Boulevard of Broken Dreams (Green Day song)
"Boulevard of Broken Dreams" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Single by Green Day | ||||
from the album American Idiot | ||||
Released | November 29, 2004 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
| |||
Label | ||||
Composer(s) | Green Day | |||
Lyricist(s) | Billie Joe Armstrong | |||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Green Day singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Alternative cover | ||||
![]() Alternate single cover | ||||
Music video | ||||
"Boulevard of Broken Dreams" on YouTube |
"Boulevard of Broken Dreams" is a song by American rock band Green Day. The power ballad[1] is the fourth track from their seventh studio album American Idiot (2004). Reprise Records released "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" as the second single from American Idiot on November 29, 2004. The song's lyrics were written by lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong, and the music was composed by the band. Production was handled by Rob Cavallo and Green Day.
The song speaks from the point of view of American Idiot's main character, "Jesus of Suburbia", and is a moderate midtempo song characterized by somber and bleak lyrics. This is in contrast to the previous track on the album, "Holiday", which illustrates Jesus of Suburbia's high of being in The City. MTV's Green Day Makes a Video described "Holiday" as a party, and "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" as the subsequent hangover.
The song was ranked number one on Rolling Stone's Reader's Choice: Singles of the Decade list in 2009 and number 65 on the 100 Best Songs of the Decade list in the same year. It has sold over 2 million copies in the United States as of 2010.[3] The single peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Green Day's most successful song in the United States. The song was the ninth-highest-selling single of the 2000–2009 decade with worldwide sales exceeding 5 million copies.[4] As of 2021, "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" is the only song to win both the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year. It remains one of Green Day's signature songs.
Background
[edit]"Boulevard of Broken Dreams" was written during a respite from pre-production on what would eventually become the band's seventh album, American Idiot. Hoping to clear his head and develop new ideas for songs, Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong traveled to New York City alone for a few weeks, renting a small loft in the East Village of Manhattan.[5] He spent much of this time taking long walks and participating in jam sessions in the basement of Hi-Fi, a bar in Alphabet City.[6][7] He began socializing with songwriters Ryan Adams and Jesse Malin.[8]
Armstrong wrote the song about his time in New York City, about "feeling alone" and trying to take power from that fact.[9] Armstrong felt the song fit nicely with the album's storyline, which is about "going away and getting the hell out, while at the same time fighting their own inner demons."[8] The song's concept is from a Gottfried Helnwein painting of James Dean, Humphrey Bogart, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley sitting in an all-night diner.[9] In the 2005 VH1 Storytellers program featuring Green Day, Billie Joe Armstrong stated that the title of the song was "nicked" from the painting of James Dean walking alone.[10][11]
Composition
[edit]"Boulevard of Broken Dreams" is set in common time and composed in the key of F minor, like "Holiday", its prelude. The opening features an electric guitar with tremolo playing the verse progression, which is a i–♭III–♭VII–IV progression (Fm–A♭–E♭–B♭). The song's distinct tremolo effect on the opening guitar was achieved by digitally manipulating the recording in ProTools. It was difficult to produce, as it needed to remain in sync with the song's tempo.[12] Armstrong added tracks of acoustic guitar-playing to augment his electric guitar rhythms and Cool's drumming.[13] Billie Joe's vocals begin, accompanied by acoustic guitar. The bass and drums enter after the first two lines. The pre-chorus features a memorable lead guitar melody before seguing into the distorted chorus. The chorus contains a ♭VI–♭III–♭VII–i progression (D♭–A♭–E♭–Fm), ending on a C major vamp. The solo following the second chorus follows the verse progression while the outro follows a heavily distorted i–♭VI–♭VII–♮vi-♭III-♮VII power chord progression (F5–D♭5–E♭5–D5–A♭5–E5).
Oasis controversy
[edit]Noel Gallagher of Oasis criticized Green Day in late 2006, saying: "They should have the decency to wait until I am dead [before stealing my songs]. I, at least, pay the people I steal from that courtesy,"[14] referencing the fact that "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" uses the same chord progression as Oasis's hit single "Wonderwall". Gallagher's reaction may have partly been due to the emergence of "Boulevard of Broken Songs", a popular mash-up mixed by San Francisco DJ and producer Party Ben in late 2004. The mix consisted of elements from "Boulevard of Broken Dreams", "Wonderwall", Travis's "Writing to Reach You" and Eminem's "Sing for the Moment", the latter of which itself has samples from Aerosmith's "Dream On".
The main repeating guitar and vocal riff also bear a strong resemblance to the 2003 song "She's My Heroine" released by the San Diego band Agent 51. Billie Joe Armstrong had signed the band 3 years prior to his label Adeline Records. To date, no member of Agent 51 has made any public comment regarding the song's similarity, but a short article was written after the release of American Idiot in 2006.[15]
Chart performance
[edit]"Boulevard of Broken Dreams" was named Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards of 2006. The song's broad appeal was demonstrated by its performance on several Billboard singles charts: it spent 14 weeks at number one on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart staying there for 38 weeks, 16 weeks at number one on the Modern Rock Tracks chart staying for 32 weeks, 11 weeks at number one on the Adult Top 40 chart staying at 44 weeks, and four weeks at number one on the Mainstream Top 40 staying there for 26 weeks. This was the first song to top the four charts altogether making this song a multi-chart success. It reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 (the highest a Green Day song has ever charted on the Billboard Hot 100), staying there for five weeks behind 50 Cent's "Candy Shop". This was also the first Green Day song to reach the Adult Contemporary chart, peaking at number 30 and though "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" didn't chart on the Adult Contemporary, it did chart on its recurrent chart.
Outside the United States, "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" charted strongly on many international charts. The song debuted and peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart on the chart dated December 5, 2004, giving the band their third top 10 single in that country. It stayed in the UK top 100 for 29 weeks, becoming their longest-charting single at the time, but "Wake Me Up When September Ends" would log 32 weeks in the UK top 100 nearly a year later; it remains their second-longest stay on the UK chart.[16] In 2021, the British Phonographic Industry awarded the song a Platinum certification for sales and streams exceeding 600,000 units. The single was successful in Ireland, reaching number two in January 2005 on two occasions and totaling 23 weeks in the top 50.[17] It was their highest-peaking single there until "The Saints Are Coming" topped the Irish Singles Chart in 2006. Elsewhere in Europe, the song reached number one in the Czech Republic, number two in Sweden, and the top 10 in Austria, Denmark, and Norway. In Australasia, the song reached number five in both Australia and New Zealand. It stayed on the latter country's chart longer, remaining on the RIANZ chart for 25 weeks compared to 17 weeks on the ARIA Singles Chart. Despite this, the song was overall more popular in Australia, finishing 2005 as the 31st best-selling single and earning a Platinum certification from the ARIA for sales exceeding 70,000 copies.
In response to Hurricane Katrina and the popularity of "Boulevard of Broken Dreams", Green Day donated all of the iTunes proceeds from this song for the year to the American Red Cross for Katrina aid efforts.
Music video
[edit]The award-winning music video for "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" was directed by Samuel Bayer. The music videos for "Holiday" and "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" were filmed with a single, continuous storyline—the video for "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" picks up where "Holiday" has left off, with the last few seconds of "Holiday" audible at the start of the "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" video. Both videos were also shot back-to-back. The video depicts the band members after their car has stalled in the desert, and they begin a melancholy walk down a dusty road. Scenes are interspersed with film footage, taken from around Los Angeles, of homeless people and other miserable sights. The video also features performance footage of the band playing the song in an abandoned warehouse.
The video features a 1968 green Mercury Monterey convertible that was modified for filming in the "Holiday" and "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" videos. The car features a hood ornament in the shape of the hand and heart grenade image from the American Idiot album cover, which was also used in the video for "Holiday". The "iron fist" was actually used in the video for "Walking Contradiction", when the band members meet at a car towards the end of the video. The band's name is also on the front of the hood in silver letters. The band rode this car to the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards ceremony. As shown in an MTV Making the Video special, Bayer used unorthodox techniques to achieve the aged film look of the "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" video, including using rear projection (as opposed to green screen) and physically damaging the negative: scratching the film with razor blades, pouring coffee on it, and smudging cigarettes on it.
The video won six awards at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2005, most notably for Video of the Year. It also won Best Group Video, Best Rock Video, Best Direction, Best Editing, and Best Cinematography.
Track listings
[edit]No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" | |
2. | "Letterbomb" (live) |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" | |
2. | "American Idiot" (live) | |
3. | "She's a Rebel" (live) |
UK limited-edition 7-inch picture disc[21]
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Letterbomb" (live) |
Note
- All live tracks were recorded on September 21, 2004, at the Irving Plaza in New York City.
Personnel
[edit]Personnel are adapted from the UK CD1 liner notes.[18]
- Green Day – music, production
- Billie Joe Armstrong – words, lead vocals, guitar
- Mike Dirnt – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Tré Cool – drums
- Rob Cavallo – production
- Doug McKean – engineering
- Chris Lord-Alge – mixing
- Chris Bilheimer – art direction
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[73] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
Canada (Music Canada)[74] | 6× Platinum | 480,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[75] | Platinum | 90,000‡ |
Germany (BVMI)[76] | Gold | 150,000^ |
Italy (FIMI)[77] | Platinum | 50,000‡ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[78] | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[79] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[80] "Holiday" / "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" |
Gold | 400,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[81] Digital |
Gold | 500,000* |
United States (RIAA)[82] Mastertone |
Gold | 500,000* |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
[edit]Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | November 29, 2004 | Contemporary hit radio | Reprise | [83] |
United Kingdom | CD | [84] | ||
Australia | December 13, 2004 | [85] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Kelley, Lora (October 5, 2021). "Why I Keep Listening to Green Day's 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 22, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
'Boulevard,' from the album American Idiot, is an emo power ballad, full of mixed metaphors expressing the privileged blah of being bored and misunderstood in the suburbs of a morally compromised nation.
- ^ "The 66 Best Hard Rock Songs of the 21st Century". Loudwire. October 2, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
- ^ Grein, Paul (January 20, 2010). "Chart Watch: Week Ending Jan. 17, 2010: 21 Million Lady Gaga Fans Can't Be Wrong". Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on January 24, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
- ^ "Biggest Selling Singles Since The Year 2000". Yahoo. Archived from the original on October 11, 2012. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
- ^ Spitz, 2006. pg. 150
- ^ Spitz, 2006. pg. 151
- ^ "The HiFi Bar, home of NYC's best jukebox, is closing at the end of the month". Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
- ^ a b Winwood 2010, p. 50.
- ^ a b "International Superhits". Kerrang! (1061). London: Bauer Media Group: 52–53. June 18, 2005. ISSN 0262-6624.
- ^ Helnwein, Gottfried. "Gottfried Helnwein | NEWS | News Update | Helnwein's Boulevard of Broken Dreams". www.helnwein.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
- ^ "'Boulevard Of Broken Dreams' by Green Day". Songfacts. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
- ^ DiPerna 2005, p. 29.
- ^ DiPerna 2005, p. 28.
- ^ Goodman, Elizabeth (December 20, 2006). "Noel Gallagher Turns Loathing of Green Day Into Personal Pastime". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 17, 2009. Retrieved April 16, 2008.
- ^ Leighton, Ken (February 16, 2006). "Riff Lift?". San Diego Reader. Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Green Day Chart History". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on July 8, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
- ^ "Top 50 Singles, Week Ending 5 May 2005". Archived from the original on July 20, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
- ^ a b Boulevard of Broken Dreams (UK CD1 liner notes). Green Day. Reprise Records. 2004. W659CD1, 5439161472.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Boulevard of Broken Dreams (European CD single liner notes). Green Day. Reprise Records. 2004. 5439 16148-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Boulevard of Broken Dreams (UK CD2 & Australian CD single liner notes). Green Day. Reprise Records. 2004. W659CD2, 9362427692.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Boulevard of Broken Dreams (UK limited 7-inch picture disc sleeve). Green Day. Reprise Records. 2004. W659, 5439161477.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ^ "Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ^ "Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
- ^ "Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
- ^ a b c "Shakira reappears in music charts". El Siglo de Torreón. March 13, 2007. Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
- ^ "R&R Canada CHR/Pop Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1597. March 11, 2005. p. 52. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- ^ "R&R Canada Hot AC Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1594. February 18, 2005. p. 52. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ "R&R Canada Rock Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. December 27, 2004. p. 58. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
- ^ "Oficiální Česká Hitparáda – Pro týden 16/2005" (in Czech). IFPI ČR. Archived from the original on April 28, 2005. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
- ^ "Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams". Tracklisten.
- ^ "Hits of the World – Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 6. February 5, 2005. p. 41. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
- ^ "Green Day: Boulevard of Broken Dreams" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
- ^ "Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams" (in French). Les classement single.
- ^ "Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
- ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Boulevard of Broken Dreams". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 51, 2004" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
- ^ "Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
- ^ "Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams". VG-lista.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
- ^ "Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams". Singles Top 100.
- ^ "Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
- ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
- ^ "Green Day Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Green Day Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Green Day Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
- ^ "Green Day Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
- ^ "Green Day Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Green Day Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
- ^ "Green Day Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ Green Day at AllMusic
- ^ "Green Day Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ "The Official UK Singles Chart 2004" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 15, 2013. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
- ^ "2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Modern Rock Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 12, no. 51. December 17, 2004. p. 29.
- ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2005". ARIA. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
- ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2005" (in German). Archived from the original on January 24, 2016. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
- ^ "Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 2005". Crowley Broadcast Analysis. April 3, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
- ^ "Year End European Hot 100 Singles Chart 2005 01 – 2005 52" (PDF). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 18, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
- ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 2005" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- ^ "Rádiós Top 100 – hallgatottsági adatok alapján – 2005" (in Hungarian). Association of Hungarian Record Companies. Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
- ^ "Årslista Singlar, 2005" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on May 15, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
- ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 2005" (in German). Archived from the original on January 24, 2016. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
- ^ "End of Year Singles Chart: 2005". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on January 31, 2024. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ "Billboard – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2005". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
- ^ "2005 The Year in Music & Touring: Hot Adult Top 40 Songs". Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 52. December 24, 2005. p. YE-76.
- ^ "2005 The Year in Charts: Top Mainstream Top 40 Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 13, no. 50. December 16, 2005. p. 26.
- ^ "2005 The Year in Music & Touring: Hot Modern Rock Songs". Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 52. December 24, 2005. p. YE-70.
- ^ "2005 The Year in Charts: Top Triple-A Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 13, no. 50. December 16, 2005. p. 57.
- ^ "Top 50 – Pop Rock: Cierre de Año, 2005" (PDF) (in Spanish). Record Report. December 24, 2005. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 8, 2006. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2005 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams". Music Canada. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
- ^ "Danish single certifications – Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams". IFPI Danmark.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Green Day; 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
- ^ "Italian single certifications – Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
- ^ "Spanish single certifications – Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
- ^ "British single certifications – Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams". British Phonographic Industry.
- ^ "British single certifications – Green Day – Holiday Boulevard of Broken Dreams". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
- ^ "American single certifications – Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "American single certifications – Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
- ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1583. November 26, 2004. p. 21. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. November 27, 2004. p. 23.
- ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 13/12/2004" (PDF). ARIA. December 13, 2004. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 19, 2004. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
- DiPerna, Alan (June 1, 2005). "Combat Rock". Guitar Legends (81). Future US: 22–30. ISSN 1045-6295.
- Winwood, Ian (September 23, 2010). ""It Was a Great Time for Us!"". Kerrang! (1330). London: Bauer Media Group: 48–52. ISSN 0262-6624.
- 2000s ballads
- 2004 singles
- 2004 songs
- American Idiot
- Charity singles
- Grammy Award for Record of the Year
- Green Day songs
- MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction
- MTV Video of the Year Award
- Music videos directed by Samuel Bayer
- Number-one singles in the Czech Republic
- Reprise Records singles
- Hard rock ballads
- Song recordings produced by Rob Cavallo
- Songs written by Billie Joe Armstrong
- Songs about dreams
- Songs about loneliness
- Songs involved in plagiarism controversies
- Warner Records singles
- American hard rock songs
- Emo songs