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Green Day

Green Day

Date: Feb 01 2010

Themes: Alternative, Music

Grammar: Verbs with "-ing"

Intro

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For any child of the 90s, it’s hard to believe that Green Day has been around for more than twenty years. But it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Billy Joe and his band mates. After helping punk rock go mainstream in the early 90s with their hugely successful album Dookie, Green Day’s follow-up efforts produced fewer hits and were considered less innovative. In the early aughts, the band’s star seemed to be fading.

But Green Day showed they still had it when their album American Idiot won a Grammy in 2005. Now the band is back again with 21st Century Breakdown, a concept album that combines Green Day’s punk roots with more of a classic rock influence. Find out what Marni and Jason think of Green Day’s latest.

Dialog

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Marni

Marni

Jason

Jason

Marni:  So you know what I did on New Year’s Eve?

Jason:  What?

Marni:  I watched Carson Daly’s “Rockin New Year’s Eve,” and I watched Green Day perform.

Jason:  Woah.

Marni:  Yeah, and I have to say, they still got it.

Jason:  Rockin’ into their third decade of punk.

Marni:  Yeah, exactly! I was thinking back to when I first heard them in the early 90s and how I never would’ve thought that in 2010 I’d still be listening to them. And yet here they are just as important and prolific.

Jason:  I think that was justifiable for you to think they wouldn’t be around forever. I mean, their songs were about being a slacker and just like hanging out.

Marni:  Yeah, just playing power chords...catchy, poppy punk. And it didn’t really seem like it had that much substance. But I think like a lot of good bands, they’ve sort of matured and found their voice. They were very outspoken about George Bush.

Jason:  Totally and, I mean, have you heard their new album 21st Century Breakdown?

Marni:  I have, and they played some songs off that. And the crowd was into it. I was into it. It’s good.

Jason:  It seems like in that album they’re kind of taking a step toward becoming a classic rock band.

Marni:  Absolutely, I feel the same way.

Jason:  Which is cool, because you sort of think of classic rock ending in the 80s or something, right? Like no more, sorry.

Marni:  Right, like that’s the cut off. But no, I think that Green Day are showing us that the classic rock…that it could be any genre of music.

 

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Discussion

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Marni saw Green Day perform live on New Year’s Eve. She was impressed by the band and thinks that they’ve still got it.

Both Marni and Jason are surprised that Green Day is still a popular band. But the band’s musical style has evolved and matured, helping them stay current. Marni thinks they’ve figured out what they really want to say with their music, and how to say it.

When they first came out, Green Day was a punk band. But now their music has more of a classic rock sound. That’s just one way the band has grown over the years.

How have you changed in the last ten years? What do you think your life will be like ten more years from now?

 

Comments

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only_rock

only_rock

Azerbaijan

its my favorite

03:34 PM Feb 03 2010 |

ismaeldavid1994

Brazil

green day is great!

02:25 PM Feb 03 2010 |

Javi_920

Javi_920

Argentina

This band is everything…...... I love dookie album, but I also like new songs, such as 21 century breakdown, viva la gloria, and know your enemy. Anyway, for me, the best best song they have, and first I've learned with guitar was When I come around. This song is the best ^^...

03:48 PM Feb 02 2010 |

Claire Liao

Taiwan

【Boulevard of broken dream】 and 【Wake me up when september ends】

 

02:01 PM Feb 02 2010 |

Claire Liao

Taiwan

【Boulevard of broken dream】 and 【Wake me up when september ends】

 

02:01 PM Feb 02 2010 |

MyungjinKuk

South Korea

After 10 years later?I'm dreaming that i'll be traveling around the world!

Twitter : @DoctorJIN

11:56 AM Feb 02 2010 |

greendiego

Colombia

I´m a big fan of green day and I can say that they are more matured than since 10 years ago :P

04:47 AM Feb 02 2010 |

BToven

BToven

South Korea

I haven't heard Green Day's song until now. I  should listen their's music ASAP.

12:13 AM Feb 02 2010 |

HANAA

HANAA

Saudi Arabia

i don't know them but i will searched them and try to listening to their music Smile

 

03:26 PM Feb 01 2010 |

Mebal Lee

Mebal Lee

China

so I searched them and found one song by them. Holiday, very powerful.

02:24 PM Feb 01 2010 |

Zambuka

Zambuka

United States

well, green day is one of my favourite bands))! my favourite album is American idiot, music there is not that much similar . songs are with interesting melodies…especially holiday and boulevard of broken dreams , and wake me up… 

but anyway , it's old old band and it still got up!) bravo , guys!) 

01:44 PM Feb 01 2010 |

tauro4

tauro4

Argentina

green day is good!

I like their songs,the truth is that his songs mike little sense…

he explains his lyrics 

01:08 PM Feb 01 2010 |

Mia★

Mia★

Iraq

I didn't know that Green Day were known back then. I only knew of their "existence" with that "Wake me up when September ends" number. Back in the 90's I used to listen to Metallica, Manowar and Megadeth…funny that they all start with "M"'s…

12:33 PM Feb 01 2010 |

rebel lee

rebel lee

China

Because I am still young,my life changed a lot in the past ten years.I used to be a student,but not anymore.Now I got a job,live with myself,pay the rent by my own salary.I feel much better than before.

What will happen to me in the next ten years?It's hard to see.But I will definitely fight for my life,do my best to win everthing that I deserve.

12:05 PM Feb 01 2010 |

Grace854

China

I like "Wake me up when September ends" too.Smile

06:44 AM Feb 01 2010 |

Grace854

China

I like "Wake me up when September ends" too.Smile

06:44 AM Feb 01 2010 |

Grace854

China

I like "Wake me up when September ends" too.Smile

06:44 AM Feb 01 2010 |

nguyenhau07

Viet Nam

I love this band. They're very cool. " Wake me up when September ends"

06:05 AM Feb 01 2010 |

jinn_linkin

China

Punk never die !!!

05:35 AM Feb 01 2010 |

xxxholic.521

China

Who can tell me some famous songs of them?Wink

05:18 AM Feb 01 2010 |

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