomniac
4 — Kerplunk!
3 — nimrod.
2 — Dookie
1 — American Idiot
C. I started this list by creating a playlist of songs I really enjoyed from each album. Initially, it had around 85 songs. I was able to get it down to 52 without too much difficulty, but had trouble narrowing it down further. This was where I began to actually organize a numbered list. The result — “2000 Lightyears Away” and “Dirty Rotten Bastards” just missed the cut.
Once I was able to get the playlist down to 50 tracks, I listened to it countless times, constantly tweaking the order until it felt appropriate. I’m sure it will change again soon, but I do believe these are Green Day’s 50 best songs. The playlist is roughly three hours long.
D. Of course, I would never have felt comfortable making this list until I had really familiarized myself with Green Day’s entire discography. While I’ve had most of the band’s catalog engrained in my head for a long time now (including Shenanigans), there were some records I had to listen to much more.
Those records were ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, ¡Tre!, 1039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours, and Revolution Radio (although this one was released in October 2016, I didn’t actually listen to it until November 2017).
E. As evidenced by the inclusion of “J.A.R.,” I took every non-album single and bonus track into consideration, including Green Day’s awesome cover of The Who’s “A Quick One While He’s Away.” It didn’t make the cut, but it’s nonetheless a fantastic cover of a very difficult song.
FOOTNOTES:
[1]Billie Joe tweets about “One for the Razorbacks” — https://twitter.com/billiejoe/status/37989912255016960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fgenius.com%2FGreen-day-one-for-the-razorbacks-lyrics.
[2]Billie Joe tweets about “Christie Road” — https://twitter.com/billiejoe/status/40124442658996224.
[3] Songs like “Burnout” and “Longview” describe tales of narrators who are literally too lazy to go outside.
[4] “Coming Clean” is an earlier example where the band approaches a once-taboo topic, with that song being about Billie Joe coming to terms with his bi-sexuality.
[5] Dictionary definition of “desensitize” — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desensitize.
[6]God bless the folks who recorded Green Day’s return to 924 Gillman, in full — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN2A9gnw2CI&t=1982s.
[7] The opening song from my dream setlist would be “Church on Sunday,” followed by “Going to Pasalacqua.” The closing acoustic set would consist of “Give Me Novacaine,” “Macy’s Day Parade” and “Good Riddance (Time of your Life).”
[8] Green Day performs “Letterbomb” on the show Comp’d on Fuse — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv-9cmnrnUo.
[9] Green Day performs “Letterbomb” at the 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27Jk0WPfPfA.
[10] “Letterbomb” was played at all 45 shows on the 99 Revolutions Tour — https://www.setlist.fm/stats/green-day-13d68939.html?tour=99+Revolutions.
[11] There were somewhere between 118 and 123 shows on the Revolution Radio Tour. “Letterbomb” was played at 117 of them — https://www.setlist.fm/stats/green-day-13d68939.html?tour=Revolution+Radio.
[12] Blurb about “She,” which was ranked #7 in a Rolling Stone Reader’s Poll of the best Green Day songs — https://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/readers-poll-green-days-best-songs-20120926/7-she-0365329.
[13] Billie Joe tweets about “The Judge’s Daughter” — https://twitter.com/billiejoe/status/37606186870120448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fgenius.com%2FGreen-day-the-judges-daughter-lyrics.
[14] Learn more about “Forever Now” and Revolution Radio in this Rolling Stone feature piece — https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/green-days-revolution-radio-a-track-by-track-guide-w441350.
[15] Billie Joe tweeted (and deleted) a statement that this song was directed at Tim Yohannan, the founder of 924 Gillman Street, and an open hater and critic of Green Day. In this song, Billie Joe tells Tim to get lost, using every curse word in the book — https://genius.com/2288326.
[16] Track 10 — Awesome as F**k.
[17] Some background on “Who Wrote Holden Caulfield” — http://www.geekstinkbreath.net/greenday/song-meanings/who-wrote-holden-caulfield/.
[18] Otherwise a fantastic live album that captures the energy of the American Idiot tour, the iconic drone at the end of “Brain Stew” transitions into “Basket Case.”
[19] “Welcome to Paradise” was originally released on Kerplunk! in 1991. You already knew that, though.
[20] Lyrics to Bruce Springsteen’s “Lost in the Flood” — https://genius.com/Bruce-springsteen-lost-in-the-flood-lyrics.
[21] In all fairness, the radio edit of this song was (unfortunately) cut down to 6 minutes, 31 seconds.
[22] Includes:’39 Smooth through Warning. Does not include: 1000 Hours EP, Slappy EP, Sweet Children EP, “All by Myself” and the roughly 1 min. 30 seconds of silence that separates it from “F.O.D.,” the singles off International Superhits! (“Maria,” “Poprocks and Coke,” “J.A.R.”*), Shenanigans, or any other outtake/unreleased/non-album track.
*We’re still including “J.A.R.” on this top 50 list though, because it’s objectively a top-50 song.
[23] The story behind the title of “Stuck with Me” — http://www.geekstinkbreath.net/greenday/song-meanings/stuck-with-me/.
[24] The story behind “86” — http://www.geekstinkbreath.net/greenday/song-meanings/86/.
[25] Longview, WA’s claim to fame — http://tdn.com/lifestyles/article_dd0614a6-97c9-11e0-aa17-001cc4c002e0.html.
[26] Mike Dirnt wrote the bassline to “Longview” while under the influence — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOSGaYPtlHc.
