Posted on 10/24/2006 7:37:52 PM PDT by rodomila
Brandon Flowers doesn't want to be an 'American Idiot' 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."
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In The Magazine
Born in the USA was an Anti American song if you listen closely to the lyrics.
I knowk, but its still nice to see one big name in music calling another one down for anti-Americanism.
Interesting. There is hope after all. Who'd a thunk it?
"Born In The USA" was a song characterizing a bitter Vietnam veteran, which Springsteen certainly was not. I think it is one of the most righteous political and artistic ironies of the 20th century that it became a shout of defiance against the very people Springsteen still represents. It became a battle cry for those who were sick of the incessant tearing down of America, which Springsteen did then and still does. That cry, and the "USA!" at Lake Placid and a fellow who followed shortly named Ronald Reagan were the reply of people who had had enough of Springsteen and his ilk and I hope he chokes on it.
Dang! Ya gotta love those Gen Y'ers!
The Killers first CD is awesome. I haven't had a listen to their second. That said, I do like the Green Day American Idiot CD. Considering all the "Media Brainwashing" they were complaining about, the song American Idiot seems almost humorously ironic given that it came out around the time of Dan Rather's embarrassing attempt at duping the American public.
As I recently explained to my Green Day fan nephew, bashing Bush is easy and makes you part of the crowd. If you want to really be a rebel like Green Day professes, you need to back President Bush!
I happened to be at the website of the Atlanta Rhythm Section (remember them?) not too long ago. There is a very pro-US and pro-Bush statement on the site by one of the band members.
I love the first one too. The second was pretty mediocre on my first listen. I'll give it another shot in the morning, but I can definitely say it isn't up to the standard of the first.
Honestly, I'm thrown for a loop that a guy as bitchy as he seems in the songs is actually not a flaming lib.
Green Day sucks. My kids liked them for a few weeks back in the '90s.
It'll get no better. Not many bands can meet the success of their first album with their second. I would expect their third to be a standout album again.
To be expected, considering the singer.
Why be rebels at all? And much of the rock today is not all that similar to old rock.
And pointing out that it's cynical anti-Americanism.
"Canadian idiot" by Weird Al Yankovic
Don't want to be a Canadian idiot
Dont want to be some beer swillin' hockey nut
and do I look like some frost bitten hosehead
I never learned my alphabet from "A"
to "Zed"
They all live on donuts and moose meat
and they leave the house without packin' heat
never even bring their guns to the mall
and you know what else is too funny
their stupid monopoly money
can't take 'em seriously at all
Well maple syrup and snow's what they export
they treat curling just like it's a real sport
they think their silly accent is so cute
can't understand a thing they're talking aboot
sure they got their national health care
cheaper meds low crime rates and clean air
then again well they got celine dion
eat their weight in kraft macaroni
and dream of driving a zamboni
all over saskatchewan
Don't want to be a Canadian idiot
Won't figure out the temperature in Celcius
see the map they're hovering right over us
tell you the truth it makes me kinda nervous
always hear the same kind of story
break their nose and they'll just say sorry
tell me what kind of freaks are that polite
It's gotta mean they're all up to something
so quick before they see it coming
time for a pre-emptive strike
Don't wanna be an American idiot.
Don't want a nation under the new media.
And can you hear the sound of hysteria?
The subliminal mind@@@@ America.
Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
Well that's enough to argue.
Well maybe I'm the faggot America.
I'm not a part of a redneck agenda.
Now everybody do the propaganda.
And sing along in the age of paranoia.
Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
Well that's enough to argue.
Don't wanna be an American idiot.
One nation controlled by the media.
Information nation of hysteria.
It's going out to idiot America.
Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
I don't think Born in the USA is anti american.
the song depicts a certain point of view where for his life, a lot of things the politcians said were lies to his circumstance.
I don't think the song criticizes the USA as a whole.
I love Weird Al's "Canadian Idiot". Good song.
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