THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

722-Green Day-21 Guns.

2009-Number 36 single.

Best Bit-At 1.06. ‘For those about to rock, we salute you.’

Green Day were formed in East Bay, California, United States, in 1987, and at the time of writing they remain active, with Billie Joe Armstrong, (lead vocalist, and guitarist) Mike Dirnt, (bass) and Tré Cool (drums) being recognised as the classic line up. In total there have been six different members come and go. It was Billie Joe Armstrong, and Mike Dirnt, who were both 15 years old at the time, who co-founded the group, along with Sean Hughes, (bass) and Raj Punjabi, (drums) calling themselves ‘Blood Rage.’ The name changed to ‘Sweet Children,’ between 1987-1989, before ‘Green Day’ was finally settled upon, the name was chosen due to the groups fondness for ‘cannabis.’ The phrase, ‘Green day,’ was slang in the Bay Area of California, for spending a day doing nothing but smoking marijuana, Billie Joe Armstrong has said that he considered it to be ‘The worst band name in the world.’

With sales in excess of 75 million, Green Day are one of the best selling groups of all time, their 1991 Album ‘Kerplunk,’ with sales of over 4.5 million copies is one of the best selling independent albums of all time. Green Day started out life as a ‘Punk Rock’ group, but over the years they have also experimented, and recorded in other genres, including ‘Alternative Rock,’ and ‘Power Pop.’ The discography of Green Day includes 14 studio Albums released between 1990-2020, and 48 singles issued between 1994-2023, there are also four official compilation Albums, and four live Albums available. In America on Billboard, three of their studio Albums have reached Number 1, and five of their singles have made the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart top 40, with ‘Boulevard of Broken Dreams,’ peaking the highest at Number 2 in 2004, ’21 Guns’ reached Number 22. In the UK, four of their Albums have reached the Number 1 spot, and 22 of their singles have made the top 40, with ‘The Saints Are Coming,’ billed as ‘ U2 and Green Day,’ peaking the highest at Number 2 in 2006.

’21 Guns’ was the second of five singles released from ’21st Century Breakdown,’ which was the eighth studio Album issued by Green Day, from May 2009, the track was written by Billie Joe Armstrong, with the production credited to Butch Vig, (see also best songs 788-641-421 and 9)) and Green Day, Butch Vig was also the Albums co-producer as well. Butch Vig was born Bryan David Vig, on August 2nd, 1955, in Viroqua, Wisconsin, United States, he is best known as the co-founder, drummer, and co-producer of the Alternative Rock group Garbage, and also as the producer of the ‘diamond selling’ Nirvana Album ‘Nevermind,’ from 1991. Other significant acts produced by Butch Vig include, The Smashing Pumpkins, (‘Gish’) Sonic Youth, (‘Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star’) and Foo Fighters (Wasting Light.)

Billie Joe Armstrong, was born on February 17th, 1972, in Oakland, California, United States, he is considered by some music critics to be one of the greatest Punk Rock guitarists of all time. Away from Green Day, Armstrong has released two studio Albums, ‘Foreverly,’ with Norah Jones in 2013, and ‘No Fun Mondays,’ in 2020, he has also issued 13 solo singles between 2013-2020. Armstrong has released music with his side projects, ‘Pinhead Gunpowder,’ ‘The Network,’ ‘Foxboro Hot Tubs,’ ‘SWMRS,’ ‘The Boo,’ ‘The Shrives,’ and ‘The Longshot,’ all between 1994-2020.

A 21-gun salute is the most commonly recognised of the customary gun salutes that are performed by the firing of cannons or artillery as a military honour. As naval customs evolved, 21 guns came to be fired for heads of state, or in exceptional circumstances for heads of government, with the number decreasing with the rank of the recipient of the honour. ’21 Guns’ addresses the subject of patriotism. Billie Joe Armstrong has said,’It brings up ’21st Century Breakdown’ (Album) in a lot of ways, and the 21 gun-salute for someone that’s fallen, but done in an arena rock ‘n’ roll sort of way.’

Do you know what’s worth fighting for, when it’s not worth dying for. Does it take your breath away, and you feel yourself suffocating. Does the pain weigh out the pride, and you look for a place to hide. Did someone break your heart inside, you’re in ruins.’