An Inexplicably Close Look at an Obscure Song: Green Day "Minority"

Ah, the year 2000. How much simpler you were. The world was still basking in the post-we-didn't-get-blow-to-smithereens-by-Y2K glow. Grand Theft Auto was still in two dimensions. And Green Day was still making music they didn't beat you upside the head with their political beliefs (and Billie Jo was wearing way less eye makeup).

Sure, other acts would follow Green Day's plunge into political messaging. The Hives. Bright Eyes. Hell, even R.E.M. got in on the George Bush bashing in the mid-2000s. Apparently, pretending you majored in political science became a badge of honor for popular acts of rock and or roll.

It doesn't change the fact that 2000's "Minority," about the much more pure and unadulterated punk message of rebellion, proved Green Day's biggest hit of the decade.



This is classic, zit-popping, unrestrained and misdirected rebellion at its finest. All it's missing from the early Green Days (see what I did there?) is a vaguely worded reference to masturbation. I mean, sure, you could argue there's some reference in there to the actual Moral Majority, but compared to later lyrics from Green Day, I think it's safe to say "Minority" can only be described as benign.

In many ways, "Minority" actually celebrates the idea of self-autonomy and the American experience. After all, would we even be a united democratic republic if our forefathers hadn't chosen to shout, "A free-for-all/F--k 'em all!" to the British? I mean, can't you hear the democratic music in that verse?

In all seriousness, James Madison warned in Federalist 10 "that measures are too often decided, not according to the rules of justice, and the rights of the minor party, but by the superior force of an interested and overbearing majority." Clearly, the young gentleman and voice of Green Day's campy ode to all things contrarian is taking Madison's call against faction to heart. One can only suppose, from the concerns of Green Day in their early hits and music videos, that such an anthem is meant to be a rallying cry for mental health care parity and universal access to life and health insurance, in spite of partisan-inspired arguments against such policies.

So here's a salute to marching out of time, Green Day. We here at Shallow End hope you're marching to your own beat now ... more in step with Dookie. That album was awesome.