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Background and release

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Billie Joe Armstrong, the lead singer of Green Day, in 2005

After the low commercial performance of American punk-rock band Green Day's sixth studio album, Warning (2000),[1][2] the band began work on their seventh studio album, named Cigarettes and Valentines. During the production of the album, the demo recordings were stolen from the studio, which led Green Day to scrap the project and begin creating a new album from scratch. The album, known as American Idiot, was released in 2004.[3][4] A punk rock concept album, American Idiot's narrative is focused on the story of a teenager (who refers to himself as the "Jesus of Suburbia") growing up in the United States under the presidency of George W. Bush during the Iraq War, criticizing both.[5]

One of the songs in American Idiot, "Wake Me Up When September Ends", is not entirely related to the album's central narrative.[6] The song was inspired by the death of lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong's father in September 1982.[5] It was written years before the release of the American Idiot[7] and was originally intended for an earlier album.[8] In an interview with the the Howard Stern Show, Armstrong said that he avoided writing a song about his father for years until he "[had] a breakthrough" and wrote the song in his honor.[7]

American Idiot was released on September 21, 2004; "Wake Me Up When September Ends" is the eleventh song on the standard tracklist.[9] The song was released a single on June 13, 2005.[10] A live recording of the song was included on Bullet In A Bible, released in 2005.[11] The song was also featured on Green Day's greatest hits album, God's Favorite Band, released in 2017.[12]

Composition and lyrics

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"Wake Me Up When September Ends" is a slow-paced emo[6] rock ballad.[5][9] It begins with an acoustic guitar arpeggio, later introducing other instruments such as an electric guitar and bells that form into a "militarist rhythm".[9] Jordan Blum of PopMatters wrote that every element of the song was "ching to express the same angst".[9] The primary composition ends before the track ends, leaving behind silence only broken by reverberated guitar notes, which Blum described to "embody the sad aftermath".[9] Several journalists found the song to be similar to "Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)", another song created by Green Day for an earlier album,[9][13] with Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone considering "Wake Me Up When September Ends" to be the song's "sadder, more adult sequel".[14]

The songs lyrics are primarily about the life of Armstrong after his fathers death, and his life since that day.[7] Throughout the song, Armstrong emphasizes the time that had occurred since then, stating "Like my fathers come to pass / Seven years has gone so fast," which is repeated later in the song as "Twenty years has gone so fast."[7] The former refers to the time between his fathers death and the creation of Green Day, and the latter referring to how long it had been by the time he wrote the song.[8] While Armstrong's personal experiences were the primary basis for the song, many have considered the song to have multiple meanings, ranging from its role in the narrative of American Idiot to the song being interpreted as a homage to the victims of the September 11 attacks, with the former being supported by lyrics that reference an earlier song in the album (specifically "Holiday").[9]

Critical reception

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In their initial review of American Idiot, a staff editor of Sputnikmusic believed that songs such as "Wake Me Up When September Ends" demonstrated the "search of the American people for clarity" during the 2000s well. They wrote that, while the song seems like a "generic ballad" that Green Day could have made in the past initially, there was a "primal, monumental pain" delineated by the song that properly explained what many people at the time "felt foolish for thinking."[15] In a retrospective article, Jordan Blum of PopMatters described "Wake Me Up When September Ends" as a song that could be considered "deceptively simple yet subtly brilliant" based on the possible different interpretations of its lyrics. He wrote that the song was one of the "bravest and most revealing songs" created by Armstrong as a personal song, "overwhelmingly truthful and touching" as a song about the September 11 attacks, as well as a song that properly demonstrated the current situation of Jesus of Suburbia. He additionally considered "Wake Me Up When September Ends" to be the best song that Green Day had ever written.[9]

When the staff team of Consequence of Sound ranked what they considered Green Day's best songs, Philip Cosores wrote that the song "provided an emotional gut-punch."[16] Matthew Leimkuehler of American Songwriter described the song as having a "memorable, powerful message" that "tackled long-lingering grief and life’s unexpected coming-of-age moments."[17] Contrarily, Johnny Luftus of Pitchfork criticized the songs shift in tone from the rest of the album, believing it to be slow and describing it as the "price of ambition" compared to the rest of American Idiot.[18]

Commercial performance

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In the United States, the song reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100, and spent twenty weeks on the chart.[19][20] It also reached number two on the Billboard Alternative Airplay, and number twelve on Mainstream Rock.[20] On the year-end charts for 2005, "Wake Me Up When September Ends" was number 46. The song was certified platinum by the RIAA in 2008.[21] In Canada, the song entered the CHR/Pop Top 30 at number four, the Hot AC Top 30 at number three, and the Rock Top 30 at number 1. It was certified Platinum in the country four times by Music Canada.[22] Outside of North America, "Wake Me Up When September Ends" reached number one on the charts in Croatia[23] and number one on Germany Airplay.[24] It also reached number 10 on the charts in Hungary and New Zealand,[25][26] 13 in Ireland and Australia,[27][28] 21 in Sweden,[29] and 23 in Switzerland.[30]

The song won the Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Song award at the 2006 Kids' Choice Awards, hosted by Nickelodeon. At the same ceremony, Green Day was the recipient of the Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Music Group.[31]

Music video

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The song's music video was directed by Samuel Bayer, best known for his work with Nirvana and Metallica.[32] Bayer envisioned the video as a mini-movie,[33] wanting to create something unlike other music videos that he felt were predictable.[32] Bayer brought the idea of an Iraq War-themed video to the band after interviewing soldiers who had signed up to fight after being persuaded by a television advertisement. The song's music video thus attempts to "turn the machine on itself" by acting as a commercial for "free thought or peace."[34] Although it wasn't the song's literal meaning, Armstrong felt it was appropriate considering the song's theme of loss.[35] Bayer and his crew spent a month casting actors for the roles and conducted rehearsals, which was uncommon for music videos.[32] Filming took place in Los Angeles in late March 2005.[33]

The video focuses on a couple in love, played by Jamie Bell and Evan Rachel Wood.[32] The boyfriend promises never to leave his girlfriend but they later argue when the boyfriend enlists in the United States Marine Corps. The boyfriend interprets his actions as a way to show her that he loves her to the point that he would put his life on the line to keep her safe. However, the girlfriend is heartbroken, viewing this as him breaking his vow to never leave her. The video then shows the boyfriend in battle in Iraq being ambushed by insurgents. Despite the Marines fighting back, several of them fall to the ground wounded. Their fate—and the boyfriends—is left unknown. This scene is intercut with scenes of the girlfriend tearfully mourning in a quiet field.[36]

The video became one of the most requested music videos to be played on MTV,[37] reaching number one on Total Request Live.[35] In a 2005 reader poll by Rolling Stone for the best music videos of the year, the clip came in second place, losing to the video for Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl."[38]

Live performances

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Green Day performing in Manchester in 2024, where the Saviors Tour began[39]

"Wake Me Up When September Ends" has been included on the set lists of numerous Green Day concerts, some of which played American Idiot in its entirety. Some of these performances were done to promote the album in 2004.[40][41] The song was included on the set list for the Hella Mega Tour, a concert tour for Green Day as well as Fall Out Boy and Weezer that began in 2021.[42] The song was later included on the set list for the Saviors Tour, where American Idiot was played in its entirety.[43][39]

Legacy

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"Wake Me Up When September Ends" became closely associated with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which struck the Gulf Coast of the United States three days before the start of September in 2005.[37] The affiliation began after a blogger created a video pairing the song with recordings of television coverage of the disaster, which went viral.[7][37] Afterwards, Green Day performed the song for ReAct Now: Music & Relief, a benefit concert dedicated to Hurricane Katrina. A live recording of the song dedicated to the victims of the hurricane, which was performed at Gillette Stadium, was released on September 3.[7] They performed the song again during the pre-game show for a Monday Night Football game played between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons at the New Orleans Superdome, which was the first game played at the stadium after the hurricane.[7] In April 2020, Armstrong performed the song for One World: Together At Home, a charity livestream dedicated to COVID-19 relief efforts.[44]

In the years since its release, "Wake Me Up When September Ends" has seen popularity spikes on streaming platforms during the first and last days of September, as well as the first day of October.[45][46] According to Loudwire, the increase of the songs views on YouTube was as high as 135 percent on the last day of September 2019 compared to the rest of that years daily average.[47] Consequentially, the band sees increased profits during those days.[46] The resurgence in popularity around the end of the month also leads to numerous social media posts and internet memes being created, such as "someone needs to wake up [Armstrong]."[48] These memes have been criticized by many as insensitive due to the songs context;[48] in response to the memes, Armstrong jokingly stated in an 2016 interview with Vulture that he would create a new song titled "Shut The Fuck Up When October Comes."[49] He later referenced the memes in a promotional video released on October 1, 2023 for the song "The American Dream Is Killing Me".[50]

References

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  1. ^ Robinson, Joe (January 4, 2013). "Green Day, 'American Idiot' – Career-saving albums". Diffuser. Archived from the original on March 16, 2017.
  2. ^ Stegall, Tim. "15 best punk albums of 2004, from Green Day to My Chemical Romance". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  3. ^ Hendrickson, Matt (February 24, 2005). "Green Day and the Palace of Wisdom". Rolling Stone. No. 968. New York City. ISSN 0035-791X. Archived from the original on June 8, 2015. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
  4. ^ "UG's Battle Royale: Why Green Day's 'American Idiot' Is the Best Album of the 21st Century So Far". www.ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
  5. ^ a b c "Rage and Love: 15 years of Green Day's American Idiot". Mixdown.
  6. ^ a b Richardson, Jake (2023-04-28). "The 12 Best Emo Power Ballads". Loudwire. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Hopper, Alex (2022-06-07). "The Meaning Behind "Wake Me Up When September Ends" by Green Day". American Songwriter. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  8. ^ a b "The Story Behind 'Wake Me Up When September Ends' by Green Day". www.ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h "Between the Grooves: Green Day – 'American Idiot', PopMatters, Page 11". www.popmatters.com. 2021-01-29. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  10. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1610. June 10, 2005. p. 19. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  11. ^ Loftus, Johnny. "Green Day: Bullet in a Bible". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  12. ^ Monroe, Jazz (2017-10-12). "Green Day Announce Greatest Hits: God's Favorite Band". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  13. ^ Sheffield, Rob (September 30, 2004). "Green Day: American Idiot". Rolling Stone. No. 958. New York City. ISSN 0035-791X. Archived from the original on March 3, 2015. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
  14. ^ Sheffield, Rob (September 30, 2004). "Green Day: American Idiot". Rolling Stone. No. 958. New York City. ISSN 0035-791X. Archived from the original on March 3, 2015. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
  15. ^ "Review: Green Day - American Idiot | Sputnikmusic". www.sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  16. ^ "Green Day's Top Songs: Their 20 Best Tracks Of All Time". 2023-11-02. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  17. ^ Leimkuehler, Matthew (2023-11-21). "All the Songs on Green Day's 'American Idiot,' Ranked". American Songwriter. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  18. ^ Loftus, Johnny (September 24, 2004). "Green Day: American Idiot: Pitchfork Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on August 27, 2005. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  19. ^ "Green Day | Biography, Music & News". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  20. ^ a b Childers, Chad (2023-09-21). "19 Years Ago - Green Day Release 'American Idiot'". Loudwire. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  21. ^ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  22. ^ "Gold/Platinum - Music Canada".
  23. ^ "Top Lista Hrvatskog Radija". Croatian Radiotelevision.
  24. ^ "Nielsen Music Control Airplay – Germany Top 5". Nielsen Music Control on behalf of BVMI. Archived from the original on August 28, 2005. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  25. ^ lightmedia.hu. "Hivatalos magyar slágerlisták". slagerlistak.hu. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  26. ^ "charts.org.nz - Green Day - Wake Me Up When September Ends". charts.nz. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  27. ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  28. ^ "australian-charts.com - Green Day - Wake Me Up When September Ends". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  29. ^ "swedishcharts.com - Green Day - Wake Me Up When September Ends". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  30. ^ Green Day - Wake Me Up When September Ends, retrieved 2024-08-08
  31. ^ Rogers, John (April 4, 2006). "Cheers and slime at Kids Choice Awards". The Berkshire Eagle. p. 15.
  32. ^ a b c d James Montgomery (August 9, 2005). "'Teen Spirit' Director Calls Green Day Clip His Career Highlight". MTV News. New York City. Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  33. ^ a b Montgomery, James (April 19, 2005). "It's A Dark Day For Green Day In Somber 'September' Video". MTV News. Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  34. ^ Colapinto, John (November 17, 2005). "Green Day: Working Class Heroes". Rolling Stone. No. 987. New York City. pp. 50–56. ISSN 0035-791X. Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
  35. ^ a b Moss, Corey (August 31, 2005). "Think Green Day's 'September' Clip Is Epic? Just Wait For 'Jesus Of Suburbia'". MTV News. New York City. Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  36. ^ Green Day (June 13, 2005). Wake Me Up When September Ends (Video).
  37. ^ a b c Boxer, Sarah (September 24, 2005). "Art of the Internet: A Protest Song, Reloaded". The New York Times. New York City. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  38. ^ Greene, Andy (January 11, 2006). "The 2005 Readers' Poll". Rolling Stone. New York City. ISSN 0035-791X. Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
  39. ^ a b Shah, Rishi (2024-06-24). "Green Day live in Manchester: an emphatic celebration of two timeless albums". NME. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  40. ^ Blashill, Pat (2004-10-28). "Live Review: Green Day at Irving Plaza, New York". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  41. ^ Punknews.org (2004-11-30). "Green Day / New Found Glory / Sugarcult - live in Rochester". www.punknews.org. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  42. ^ Greene, Andy (2021-07-25). "Green Day, Weezer, Fall Out Boy Launch 'Hella Mega' With Epic, Emotional Dallas Concert". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  43. ^ "Green Day: Here's the setlist from the first night of The Saviors Tour". Kerrang!. 2024-05-31. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  44. ^ Daly, Rhian (2020-04-19). "Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong plays poignant version of 'Wake Me Up When September Ends' on One World: Together At Home special". NME. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  45. ^ Aniftos, Rania (2019-10-04). "Green Day's 'Wake Me Up When September Ends' Gets Annual Spike in YouTube Views Because, Well, September Ended". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  46. ^ a b "Apparently Green Day Make Extra Money When September Ends Every Year". Kerrang!. 2018-10-08. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  47. ^ DiVita, Joe (2019-10-02). "Green Day See Huge YouTube View Spike When September Ends". Loudwire. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  48. ^ a b Hopper, Alex (2022-06-07). "The Meaning Behind "Wake Me Up When September Ends" by Green Day". American Songwriter. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  49. ^ Shutler, Ali (2021-10-02). "Green Day fans are over the 'Wake Me Up When September Ends' joke". NME. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  50. ^ "Green Day are teasing something with new video and website". Kerrang!. 2023-10-01. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
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