Green Day are a force of nature. From their DIY roots on the West Coast punk scene through to their current international fame, the band have held true to their principles – subversive pop-edged punk delivered with societal awareness, they’ve sculpted three decades worth of all-out bangers.
The Overjoyed know this better than most. The Greek punks are long-time fans, a group whose teenage years – and beyond – were soundtracked by the Californian band.
Picked to support Green Day on their recent European run, the band met their heroes up close, performing in front of huge crowds in the process.
To celebrate, The Overjoyed have picked out 10 all-time Green Day tracks for Clash. “Well, Green Day is the reason we are here today. Without Green Day we probably wouldn’t exist as a band. They first got us into punk and we love every album, so making this list wasn’t easy.”
“In celebration of our new single ‘Rotten Love’ and the fact we just supported Green Day in Greece, we have attempted to pick our Top 10 Green Day songs. But in all honesty, this hasn’t been easy for us. For example, we won’t include ‘Jesus of Suburbia’ because we all agree it belongs in another list- the list of the best songs ever written (See? I already managed to sneak one more song in there…)”
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Leo (Vocals)
HOLIDAY
“‘Holiday’ is the first ever song that I heard from Green Day when I was 10 years old and I immediately wanted to start a band. This for me is the perfect track, in every aspect. They used the most common chord progression available in an ingenious way and added a twist. Great memorable riff, great verse, perfect chorus, solo, and bridge showing you the elements and play style of every member of the band. Also don’t even get me started on the lyrics. I could talk about this song for hours…”
BURNOUT
“The best intro song for a great album. Its straight forward verse and chorus catches you off-guard and as a teenager the lyrics get you to the bone.”
SCATTERED
“Don’t ask me why, I just love this song (+The Grouch) haha see? I managed to sneak another song in there! Both songs just had the power to fix my sad mood whenever I blasted them loud on my mom’s stereo or my old portable CD player.”
LETTERBOMB
“It’s difficult not to include every song from ‘American Idiot’ on this list. Although, for some reason, ‘Letterbomb’ is the song that I have played more often in the past years.”
DILEMMA
“I was skeptical when ‘American Dream is Killing Me’ came out. It felt like a forced version of them trying to sound like the American Idiot/21ST Century Breakdown era. But then ‘Dilemma’ came out and I was like ‘’Fuck yeah’’.
It immediately spoke to me, the lyrics and the clip and the shouty chorus felt like my life with alcohol and drugs in the Covid and post-Covid years when I struggled a lot mentally.”
Stef (Guitar)
MARIA
“I know it’s an unexpected choice, but this one has sentimental value. Back in the day, my Dad was in London for work and wanted to buy something for his rocker son, so he came back with the “International Superhits” CD. The moment ‘Maria’ kicked in (and Poprocks & Coke after that) I was hooked. It just adds up to the never ending list of amazing (and possibly overlooked) Green Day songs.”
WELCOME TO PARADISE
“The definition of a Green Day banger. Pure energy from the get go, catchy vocal lines throughout the verses & chorus and THAT bass line on the bridge, just in case you were wondering if it can get any better. Well, it can and it does…”
Thanos (Bass)
LONGVIEW
“Well, this song is kind of expected from a bassist haha. ‘Longview’ was the song that made me wanna play bass from the very beginning and not become just another guitarist! Right after I heard it, I went out the next day and bought a bass. I spent endless hours locked in my room, trying to get my beginner hands to figure out that melody. When I finally nailed it, I was so happy I started jumping around my room like a five-year-old!”
STUART AND THE AVE.
“NOTHING can go wrong with this track!!! And honestly, the whole Insomniac album is just untouchable. This is my favorite song on my favorite record! The bass across the whole album is insane- pure craftsmanship. Those melodies, that G3 tone, and Mike… he’s from another planet. He makes his bass growl and scream out loud. That riff? It’s the kind of thing every one of us wishes we had written.”
CHRISTIE ROAD
“This is where I’ve locked away my teenage self—my whole childhood at school. The rebellions, the crushes, the heartbreaks, and the very first live shows of teenage Thanos.
With my first band, which I had with my best friend K.D., we used to play this song live all the time and joke that it was our song (since no one around us knew the old Green Day tracks anyway haha). Maybe… just maybe… we were the best Green Day cover band to ever exist?”
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The Overjoyed’s new single ‘Rotten Love’ is out now.
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