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Bang Bang (Green Day song)

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"Bang Bang"
Song

"Bang Bang" is a song by American punk rock band Green Day, released as the lead single from their twelfth studio album, Revolution Radio (2016), on August 11, 2016. Regarded as combining elements of the band's early punk rock days with themes from their politically motivated later albums, the song was inspired by the events of mass shootings in the United States and is written from the viewpoint of a mass shooter.

The single's music video was released on September 13, 2016, showcasing a trio, with masks of the band members' faces, robbing a bank, and then attending a Green Day house party. The song received positive critical reception, peaking at number one on the US Mainstream Rock, Alternative Songs, Rock Airplay, Canada Rock, and the UK Rock charts, as well as multiple international charts.

Background and composition

Billie Joe Armstrong started testing and recording material in Otis, the studio he built in Oakland, California, in 2014.[1] The first song he composed turned out to be "Bang Bang". Self-described as "the most aggressive single we've ever had",[2] it is written from the point of view of a mass shooter.[3] According to Armstrong, the song is about "the culture of mass shooting that happens in America mixed with narcissistic social media".[3] Armstrong feels that because incidents of society's rage are now being recorded by everyone, people surveil themselves which he feels is "so twisted".[4]

The song is described by critics as reminiscent of Green Day's early pop punk and punk rock days of 39/Smooth (1990), Kerplunk! (1992), and Dookie (1994),[5][6][7] with hints of American Idiot (2004) and 21st Century Breakdown (2009). "Bang Bang" is considered a combination of the "'90s Green Day sound and the 2000s Green Day lyrics".[8] It was described as reflecting the state of confusion in today's world while one tries to figure out their position in the chaos. Armstrong has noted that this has been "a big theme through all of Green Day's history" – the state of "feeling lost".[2]

Release

Tim Armstrong, frontman of Rancid directed the music video.

"Bang Bang" was released on August 11, 2016, via digital download as the lead single from their forthcoming studio album, Revolution Radio (2016).[9][10][11] The band also released the single's official lyric video on August 12, which had been viewed over two million times by August 17. It was noted the lyric video was inspired by recent incidents of mass shootings in the US.[12] On August 28, the band announced on its website that the single would be released on CD for sale exclusively at Best Buy in the US only,[13] and would include a live version of "Letterbomb" (2004) as the B-side. A music video was released for the song on September 13, 2016.[14]

Music video

The music video for "Bang Bang", directed by Rancid frontman Tim Armstrong, was released on September 13, 2016. Inspired by the rise in gun violence in the US,[15] it depicts a trio of criminals, wearing face masks of Green Day's members, robbing a bank during the first half.[16] These scenes are intercut with footage of the band performing amidst a house party. During the second verse, the criminals flee the bank and remove their masks, revealing themselves as two girls and a guy, before driving off in a Jeep Wrangler. The criminals arrive at the house party where Green Day is playing. During the bridge and final chorus, the bank robbers make their way through the crowd and approach the band, before tossing money from the robbery into the air as the video fades out.[17]

Critical reception

"Bang Bang" received a positive reception from critics on its release. Gigwise praised it saying: "The song is Green Day at their punky best. It's far more in line with the intensity of stuff on Dookie than the ballads on American Idiot".[17] Thomas Smith at NME observed: "Musically, it's classic Green Day; limited power chords used to furious effect, a maelstrom of abrasive punk rock that's aided by Mike Dirnt's rumbling bass and Tré Cool's on-point drumming. On this evidence, Green Day have found a way to stay relevant."[18] Joseph R. Atilano, of Inquirer.net, concurred and said the song "does not sound 'glossy', 'too clean cut around the edges' nor overly polished". He added that it "sounds aesthetically right," especially for those who "want to hear the 'Green Day of old' once more".[19]

Rolling Stone described "Bang Bang" as the "fastest, [and] most aggressive song on the album".[20] Craig Mclean for Q described the song as a "jolt of frantic, melodic hardcore", and further added that "it's an appropriate trailblazer for an album on which Armstrong again taps into the societal and political frustration".[21] Maria Sherman of Spin felt the band is at "their heaviest" on the track and compared it to American Idiot saying it is "both insensitive and hits close to home".[22] William Sutton of PopMatters commented that "Bang Bang" is "much better than most of their output since the release of American Idiot". However, he criticized the track for sounding too familiar and felt the band has done better.[23]

Chart performance

The song debuted at number 16 on the US Alternative Songs chart, marking the band's 24th top 20 entry and, its fifth highest debut ever. "Bang Bang" was also the band's 31st entry on the chart, tying them with Foo Fighters and Red Hot Chili Peppers for third as the most charted artists in the history of the charts, behind Pearl Jam and U2 with 38 and 41 entries respectively.[24] The single became their 10th number one on the chart, tying them with Foo Fighters for the third most number ones, behind Linkin Park with 11 and Red Hot Chili Peppers with 13. Green Day also became the fourth band in the history of the US Alternative Songs chart to reach the number one spot in three separate decades; the others being U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Foo Fighters.[25]

"Bang Bang" debuted at number 17 on the US Mainstream Rock chart, their second highest debut, after "Oh Love" (2012) at number 13. The song reached number one three weeks after its release becoming Green Day's fastest leap to the number one position on the US Mainstream Rock chart, breaking the previous record of five weeks for "Know Your Enemy" (2009). It is tied with "The Day That Never Comes" (2008) by Metallica as the second-fastest song to reach the top of the chart, behind Foo Fighters' "Something from Nothing" (2014) which took two weeks.[24] The song also debuted at number eight and peaked at number one on the US Rock Airplay chart.[26][25]

It also reached number four on the US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles and number eight on the Hot Rock Songs chart.[27][28] "Bang Bang" also peaked at number one on the Canada Rock and UK Rock charts,[29][30] and number two on the New Zealand Heatseekers chart.[31] Along with charting on the Canadian Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart,[32][33] "Bang Bang" also appeared on charts in Belgium,[34] Scotland,[35] Australia,[36] and Japan.[37]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Billie Joe Armstrong; all music is composed by Green Day

Digital download
No.TitleLength
1."Bang Bang"3:27
CD
No.TitleLength
1."Bang Bang"3:27
2."Letterbomb" (live from Chula Vista, California on September 2, 2010)4:34
Total length:8:01

Charts

Chart (2016) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[36] 83
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[38] 3
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[39] 75
Canada Rock (Billboard)[40] 1
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[41] 91
New Zealand Heatseekers (Recorded Music NZ)[31] 2
Scotland (OCC)[42] 36
UK Singles (OCC)[43] 84
UK Rock (Official Charts Company)[30] 1
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[44] 1
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[45] 4
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[46] 8
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[47] 1
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[48] 1

References

  1. ^ Hiatt, Brian. "Inside Green Day's Revolutionary Rebirth". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  2. ^ a b ""Bang Bang" Is Green Day's "Most Aggressive Single," Says Billie Joe Armstrong". WJBD. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Billie Joe Armstrong on Green Day's Provocative New LP". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  4. ^ "Green Day Announces 'Revolution Radio' Release Date, Drops New Gun Violence Protest Song 'Bang Bang'". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  5. ^ "Green Day Is Back: Listen to 'Bang! Bang!' Now". Fuse. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  6. ^ Lipschultz, Jason (August 4, 2016). "Green Day's New Single is Apparently Reminiscent of 'Early, Punky Green Day'". Fuse. Archived from the original on August 5, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  7. ^ Ackroyd, Stephen. "Green Day Hint at Their New Album's Title". Upset. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  8. ^ Fitzgerald, Dan. "Green Day Harkens Back to Dookie Days, Remains Visually Pedestrian in "Bang Bang" Music Video". The Heights. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  9. ^ Biddulph, Andy (August 1, 2016). "There's a New Green Day Song on the Way". Rock Sound. Archived from the original on August 8, 2016. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  10. ^ Lifton, Dave. "Green Day Hint at Their New Album's Title". diffuser.fm. Townsquare Media. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  11. ^ Britton, Luke Morgan. "Have Green Day hinted at their new album title?". NME. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  12. ^ Anderson, Trevor (August 18, 2016). "Snakehips & Zayn Take No. 1 on Billboard + Twitter Top Tracks Chart, Green Day & Britney Spears Debut in Top 10". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  13. ^ Stevenson, Josh (August 28, 2016). "'Bang Bang' CD Available for Preorder @ Best Buy". Green Day. Reprise. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  14. ^ "Watch Green Day Host House Party, 'Rob' Bank in 'Bang Bang' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  15. ^ Payne, Chris. "Green Day Robs a Bank (Or Do They?) in Tim Armstrong-Directed 'Bang Bang' Video". Billboard. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  16. ^ Brown, Eric Renner. "Green Day rob a bank, throw a rager in 'Bang Bang' music video". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  17. ^ a b Trefor, Cai. "Green Day are back to their best on Bang Bang video". Gigwise. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  18. ^ "Green Day Are Angry And Political On Mass Shooting-Inspired Comeback Single 'Bang Bang' - Review". NME. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  19. ^ Atilano, Joseph. "Single Review: 'Bang Bang' by Green Day". Inquirer.net. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  20. ^ "Green Day's 'Revolution Radio': A Track-by-Track Guide to New Album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  21. ^ Mclean, Craig. "Green Day Man The Barricades". Q. Retrieved March 24, 2017.
  22. ^ "Review: Green Day Try to Kill Pop-Punk on Revolution Radio". Spin. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  23. ^ "Green Day - "Bang Bang" (Singles Going Steady)". PopMatters. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  24. ^ a b Rutherford, Kevin. "Green Day Lands First Mainstream Rock Songs No. 1 in 7 Years With 'Bang Bang'". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  25. ^ a b Rutherford, Kevin. "Green Day Earns 10th Alternative Songs No. 1 with 'Bang Bang'". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  26. ^ Rutherford, Kevin. "Back With a 'Bang Bang': Green Day Returns to the Rock Charts". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  27. ^ "Green Day – Chart history". Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles for Green Day. Retrieved March 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  28. ^ "Green Day – Chart history". Billboard Hot Rock Songs for Green Day. Retrieved March 9, 2017. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  29. ^ "Green Day – Chart history". Billboard Canada Rock for Green Day. Retrieved March 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  30. ^ a b "2016-08-19 Top 40 Rock & Metal Singles Archive". Official Charts Company. August 19, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  31. ^ a b "NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 22, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  32. ^ "Green Day – Chart history". Canadian Hot 100 for Green Day. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  33. ^ "19, 2016/ Archive Chart: August 19, 2016". UK Singles Chart. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  34. ^ "Ultratop.be – Green Day – Bang Bang" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  35. ^ "Archive Chart: August 19, 2016". Scottish Singles Top 40. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  36. ^ a b "CHART WATCH #382". auspOp. August 20, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  37. ^ "Green Day – Chart history". Japan Hot 100 for Green Day. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  38. ^ "Green Day – Bang Bang" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  39. ^ "Green Day Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  40. ^ "Green Day Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  41. ^ "Green Day Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  42. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  43. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  44. ^ "Green Day Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  45. ^ "Green Day Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  46. ^ "Green Day Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  47. ^ "Green Day Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  48. ^ "Green Day Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
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