21 Guns (song)
| "21 Guns" | |||||||||
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| Single by Green Day | |||||||||
| from the album 21st Century Breakdown | |||||||||
| Released | May 25, 2009 (digital download) July 14, 2009 (CD single) |
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| Format | Digital download, CD single, vinyl | ||||||||
| Recorded | 2008 | ||||||||
| Genre | Alternative rock | ||||||||
| Length | 5:21 | ||||||||
| Label | Reprise | ||||||||
| Writer(s) | Billie Joe Armstrong, David Bowie, Mike Dirnt, John Phillips, and Tré Cool | ||||||||
| Producer(s) | Butch Vig and Green Day | ||||||||
| Green Day singles chronology | |||||||||
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| "21 Guns" | ||||
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| Single by Green Day and the cast of American Idiot | ||||
| from the album American Idiot: The Original Broadway Cast Recording | ||||
| B-side | Like a Rolling Stone (Bob Dylan Cover) | |||
| Released | December 3, 2009 | |||
| Format | Digital download, CD single | |||
| Recorded | 2009 | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock | |||
| Length | 4:41 | |||
| Label | Reprise | |||
| Writer(s) | Billie Joe Armstrong, David Bowie, Mike Dirnt, John Phillips, and Tré Cool | |||
| Producer(s) | Green Day | |||
| Green Day and the cast of American Idiot singles chronology | ||||
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| 21 Guns Live EP | |
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| EP / Live album by Green Day | |
| Released | September 4, 2009 |
| Recorded | 2009, Live in New York |
| Genre | Pop punk, punk rock, alternative rock |
| Length | 17:52 |
| Label | Reprise |
| Producer | Green Day |
"21 Guns" is a song by American punk rock band Green Day. It was released as the second single from their eighth album, 21st Century Breakdown. The single was released through Reprise Records on May 25, 2009 as a digital download and July 14, 2009 as a CD single. The song has been a success on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 22, which has become their highest charting single since 2005.
It was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Duo/Group with Vocals and Best Rock Song in 2010.
"21 Guns" addresses the topic of patriotism. Frontman and chief songwriter Billie Joe Armstrong told Q magazine, in May 2009: "It brings up 21st Century Breakdown in a lot of ways, and the 21-gun salute for someone that's fallen, but done in an arena rock 'n' roll sort of way."
According to Q, the song is "a mammoth power ballad with a chorus like Mott the Hoople's All the Young Dudes." William Goodman from Spin agreed, also comparing the song to All The Young Dudes.Entertainment Weekly's Simon Vozick-Levinson described it as a "sensitive arena rock cut that made us think of Toto's 'Africa'. While the chorus sounded more like ELO's 'Telephone Line.' A Rolling Stone article commented that it "has a dash of 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams' to it."Spin's Goodman agreed, writing: "This track covers a lot of territory in its five minutes, from a solo acoustic guitar (reminiscent of "Boulevard of Broken Dreams") to Brian May-worthy electric riffage. But the chorus holds the killer hook, as Armstrong hits highs with his voice in a thrilling moment."
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