Warning (Green Day song) explained

Warning
Cover:Green Day - Warning single cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Green Day
Album:Warning
B-Side:
  • "Scumbag"
  • "Outsider"
Released:December 11, 2000
Genre:
Length:3:41
Label:
Composer:Green Day
Lyricist:Billie Joe Armstrong
Producer:Green Day
Prev Title:Minority
Prev Year:2000
Next Title:Waiting
Next Year:2001

"Warning" is a song by American rock band Green Day. It is the second single and title track from their sixth album of the same name. Billie Joe Armstrong has said that the original concept was to create a song whose lyrics were made up of all signs and labels, and the idea grew from there. The song was a number-three modern-rock hit in the United States. The song also entered the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart.

Composition

This is the first Green Day song to feature a tremolo effect on the guitar—an effect used prominently in the 2004 single "Boulevard of Broken Dreams". It has been noted that the song's main guitar riff bears strong resemblance to the Kinks' song "Picture Book".[5]

Music videos

"Warning" has two music videos. The first and main music video premiered on MTV in January 2001. It was directed by Francis Lawrence and shows the life of a rather oblivious young man who does dangerous, socially unacceptable and trivial things during his day examples being rubbing soap in his eyes, swallowing toothpaste, running into moving traffic and crossing police tape. His punch-in card reveals his name to be John Earle.[6] The second music video features the recording and touring of the song and album edited together.[7]

Live performances

Despite being included in the band's greatest hits albums International Superhits! and God's Favorite Band, as well as appearing as a playable track in the video game , the band did not perform the song live for 21 years since 2001, until it was performed during a warm-up show before their performance at the 2022 Lollapalooza.[8]

Track listings

US 7-inch single[9]

A1. "Warning"

B1. "Scumbag"

B2. "Outsider"

UK CD1[10]

  1. "Warning" (album version) – 3:42
  2. "Scumbag" – 1:44
  3. "I Don't Want to Know If You Are Lonely" – 3:08

UK CD2[11]

  1. "Warning" (album version) – 3:42
  2. "Outsider" – 2:17
  3. "Suffocate" – 2:57

UK 7-inch single[12]

A. "Warning" (album version) – 3:42

B. "Suffocate"

Australian CD single[13]

  1. "Warning" – 3:42
  2. "Minority" (album version)
  3. "Scumbag" – 1:44
  4. "Outsider" – 2:17

Japanese CD single[14]

  1. "Warning" – 3:42
  2. "Scumbag" – 1:44
  3. "Outsider" – 2:17
  4. "I Don't Want to Know If You Are Lonely" – 3:08

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2001)Position
US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[16] 30
US Triple-A (Billboard)[17] 48

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United StatesDecember 5, 2000Active rock radioReprise[18]
United KingdomDecember 11, 2000[19]
JapanDecember 20, 2000CD[20]
AustraliaJanuary 15, 2001[21]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Green Day International Superhits! - Album Review - Slant Magazine. Sal Cinquemani. November 11, 2001. Slant Magazine. October 13, 2015.
  2. Web site: Connick . Tom . Green Day: their 15 best songs – ranked . . May 16, 2018 . April 29, 2023.
  3. Web site: Green Day – Warning Review . Alternative Press . June 22, 2010 . May 9, 2022 . When Warning kicks off with the title track, the straightforward acoustic rocker shows promise for the album.
  4. Web site: Robinson . Charlotte . Green Day - "Warning" . . August 29, 2020 . October 2, 2000 . Green Day begin their first album of the new millennium with a sober, mid-tempo pop song .
  5. Book: Concise History of Rock Music. Fowles. Paul. Wade. Graham. 341. February 23, 2012. Mel Bay Publications. 9781619110168.
  6. Web site: Green Day - Warning [Official Music Video]]. December 9, 2020. YouTube.
  7. Web site: GREEN DAY-Making Of Warning. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/SYS0t0Zl-VU . December 21, 2021 . live. January 5, 2013 . December 9, 2020. YouTube.
  8. Web site: Shutler . Ali . July 30, 2022 . Green Day perform deep cuts at Lollapalooza warm-up show . August 13, 2022 . NME.
  9. Warning. Green Day. 2000. US 7-inch single vinyl disc. Adeline Records. AR014.
  10. Warning. Green Day. 2000. UK CD1 liner notes. Reprise Records. W548CD1, 9362-44958-2.
  11. Warning. Green Day. 2000. UK CD2 liner notes. Reprise Records. W548CD2, 9362-44959-2.
  12. Warning. Green Day. 2000. UK 7-inch single sleeve. Reprise Records. W548.
  13. Warning. Green Day. 2001. Australian CD single liner notes. Reprise Records. 9362449702.
  14. Warning. Green Day. 2001. Japanese CD single liner notes. Reprise Records. WPCR-10852.
  15. https://web.archive.org/web/20011226144728/http://pifpaf.com.pl/airplay/lista_04_2001.html "Poland: Airplay Chart - Lista Krajowa 04/2001"
  16. The Year in Music 2001: Hot Modern Rock Tracks. Billboard. 113. 52. YE-72. December 29, 2001.
  17. Most-Played Triple-A Songs. Airplay Monitor. 9. 51. 45. December 21, 2001.
  18. Going for Adds: Active Rock. Radio & Records. 1379. 97. December 1, 2000.
  19. New Releases – For Week Starting December 11, 2000: Singles. Music Week. 27. December 9, 2000.
  20. Web site: ウォーニング グリーン・デイ. Warning Green Day. Oricon. ja. March 24, 2024.
  21. Web site: The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 15th January 2001. ARIA. 19. January 15, 2001. http://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20080222222432/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020221-0000/www.aria.com.au/issue568.PDF. February 22, 2008. March 24, 2024. live.

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