What's so wrong with Green Day?

[auntpolly]

REM was a band that got worse after they sold out. It had nothing to do with me not liking them just because they were popular. I'm not a music snob like that (there are Back street boy songs I like). REM just wasn't as good, IMO.

 

[auntpolly]

I just read in the paper that they won some Nickelodeon Kids' Choice award. That's enough to make me roll my eyes. I think they just try too hard and have completely sold out. But, I also don't listen to lots of "popular" radio music.

I think if you don't like them, don't listen, but if you don't listen just because they are popular, then you are biting off your nose to spite your face, so to speak.

 

[auntpolly]

Ha! I've seen Green Day live about 4 times. The last time I went was probably about 7-8 years ago, after they had gotten big with Dookie and Insomniac. At 24, I still felt like the oldest one in the audience.

Maybe I could just go and dress like security or something and they'll think I'm there because I have to be!

 

[Kitka]

I'm a fan - have been from their beginnings, and I'm not of the opinion they've "sold out". They've always been popular. I love them because that's my kind of music.... some people won't like them just because they prefer different music. Everyone is different.

I think that they're one of the few popular bands out there that are willing to put their dissenting political views out there in their music, as unpopular as those views may be. That's the true spirit of rock music, IMO - remember the 60's?

It's hard - part of me hates when bands I love get popular because I feel like they become overexposed. But on the other hand, I'm also happy to see bands I love enjoy success, and for many others to enjoy their music. Heck, the Beatles have sold how many albums, but it doesn't make them sellouts, just means they sold a lot of records, you know?

 

[mainewmn]

I listened to Green Day then and I listen to Green Day now. The only difference now is I like most of their songs to where before I liked some of their songs.

PS. I’m in my early 30’s

 

[ChrisnSteph]

I've never understood the whole "sell out" thing, and why people have a problem with their favorite bands or singers becoming popular. Who flippin' cares? If people like their music, then why should they confine themselves to a small audience? True fans don't ditch their favorite bands when they go big.

 

[Cindy B]

Dare I say it but I give the eye rolls when people mention U2. Atomic bomb was not thier first album!!!!

I have Boy, War and all the early stuff on cassette in my house and I've been a fan for YEARS.

I still think U2 "sold out" a bit after Joshua Tree was released. Then eveyrone had heard of U2 and it was the end all be all.

I liked being different when I was the only one who even had an Unforgettable fire cassette!

As for Green day, I never saw them as punk even in the 90's as well. Even though they were popular in the 90's when I was a young 20 something, they weren't punk then! Sex Pistols, The Clash and other stuff like that.

 

[cardaway]

IMO most bands "sell out" when their image changes. In most cases the music doesn't change that much.

IMO this especially true with Green Day. Many songs on the new album sound a lot like those on Dookie. Same simple "punk" song structure, same English "punk" sounding vocals. But if you watch their videos... huge sell outs.

Same with U2 & REM. The look became as important as the music.

 

[RadioNate]

I think when music people find a great 'small' band they like being in on the secret and when that band becomes big they get mad because now not only in music snobs are in on their find. I guess they think the teenyboppers don't appriciate the music or something and just are on the bandwagon.

I heard an artist say once (and it may have actually been Billie Joe or the guy from Metallica - another band usually accused of selling out) that wasn't selling out the entire point. Sure they all started for the love of the music but band slaving away on the local tourning circut wouldn't turn their nose up at a major label record deal. If you want as many people as possible to hear your music then you are all aiming to sell out.

ETA - that I adore Green Day

 

[auntpolly]

I think when music people find a great 'small' band they like being in on the secret and when that band becomes big they get mad .

My friends have been like this since HS, LOL. About everything.For me, it's just, "If I like it I like it." I ask them if they ever get tired of teetering on that "cutting edge"!!!

I love the Brittney Spears song "Toxic", for example. I don't care who's singing it, it's a good song and she does a good job with it.

 

[wvrevy]

Couple things...

1 - I never liked "early" Green Day. The only "punk" I actually listen to is Bad Religion, and I was just never a Green Day fan. Even when "Dookie" hit it big, they only had about 2 songs I could actually listen to more than once.

2 - That said, I love American Idiot. Obviously, I like the "meaning" in the album, but I also think a couple of the songs absolutely rock!

3 - The biggest "sellouts" I can think of are Metallica. Prior to the Black album, they were hard edged and would never think of putting out albums just for their commercial appeal. Since that point, however, they're nothing more than money-grubbing parasites (Lars Ulrich, in particular) more interested in making a buck than in appealing to their original fan base. They officially crossed the line into becoming a parody of themselves with that idiotic documentary of themselves in group therapy. I wouldn't own one of their albums now if you paid me to take it.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Are you a dork? Who knows?


Ok, kidding aside, if you like them, that is what matters. They bore me to tears, almost.

But EVERYBODY has some group they like, or some style of music they like that would make other people roll their eyes.

My absolute favorite genre of music is 70's disco.

 

[shortbun]

Last summer, we were sitting around at a party and all the grownups admitted to loving Green Day. Of course, we're all liberals and love them for more than just their innovative music. Parents of younger children were loving being able to take their kids to the concerts and use that as an excuse. Our friends are at least 40 and older. I bought American Idiot because Stephen King-the author-wrote an op ed piece on it and called it the best album of the year; obviously WE are not the only ones. I really liked it and all of a sudden, my son-10years old-abscounds with my CD!!!! The nerve! So-his friends are wearing Green Day shirts to school, some of them have been to concerts; our friends all like them and they seem to be winning awards. I say the folks who don't like them are squares! just kidding but if you can listen to Boulevard of Broken Dreams and not "get it", well.......we just won't wake you up when September ends, OK?

 

[ducklite]

REM was a band that got worse after they sold out. It had nothing to do with me not liking them just because they were popular. I'm not a music snob like that (there are Back street boy songs I like). REM just wasn't as good, IMO.

I saw them in a tiny little hole in the wall in Albany, NY in 1982. The place was without a doubt the worst hole I've ever been to--and that's truly saying something, because I've been to hundreds of them, no exageration. (It was razed when they put in the Knickerbocker/Pepsi Arena) Anyhow, there were maybe 100 people there, and it was an amazing show.

I wouldn't say they got worse, but they definitely changed as they became more and more popular, and ultimately iconic. But so do most bands that have reached that level of success. Aerosmith, Heart, Rush, and the Beatles all jump straight to mind.

Anne

 

[auntpolly]

I saw them in a tiny little hole in the wall in Albany, NY in 1982. The place was without a doubt the worst hole I've ever been to--and that's truly saying something, because I've been to hundreds of them, no exageration. (It was razed when they put in the Knickerbocker/Pepsi Arena) Anyhow, there were maybe 100 people there, and it was an amazing show.

I wouldn't say they got worse, but they definitely changed as they became more and more popular, and ultimately iconic.

Anne

I think I made a mistake when I said REM sold out. I think they just lost their creativity and their edge. Some bands (most bands) just don't have an endless supply of good songs in them, and I think REM just ran out of steam. I really haven't liked anything in a long time -- they seem too gimmicky.

 

[ducklite]

I think that they're one of the few popular bands out there that are willing to put their dissenting political views out there in their music, as unpopular as those views may be. That's the true spirit of rock music, IMO - remember the 60's?

Actually Rage Against the Machine was the first band since the 60's to REALLY put it all out there politically. They put the Dixie Chicks to shame when it comes to political activism, and they put their money where their mouth was as well. (And Tom Morello is probably one of the most underrated guitarists of this and the previous decade.) You'll see politics creeping into the next Audioslave release--and upcoming releases by quite a few of todays hard rock bands. (And if nothing else, Tim and Chris are VERY easy on the eyes )

System of a Down is another very politically outspoken band, although their schizophrenic style puts a lot of people off. I own all their CD's, but can only take them a song or two at a time. P.O.D. and Nonpoint are beginning to venture into the political arena with their lyrics as well.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

I think I made a mistake when I said REM sold out. I think they just lost their creativity and their edge. Some bands (most bands) just don't have an endless supply of good songs in them, and I think REM just ran out of steam. I really haven't liked anything in a long time -- they seem too gimmicky.

I definitely agree that they lost their edge.

The number one sell out of all time was Journey.

They went from being an influential jazz/fusion/rock band who expirimented with some new sounds to being a commerical schlock rock monster who wrote songs with a formula geared towards producing top 40 radio hits. The first two Journey albums were genious. It started going downhill after that.

Anne

 

[phantom728]

I'm in my early thirties and can say that I've been a fan of Green Days since the early 90's. I became introduced to them through my DH (then boyfriend) and his band. I think Dookie will always be tops on my list of their albums, but I liked a lot of the songs from American Idiot. My DD15 loves them as well, along with Fallout Boy, System of a Down, etc. She gets me listening to it all, except I'm not crazy about songs where all they do is scream...but then I was never a fan of those songs.

My DD thinks sometimes that I'm "cheesy" because I listen to lots of songs...one of them being Toxic (should I really admit I like that one), plus many from the past 30 plus years. I try to explain that although you may loath the artist, sometimes they just have a catchy song. For those of us from the 80's, Madonna was a love/dislike relationship. Doesn't mean that she hasn't had some great songs.

I like what I like and don't care what anyone thinks about it. It's all about keeping your mojo young

 

[auntpolly]

My DD thinks sometimes that I'm "cheesy" because I listen to lots of songs...one of them being Toxic

Seriously, it's just a good song, I can't help it! Music snobs miss out on a bunch of good songs.

 

[auntpolly]

Speaking of sell outs, what's up with snoop dog? I could almost see him doing Republican campaign songs if the money was good enough... .

Or am I being too harsh? He's talented, but man, he's spreading himself a little thin!