Music Review: Green Day "Jesus Of Suburbia"
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Jesus Of Suburbia
Album: American Idiot
Year: 2005
The main character of Green Day's rock opera introduces listeners to his life in the candid "Jesus of Suburbia."
This is the second song on the American Idiot. To recap, he spouted off his hatred of the Republican party in the first song, "American Idiot."
In the first part, gutsy guitars open the single. Armstrong (as JoS) says he was born out of a fling. His parents aren't together. He lives in the Midwest. He's ADD and has to take Ritalin. Mostly, he consumes pop. He says that he's an atheist. Essentially, he doesn't believe in the concept of heaven and hell. He swears and has sex.
In the chorus, he says he's a normal person. It's him. However, he believes that people live in the United States, thinking it's a television show. After a heart-to-heart, he will be reformed and live his life according to someone's standards. Society also thinks he's a loser.
In the second verse, he watches television to pass the time. His parents were religious. However, he has grown to dismiss it. He's cut off from his family. His parents are never home. When they are, they drink, smoke, and toke. Nonetheless, it's messed him up.
Part 1's chorus is sung again.
From there Part 1's verse melody has a full solo and it then segues into part 2, "City Of The Damned."
In the first verse, he says that he hung out at the local 7-Eleven when he was in high school. There, he read a sign on their door which said "home is where your heart is." Armstrong scoffs. He's disconnected from his family. Home isn't a refuge for him. His family members would fight all the time.
In the chorus, he says his city is desolated. It's a rundown area. It's not unusual for social services to come by and take children away. People are unemployed and are hopeless. They are apathetic to even one another.
In the second verse, he reads the various markings while he's using the urinal. It reads "world is ending tomorrow! The chick at 7-Eleven is hot!" Armstrong concludes that surburban sprawl is going to destroy his city. However, his city has become downtrodden. Any hopes of it being a flourishing community are gone.
Part's 2 chorus is sung again.
The guitars turn militant for part 3, "I Don't Care."
A bitter Armstrong says that he wants someone to join him on his disgust. Despite his rants, he would really like to see his community cleaned up and made better. However, he's not ready to stand up for his opinions yet.
Through a filter, he proclaims again that he's disinterested.
His vocals still filtered, he blasts people in society. He blames the leaders for not following through on their promises. Then, being found with the hookers or having an affair. People don't really love each other anymore. It's a word they say when they want to use someone. Then, it's said to the next person they want to get something from. He says children are born between wars in the Anaheim, California to the Middle East. American children aren't that much different from Middle East children. Both will grow up learning about war their country is currently involved in.
The past part's choruses are combined together.
For part 4, "Dearly Beloved," he seeks out companionship. He wonders if his future wife is out there. He's not even sure she exists. He asks if society is screwed up or is it just him. He wants to seek counseling and have a therapist validate his point of view. He feels alienated from society and wonders if something is wrong with him. He admits to not being a moralistic person. However, he doesn't want to feel like his liberal opinions are freakish.
The music then segues into the frantic and final part 5, "Tales Of Another Broken Home."
In the first verse, he's says not feeling comfortable living in the United States is not the way to conduct his life. He will only be buying into society's view of him. He says he will run away and find another home. He's been disillusioned to the point that he needs a fresh start.
He continues by saying he wants to be an activist. He's thought about it. However, he will follow through and stand up for his political beliefs.
A determined guitar solo of the melody follows.
The guitars suddenly disappear and are replaced by a quiet piano. He says that he's doing the right thing. He wants to become a better person. Even though his beliefs go against the majority of the nations, he won't be silent. He says he feels as though his government wasn't there. His city is in rags. No jobs can be found. It's abandoned. He feels like a victim of the system.
Album: American Idiot
Year: 2005
The main character of Green Day's rock opera introduces listeners to his life in the candid "Jesus of Suburbia."
This is the second song on the American Idiot. To recap, he spouted off his hatred of the Republican party in the first song, "American Idiot."
In the first part, gutsy guitars open the single. Armstrong (as JoS) says he was born out of a fling. His parents aren't together. He lives in the Midwest. He's ADD and has to take Ritalin. Mostly, he consumes pop. He says that he's an atheist. Essentially, he doesn't believe in the concept of heaven and hell. He swears and has sex.
"I'm the son of raging love/The Jesus of suburbia/From the bible of none of the above/On a steady diet of soda pop and Ritalin/No one ever died for my sins in hell/As far as I can tell/At least the ones I got away with."
In the chorus, he says he's a normal person. It's him. However, he believes that people live in the United States, thinking it's a television show. After a heart-to-heart, he will be reformed and live his life according to someone's standards. Society also thinks he's a loser.
"And there's nothing wrong with me/This is how I'm supposed to be/In a land of make believe/That don't believe in me."
In the second verse, he watches television to pass the time. His parents were religious. However, he has grown to dismiss it. He's cut off from his family. His parents are never home. When they are, they drink, smoke, and toke. Nonetheless, it's messed him up.
"Get my television fix sitting on my crucifix/The living room or my private womb/While the moms and brads are away/To fall in love and fall in debt/To alcohol and cigarettes and Mary Jane/To keep me insane and doing someone else's cocaine."
Part 1's chorus is sung again.
From there Part 1's verse melody has a full solo and it then segues into part 2, "City Of The Damned."
In the first verse, he says that he hung out at the local 7-Eleven when he was in high school. There, he read a sign on their door which said "home is where your heart is." Armstrong scoffs. He's disconnected from his family. Home isn't a refuge for him. His family members would fight all the time.
"At the center of the Earth/In the parking lot/Of the 7-11 were I was taught/The motto was just a lie/It says home is where your heart is/But what a shame/Cause everyone's heart/Doesn't beat the same/It's beating out of time."
In the chorus, he says his city is desolated. It's a rundown area. It's not unusual for social services to come by and take children away. People are unemployed and are hopeless. They are apathetic to even one another.
"City of the dead/At the end of another lost highway/Signs misleading to nowhere/City of the damned/Lost children with dirty faces today/No one really seems to care."
In the second verse, he reads the various markings while he's using the urinal. It reads "world is ending tomorrow! The chick at 7-Eleven is hot!" Armstrong concludes that surburban sprawl is going to destroy his city. However, his city has become downtrodden. Any hopes of it being a flourishing community are gone.
"I read the graffiti/In the bathroom stall/Like the holy scriptures of a shopping mall/And so it seemed to confess/It didn't say much/But it only confirmed that/The center of the earth/Is the end of the world/And I could really care less."
Part's 2 chorus is sung again.
The guitars turn militant for part 3, "I Don't Care."
A bitter Armstrong says that he wants someone to join him on his disgust. Despite his rants, he would really like to see his community cleaned up and made better. However, he's not ready to stand up for his opinions yet.
"I don't care if you don't/I don't care if you don't/I don't care if you don't care/I don't care if you don't/I don't care if you don't/I don't care if you don't care/I don't care if you don't/I don't care if you don't/I don't care if you don't care/I don't care if you don't/I don't care if you don't/I don't care if you don't care."
Through a filter, he proclaims again that he's disinterested.
"I don't care."
His vocals still filtered, he blasts people in society. He blames the leaders for not following through on their promises. Then, being found with the hookers or having an affair. People don't really love each other anymore. It's a word they say when they want to use someone. Then, it's said to the next person they want to get something from. He says children are born between wars in the Anaheim, California to the Middle East. American children aren't that much different from Middle East children. Both will grow up learning about war their country is currently involved in.
"Everyone is so full of shit/
Born and raised by hypocrites/Hearts recycled but never saved/From the cradle to the grave/We are the kids of war and peace/From Anaheim to the middle east/We are the stories and disciples/Of the Jesus of suburbia."
The past part's choruses are combined together.
"Land of make believe/
And it don't believe in me/Land of make believe/And I don't believe/And I don't care!/I don't care!/I don't care!/I don't care!/I don't care."
For part 4, "Dearly Beloved," he seeks out companionship. He wonders if his future wife is out there. He's not even sure she exists. He asks if society is screwed up or is it just him. He wants to seek counseling and have a therapist validate his point of view. He feels alienated from society and wonders if something is wrong with him. He admits to not being a moralistic person. However, he doesn't want to feel like his liberal opinions are freakish.
"Dearly beloved are you listening?/I can't remember a word that you were saying/Are we demented or am I disturbed?/The space that's in between insane and insecure/Oh therapy, can you please fill the void?/Am I retarded or am I just overjoyed/Nobody's perfect and I stand accused/For lack of a better word, and that's my best excuse."
The music then segues into the frantic and final part 5, "Tales Of Another Broken Home."
In the first verse, he's says not feeling comfortable living in the United States is not the way to conduct his life. He will only be buying into society's view of him. He says he will run away and find another home. He's been disillusioned to the point that he needs a fresh start.
"To live and not to breathe/Is to die in tragedyTo run, to run away/To find what you believe/And I leave behind/This hurricane of fucking lies/I lost my faith to this/This town that don't exist."
He continues by saying he wants to be an activist. He's thought about it. However, he will follow through and stand up for his political beliefs.
"So I run/I run away/To the light of masochist/
And I leave behind/This hurricane of fucking lies/And I walked this line/A million and one fucking times/
But not this time."
A determined guitar solo of the melody follows.
The guitars suddenly disappear and are replaced by a quiet piano. He says that he's doing the right thing. He wants to become a better person. Even though his beliefs go against the majority of the nations, he won't be silent. He says he feels as though his government wasn't there. His city is in rags. No jobs can be found. It's abandoned. He feels like a victim of the system.
"I don't feel any shame/I won't apologize/When there ain't nowhere you can go/Running away from pain/When you've been victimized..."
In the same section, when he says the word "home," the guitars return."Tales from another broken home."
In the final part, he says the moving onto a new place."You're leaving/You're leaving/You're leaving/Ah you're leaving home."
Green Day has the point of view of the average (Democrat/Independent) American. They live in the low-income areas within the suburbs. They've watched the stores and businesses close around their area as the economy tanks. They've lost their jobs and can't find a new one. It's been outsourced or the company has gone bankrupt. The men and women have gone off to fight in the war. They don't believe in it. However, it's their only chance for a future. Their parents find out from the sargent that their son or daughter has killed in an insurgency.
"Jesus Of Suburbia" is provocative and blunt. Armstrong does not mince words. He's not afraid to say he's an atheist (which goes against the current culture of our current society) or that the government failed his family and him. If Armstrong had implied his points, the single would've lost its effect.
It sets up the rest of the story well. It requires an attention span, running at a lengthy nine minutes.
"Jesus Of Suburbia" is a breath of fresh air.
