"Jesus of Suburbia" is a song by American rock band Green Day. It was released as the fifth and final single from their seventh album, American Idiot. The studio version of the song, a five movement piece, runs just over 9 minutes and was considered to be unfriendly for radio, so it was cut down to 5½ minutes for the radio edit. The long version was still played on many album rock and alternative rock radio stations. At most live shows on the first leg of their 21st Century Breakdown World Tour, the band would pick a member from the audience to play guitar for the song. The single has sold 205,000 copies as of July 2010.[1]
[edit] Track listings
| 1. |
"Jesus of Suburbia" |
9:09 |
| 2. |
"Are We the Waiting" (Live at VH1 Storytellers, Culver City, California on February 15, 2005) |
2:57 |
| 3. |
"St. Jimmy" (Live at VH1 Storytellers, Culver City, California on February 15, 2005) |
3:07 |
| 1. |
"Jesus of Suburbia" |
9:08 |
| 2. |
"St. Jimmy" (Live at VH1 Storytellers, Culver City, California on February 15, 2005) |
2:57 |
| 1. |
"Jesus of Suburbia" |
9:08 |
| 2. |
"Jesus of Suburbia" (Radio Edit) |
5:28 |
- The radio edit is not censored, just shortened.
10"
| 1. |
"Jesus of Suburbia" |
9:08 |
| 1. |
"St. Jimmy" (Live at VH1 Storytellers, Culver City, California on February 15, 2005) |
3:07 |
| 1. |
"Jesus of Suburbia" (Video) |
11:53 |
| 2. |
"Jesus of Suburbia" (Live Video) |
11:10 |
| 3. |
"Bullet in a Bible" (Video Trailer) |
2:33 |
[edit] Music videos
Two versions of the "Jesus of Suburbia" music video exist, directed by Samuel Bayer (who also directed the music videos for the first four singles released from the American Idiot album). The official music video premiered on October 14, 2005 in the UK and on October 25, 2005 on the MTV network for viewers in the US. One version is a 12-minute edit, complete with a plot and dialogue; the other is a six and a half-minute director's cut, inclusive solely of the music itself and devoid of additives. The six-minute version is censored, whereas the twelve-minute version is not. The video starred Lou Taylor Pucci as St. Jimmy. Jimmy's love interest (Whatsername) was played by Kelli Garner. Jimmy's mother was portrayed by Canadian actress Deborah Kara Unger. Although Billie Joe was originally tipped to provide the acting role of the main character, this was altered during pre-filming.
The plot of the video essentially follows that of the song. The video pays homage to "1979" by Smashing Pumpkins--it also made use of the snorricam which created the videos' notable up close shots in the convenience store and party scenes.
Backup guitarist Jason White appears briefly on Jesus of Suburbia's television during Part 4 (Dearly Beloved).
[edit] Live performances
It has been played at most of their concerts since its release. At many concerts on the 21st Century Breakdown World Tour they picked someone from the crowd to play guitar on the song.
The song holds the record of the longest performance on the UK television programme, Top of the Pops at 9 minutes and 10 seconds on 6 November 2005.[citation needed]
[edit] Critical reception
People magazine called the song "epic" and a "magnificent nine-minute rock opera." It is often recognized as one of Green Day's greatest songs.[2] It was recently voted the greatest Green Day song of all time in a Rolling Stone readers poll.[3]
[edit] Chart positions
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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