Don't wanna be an American idiot, one nation controlled by the media!" Sound familiar? The title track from Green Day's "American Idiot" album (which was released on September 20th, 2004), speaks to us thirteen years in the future with the accuracy of an author writing the final page of their book first.
The punk era of music in the 1990s through the early 2000s gave a voice to the maturing youth who became disillusioned with how their world was run, much like their parents were during the rebellious 1960s and 70s.
Punk may not be the major defining style of today's music, but the prophetic words of Billie Joe Armstrong still capture the hearts of young people today, and here in Fresno the influences of Green Day and the punk genre are alive and kicking in Fresno City College's production of "American Idiot" the musical. What? Green Day wrote a musical???
A rock opera to be exact, this one act rock concert tells the story of three young men who can't seem to get it right, just like most of us. Throughout the show, the three best friends face the terrifying issues that leave young people shaking in their Converse from unexpected pregnancy to the war in the Middle East to hardcore sex, drugs, and rock and roll.
Although the three, Johnny, Will, and Tunny, can't seem to get things right as they struggle through life with all of the angst of those who can't see why the world functions the way it does, they have Billie Joe's words to guide them through the things that most of us can't even put into words.
For instance, Johnny sings "my shadow's the only one that walks beside me, my shallow heart's the only thing that's beating, sometimes I wish someone out there will find me, till then I walk alone," as he wanders the streets of the city late at night.
He's got no friends and no girls, and, boy, does he need both, and, man, isn't that relatable? There is no one who can say they've never felt alone, even in a room full of people, loneliness can pull at your heartstrings and the internal struggle of life continues.
Billie Joe understands that feeling everything isn't easy for anyone, and the message behind "Give Me Novocain" really punches in how much we all wish the internal overflow of emotion would stop troubling us through the wee hours of the night. Will and Tunny sing "give me a long kiss goodnight and everything will be alright, tell me that I won't feel a thing, so give me Novocain," as they struggle with their internal inability to cope with the external influences that surround them.
But let's get these lyrics on a more personal level. The moment that hits home the hardest for the audience is "nobody likes you, everyone left you, they're all out without you, having fun." Ouch! That one hurts like a gunshot to the stomach. Speaking as someone with a disregard for social gatherings, I find this particular line the key to twisting my heart so out of shape that I tear up every time I sing it.
Everyone hates being excluded. It sucks, but it's something we have all had to learn how to cope with whether that be in a healthy way such as finding a hobby, or spending nights on the floor crying till your heart aches with the pain of a thousand grenades.
But that's so trivial! Feeling left out isn't the worst thing that can happen to you! What about starvation and war and death?!?! But why would it hurt so much if it didn't matter? A breakup can ruin months of your life, bad grades can ruin years, and being excluded can ruin a lifetime, and that's all from being human! So why do we continue to put ourselves out there?
Well, because our hope outweighs the memory of pain. St. Jimmy, Heather, and Whatshername clearly explain this in "American Idiot" when they sing "I'm here to honor you, if I lose everything in the fire, I'm sending all my love to you," to their respective love interests. But isn't that how we all feel? Why would you continue to date or make friends or try for another job or role if there wasn't this willingness to make it that means more than the pain of losing yet again?
"And I feel lonely for all the losers that will never take the time to say what was really on their mind instead they just hide away," Billie Joe tells us in his love song "When It's Time" written for his wife when they were very young. This statement is something I think applies to all aspects of our lives, even outside of dating and such, which is this feeling that everyone is fake and don't give voice to their true feelings and opinions anymore. What's so wrong with having an opinion unlike everyone else? Are we just a nation controlled by the media and hysteria?
Next time you feel the urge to post a novel on Facebook about some part of the government, or war, or that rude barista at Starbucks, think about whether this opinion really represents feelings that you want out there for all eternity, or is it something that society dictates should be out there as a part of your social life? I mean for every single post about how much you hate Trump, there are thousands just like it. Is social media the death of original thought?
Wait, isn't this article on Green Day? Yes of course, but what is Green Day without the politics, the love, the loss? The company of "American Idiot" reminds us, "Does the pain weigh out the pride? And you look for a place to hide, did someone break your heart inside? You're in ruins. One, 21 guns, lay down your arms, give up the fight." Life is enough of a battle without us attacking each other, as well. Empathy and kindness go much further than exclamations of hate and kicking those already down.
Although this may seem like a rambling of thoughts on how Green Day's lyrics of yesteryear apply to our world today and probably will for many years to come, I liken this article to the musical itself, which rambles through the crazy and eclectic feelings that zoom through our heads constantly, reminders of the good things in life that bring a smile to our lips, and the hard things that drop our stomach to the floor.
"American Idiot" the musical plays at Fresno City College October 6th, 7th, 12th, 13th, & 14th at 7:30pm and October 8th, 13th, and 14th at 2:00pm.
Tickets are $14 for general admission, $12 for students/staff/seniors, and $8 for groups. The box office phone is (559) 442-8221 and check out www.fresnocitycollege.edu/boxofficetickets for more information. Please come rock out and let tears roll down your cheeks to this high energy and deeply moving musical! You don't want to fall asleep while watching Spike TV and miss this show!
