Minority (Green Day song)

"Minority"
Single by Green Day
from the album Warning
B-side	"Brat", "86", "Jackass"
Released	August 17, 2000
Format	CD single, vinyl, Video promo
Recorded	March–April 2000 at Studio 880, Oakland, California
Genre	Pop punk, folk punk
Length	2:49
Label	Reprise
Writer(s)	Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Tré Cool
Producer(s)	Green Day
Green Day singles chronology
"Nice Guys Finish Last" (1999) "Minority" (2000) "Warning" (2000)

"Minority" is a song by the American punk rock band Green Day. It was released as the lead single from their sixth studio album, Warning. The song remained at No. 1 for five weeks in a row on the Billboard Modern Rock chart in late 2000, making it one of the most successful songs from the band in the 2000s.

Track listing

1. "Minority" (Radio version)
2. "Brat" (Live from Tokyo) – 1:42
3. "86" (Live from Prague) – 2:59

AU single

1. "Minority" (Album version) – 2:49
2. "Brat" (Live from Tokyo) – 1:42
3. "86" (Live from Prague) – 2:59
4. "Jackass" (Album version) – 2:47

7"

Side A

1. "Minority"
2. "Brat" (Live from Tokyo) – 1:42

Side B

1. "Jackass"
2. "86" (Live from Prague) – 2:59

7" vinyl box set

1. "Minority" – 2:49
2. "Warning" – 3:42
3. "Hold On" – 2:56
4. "Outsider" – 2:17

Promo single

1. "Minority" (radio edit)
2. "Minority" (album version) – 2:49

Meaning

In an interview, frontman Billie Joe Armstrong said that "The song is about being an individual and how you have to drift through the darkness to find where you belong."^[1]

Billie Joe Armstrong commented that this was the point in which their song writing became slightly more politically based. The lyrics "I pledge allegiance to the underworld, one nation under dog..." were taken from the American Pledge of Allegiance but "twisted upside down a bit."

The lyric "down with the Moral Majority" from the chorus refers to the now dissolved socially conservative American organization called the Moral Majority.

Composition

The acoustic introduction to the song launches straight into the main riff, behind which a catchy bassline adds to the feel. The upbeat jig that runs throughout the song makes "Minority" a live favorite as Green Day nearly always include it in their live sets. "When we play 'Minority', that's the point which I always think the floor's gonna cave in," commented Mike Dirnt.

Music video

The music video was released in September, 2000 and directed by Evan Bernard (who also directed the "Nice Guys Finish Last" video). It shows the band on a parade float, playing their instruments in the middle of San Diego (specifically Broadway) followed by a very reduced number of people. There are also computer-generated balloons made to look like each individual member. In the end they destroy the float (this is typical of a Green Day music video: destruction of instruments, props and buildings can also be seen in a number of their other videos, including "Walking Contradiction", "Basket Case", "Longview", "Hitchin' a Ride" and "American Idiot"). The video was released uncut on International Supervideos!. It was filmed in downtown San Diego. When he first sings the phrase "Fuck 'em all," Billie Joe can be seen giving the middle finger to the buildings to both the left and right.

Other versions

• A live version on Tune in, Tokyo.
• Another live version on the CD/DVD Bullet in a Bible.

Personnel

• Billie Joe Armstrong - Guitar, lead vocals, harmonica
• Mike Dirnt - Bass guitar, backing vocals
• Tre Cool - Drums

Chart positions

Chart (2000-2001)	Peak position
scope="row"	Australia (ARIA)[2]	29
scope="row"	Italy (FIMI)[3]	19
scope="row"	New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[4]	38
scope="row"	UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[5]	18
scope="row"	US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[6]	33
scope="row"	US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[7]	15
scope="row"	US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[8]	1

References

1. GDA | Song Meanings
2. "Australian-charts.com – Green Day – Minority". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
3. "Italiancharts.com – Green Day – Minority". Top Digital Download. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
4. "Charts.org.nz – Green Day – Minority". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
5. "Green Day: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
6. "Green Day – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Green Day. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
7. "Green Day – Chart history" Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs for Green Day. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
8. "Green Day – Chart history" Billboard Alternative Songs for Green Day. Retrieved November 13, 2016.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics