The first official single from 21st Century Breakdown. A very politically charged song, reminiscent of “Holiday” from American Idiot, it discusses distrust of the system and how to fight said system.

It’s a rallying song. It’s about liberating yourself from a lot of bulls— that you see on TV. – Billie Joe Armstrong, Q Magazine

The sound of this song is reminiscent of “Rebel Girl” by Bikini Kill, down to Billie Joe’s screeching demand for “revolution” on the second verse. It utilizes a similar military-like marching beat evocative of the rhythm in Kill’s Pussy Whipped single.

This is probably due to the mutual creative respect the two bands have for each other as Green Day has collaborated with members of Bikini Kill before. The track “Letterbomb” on American Idiot features guest vocals by Kathleen Hanna of seminal riot grrrl quartet Bikini Kill and lesbian-feminist ensemble Le Tigre.

“She’s one of my favorite singers in the world,..” Billie Joe Armstrong told MTV.
“If they made a car called Kathleen Hanna, I would drive one.”

The second single from 1997’s The Colour and the Shape. “Everlong” was penned by Dave Grohl during his split with his first wife, photographer Jennifer Youngblood.

The divorce left him alone, and essentially homeless since she kicked him out of the house. To add insult to injury, the Foo Fighters weren’t doing as well as he envisioned, and his fellow band members were close to quitting. Right as he was about to bottom out, he returned home to Virginia for Christmas 1996 and wrote down the lyrics to this simple little ballad about falling in love with a new woman in a span of 45 minutes. It did well enough to keep the band together and get his life back on track. In Grohl’s words:

That song’s about a girl that I’d fallen in love with and it was basically about being connected to someone so much, that not only do you love them physically and spiritually, but when you sing along with them you harmonize perfectly.

The song has since been immortalized by Grohl’s stripped down and emotional live renditions. It usually finishes concerts (especially because its heartfelt tone contrasts too much with the rest of the setlist).

It is notable for being famous talk show host David Letterman’s favorite song, to the point where FF rescheduled their tour to play on his first show back from heart surgery, and was the last song played on the very last show Letterman hosted before retiring.

It was featured in the rhythm games Guitar Hero: World Tour and Rock Band 2, both released in 2008.

The lead single from Rise Against’s sixth studio effort “Endgame”. Another very political song from the Chicago born quintet, giving an emotional story of Hurricane Katrina and the failure to act in terms of helping the victims afterwards. The song also discusses the BP oil crisis.

The lead single from Rush’s eighth studio album Moving Pictures (1981). One of their most popular songs and described as the band’s “defining piece of music… from the ‘80s” according to lead singer Geddy Lee.

Rush’s drummer Neil Peart co-wrote the lyrics to “Tom Sawyer” with Pye Dubois, lyricist for the band Max Webster.