The Killers vs. Green Day

neilcoalesce · 18th October 2006, 06:38 AM

Off NME.com

http://www.nme.com/news/the-killers/24702

"Brandon Flowers has criticised Green Day for what he sees as their calculated anti-Americanism.

In particular, Flowers singled out the track 'American Idiot' and the fact they filmed their DVD 'Bullet In A Bible', which features the song, in the UK.

"You have Green Day and 'American Idiot'. Where do they film their DVD? In England," The Killers' frontman told The Word. "A bunch of kids screaming 'I don't want to be an American idiot' I saw it as a very negative thing towards Americans. It really lit a fire in me."

Explaining he was offended by the set-up, Flowers added: "You have the right to say what you want to say and what you want to write about, and I'm sure they meant it in the same way that Bruce Springsteen meant 'Born In The USA' and it was taken wrongly, but I was really offended when I saw them do that."

The singer added he felt the DVD was a bit of a a stunt.

"I just thought it was really cheap," he explained. "To go to a place like England or Germany and sing that song - those kids aren't taking it the same way that he meant it. And he [Billie Joe Armstrong] knew it."

The Killers' frontman said he believed that his band's new album 'Sam's Town' is a much better representation of America.

"People need to see that, really, there are the nicest people in the world here!" he declared. "I don't know if our album makes you realise that. But I hope it's from a more positive place."

You've got to laugh. That album (and the DVD) came out ages ago. Has he just noticed? Or, more likely, he's trying to generate attention to deflect attention away from his own mundance, dull as dishwater second album. Arrogant prick.

RiseAgainst · 18th October 2006, 07:52 AM

or maybe he is a wee bit jealous?
if your music doesnt made the headlines, open your mouth and talk bullshit!

kj · 18th October 2006, 08:10 AM

I don't know why but i've always seen Green Day as a bunch of screaming kids anyway.

Johnny5 · 18th October 2006, 09:39 AM

That's ridiculous, Sam's Town probably IS a better reflection of America because like most of it's population probably absolutely ignores the problems it has.

American Idiot was a great statement brought to the mainstream music lover. I think they're great and they've always been one of my favourite bands. It's not their fault 14 year olds took it as OMG BUSH IS A TERRORRRERRORIST, the album and that song wasn't about that.

He's right in some ways but to have a go at Green Day is ridculous.

I don't know why i'm giving it the time of day, it's obviously just for publicity

RiseAgainst · 18th October 2006, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnny?

That's ridiculous, Sam's Town probably IS a better reflection of America because like most of it's population probably absolutely ignores the problems it has.

American Idiot was a great statement brought to the mainstream music lover. I think they're great and they've always been one of my favourite bands. It's not their fault 14 year olds took it as OMG BUSH IS A TERRORRRERRORIST, the album and that song wasn't about that.

He's right in some ways but to have a go at Green Day is ridculous.

I don't know why i'm giving it the time of day, it's obviously just for publicity

how dare you sing an anti-america song outside America!

YOU FIENDS!

I thought American Idiot was more a story based on someone who didnt want to be an i-dont-care-ican...

1010011010 · 18th October 2006, 09:58 AM

I thought "American Idiot" was a good pop song which far from being a poor reflection of American attitutdes and therefore a negative statement, as Mr. Flowers suggests, it actually goes some way to challenge the lazy cliche that all Americans are dumb-asses by letting the rest of the world know that they're not all like that.

Anyway kids, it's only rock and roll.

I have to afford myself a wry smile however that Green Day might purport to represent the American intelligentsia.

Baz · 18th October 2006, 10:09 AM

wanna hear a song thats a true representation of america? seek out - "the war on terrorism part 1" by the gibbons. outstanding social commentary, the like of which have been missing since the days of Fifteen.

the song "kindergarten class" is possibly better but is vinyl only so will be hard to find. well worth seeking out tho

"Hey you, guys from the Gibbons. Fuck you. Yeah, that's right. Right off the bat I'm all up in your face. You write a song like "Kindergarten Class," one of the most amazing, poignant songs about the America we're all having to wade through rihgt now, and then you break up. This is bogus. I mean, seriously, what else are you doing? You know how hard it is to find a song like this that doesn't make you cringe? It's impossible" - from Maximum Rock n Roll

oh, and the Killers can suck a fat one.

RiseAgainst · 18th October 2006, 10:21 AM

well the front cover does have trailer trash on it...

Sam-FNGF · 18th October 2006, 10:57 AM

Scraming kids screaming about screaming kids. Hmmm! Both bands are a bunch of faggots.

Tommy Sports · 18th October 2006, 11:16 AM

I fucking despise the killers, they are one of the worst things to happen to music in recent times. Overhyped, dirgy music with some of the worst lyrics I've ever heard, made people who weren't music fans 6 months ago and get their personality from a catalogue.
Fair enough green day have been past their best for a good few years now but they're still more relevant than the killers'll ever be. If he actually bothered to look any further into the song in question than the title he'd see that it's a reaction against American institutions like the media and gov't, and not at the average man on the street. Anyone who gets their opinion from a green day song doesn't have an opinion worth listening to anyway.

Below is an extract from an interview with Brandon Flowers of the killers from the latest edition of uncut, it pretty much sums it up for me.

Uncut: Was it a conscious decision to look towards America for this record's inspiration?

Brandon Flowers: It was a natural occurrence. Going abroad made us realise just how American we were. We're quite patriotic as a band.

Uncut: You immersed yourself in 80s indie culture, but this record clearly aims for the mainstream.

Yeah, but I only liked the music of those bands, not the attitude. When I was a kid I didn't understand the snobbery invovled.

Uncut: The record sounds almost ludicrously over-the-top. Was this done in a sense of comedy?

We just wanted to make good songs, you know? I don't think Beethoven was trying to be funny! I think he was dead serious and so are we.

twat.

Fritz · 18th October 2006, 11:22 AM

The Killers are aids.

RiseAgainst · 18th October 2006, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bryter_layter

Yeah, but I only liked the music of those bands, not the attitude. When I was a kid I didn't understand the snobbery invovled.

We just wanted to make good songs, you know? I don't think Beethoven was trying to be funny! I think he was dead serious and so are we.

says hes no a snob then compares himself to Beethoven

fuckin hell.

Rich · 18th October 2006, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baz

wanna hear a song thats a true representation of america? seek out - "the war on terrorism part 1" by the gibbons. outstanding social commentary, the like of which have been missing since the days of Fifteen.

the song "kindergarten class" is possibly better but is vinyl only so will be hard to find. well worth seeking out tho

"Hey you, guys from the Gibbons. Fuck you. Yeah, that's right. Right off the bat I'm all up in your face. You write a song like "Kindergarten Class," one of the most amazing, poignant songs about the America we're all having to wade through rihgt now, and then you break up. This is bogus. I mean, seriously, what else are you doing? You know how hard it is to find a song like this that doesn't make you cringe? It's impossible" - from Maximum Rock n Roll

oh, and the Killers can suck a fat one.

i agree. "im an 18 year old american and i fund terrorism."

18th October 2006, 06:38 AM	#1 (permalink)
neilcoalesce Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Muppet Labs Posts: 1,364	The Killers vs. Green Day Off NME.com http://www.nme.com/news/the-killers/24702 "Brandon Flowers has criticised Green Day for what he sees as their calculated anti-Americanism. In particular, Flowers singled out the track 'American Idiot' and the fact they filmed their DVD 'Bullet In A Bible', which features the song, in the UK. "You have Green Day and 'American Idiot'. Where do they film their DVD? In England," The Killers' frontman told The Word. "A bunch of kids screaming 'I don't want to be an American idiot' I saw it as a very negative thing towards Americans. It really lit a fire in me." Explaining he was offended by the set-up, Flowers added: "You have the right to say what you want to say and what you want to write about, and I'm sure they meant it in the same way that Bruce Springsteen meant 'Born In The USA' and it was taken wrongly, but I was really offended when I saw them do that." The singer added he felt the DVD was a bit of a a stunt. "I just thought it was really cheap," he explained. "To go to a place like England or Germany and sing that song - those kids aren't taking it the same way that he meant it. And he [Billie Joe Armstrong] knew it." The Killers' frontman said he believed that his band's new album 'Sam's Town' is a much better representation of America. "People need to see that, really, there are the nicest people in the world here!" he declared. "I don't know if our album makes you realise that. But I hope it's from a more positive place." You've got to laugh. That album (and the DVD) came out ages ago. Has he just noticed? Or, more likely, he's trying to generate attention to deflect attention away from his own mundance, dull as dishwater second album. Arrogant prick.

18th October 2006, 08:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
kj gimp Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Scotland Posts: 13,712 Band: A band of merry men	I don't know why but i've always seen Green Day as a bunch of screaming kids anyway. __________________ This community cannot survive without your continued support. galleries \|\| links directory \|\| profiles \|\| wiki

18th October 2006, 09:58 AM	#6 (permalink)
1010011010 In all his binary finery. Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: City of Disco - Very. Posts: 1,031 Band: on the Run.	I thought "American Idiot" was a good pop song which far from being a poor reflection of American attitutdes and therefore a negative statement, as Mr. Flowers suggests, it actually goes some way to challenge the lazy cliche that all Americans are dumb-asses by letting the rest of the world know that they're not all like that. Anyway kids, it's only rock and roll. I have to afford myself a wry smile however that Green Day might purport to represent the American intelligentsia. __________________ Only after the last tree has been cut down, Only after the last river has been poisoned, Only after the last fish has been caught, Only then will you find that cannot eat money.

18th October 2006, 11:16 AM	#10 (permalink)
Tommy Sports Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 3,647 Band: Juliet Kilo	I fucking despise the killers, they are one of the worst things to happen to music in recent times. Overhyped, dirgy music with some of the worst lyrics I've ever heard, made people who weren't music fans 6 months ago and get their personality from a catalogue. Fair enough green day have been past their best for a good few years now but they're still more relevant than the killers'll ever be. If he actually bothered to look any further into the song in question than the title he'd see that it's a reaction against American institutions like the media and gov't, and not at the average man on the street. Anyone who gets their opinion from a green day song doesn't have an opinion worth listening to anyway. Below is an extract from an interview with Brandon Flowers of the killers from the latest edition of uncut, it pretty much sums it up for me. Uncut: Was it a conscious decision to look towards America for this record's inspiration? Brandon Flowers: It was a natural occurrence. Going abroad made us realise just how American we were. We're quite patriotic as a band. Uncut: You immersed yourself in 80s indie culture, but this record clearly aims for the mainstream. Yeah, but I only liked the music of those bands, not the attitude. When I was a kid I didn't understand the snobbery invovled. Uncut: The record sounds almost ludicrously over-the-top. Was this done in a sense of comedy? We just wanted to make good songs, you know? I don't think Beethoven was trying to be funny! I think he was dead serious and so are we. twat. Last edited by Tommy Sports : 18th October 2006 at 11:22 AM.

18th October 2006, 11:22 AM	#11 (permalink)
Fritz Uzi Lover Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Dundee Posts: 3,190 Band: Pretty much everything I touch turns to gold. Don't know what bands I play in? You should get out more you sad fuck!	The Killers are aids. __________________ "Are bummers deaf?"

18th October 2006, 07:52 AM	#2 (permalink)
RiseAgainst rambling boy of pleasure Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Work id presume Posts: 3,193 Band: Cheat To Win	or maybe he is a wee bit jealous? if your music doesnt made the headlines, open your mouth and talk bullshit!

18th October 2006, 09:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
Johnny5 cock in hand Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Dundee Posts: 1,851	That's ridiculous, Sam's Town probably IS a better reflection of America because like most of it's population probably absolutely ignores the problems it has. American Idiot was a great statement brought to the mainstream music lover. I think they're great and they've always been one of my favourite bands. It's not their fault 14 year olds took it as OMG BUSH IS A TERRORRRERRORIST, the album and that song wasn't about that. He's right in some ways but to have a go at Green Day is ridculous. I don't know why i'm giving it the time of day, it's obviously just for publicity

18th October 2006, 10:09 AM	#7 (permalink)
Baz Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Dundee Posts: 4,679 Band: 15 Minutes	wanna hear a song thats a true representation of america? seek out - "the war on terrorism part 1" by the gibbons. outstanding social commentary, the like of which have been missing since the days of Fifteen. the song "kindergarten class" is possibly better but is vinyl only so will be hard to find. well worth seeking out tho "Hey you, guys from the Gibbons. Fuck you. Yeah, that's right. Right off the bat I'm all up in your face. You write a song like "Kindergarten Class," one of the most amazing, poignant songs about the America we're all having to wade through rihgt now, and then you break up. This is bogus. I mean, seriously, what else are you doing? You know how hard it is to find a song like this that doesn't make you cringe? It's impossible" - from Maximum Rock n Roll oh, and the Killers can suck a fat one.

18th October 2006, 10:21 AM	#8 (permalink)
RiseAgainst rambling boy of pleasure Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Work id presume Posts: 3,193 Band: Cheat To Win	well the front cover does have trailer trash on it...

18th October 2006, 10:57 AM	#9 (permalink)
Sam-FNGF Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 123	Scraming kids screaming about screaming kids. Hmmm! Both bands are a bunch of faggots.