Youngblood

Album: Revolution Radio (2016)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Billie Joe Armstrong first met Adrienne Nesser (the sister of professional skateboarder Steve Nesser) in 1990 when Green Day played a show in Adrienne's home city of Minnesota. They married four years later and have had two children together, Jacob and Joseph.

    This power-pop tune finds Armstrong paying tribute to Adrienne. He told Q magazine: "It's about when me and my wife first met, so it's a dedication to her."
  • Armstrong literally sings the praises of his wife on this bubbly, clap-along track. "She's easy to write about because she's so awesome," the Green Day frontman told Rolling Stone. "She's the cedar in the trees in Minnesota."
  • Billie Joe Armstrong has often used Adrienne as a muse for his songs. Here are some more tunes he has penned about his wife over the years:

    "2,000 Light Years Away"

    "She"

    "80"

    "Church On Sunday"

    "Last Night on Earth"

    "Westbound Sign"

    "When It's Time"
  • The song dates back to the early 2000s. It was originally intended for Green Day's "lost" album Cigarettes and Valentines, which was earmarked to be the follow-up to 2000's Warning. Its release was scrapped when the record's master tapes were stolen from the band's studio in November 2002.

    Armstrong told NME they gave the tune "a facelift" and some new lyrics before including it on Revolution Radio.
  • The music video features live footage from Green Day's globe-trotting Revolution Radio tour, including their huge show for the British Summer Time festival in London.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Colin Hay

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music Scene

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music SceneSong Writing

With $50 and a glue stick, Bruce Pavitt created Sub Pop, a fanzine-turned-label that gave the world Nirvana and grunge. He explains how motivated individuals can shift culture.

Narada Michael Walden - "Freeway of Love"

Narada Michael Walden - "Freeway of Love"They're Playing My Song

As a songwriter and producer, Narada had hits with Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Starship. But what song does he feel had the greatest impact on his career?

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

P.F. Sloan

P.F. SloanSongwriter Interviews

P.F. was a teenager writing hits and playing on tracks for Jan & Dean when he wrote a #1 hit that got him blackballed.

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Men

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired MenSong Writing

Bowie's "activist" days of 1964 led to Ziggy Stardust.