Green Day on American Idol: Sell Out or Punk Rock?

Last night on American Idol, we were all surprised to see a live appearance by Green Day. I've heard people accuse them of totally selling out for being on such a mainstream pop show like that. But I beg to differ. Yes, American Idol is pure brain rot. Yes, that show and shows like it may very well be the downfall of modern society.

But are Billie, Tre, and Mike sell outs?

Hardly.

What is more punk rock than singing a song by John Lennon that brings to light the stratification of our world? Not only is it beautifully ironic that such a song was sung from the American Idol stage, but the lyrics seem powerfully poignant to the current social and international issues that we face today.

The song is also part of the Amnesty International fundraising album to save Darfur. Getting that issue in front of millions of viewers is punk as hell. The only thing they could have done that is more punk rock would have been for Green Day to proclaim their passionate support for the Bush administration and then play "American Idiot" instead! Now that would have been beyond punk rock!

Speaking of the lyrics, here they are.

"Working Class Hero"
by John Lennon

As soon as your born they make you feel small,
By giving you no time instead of it all,
Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all,
A working class hero is something to be,
A working class hero is something to be.
They hurt you at home and they hit you at school,
They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool,
Till you're so FCC-ing crazy you can't follow their rules,
A working class hero is something to be,
A working class hero is something to be.
When they've tortured and scared you for twenty odd years,
Then they expect you to pick a career,
When you can't really function you're so full of fear,
A working class hero is something to be,
A working class hero is something to be.
Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV,
And you think you're so clever and classless and free,
But you're still FCC-ing peasants as far as I can see,
A working class hero is something to be,
A working class hero is something to be.
There's room at the top they are telling you still,
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,
If you want to be like the folks on the hill,
A working class hero is something to be.
A working class hero is something to be.
If you want to be a hero well just follow me,
If you want to be a hero well just follow me.


todd's iPod
10:20 am "I Am One" Smashing Pumpkins
1:20 pm "Evolution" Korn