Still Breathing (Green Day song)

"Still Breathing"
Single by Green Day
from the album Revolution Radio
Released November 12, 2016 (2016-11-12)
Format

Digital download

Promotional CD
Recorded January 15 – July 24, 2016 at OTIS in Oakland, California
Genre
Length 3:45
Label Reprise
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Green Day
Green Day singles chronology
"Bang Bang"
(2016)		 "Still Breathing"
(2016)		 "Revolution Radio"
(2017)

"Bang Bang"
(2016)		 "Still Breathing"
(2016)		 "Revolution Radio"
(2017)

"Still Breathing" is a song by American punk rock band Green Day. It was released on November 12, 2016, as the second single from their twelfth studio album, Revolution Radio (2016). It is considered to be an emotionally dark song that explores the theme of individuals finding strength in the face of hardship and tough times. The song's music video – released on November 7, 2016 – reflected upon that theme.

"Still Breathing" received positive critical reception and was praised for its sentimental concept and spirited musical composition. It peaked at number one on the US Alternative Songs, Mainstream Rock, Rock Airplay, and Canada Rock charts, and appeared on various other international charts.

Background and composition

In 2014 – following the band's 99 Revolutions Tour, in support of ¡Uno! ¡Dos! and ¡Tré! (2012)[1] – Billie Joe Armstrong started testing and recording material at his new studio, Otis, in Oakland, California.[2] The first song that Armstrong wrote was "Bang Bang", the first single released from their 2016 album Revolution Radio.[3] That song reminded critics of Green Day's earlier work.[4]

Following that, "Still Breathing" was released as the second single from the album and was also compared to the band's earlier works.[5] The new song was described as dark and unsettling,[6] with a theme of staying strong in the face of adversity and overcoming it.[7][8] The song explores the lives of individuals addicted to drugs and gambling, fatherless children, single mothers, and soldiers returning from war, with their stories intertwined throughout the song.[9]

Considered to be more emotional than the lead single,[8] "Still Breathing" is characterized as a "serious" track.[10] Armstrong intended to make others happy, and to make a difference, by getting people to recognize themselves in the song.[9] He described the track as "a very heavy song", and further explained, "Sometimes I run away from being too heavy. But sometimes it just comes out that way." While commenting on the chorus, I'm still breathing on my own, he added, "at some point, we're all going to have to be on life support. As time goes on, your thoughts get darker."[6]

Release

Armstrong is one of the many characters featured in the video.

Following the release of "Bang Bang" on August 11, 2016, a lyric video for "Still Breathing" was uploaded to YouTube on September 22, 2016.[9][11] It was released as the second single from Revolution Radio on November 12, 2016,[12] and a promotional CD was made available only in the UK on February 10, 2017.[13]

Reception

"Still Breathing" was received positively by music critics. Writing for Entertainment Weekly, Kevin O'Donnell praised the song by saying that it "isn’t just one of their most rousing songs, it’s also one of their best."[14] Gil Kaufman of Billboard stated the band is "back in classic form" with emotional twists and deep lyrical content that symbolize some of band's "most beloved work".[5] NME called it "an air-punching punk glory full of strength, power and guts" that "lauds the resilience of the human spirit and the ability to make it through tough times".[15]

The A.V. Club described "Still Breathing" as a "statement of purpose for the record" and that it was a recognition of everyone's struggle.[16] Loudwire's Graham Hartmann noted it as the "poppiest cut from the album yet, while also being the most emotionally heavy", opining that the band had shifted to a more "radio-friendly" version of their "revolution" while keeping their same aesthetic.[17] PopMatters wrote that the song "is overly familiar" and that it had "quiet verses and a loud chorus", but admired the melody and chord progression of the song.[18]

Chart performance

"Still Breathing" peaked at number one on the US Alternative Songs, Mainstream Rock, and Rock Airplay charts. It became their 11th number one on the US Alternative Songs chart, surpassing Foo Fighters and tying with Linkin Park for the second most number one positions – behind only the Red Hot Chili Peppers with 13.[19] The song became their fifth number one on the US Mainstream Rock chart,[20] and along with "Bang Bang", this become the first time since American Idiot (2004) that two of their singles from the same album reached the number one spot on the US Alternative Songs and Mainstream Rock charts.[19][20]

The song became Green Day's fourth number one on the US Rock Airplay chart, the second-most number ones of any band, behind only Foo Fighters with five.[21] While "Know Your Enemy" (2009) and "Bang Bang" have topped the three charts – US Alternative Songs, Mainstream Rock, and Rock Airplay charts – this was the first time that a single of theirs had reached the number one position on those three charts simultaneously.[22]

"Still Breathing" reached number 11 and 17 on the US Hot Rock Songs and Adult Alternative Songs, respectively.[23][24] The song peaked at number one on the Canada Rock,[25] and number two on the UK Rock charts.[26] The song also charted in Belgium (Ultratip Flanders), Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100 Oficiální), and Slovakia (Rádio Top 100 Oficiální).[27][28][29]

Track listing

All lyrics written by Billie Joe Armstrong; all music composed by Green Day.

Digital download
No.TitleLength
1."Still Breathing"3:44
Promo CD
No.TitleLength
1."Still Breathing" (One track UK promo with a cardboard sleeve)3:44

Charts

Chart (2016–17) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[30] 11
Canada Rock (Billboard)[31] 1
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[32] 21
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[33] 82
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[34] 65
UK Rock (Official Charts Company)[26] 2
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[35] 40
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[36] 1
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[37] 11
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[38] 1
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[39] 1
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[40] 17

Music video

The official music video was directed by P. R. Brown, and released on November 7, 2016.[41][42] The video reflects the song's central theme of being in unsettled situations and getting through them.[8][43] In the beginning of the video, Armstrong is shown as a solitary figure; his bandmates Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool are sitting lethargically in a different location. The video explores situations of various other characters as well, all starting out in a dejected state. The shots of Armstrong, Dirnt, and Cool are repeatedly seen interspersed with developments in the lives of the other characters. Eventually, all of them manage to find things that make them happy. As the video reaches its end, Armstrong is seen entering a warehouse and being happily reunited with his bandmates, who had begun to play their instruments.[8][10][44]

References

  1. ↑ Greene, Andy (August 11, 2016). "Billie Joe Armstrong on Green Day's Provocative New LP". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  2. ↑ Hiatt, Brian (September 7, 2016). "Inside Green Day's Revolutionary Rebirth". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  3. ↑ "'Bang Bang' Is Green Day's 'Most Aggressive Single,' Says Billie Joe Armstrong". WJBDradio.com. August 26, 2016. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  4. ↑ Ackroyd, Stephen (August 4, 2016). "Green Day Hint at Their New Album's Title". Upset. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  5. 1 2 Kaufman, Gil (September 23, 2016). "Listen to Green Day's Inspirational Anthem 'Still Breathing'". Billboard. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  6. 1 2 Hiatt, Brian; Greene, Andy (September 22, 2016). "Green Day's 'Revolution Radio': A Track-by-Track Guide to New Album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  7. ↑ Kinane, Ruth (September 23, 2016). "Green Day share new song Still Breathing". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Rossignol, Derrick (November 7, 2016). "Green Day Gets Emotional In Their Music Video For 'Still Breathing'". Nerdist. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 Hartmann, Graham (September 23, 2016). "Green Day Reveal Emotionally Heavy Track 'Still Breathing'". Loudwire. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  10. 1 2 Payne, Chris (November 7, 2016). "Billie Joe Armstrong Walks a Lonely Road in Green Day's New 'Still Breathing' Video". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  11. ↑ Biddulph, Andy (August 1, 2016). "There's a New Green Day Song on the Way". Rock Sound. Archived from the original on August 8, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  12. ↑ Rutherford, Kevin (November 2, 2016). "Green Day Earns 10th Alternative Songs No. 1 with 'Bang Bang'". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Green Day – Still Breathing". Discogs. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  14. ↑ O'Donnell, Kevin. "Green Day's 'Revolution Radio': EW Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Track Review: Green Day Tackle Personal Demons On Triumphant 'Still Breathing'". NME. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  16. ↑ McLevy, Alex. "Green Day are punks afraid of dying on the uncertain Revolution Radio". The A.V. Club. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Green Day Reveal Emotionally Heavy Track 'Still Breathing'". Loudwire. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  18. ↑ Conaton, Chris. "Revolution Radio". PopMatters. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  19. 1 2 Rutherford, Kevin. "Green Day Lands 11th No. 1 on Alternative Songs With 'Still Breathing'". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
  20. 1 2 Smith, Lindy (February 5, 2017). "Green Day earn fifth No. 1 with "Still Breathing"". Alternative Press. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
  21. ↑ Rutherford, Kevin. "Green Day's 'Revolution Radio' Generates Second Rock Airplay No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  22. ↑ Rutherford, Kevin. "Green Day's 'Still Breathing' Rules Mainstream Rock Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Green Day – Chart history". Billboard Hot Rock Songs for Green Day. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  24. ↑ "Green Day – Chart history". Billboard Adult Alternative Songs for Green Day. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  25. ↑ "Green Day – Chart history". Billboard Canada Rock for Green Day. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  26. 1 2 "2016-09-30 Top 40 Rock & Metal Singles Archive". Official Charts Company. September 30, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Green Day – Still Breathing" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  28. ↑ "ČNS IFPI". Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic (in Czech). Note: insert 20177 into search. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  29. ↑ "SNS IFPI". Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic (in Slovak). Note: insert 201650 into search. Archived from the original on January 10, 2007. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  30. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Green Day – Still Breathing" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
  31. ↑ "Green Day Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  32. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201717 into search. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  33. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201650 into search. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  34. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  35. ↑ "Green Day Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  36. ↑ "Green Day Chart History (Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  37. ↑ "Green Day Chart History (Hot Rock Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  38. ↑ "Green Day Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  39. ↑ "Green Day Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  40. ↑ "Green Day Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  41. ↑ "Interview with 'Still Breathing' Director P. R. Brown". greenday.com. Green Day. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  42. ↑ Lifton, Dave. "Green Day release video for 'Still Breathing'". Diffuser.fm. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  43. ↑ Pell, Mike. "Exclusive! Green Day Are 'Still Breathing' In Our Premiere Of Their Latest Music Vid". MTV. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  44. ↑ Childers, Chad. "Green Day Break Free of the Melancholy in Video for 'Still Breathing'". Loudwire. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
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