Tuesday, August 25, 2015
An atypical standout IV
Green Day released its most accessible pop song, "Warning," in 2000. More than any other song of theirs, "Warning" has a sing-along, verging on power pop, quality. Urging listeners to "live without warning," the band runs through a list of warning announcements, signs, and questions, beginning with "This is a public service announcement; this only a test." I'm pretty certain no other band has ever made lyrics such as "May impair your ability to operate machinery," "Caution: Police line; you better not cross," and especially "Did you remember to pay the utility?" sound this tuneful. Thanks to a basic, memorable guitar refrain and a tongue-in-cheek approach to lyrics, "Warning" stands out as the band's most lighthearted, ear-catching tune.