Welcome to Paradise
"Welcome to Paradise" | |
---|---|
Song by Green Day | |
from the album Kerplunk | |
Released | December 17, 1991[1] |
Genre | |
Length |
|
Label | Lookout[4] |
Composer(s) | Green Day |
Lyricist(s) | Billie Joe Armstrong |
Producer(s) |
|
"Welcome to Paradise" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Green Day | ||||
from the album Dookie | ||||
Released | October 17, 1994 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:44 | |||
Label | ||||
Composer(s) | Green Day | |||
Lyricist(s) | Billie Joe Armstrong | |||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Green Day singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Welcome to Paradise" on YouTube |
"Welcome to Paradise" is a song by the American
Song meaning and composition
The lyrics were written by Billie Joe Armstrong and the music by Armstrong with Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool. It is based on the band members' experiences of moving out of their parents' houses and into an abandoned house in Oakland, California, where they, along with a number of others, lived without paying rent. The house was quite broken-down but to them it became home, and this feeling is described in the song.
Billie Joe Armstrong said this of the song, "It's about West Oakland, living in a warehouse with a lot of people, a bunch of artists and musicians, punks and whatever just lived all up and down, bums and junkies and thugs and gang members and stuff that just lived in that area. It's no place you want to walk around at night, but it's a neat warehouse where you can play basketball and stuff."[7]
The song is played with the guitar tuned a half-step down, as are many of their Dookie songs.
The song is sung as Armstrong is talking or sending a message to his mother, after moving out of her house. In the first verse, he is talking to his mother after three weeks of leaving, telling her that he is scared about being on his own. The second part describes him writing to her six months later, now happy to live on his own.
Music video
A video was released for the song. It shows the band playing live, while the studio version from the
According to
Track listing
- "Welcome to Paradise" – 3:45
- "Chump" (live) – 2:44
- "Emenius Sleepus" – 1:44
- Track 2 was recorded on March 11, 1994, at Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg, Florida.
Charts
Chart (1994) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[9] | 44 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[10] | 21 |
20 | |
US | 56 |
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[13] | 7 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada)[14] | Platinum | 80,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[15] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | March 4, 1994 | Radio | Reprise | [citation needed] |
United Kingdom | October 17, 1994 |
|
[16] |
References
- ISBN 978-0-313-36597-3.
- ^ "Top 5 Punk Songs to Jam in Your Ride". Chicago Automotive Magazine. Archived from the original on December 8, 2014. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
- "50 Best Punk Songs Of All Time". Consequence of Sound. August 17, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2022. - ^ Chicago Automotive Magazine (May 14, 2013). "The 10 Songs Green Day Should Play At Brixton Next Week". Sabotage Times. Archived from the original on October 10, 2014. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
- Smith, Troy (March 7, 2022). "The 100 greatest pop punk songs of all time". Cleveland.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022. - ISBN 9781401302740.
- ^ "Top 5 Punk Songs to Jam in Your Ride". Chicago Automotive Magazine. Archived from the original on December 8, 2014. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
- "50 Best Punk Songs Of All Time". Consequence of Sound. August 17, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2022. - ^ Chicago Automotive Magazine (May 14, 2013). "The 10 Songs Green Day Should Play At Brixton Next Week". Sabotage Times. Archived from the original on October 10, 2014. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
- Smith, Troy (March 7, 2022). "The 100 greatest pop punk songs of all time". Cleveland.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022. - ^ Childers, Chad (February 1, 2023). "29 Years Ago: Green Day Release 'Dookie'". Loudwire. Archived from the original on February 1, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
- ^ "Turned Out a Punk: Episode 390 - Matt Bettinelli-Olpin (Co-Director of Scream, Link 80, Radio Silence Collective, Delores) on Apple Podcasts". Archived from the original on February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
- ^ "Green Day – Welcome to Paradise". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
- ^ "Green Day – Welcome to Paradise". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
- ^ "Green Day: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
- ^ "Green Day Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
- ^ "Green Day Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Green Day – Welcome to Paradise". Music Canada. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
- ^ "British single certifications – Green Day – Welcome to Paradise". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
- ^ "Single Releases". Music Week. October 15, 1994. p. 27.
External links
- Welcome to Paradise official video on YouTube