What are Green Day's biggest songs?

24 June 2024, 08:40

With the US rock trio back in the UK this week, Radio X takes a look at their most-streamed and most-viewed tracks. Is your favourite on here?

By Radio X

@RadioX

1. Green Day - Boulevard Of Broken Dreams: release date 29th November 2004

   

   Green Day - Boulevard Of Broken Dreams [Official Music Video]

   Green Day's most popular track is this powerful ballad from the American Idiot album, released in September 2004. A song cycle concerning a character called the Jesus of Suburbia, the record reflected the politically turbulent post-9/11 era.

   The song's total streams are over 811 million, while the video has a similarly respectable 806 million views, making a total of 1.6 billion.

2. Green Day - Basket Case: release date 1st August 1994

   

   Green Day - Basket Case [Official Music Video]

   Green Day's big breakthrough hit from the summer of 1994 was the second single from their much-loved third album Dookie. Written about Billie Joe Armstrong's struggles with anxiety, this single made Number 7 in the UK charts and has since been certified double Platinum by the BPI. In the digital era, the track has accumulated over 1 billion Spotify streams and over 353 million YouTube views.

3. Green Day - American Idiot: release date 6th August 2004

   

   Green Day - American Idiot [Official Music Video]

   The title track of Green Day's politically-charged 2004 album peaked at Number 3 in the UK charts - and topped the alternative rock listings in the US. A satirical poke at the Iraq War and the George W. Bush presidency, the track has over 956 million listens and over 248 million views.

4. Green Day - 21 Guns: release date 25th May 2009

   

   Green Day - 21 Guns [Official Music Video]

   This song from the album 21st Century Breakdown only made Number 36 on the UK charts in the summer of 2009, but the track was included on the soundtrack to the film Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, where it gained a new generation of fans. Since then, its had over 585 million streams and over 546 million views.

5. Green Day - Wake Me Up When September Ends: release date 13th June 2005

   

   Green Day - Wake Me Up When September Ends [Official Music Video]

   Written about the death of Billie Joe Armstrong's father when the musician was just 10 years old, this moving ballad was actually the fourth single to be taken from American Idiot. This didn't harm its commercial prospects - it made the Top 10 in both the UK and the US. On digital platforms, the song has been streamed over 739 million times on Spotify and viewed over 220 million times on YouTube.

6. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life): release date 2nd December 1997

   

   Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) [Official Music Video] [4K UPGRADE]

   Taken from the 1997 album Nimord, this ballad was something of a departure for the band, taking them away from the core punk sound that made their name and included a small string section to bring out the emotion of the lyrics. The track peaked at Number 11 in the UK, while notching up over 690 million streams and over 98 million views.

7. Green Day - When I Come Around: release date 31st January 1995

   

   Green Day - When I Come Around [Official Music Video] (4K Upgrade)

   The follow-up to Welcome To Paradise in early 1995, this Dookie single has had over 503 million Spotify plays and over 129 million YouTube views.

8. Green Day - Holiday: release date 14th March 2005

   

   Green Day - Holiday [Official Music Video]

   Including the streams for the Holiday/Boulevard Of Broken Dreams pairing that's also popular on digital platforms, the track now has over 359 million Spotify streams and over 132 million YouTube views.

9. Green Day - Brain Stew: release date 3rd July 1996

   The final single to be taken from the Insomniac album was a joint release with the track Jaded and made Number 28 in the UK charts. On Spotify, the song has been streamed over 238 million times and been viewed on YouTube over 32 million times.

   

   Green Day - Brain Stew/Jaded [Official Music Video]

10. Green Day - Jesus Of Suburbia: release date 25th October 2005

    

    Green Day - Jesus Of Suburbia [Official Music Video]

    The final single to be taken from American Idiot, this epic nine-minute song had to be cut down for radio play gained popularity after becoming a highlight of the musical based on the album. On Spotify, the track has been played more than 193 million times, while video views top 70 million.