The music industry had recently taken on this fad or trend—we’re not sure yet—of looking back at their success and reviving records that changed the world. From Taylor Swift‘s The Eras Tour to All Time Low‘s All Time Low Forever, Green Day showed up with a brand new record called Saviors, putting it out for everyone on January 19 of this year.
Saviors, performed by vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tré Cool and produced by Green Day and Rob Cavallo through Reprise Records, encapsulates what Green Day is known for: political stances, complaining about timely events, and heartfelt messages from a father to a son. In other words, they are back with new but nostalgic punk rock melodies and topics that make fans of all ages reminisce on the other Green Day records they grew up with and come to love.
Looking for 'Saviors' songs about politics and the status quo?
The American Dream Is Killing Me puts the record off to a great start as Green Day disses the land of the free once again. The opening riff acts as a call to dinner for the punk rock fans, calling their attention to notify them of the return of God’s Favorite Band. It may as well be referred to as the modern day American Idiot, one that comprises up-to-date and relevant references (e.g., TikTok, unemployment and obsoleteness, and bulldozing family homes!).
Coma City strongly gives off a mixture of Murder City from Green Day’s eighth studio album, 21st Century Breakdown, and Revolution Radio from their twelfth studio album, Revolution Radio. The band approaches this song as another take on American society, more specifically on police brutality; school shootings may also be a relevant association.
Living in the ‘20s has a similar theme, wherein the band expresses what it’s like, well, living in the ‘20s. In fact, Green Day accurately sums that up, with an aggressive, almost going on a riot energy, taking into account that they’re an almost forty-year-old band still writing an angry song about the status quo, sarcastically speaking ‘salutations on another era / my condolences / ain’t that a kick in the head?’.
How about 'Saviors' songs that make you realize it's not just a phase?
Look Ma, No Brains! screams punk rock in all angles as it talks about literal and insane things such as having no brains, for one, and having terminal vertigo. It’s the type of song you play when you want to get away, scream, and be your sarcastic, punk rock little self for a while Look Ma, No Brains! is one of those Green Day tracks where they prove they’re a timeless rock band; it makes anyone feel like they’re sixteen again.
One Eyed Bastard immediately gives off rage and about-to-commit-arson energy. Similar to Look Ma, No Brains! with the heavy punk rock influence, One Eyed Bastard has the potential of being the first song on your playlist when you’re about to enter a rage room; the song you want to play on full blast just to control yourself from being the reason your worst enemy only has one eye (get it?).
1981 turns heads and makes them bang even forty-three years later. It’s the type of song you can set as your alarm sound, or have it against your ear while running on a treadmill as it gets you going with its fast paced chord progressions, catchy tune, and the immediate commencing of the song itself. 1981 can even pass off as a track from one of Green Day’s trilogy albums, ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, or ¡Tre!.
Does 'Saviors' have songs about love?
Bobby Sox is a bizarre, yet influential track. Does anyone have “Billie Joe Armstrong literally singing about boyfriends and girlfriends” on their 2024 bingo card? Figuratively speaking, Bobby Sox explores companionship, friendship, and relationships in general. It also confirms for anyone wondering and doubting Billie Joe Armstrong’s bisexuality, because Bobby Sox is definitely a bisexual anthem. On the first listen, you might think it’s a shallow song, but give it a chance and listen a second time. Bobby Sox is more than what it seems.
On the other hand, who doesn’t love a punk rock love-esque song? Dilemma is the track when you want to feel your feelings while simultaneously hearing distortion guitars. The chorus consists of lyrics ‘I was sober, now I’m drunk again / I’m in trouble and in love again’ that so clearly captures the minds and feelings of adolescence today. Green Day represented the essence of a lovesick individual with Dilemma; it almost has the same longing as Last Night On Earth from the band’s eighth studio album 21st Century Breakdown, just in a different font.
What other songs does 'Saviors' have to offer?
Corvette Summer has the similar carefree punk rocker style with lyrics that match; a song fit to play when you’re out drinking with your friends, or a road trip leading nowhere. Green Day had recently shared a meme on their Instagram stories about the making of Corvette Summer, wherein it showed people having a blast in a recording booth with one of them playing the cowbell.
Meanwhile, Strange Days Are Here to Stay might just have the same time signature and structure as the beloved Basket Case from Green Day’s third studio album, Dookie. With that, it makes Saviors a homecoming record in a way, reminding every Green Day fan of every age that they have a song just for them in the new record. Strange Days Are Here to Stay also has striking lyrics such as ‘they promised us forever, but we got less’ and ‘ever since Bowie died, it hasn’t been the same’. The latter refers to the late English singer-songwriter David Bowie, who died in 2016.
Suzie Chapstick reportedly refers to Suzy Chaffee, a former Olympic alpine ski racer and actress, who appeared on chapstick commercials with the name ‘Suzy Chapstick’ (Genius, n.d.). Suzie Chapstick has an almost somber melody to it, with lyrics correlatable to missing someone and wishing to see them again. However, it’s unclear and unverified if Green Day has a direct connection with Suzy Chaffee.
Okay, are there any moving, sentimental songs off of 'Saviors'?
Goodnight Adeline touches on longing for better days. ‘Goodnight, baby, I’m letting go’, and the general implication of sometimes you feel great, but you’re really not gives the reassuring feeling that it’s okay to let go of everything for your well-being. This is a prominent song about mental health which is pivotal to society today, and we could only imagine the impact this track can provide coming from a veteran alternative punk rock band. In the last chorus, the song transposes up a step after the instrumental solo which helped bridge the song to that moment, which is a rare case for a band like Green Day.
Up next is Father to a Son, another heartfelt track with a self-explanatory title. Billie Joe Armstrong admits to writing this track for his sons; the lyrics consist of countless, wholehearted promises from him to them. Father to a Son may as well be an homage to Wake Me Up When September Ends from the band’s seventh album American Idiot, given the similar theme of a meaningful message by a son to a father, and vice versa.
Green Day's last words on 'Saviors':
Saviors, the title track, is the second to the last one of the record. The melodies and harmonies make you feel as though the album is just about to end, and it is. Saviors is literally calling for saviors; a call for help and awareness, given that the previous tracks have elements of societal and personal issues.
Lastly, Fancy Sauce is the fifteenth and last song from Saviors (not including Fevers, the bonus track from the Japanese edition). Fancy Sauce, with the unprofessional name for a last track as fans acclaimed, acts as the toast of champagne at the end of a dinner party. The lyrics ‘we all die young and watch it slip away / we all die young someday’ is Green Day’s way of saying “we tried, we communicated these things that need to be addressed in the form of a studio album, and how it’s perceived is out of our hands”.
So, is 'Saviors' worth listening to?
Well, yes! After Green Day‘s experimentation with new sounds and getting mixed reviews from fans with Father of All Motherfuckers, their thirteenth studio album released in 2020 right before the COVID-19 pandemic, Saviors feels like a bounce back, a homecoming retreat to the sound Green Day is known for in order to accompany what they want to deliver about today’s society. With that, Green Day is taking Saviors on tour around North America, the UK, and Europe; they also claim they’re going to play Dookie and American Idiot in its entirety in honor of their anniversaries. Is anyone else hoping they’d take The Saviors Tour to Southeast Asia too?
References: Green Day – Suzie Chapstick. (n.d.). Genius. https://genius.com/Green-day-suzie-chapstick-lyrics’
Image courtesy of Jonathan Weiner.
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About the Author
Kate Clarice Lee is a psychology major in Ateneo de Naga University with a knack for music and writing. She takes interest in playing guitar, poetry, creative writing, and lyrics that—subjectively—hit close to home. Kate mostly enjoys indie, alternative, pop & punk rock music.
