Green Day returned to surprise the local people with late-night talk show host Jimmy Fallon as they crashed the New York subway to perform a set of the band’s popular songs. The medley included hits Basket Case, Look Ma, No Brains, and American Idiot.
While the performance was well received by the NY commuters and netizens, some couldn’t help but spot the political views of the band, especially in the year of presidential elections. Read ahead to find out more about the performance, its political side, and netizens’ reactions.
Green Day surprises NY commuters with an impromptu performance ft Jimmy Fallon
After surprise appearances at London pubs last year the American rock band popped up at the 47th–50th Streets–Rockefeller Center station with Jimmy Fallon for a quick set.
It is believed that the performance was shot for a comedy skit that will be broadcast in the upcoming (Thursday or Friday) episode of Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to promote Green Day’s upcoming album and supporting tour.
Netizens who were lucky enough to witness this memorable event uploaded clips of it on social media platforms including X, Reddit, and more.
They shared that the band and Fallon entered the premises dressed in long overcoats, hats, sunglasses, and false facial hair. As the crowd grew, Fallon, Billie Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Tré Cool performed some of their greatest hits which will feature on their tour setlist.
The performance resurfaces Green Day’s political views
One of the X netizens Hannah Feldman uploaded a clip from the subway station stating “I saw the Green Day tonight for $2.90” referring to the fair for public transport.
The video went viral as many fans joined to appreciate the performances. Among them, one of the netizens mentioned that regardless of the band’s political leanings this performance was great.
This tweet referred to the band including political sentiments in their songs. One of the most famous ones in recent history would be their unscripted dig at former president Donald Trump at ABC’s live New Year’s Eve show.
However, the group has always found politics punk and included it in their anthemic hits such as American Idiot.
The viral political anthem American Idiot
If we specifically talk about the 2004 track which has become the group’s political anthem for Donald Trump’s government and an introductory song for new-gen listeners then it will be easier to understand the band’s political stands.
The song openly criticises conservative media calling them fearmongering and agenda-pushing. It is particularly directed towards the political climate of the time with lyrics like-
“Now everybody does the propaganda and sing along to the age of paranoia” and “Welcome to a new kind of tension, all across the alien nation, where everything isn’t meant to be okay.”
The album’s other track Holiday also features similar sentiments by focusing on the Iraq War and misinformation regarding United States involvement in it.
The song’s bridge particularly became famous for its straightforward jabs “Pulverize the Eiffel towers who criticize your government” and “kill all the f*gs that don’t agree.”
Understandably, the band is including this track in their setlists during the year of Presidential elections where Republican leader Donald Trump is a major runner for the seat.
The only thing that should surprise the netizens (if it must) ought to be Jimmy Fallon, famous for remaining as much apolitical as possible, jumping with a tambourine on Green Day subway performance.