Sometimes, you need a spark to get you up in the morning. Since I'm cutting back on the red bull, I'm turning more to the music that gets the blood flowing. Green Day can do that for me.
When Green Day released Dookie in 1994, it was lauded and panned by punk rock critics and aficionados alike. While decidedly raw and unabashed, it had serious overtones of pop to be taken solely "punk" for the hardcore punk crowd. Critics panned them for simplistic use of three chords, and also accusing them of "selling out."
Sadly, what the critics didn't get, was that this was the face of the new era of Punk. They weren't seeing it at the time. Green Day's Dookie brought it back. Punk used to be about quick songs. Angst. Railing against almost everyone and everything. And Girls.
Some punks would have have become so without the disaffection... but sometimes, punk rock music was about girls. "Sheena is a Punk Rocker, The Story of my Life," and "Whatshername," (by The Ramones, Social Distortion and Green Day, respectively) are a few of the female-influenced standouts. Green Day's earlier effort, "She," is along the same vein. Written about a woman, put on the album after she left. Angry, Cynical, yet somewhat heartfelt with the questioning, masochistic chorus.
When the song came out, I had a "She" at the time, but I didn't know it then. It's amusing to think back on it now, due to all the music associated with that period in life. We, at some point, should all have a "She (or a 'He,' for you women)" in our lives. The ranges of emotion, the staggering ups, to the dizzying lows. The joy, the pain, and the loss. Looking back, nothing was as profound, nothing made me so angry, nothing makes me smile more (well except for my daughter), than the loss.
If that exposition didn't make sense to you, you need a "She." Good luck with that.
Also, to all the critics, the chords were G, D, C. This song didn't need any more.
Later,-om
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