Billie Joe interview in France, May 2009 (With Subtitles)

To see the subtitles, turn on YouTube captions with the CC logo on the bottom right corner of the video player. Please note that Billie Joe's quotes are a translation of the French voice dubbing, and thus might not be word for word exactly what he said.

Billie talks about the characters Christian and Gloria from the 21st Century Breakdown album, Barack Obama and the Simpsons movie. Contains a small excerpt of Know Your Enemy played live at the Trabendo in Paris, May 12, 2009.

Recorded on French TV "Virgin 17" in the "JT de la musique". The interview is dubbed in French over Billie's voice. Thanks to Michelle Soul for taping this.

Transcript:

We thought the band into a decline. In 2004 however, Green Day does a spectacular comeback with American Idiot, a concept album that blasts Bush's America. Result: 12 million albums sold worldwide.

Billie: American Idiot is the most radical step forward that we've ever taken. And I think it has encouraged us to go even further. There is a new enthusiasm for Green Day. It had not happened for years. Come to France, for example, just playing in like a club, and see people so excited about the concert, for us it's very motivating.

Indeed, a few weeks ago, in front of a privileged audience, Green Day was trying out on stage the songs of 21st Century Breakdown, their new rock opera, based on two characters, Gloria and Christian.

Billie: There's no real linear story about Gloria and Christian. She's sort of the main character. She represents everything that's positive, our ethics, you know, as our beliefs. Christian, he is much more self-destructive. The question is whether or not they are actually the same person.

First single and first hit from the album, « Know Your Enemy », obviously a political song, knowing the views of the band.

Billie: Coincidentally, we recorded Know Your Enemy the day of the Republican Convention. It's rather interesting. I supported Obama when he tried to get Democratic Ticket. So it was before it became Obama-mania, you know. But he was on the rise, you could feel it. His election was a great moment. People were crying in the streets. We felt like it was the end of a war.

Despite honors, despite their 65 million albums sold, and long touring, Green Day has managed to stay that funny little band who doesn't forget its punk roots. But what is their recipe?

Billie: I don't know. There is no real recipe for it or anything like that. You know, just write your own songs. You try to keep your sense of humor. And of course keep your friends close to you too.

And among Billie's friends, we can obviously count the Simpsons. Although in their first movie on the big screen Matt Groening's characters grant the band a funny destiny.

Billie: It was really funny. The question is rather: how does it feels to die in a Simpsons movie? That was a fun experience. We even got to do the theme of the soundtrack.

Well obviously, it was just a cartoon. The Green Day guys are indeed alive. And given the punk contents of their new album, be assured, the band will not end up one day in a ... Disney!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• greenday
• green
• day
• 21st
• century
• breakdown
• billie
• billy
• joe
• armstrong
• virgin17
• virgin
• 17
• JT
• de
• la
• musique
• interview
• paris
• trabendo
• barack
• obama
• simpsons
• subtitled
• subtitulado
• sous-titre

[91SkaterGirl2]

they should use subtittles!!!! god i dont wanna hear sum french guy over billie's voice!!!!!!!!!!

[frbonzon]

@91SkaterGirl2 There are indeed subtitles, you only need to enable them! Turn on YouTube captions with the CC logo on the bottom right corner of the video player.

[Mayfinder]

fuck.

kinda wanted to hear billie.

[hinde64]

0:47 Twenty onest century breakdown? C'est une blague?

[AmyJoeRamone]

0:48 TWENTYONEST Century Breakdown?! WTF?!

[whatsername9716]

French Much????

[bratzdirector]

BILLIE JOE+ FRENCH DUB= Shit

[UnitedStatesofHannah]

joesph olson is ginger kids

[MaiLoveSakuSasu]

@91SkaterGirl2 I really agree with you ! I'm french but I just cannot put up with this fucking voice anymore !! I wanted to hear Billie's talking T T

[TheBestBoyOnEarth]

I'm french, so I understood it all, but I made me cringe when I heard Twenty One'st Century Breakdown instead of Twenty First Century Breakdown.

[holidayparis1]

@ZixZept UP! i'm french but i speak fluently English because of origins and school... But anyway, I heard this guy and I was like: WTF! American Idiôôôôôôt! No Yar Ennemi! Twentionecenturribrekdown! Sucks! Why just don't they keep Billie's beautiful voice??