Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) explained

Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
Cover:Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Green Day
Album:Nimrod
B-Side:
  • "Desensitized"
  • "Rotting"
Studio:Conway (Hollywood, California)
Genre:
Length:
  • 2:34 (album version)
  • 2:28 (music video)
Label:Reprise
Lyricist:Billie Joe Armstrong
Composer:Green Day
Producer:
Prev Title:Hitchin' a Ride
Prev Year:1997
Next Title:Redundant
Next Year:1998

"Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" (or "Time of Your Life (Good Riddance)") is a song by American rock band Green Day, released in December 1997 as the second single from their fifth studio album, Nimrod (1997). It is one of their most popular songs and has also become a staple of their concerts, usually played as the final song.

"Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" became a chart hit, peaking at number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart and reaching the top 20 in Australia, Canada, Iceland, and the United Kingdom. As of November 2022, the song had sold over five million copies and is certified quintuple platinum in the United States, sextuple platinum in Canada, and double platinum in Australia and the United Kingdom, making it the band's most commercially successful single.[1]

Background

Billie Joe Armstrong wrote "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" in 1993 about his girlfriend named Amanda who moved to Ecuador, with him naming the song "Good Riddance" to show his anger towards her. He did not show the song to his bandmates until the Dookie recording sessions later the same year.[2] During the sessions, however, the song was determined to be too different from the rest of the songs on Dookie, and producer Rob Cavallo was unsure of how to structure the recording.

An early version of the song (in a different key, with a faster tempo and sparer arrangement) simply titled "Good Riddance" appeared as a B-side to the European single for "Brain Stew/Jaded".[3]

When the time came to record Nimrod, Armstrong decided to record the song again, and Cavallo suggested they add strings to the track. He sent the band to play foosball in another room while he recorded the strings, which took "like fifteen, twenty minutes, maybe a half an hour at the most." Cavallo reflected on his decision to add the strings "I knew we had done the right thing. It was a hit the second I heard it."

Composition

In comparison to previous Green Day material, "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" features more mellow, contemplative lyrics with acoustic music. Band member Mike Dirnt said that the release of this song was probably the "most punk" thing they could have done.[4]

The song has been labelled alternative rock,[5] [6] folk,[7] [8] folk punk,[9] and acoustic rock.[10]

Album version

The album version of the song begins with Armstrong messing up the opening chords twice, muttering "fuck" under his breath before starting over and getting it right, thus starting the song. The mistakes were deliberately kept to add a lighthearted introduction to a song with emotionally deep lyrics. Radio versions and the music video omitted Armstrong's second attempt with the expletive.[11]

Music video

The music video was directed by Mark Kohr in Los Angeles in November 1997, and is based on a concept by Armstrong.[12] The video features Armstrong singing and playing an acoustic guitar in an apartment (filmed in LA's Ambassador Hotel), intercut with "pull-in" shots of various people involved in mundane activities. All of the subjects are shown seemingly staring into space absent-mindedly. Dirnt and Tré Cool make cameo appearances in the video as a person pumping gas (Dirnt), and an injured bike rider being attended by paramedics (Tré). When the video came out, the name of the song was inverted, hence the video's title is "Time of Your Life (Good Riddance)". This title was also used on the single cover.

In 1998, Green Day won their first MTV Video Music Award for Best Alternative Video for "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" and they were also nominated for Viewer's Choice.[13]

The video can be found on their music video compilation DVD, International Supervideos!

Legacy

To the band's surprise, the song became a hit at prom dances.[14] [15] [16] [17] Because of the song's lyrics, which many graduating seniors interpret as nostalgic and reflective of their time in high school, it has become a staple song at proms. Armstrong remarked that, in retrospect, the lyrics make sense when viewed that way. "The people that you grew up and braved the trials of high school with will always hold a special place. Through all the BS of high school, you hope that your friends had the time of their life, and that's what the song is talking about".

The song is featured in the season nine episode of Seinfeld, entitled "The Chronicle" (also known as "The Clip Show"). The song plays in the closing minutes of the episode, which feature a series of bloopers, behind-the-scenes production, and a montage. It is the second-to-last episode of Seinfeld before the show's series finale in 1998. The song was also featured in the ending credits of Deadpool & Wolverine, playing with a montage of scenes and behind-the-scenes footage of several 20th Century Fox-produced Marvel Comics film adaptions, most noticeably from the X-Men film series.

The song was played on ITV in 1998, when the England National Football Team was knocked out of the France 98 tournament, losing to Argentina.

On May 28, 2015, Rolling Stone named "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" as one of the 20 Best Graduation Songs of the Past 20 Years (1995–2015).[18]

On August 14, 2024, All Elite Wrestling used the song in a video package on Dynamite, looking back on Bryan Danielson's 24+ years of wrestling (excluding WWE) ahead of his Title vs. Career match with Swerve Strickland at All In: Wembley II

Personnel

Credits

Additional credits

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1997–1998)Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[19] 35
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[20] 5

Year-end charts

Chart (1998)Position
Australia (ARIA)[23]
8
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[24] 51
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[25] 39
US Hot 100 Airplay (Billboard)[26] 19
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[27] 9
US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard)[28] 30
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[29] 40
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)5
US Triple-A (Billboard)[30] 33

Decade-end charts

Chart (2010–2019)Position
US Top Airplay Audience (Nielsen Music)6
US Top Airplay Spins (Nielsen Music)[31] 4

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United StatesDecember 2, 1997Contemporary hit radioReprise[32]
JapanDecember 15, 1997CD[33]
United KingdomJanuary 19, 1998[34]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rogers . Jack . October 26, 2022 . Green Day's 'Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)' Certified 5× Platinum In US . November 21, 2022 . Rock Sound . November 21, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221121145004/https://rocksound.tv/news/green-days-good-riddance-time-of-your-life-certified-5x-platinum-in-us . live .
  2. Book: Spitz, Marc . Nobody Likes You: Inside the Turbulent Life, Times, and Music of Green Day . Hyperion . 2006 . 978-1401309121 . 131 . registration.
  3. Web site: Green Day - Brain Stew / Jaded . Discogs . November 26, 1996 . July 9, 2019 . August 19, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190819045815/https://www.discogs.com/Green-Day-Brain-Stew-Jaded/release/556012 . live .
  4. VH1 Top 100 Songs of the '90's: "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)"
  5. Web site: April 25, 2017 . The 79 Best Alternative Rock Songs of 1997 . July 13, 2019 . . April 27, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210427175934/https://www.spin.com/featured/best-alternative-rock-songs-1997/2/ . live .
  6. Richin . Leslie . January 12, 2017 . 20 Alternative Rock Hits Turning 20 in 2017 . . May 8, 2021 . February 9, 2021 . https://archive.today/20210209094912/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7640665/1997-alternative-rock-songs-turning-20-2017/ . live .
  7. Kot . Greg . October 2, 1997 . Green Day - "Nimrod" . October 13, 2020 . . "Redundant," with its chiming, Byrds-ian guitars and soaring vocals, and "Walking Alone," with its plaintive harmonica, are persuasive midtempo pop songs, while "Good Riddance" is a surprisingly sweet folk anthem buoyed by strings. . September 20, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200920052447/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/nimrod-184781/ . live .
  8. Web site: Brown . Ed . Nimrod showcased Green Day at their most authentically eclectic . Treble . January 9, 2023 . October 13, 2022 . January 9, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230109233338/https://www.treblezine.com/green-day-nimrod-authentically-eclectic/ . live .
  9. Web site: Cinquemani . Sal . MUSIC Review: Green Day, International Superhits! . . April 16, 2022 . November 11, 2021 . The album’s new offering, “Poprocks & Coke,” dishes out more of the maturated, acoustic-filled folk-punk that began with “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” and Warning (the most notable selection from that album, “Macy’s Day Parade,” aptly closes Superhits!). . July 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230705074922/https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/green-day-international-superhits/ . live .
  10. Web site: Acoustic Nation . August 12, 2015 . Best Acoustic Rock Song of All Time Poll: "Time of Your Life (Good Riddance)" Vs. "Jack & Diane" . July 13, 2019 . . July 13, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190713095702/https://www.guitarworld.com/news/best-acoustic-rock-song-all-time-poll-good-riddance-time-your . live .
  11. Web site: Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) by Green Day - Songfacts . www.songfacts.com . July 9, 2019 . July 10, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190710214023/https://www.songfacts.com/facts/green-day/good-riddance-time-of-your-life . live .
  12. Web site: Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) by Green Day . Song Facts . February 2, 2016 . April 13, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160413041147/http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2438 . live .
  13. Web site: Rock On The Net: 1998 MTV Video Music Awards . www.rockonthenet.com . October 4, 2006 . September 4, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120904085546/http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1998/mtvvmas.htm . live .
  14. Web site: Schwartz, Terri . May 8, 2013 . The Best Prom Songs of the '80s, '90s and '00s . October 30, 2013 . iVillage . November 1, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131101102817/http://www.ivillage.com/best-prom-songs-80s-90s-and-00s/1-a-534691 . live .
  15. Web site: CBS Local . April 30, 2012 . Top 10 Prom Songs . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131101102316/http://kyxy.cbslocal.com/2012/04/30/top-10-prom-songs/ . November 1, 2013 . October 30, 2013 . CBS.
  16. Web site: Lamb, Bill . c. 2006 . Top 10 Prom Songs 2006 . October 30, 2013 . Top 40 / Pop . November 1, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131101070715/http://top40.about.com/od/top10lists/tp/promsongs2006.htm . dead .
  17. Web site: Atlantic Coast Entertainment . Popular Prom Songs . October 30, 2013 . Atlantic Coast Entertainment . November 1, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131101072358/http://www.atlanticcoastentertainment.com/prom_music.htm . live .
  18. Rolling Stone . May 28, 2015 . The 20 Best Graduation Songs Of The Past 20 Years . Rolling Stone . May 31, 2015 . May 31, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150531014309/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/20-best-graduation-songs-of-the-last-20-years-20150528/green-day-good-riddance-time-of-your-life-20150528 . live .
  19. February 7, 1998 . Eurochart Hot 100 Singles . . 15 . 6 . 9 . August 8, 2020 . March 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230320020044/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1998/MM-1998-02-07.pdf . live .
  20. News: February 6, 1998 . Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (5.2. – 12.2. 1998) . is . 26 . . October 3, 2019 . June 28, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210628133013/https://timarit.is/page/2965265#page/n7/mode/2up . live .
  21. Green Day Chart History (Rock Digital Songs) . May 12, 2018 . Billboard . October 16, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231016033328/https://www.billboard.com/artist/green-day/chart-history/rkt/ . live .
  22. Green Day Chart History (Canadian Digital Song Sales). Billboard. August 3, 2024.
  23. Web site: ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1998 . April 12, 2021 . . November 29, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211129100809/https://www.aria.com.au/charts/1998/singles-chart . live .
  24. December 14, 1998 . RPM's Top 100 Hit Tracks of '98 . . 63 . 12 . 20 . March 23, 2019 . March 27, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190327091139/http://rpmimages.3345.ca/pdfs/Volume+68-No.+12-December+14%2C+1998.pdf . live .
  25. News: January 2, 1999 . Íslenski Listinn Topp 100 – Vinsælustu Lögin '98 . is . 34 . Dagblaðið Vísir . February 8, 2020 . April 18, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220418182732/https://timarit.is/page/2978871?iabr=on#page/n29/mode/2up . live .
  26. December 26, 1998 . The Year in Music 1998: Hot 100 Singles Airplay . Billboard . 110 . 52 . YE-46.
  27. December 26, 1998 . The Year in Music 1998: Hot Adult Top 40 Singles & Tracks . Billboard . 110 . 52 . YE-96.
  28. December 26, 1998 . The Year in Music 1998 . Billboard . 110 . 52 . YE-84.
  29. December 25, 1998 . Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1998. Airplay Monitor . 6 . 52 . 45.
  30. December 25, 1998 . Best of '98: Most Played Triple-A Songs . Airplay Monitor . 6 . 52 . 35.
  31. Web site: Nielsen Year-End Music Report US 2019 . January 24, 2019 . . 40–41 . Billboard . January 10, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200110212845/https://www.billboard.com/files/pdfs/NIELSEN_2019_YEARENDreportUS.pdf . live .
  32. November 28, 1997 . New Releases . . 1225 . 41.
  33. Web site: タイム・オブ・ユア・ライフ グリーン・デイ . Time of Your Life Green Day . . ja . September 22, 2023 . December 4, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231204094728/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/64982/products/307014/1/ . live .
  34. January 17, 1998 . New Releases: Singles . . 35.

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