Bang Bang (Green Day song)

"Bang Bang"
Single by Green Day
from the album Revolution Radio
Released August 11, 2016 (2016-08-11)
Format
Recorded January 15 – July 24, 2016 at OTIS in Oakland, California
Genre
Length 3:25
Label Reprise
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Green Day
Green Day singles chronology
"Xmas Time of the Year"
(2015)		 "Bang Bang"
(2016)		 "Still Breathing"
(2016)

"Bang Bang" is a song by American rock band Green Day. It was released on August 11, 2016 as the lead single from their twelfth studio album, Revolution Radio (2016). It is the band's first release since "Xmas Time of the Year" (2015); the single was released four years after their 2012 album trilogy, ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, and ¡Tré!. Considered a mixture of the band's early punk rock days and politically motivated later albums, the song was inspired from the rise in gun violence in the U.S. and the central theme revolves around from the point of view of a mass shooter. It is the first single recorded by the band since guitarist Jason White was dropped from his role as an official member.

The music video for the song was released on September 13, 2016, showcasing a trio robbing a bank with masks of the band members, then attending a Green Day house party. The song received positive critical reception and peaked at number one on the US Mainstream Rock chart and the Alternative Songs chart, along with charting on various international charts.

Background and composition

Billie Joe Armstrong started testing and recording material in Otis,[3] the studio he built in Oakland, California, in 2014. The first song which he composed turned out to be "Bang Bang", self-described as "the most aggressive single we've ever had".[4] It is written from the point of view of a mass shooter. According to Armstrong, the song is about "the culture of mass shooting that happens in America mixed with narcissistic social media."[5] Armstrong continued with "There's this sort of rage happening, but it's also now being filmed and we all have ourselves under surveillance. To me, that is so twisted."[6]

The song is described by critics as reminiscent of Green Day's early punk rock days of 39/Smooth (1990), Kerplunk! (1992), and Dookie (1994),[7] as well as hints of their album 21st Century Breakdown (2009). "Bang Bang" is considered to be a combination of the "’90s Green Day sound and the 2000s Green Day lyrics".[8] The song was described to reflect a state of confusion in today's world while trying to figure out one's position amongst the chaos; something noted by Armstrong to also be "a big theme through all of Green Day's history", about "feeling lost".[4]

Release

"Bang Bang" was released on August 11, 2016 via digital download as the lead single from their upcoming studio album, Revolution Radio.[9][10][11] The band also released the official lyric video for the single on August 12, which received over two million views by August 17. The lyric video was noted to be inspired from the recent incidents of mass shootings in the country.[12] On August 28, the band announced on its website that the single will be released on CD to be sold exclusively at Best Buy in the U.S. only.[13] and will include a live version of "Letterbomb" 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" was released on September 13, 2016, and was directed by Rancid frontman Tim Armstrong. The video inspired from the rise in gun violence in the U.S.,[15] depicts a trio of criminals robbing a bank whilst wearing masks of the members of Green Day in the first half.[16] These scenes are intercut with footage of the band performing amidst a wild 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 three 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. The blonde girl of the three criminals (who disguises herself as bassist Mike Dirnt) is portrayed by Ukrainian actress Ivanna Sakhno.[17]

Critical reception

"Bang Bang" received positive critical reception upon release from critics. Cai Trefor from Gigwise praised the band by saying that "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, for Inquirer.net, concurred and said that 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]

William Sutton at PopMatters stated that while "Bang Bang" "is a good track and much better than most of their output since the release of American Idiot in 2004, the track struggles with the feeling that this is a band in their fourth decade and we have heard it all before and often heard it done better. Nonetheless it is a welcome return from the band and provides positive signs ahead of the release of Revolution Radio in October."[20]

Chart performance

"Bang Bang" debuted at number 17 on the US Mainstream Rock chart, which is their second highest debut, behind "Oh Love" (2012) at number 13. The song reached number one on the chart three weeks after its release. The song 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. The song became Green Day's fastest leap to the number one position on the US Mainstream Rock chart, breaking the previous record of "Know Your Enemy" (2009) of five weeks.[21]

The song debuted at number 16, and peaked at number one on the US Alternative Songs chart, making them tied with Foo Fighters for amount of number ones with a number of 10 and marking Green Day's 24th top 20 entry and the fifth highest debut. It is the band's 31st entry in the US Alternative Songs chart, tying them with Foo Fighters and Red Hot Chili Peppers for the third spot as the most charted artist in the history of the charts, behind Pearl Jam and U2 with 38 and 41 entries respectively.

The song debuted at number 23 on the US Rock Airplay chart and peaked at number one.[22]

The song also debuted at number one on the UK Rock Chart,[23] number 2 on the New Zealand Heatseekers,[24] and number 9 on the Flemish Ultratip chart in Belgium.

Track listing

All lyrics written by Billie Joe Armstrong; all music composed by Green Day (Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Tré Cool).

Digital download
No. Title Length
1. "Bang Bang"   3:27
CD
No. Title Length
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)[25] 83
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[26] 3
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[27] 75
Canada Rock (Billboard)[28] 1
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[29] 91
New Zealand Heatseekers (Recorded Music NZ)[30] 2
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[31] 36
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[32] 84
UK Rock (Official Charts Company)[23] 1
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[33] 1
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[34] 4
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[35] 8
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[36] 1
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[37] 1

References

  1. ↑ Lipschultz, Jason (August 4, 2016). "Green Day's New Single is Apparently Reminiscent of 'Early, Punky Green Day'". Fuse. Fuse. Archived from the original on August 5, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Green Day Is Back: Listen to 'Bang! Bang!' Now". Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  3. ↑ Hiatt, Brian. "Inside Green Day's Revolutionary Rebirth". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  4. 1 2 ""Bang Bang" Is Green Day's "Most Aggressive Single," Says Billie Joe Armstrong". WJBD. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  5. ↑ "Billie Joe Armstrong on Green Day's Provocative New LP". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Green Day Announces 'Revolution Radio' Release Date, Drops New Gun Violence Protest Song 'Bang Bang'". Retrieved August 11, 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 18 September 2016.
  9. ↑ Biddulph, Andy (August 1, 2016). "There's a New Green Day Song on the Way". Rock Sound. 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. Diffuser. 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 18 September 2016.
  16. ↑ Brown, Eric Renner. "Green Day rob a bank, throw a rager in 'Bang Bang' music video". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  17. 1 2 Trefor, Cai. "Green Day are back to their best on Bang Bang video". Gigwise. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  18. ↑ NME.COM. "Green Day Are Angry And Political On Mass Shooting-Inspired Comeback Single 'Bang Bang' - Review - NME.COM". Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  19. ↑ Atilano, Joseph. "Single Review: 'Bang Bang' by Green Day". Inquirer.net. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  20. ↑ "Green Day - "Bang Bang" (Singles Going Steady)". PopMatters. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  21. ↑ Rutherford, Kevin. "Green Day Lands First Mainstream Rock Songs No. 1 in 7 Years With 'Bang Bang'". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  22. ↑ Rutherford, Kevin. "Back With a 'Bang Bang': Green Day Returns to the Rock Charts". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  23. 1 2 "2016-08-19 Top 40 Rock & Metal Singles Archive". Official Charts Company. August 19, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  24. ↑ "NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 22, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  25. ↑ "CHART WATCH #382". auspOp. August 20, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  26. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Green Day – Bang Bang" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved September 17, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Green Day – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Green Day. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  28. ↑ "Green Day – Chart history" Billboard Canada Rock for Green Day. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  29. ↑ "Green Day – Chart history" Japan Hot 100 for Green Day. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  30. ↑ "NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 22, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  31. ↑ "Archive Chart: August 19, 2016". Scottish Singles Top 40. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  32. ↑ "19, 2016/ Archive Chart: August 19, 2016" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  33. ↑ "Green Day – Chart history" Billboard Alternative Songs for Green Day. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  34. ↑ "Green Day – Chart history" Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 for Green Day. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  35. ↑ "Green Day – Chart history" Billboard Hot Rock Songs for Green Day. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  36. ↑ "Green Day – Chart history" Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs for Green Day. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  37. ↑ "Green Day – Chart history" Billboard Rock Airplay for Green Day. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
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