The American Dream Is Killing Me
"The American Dream Is Killing Me" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Green Day | ||||
from the album Saviors | ||||
A-side | "Look Ma, No Brains!" (double A-side) | |||
Released | October 24, 2023 | |||
Recorded | 2023 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:06 | |||
Label | Reprise[1] | |||
Composer(s) | ||||
Lyricist(s) | Billie Joe Armstrong | |||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Green Day singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"The American Dream Is Killing Me" on YouTube |
"The American Dream Is Killing Me" is a song by the American rock band Green Day, released on October 24, 2023 as the lead single from their fourteenth studio album, Saviors (2024). It was released alongside a music video through Reprise Records. It is the first Green Day single since 2013's "X-Kid" to be produced by Rob Cavallo.[2]
Background and composition
On October 1, 2023, the band launched a new website with the name "The American Dream Is Killing Me" which teased a new song and showed October 24, 2023, circled on a calendar. The band released a number of teasers in the following weeks until October 24 when the song released alongside a music video. There was also a vinyl supplied to a limited number of people who entered their address into the new website which contained the song, and a second new song from the album called "Look Ma, No Brains!". The song was one of the last ones they recorded for the album.[3]
"The American Dream Is Killing Me" is a punk rock and pop-punk song,[4][5] with guitar riffs reminiscent of the band's 2004 album American Idiot[6] and their 2009 album 21st Century Breakdown.[7] Billie Joe said of the song that it is "a look at the way the traditional American Dream doesn’t work for a lot of people—in fact, it's hurting a lot of people."[8] The song contains a note structure borrowed from The First Noel.
Music video
The music video released alongside the single on October 24, 2023, after the band had released a number of teasers in the previous weeks. The video starts with a woman stuck in traffic listening to a news radio station before changing to a music station which starts playing the song before getting attacked by a zombie. The video depicts the band playing the song in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. The video was directed by Brendan Walter and Ryan Baxley.[9]
Track listing
All lyrics are written by Billie Joe Armstrong; all music is composed by Green Day
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "The American Dream Is Killing Me" | 3:06 |
7-inch vinyl
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "The American Dream Is Killing Me" | 3:06 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Look Ma, No Brains!" | 2:03 |
Personnel
Green Day
- Billie Joe Armstrong – lead vocals, guitar, production
- Mike Dirnt – bass, backing vocals, production
- Tré Cool – drums, percussion, production
Technical Personnel
- Rob Cavallo – producer, string arrangements
- David Campbell – string arrangements
- Chris Lord-Alge – mixing
- Butch Walker – additional engineering
Charts
Chart (2023–24) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada Rock (Billboard)[10] | 1 |
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[11] | 81 |
German Download Singles (Official German Charts)[12] | 45 |
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[13] | 11 |
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[14] | 29 |
UK Singles Sales (OCC)[15] | 73 |
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[16] | 65 |
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[17] | 37 |
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[18] | 22 |
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[19] | 1 |
References
- ^ "Saviors - Album by Green Day". Apple Music. January 19, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
- ^ Carter, Daisy (October 24, 2023). "Green Day announce new album, Saviors". DIY. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (October 24, 2023). "Green Day – "The American Dream Is Killing Me"". Stereogum. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
- ^ Anderson, Cary (October 24, 2023). "Green Day Preview New Album Saviors with "The American Dream Is Killing Me"". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
- ^ Bell, Sadie (October 20, 2023). "Green Day Announce Massive 2024 Tour, Plays New Song at Surprise Club Show". People. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
The group — featuring Armstrong on vocals and guitar, bassist Mike Dirnt and drummer Tré Cool — then erupted in the stadium-ready punk track "The American Dream is Killing Me."
- ^ Sacher, Andrew (October 24, 2023). "Green Day announce new album 'Saviors,' share "The American Dream Is Killing Me" video". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
- ^ Brown, Paul (October 25, 2023). "Green Day Announce New Album Saviours with New Song 'The American Dream Is Killing Me'". Wall of Sound. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (October 24, 2023). "Green Day – "The American Dream Is Killing Me"". Stereogum. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
- ^ "Green Day announce new album "Saviors"". Warner Music. October 24, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
- ^ "Green Day Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
- ^ "Green Day: The American Dream Is Killing Me" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
- ^ "Deutsche Download Singles Charts Category: Single". Deutsche Download Singles Charts. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
{cite web}
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value (help) - ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of November 8, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ "Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
- ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
- ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
- ^ "Green Day Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- ^ "Green Day Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 4, 2023.