Green Day - Time of Your Life (Good Riddance)
Matthew Jung
MUSC205
Sarah England
14 November 2013
Paper 3
When prompted about a song that was important to me in high school, one song in particular comes to mind: “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day. Almost anyone who has contemplated the length and depth of life can relate to this gentle song with its slow, almost yearning tone and deep lyrics. To me, “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” is a timeless ballad that never fails to comfort me in times of change and confusion. This song should be included in the “History of Popular Music, 1950-Present” course, not only because its deviation from normal punk rock epitomizes the struggle that Green Day faced in order to find its own sound, but also because Green Day has influenced a number of artists and epitomizes pop punk at the beginning of the 21st century.
To me, Green Day’s music is pure nostalgia; every melody has latched on to a memory, bringing my awkward pre-teen years to the forefront of my recollection. Even now, I can vividly recall Google-ing as many words as I could remember from a catchy song I had heard on the radio of the school bus. A simple search for an incoherent string of words led me to the song “When I Come Around” by Green Day, which I fell in love with from the very first chord. From there, I began to search aimlessly on YouTube for more of these great songs, eventually becoming quite an avid Green Day fan myself.
Green Day is an American punk rock band that was made famous by guitarist and lead singer Billy Joe Armstrong, bassist and backup singer Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool. The band originated in California, where all three band members were raised. Green Day was formed in 1987 and signed to Lookout! Records in 1988. Formerly known as Sweet Children, the band adopted the name Green Day due to their affection for marijuana. Green Day’s debut studio album, 39/Smooth, was released on April 13th, 1990 through Lookout! Records; this is the only studio album with the
MUSC205
Sarah England
14 November 2013
Paper 3
When prompted about a song that was important to me in high school, one song in particular comes to mind: “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day. Almost anyone who has contemplated the length and depth of life can relate to this gentle song with its slow, almost yearning tone and deep lyrics. To me, “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” is a timeless ballad that never fails to comfort me in times of change and confusion. This song should be included in the “History of Popular Music, 1950-Present” course, not only because its deviation from normal punk rock epitomizes the struggle that Green Day faced in order to find its own sound, but also because Green Day has influenced a number of artists and epitomizes pop punk at the beginning of the 21st century.
To me, Green Day’s music is pure nostalgia; every melody has latched on to a memory, bringing my awkward pre-teen years to the forefront of my recollection. Even now, I can vividly recall Google-ing as many words as I could remember from a catchy song I had heard on the radio of the school bus. A simple search for an incoherent string of words led me to the song “When I Come Around” by Green Day, which I fell in love with from the very first chord. From there, I began to search aimlessly on YouTube for more of these great songs, eventually becoming quite an avid Green Day fan myself.
Green Day is an American punk rock band that was made famous by guitarist and lead singer Billy Joe Armstrong, bassist and backup singer Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool. The band originated in California, where all three band members were raised. Green Day was formed in 1987 and signed to Lookout! Records in 1988. Formerly known as Sweet Children, the band adopted the name Green Day due to their affection for marijuana. Green Day’s debut studio album, 39/Smooth, was released on April 13th, 1990 through Lookout! Records; this is the only studio album with the