American Idiot

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.

American Idiot is the Rock Opera album responsible for Green Day's comeback in 2004. The plot is a Coming of Age Story, following the Anti-Hero protagonist, Jesus of Suburbia (JOS), as he matures from a rebellious youth to a jaded adult.

As a teenager, JOS is cynical of society and dissatisfied with his life as an everyman in his town, desensitized by a steady diet of soda pop and Ritalin ("Jesus of Suburbia"). The song also introduces a rage vs. love theme prevalent throughout the plot.

JOS decides to leave his broken home and seek a new life for himself in the city. Here, JOS meets St. Jimmy, the son of a bitch and Edgar Allan Poe, a punk rock freedom fighter ("St. Jimmy"). St. Jimmy can be interpreted as an actual person and a bad influence on JOS, introducing him to drugs ("Give Me Novocaine"), or as an alternate personality JOS creates for himself, representing blind, self-destructive rebellion.

JOS is also introduced to Whatsername ("She's A Rebel") and they begin a romantic relationship. JOS is attracted to Whatsername's rebellious, troubled nature. However, because of the combined influence of St. Jimmy and JOS's drug addiction, Whatsername leaves JOS ("Letterbomb"). St. Jimmy commits suicide and JOS leaves the punk scene ("Homecoming"). Eventually he conforms to a normal life and forgets Whatsername, only remembering her face ("Whatsername").

Now a Broadway Musical. An Avant-Garde Broadway Musical? A movie is apparently being planned, too.

Track list:
  1. American Idiot
  2. Jesus of Suburbia
    I. Jesus of Suburbia
    II. City of the Damned
    III. I Don't Care
    IV. Dearly Beloved
    V. Tales of Another Broken Home
  3. Holiday
  4. Boulevard of Broken Dreams
  5. Are We the Waiting
  6. St. Jimmy
  7. Give Me Novacaine
  8. She's a Rebel
  9. Extraordinary Girl
  10. Letterbomb
  11. Wake Me Up When September Ends
  12. Homecoming
    I. The Death of St. Jimmy
    II. East 12th St.
    III. Nobody Likes You
    IV. Rock and Roll Girlfriend
    V. We're Coming Home Again
  13. Whatsername
Tropes used in American Idiot include:

Nobody likes you
Everyone left you
They're all out without you
Having fun.