Oh Yeah! (Green Day song) explained

Oh Yeah!
Artist:Green Day
Album:Father of All Motherfuckers
Type:single
Recorded:Summer 2019
Label:Reprise
Prev Title:Fire, Ready, Aim
Prev Year:2019
Next Title:Dreaming
Next Year:2020

"Oh Yeah!" is a song recorded by American rock band Green Day for their thirteenth studio album, Father of All Motherfuckers (2020). Band members Billie Joe Armstrong, Tré Cool, and Mike Dirnt all co-wrote the song, which samples Joan Jett's cover of "Do You Wanna Touch Me". "Oh Yeah!" was released on January 16, 2020, through Reprise Records as the album's third single. It later made its radio debut on January 28, 2020.

The song is the official theme song of the WWE pay-per-view (now "Premium Live Event") event Backlash (2020).[1]

Background and composition

"Oh Yeah!" was originally titled "Bulletproof Backpack" but was re-titled at some point in the production process to more closely associate it with "Do You Wanna Touch Me", which the song samples in its chorus.[2] This represents the first time the band has sampled another artist's work.[3] The writers of "Do You Wanna Touch Me", Gary Glitter and Mike Leander, both receive writing credits on the track. The band described Glitter as a "total asshole" because of his sexual abuse convictions and pledged to donate their royalties from the track to International Justice Mission and Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network.[3] [4] The lyrics of "Oh Yeah!" address celebrity culture and the polarization of modern society.[5]

The song has been described as pop rock by The Daily Californian,[6] power pop by Ultimate Classic Rock,[7] glam rock by Associated Press,[8] and synth-pop by Louder Sound.[9]

Commercial performance

The song topped the Billboard Alternative Songs Chart at the week ending of April 18, 2020.[10] This broke the record previously held by Red Hot Chili Peppers for the longest span of Alternative Songs chart toppers, as 'Longview' became their first chart topper in June 1994.[11]

Music video

An accompanying music video directed by Malia James premiered January 16, 2020.[12] The clip opens with drummer Tré Cool filming a tutorial on how to play the song.[12] A driver is shown watching this video as the camera zooms out from the tutorial and promptly hits lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong in a grocery store parking lot as a result.[4] This incident is filmed by a fan nearby and goes viral.[12] While Armstrong shows up on multiple occasions throughout the video, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool have recurring appearances as a security guard (who recognizes Armstrong) and a news reporter respectively. Throughout the rest of the video, various people take selfies and are otherwise absorbed by their phones.[12] [4] Celebrity status and social media obsession are two themes in the video identified by critics.[12]

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2020)Position
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[14] 48
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[15] 11

Release history

CountryDateFormatLabel
VariousJanuary 16, 2020Reprise[16]
United StatesJanuary 28, 2020Active rockWarner[17]
Modern rock[18]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 6/14 WWE BACKLASH PPV RESULTS: Keller's report on McIntyre vs. Lashley, Edge vs. Orton in the Greatest Wrestling Match Ever, Hardy vs. Sheamus, Strowman vs. Miz & Morrison, more . 2023-11-22 . en-US.
  2. News: Green Day Announce New Single And Confirm Father Of All... Tracklist . January 27, 2020 . . January 8, 2020.
  3. News: Green Day Have Dropped A Brand-New Song, Oh Yeah! . January 27, 2020 . . January 16, 2020.
  4. News: Spin Staff . Billie Joe Armstrong Gets Hit by a Car in New Green Day Video . January 27, 2020 . . January 16, 2020.
  5. News: Carter . Emily . Green Day's New Album Is Like Nothing You've Seen Before . January 27, 2020 . Kerrang!.
  6. News: Bale . Pooja . Green Day's new single 'Oh Yeah!' leaves listeners longing for past punk days . September 1, 2020 . . January 29, 2020.
  7. News: Reed . Ryan . Hear Green Day's New Joan Jett-Sampling Song, 'Oh Yeah!' . January 27, 2020 . . January 16, 2020.
  8. Web site: Review: Green Day returns with snarling and lean album. Kennedy. Mark. February 4, 2020. Associated Press. February 28, 2020.
  9. Web site: Green Day have made a college jock party record and it's the best thing they've done in years. Beaumont. Mark. February 6, 2020. Louder Sound. February 28, 2020.
  10. Alternative Songs Chart. Billboard. 2020-04-17.
  11. Web site: Green Day dethrone Red Hot Chili Peppers with impressive chart record. Absolute Radio. en. 2020-04-17.
  12. Blistein . Jon . Green Day Get Sucked Into the Endless Stream of Virality in New 'Oh Yeah!' Video . January 27, 2020 . . January 16, 2020.
  13. Web site: ČNS IFPI. IFPI ČR. Note: Select CZ RADIO TOP 20 MODERN ROCK and insert 202013 into search.. October 12, 2022.
  14. Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2020. Billboard. December 5, 2020.
  15. Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2020. Billboard. August 2, 2021.
  16. News: Gregory . Allie . Green Day Share "Oh Yeah!" Video . January 27, 2020 . . January 16, 2020.
  17. Web site: Rock Future Releases . All Access . January 27, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200127172213/https://www.allaccess.com/rock/future-releases . January 27, 2020.
  18. Web site: Future Releases on Alternative Radio . All Access . January 27, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200127180854/https://www.allaccess.com/alternative/future-releases . January 27, 2020.