The American Dream is killing me / When it’s all double-talk of conspiracy sings Billie Joe Armstrong on the opening of Green Day‘s new single “The American Dream is Killing Me.” The unfortunate reality is it’s as if nothing much has changed within the social and political climate in nearly 20 years since the band’s 2004 hit “American Idiot” and their album of the same name.
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The lead single and opening track from the band’s 14th album Saviors, out January 19, 2024, the band recently premiered “The American Dream Is Killing Me” during a surprise show in Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday (October 20).
“’The American Dream Is Killing Me’ was one of the last tracks written and recorded by Green Day for ‘Saviors,'” said Armstrong in a statement. “As soon we cut it, we said, ‘Okay, that’s going first.’” Armstrong describes “The American Dream is Killing Me” as “a look at the way the traditional American Dream doesn’t work for a lot of people.” He added, “In fact, it’s hurting a lot of people.”
Recorded in Los Angeles and London, England, Saviors was produced by Rob Cavallo, who also worked on Green Day’s 1994 album Dookie and American Idiot.
Accompanying “The American Dream is Killing Me” is a black and white, Walking Dead-inspired music video, directed by Brendan Walter and Ryan Baxley. Shot in Los Angeles, the video shows the band performing while trying to take a bite out of fans in a zombified world.
Green Day recently revealed a 2024 North American Stadium tour with the Smashing Pumpkins, Rancid, and the Linda Lindas. No dates tour dates have been revealed.
[RELATED: 5 Songs You Didn’t Know Billie Joe Armstrong Wrote for Other Artists]
The band premiered another new song “Look Ma, No Brains!” during their headlining set at the When We Were Young festival. In July, Green Day also debuted the track “1981” during a show in Quebec City, Canada.
Earlier in 2023, Green Day also commemorated the 30th anniversary of their landmark 1994 album Dookie with a 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition featuring 17 unreleased demos and six studio outtakes along with the original 14 tracks.
Photo: Alice Baxley / Courtesy of Warner Records
