music Is Green Day actually Punk?

[Mesme Rize 15,687]

I've been listening to Green Day for the last couple of days again and while i listened to their Albums, i remember this very popular debate that goes through the Punk fandom. "Is Green Day actually Punk?"

 

And i say, yes they are. Green Day is still punk and i know Uno Dos and Tre were the worst albums they had, (in my opinion) but punk is not just about sound, it's more about your opinion on things, especially when it comes to criticizing and defying the goverments ideas. Take American Idiot as an example, which is a very popular song. It talks about the paranoia, fear and lies that the american goverment is spreading with their media, eventhough it's not as bad as the media says it is. So yeah, Green Day is Punk for me.

 

Does anybody else have an opinion on the matter?

 

 

[CC_Maud_Pie 6,431]

Green Day is mostly punk (pop punk to be specific). This is different from the punk you see in bands like The Clash and The Ramones. However, some of Green Days songs like "Good Riddance" and "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" falls in the alternative rock genre.

[n0body555 334]

Yes they are punk!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9Y-r-rs9W8

 

I do not really care for their new albums. Got Unos, liked one or two songs. rest of crap, didn't bother with the other albums.

[Fender 1,284]

When I think punk...I think Guttermouth, NOFX, Millencolin...but I also think Green Day. They have my "Yes." The American Idiot album was very reminiscent of what the idea of punk rock was.

[Virgil 685]

They are Punkish as with the bands that are called 'Punk' bands today, and there first album could be described as such; but Punk 'Proper', really only existed in from 1977-1980 roughly. This is because it was a reaction against the excesses of 70's stadium rock, in much the same way Grunge was a reaction to the excesses of 80's hair metal ( I can count on my fingers the 80's bands I like; so thank Heaven for Grunge bands). Both are also quite Nihilistic in outlook. Punk in terms of musical style... the album title "Never Mind the Bollocks", is an apt description; songs should generally be no longer than 3 minutes, all you should have is one very distorted and furious guitar, bass, fast drums, and one very ticked off guy screaming at you as the vocalist.

Also, the irony about why it was so different and the reason Punk didn't last long is that both in form and essence it is Anarchistic:

( Exhibit A )

(It's in the title for that one ... moving on to exhibit B )

 

Trouble is that that "play it fast, furious, and give everyone the finger" is not sustainable for very long, you either get bored and quit for a good while, or you get more consumerist friendly and pop sounding as the years drag on ( much like a Che Guevara T-Shirt ). And back to Green Day.... compare 'American Idiot' with songs like 'God Save The Queen' (That song got banned... that's Punk ) or 'London Calling', and I rest my case.

 

Ironically this was brought to you by a major Heavy Metal fan.... if you don't see the irony, please consult the textbook on rock history by Jack Black Ph.D , published by Yale University :comeatus: .

[TheAnimationFanatic 3,597]

I'd say that early Green Day is Punk. However, they later evolved into Alternative and they've proved that they're willing to experiment (Time of Your life).

[Lisa 5,553]

I think they're Punk. People just seem to assume that artists are a different genre the very second they change a small detail in a song, such as the tempo; rhythm or scale.

Edited January 17, 2015 by Coco Pommel