21st Century Breakdown is the second rock opera written by Alternative-Punk band Green Day. The record is less about telling a story rather than illustrating an America in the post-George W. Bush era. The album was released in 2009 and captured the odd mixed feelings Americans had at this time.
The album focuses on a not-too-distant future (which has been passed at this point) where the baton between generations is being passed off. Going into the album, Americans are riding on feelings of excitement and fear. The excitement comes from the start of a new era while the fear comes from the economic and social downturn. The album specifically covers two main characters, Christian and Gloria, two new adults trying to live in this new era. They find themselves unable to keep steadfast in their own values and are left clueless as far as living is concerned.
A major theme in 21st Century Breakdown is the omnipotent role of religion in the American lifestyle, specifically Christianity. The album's lyrics create a message that Middle Americans follow religions too blindly, and will be misled by both their faith and government if they refuse to act.
As far as musical merits go, this album is not as great as previous Green Day albums like American Idiot, Dookie, and Kerplunk, but is decent in its own light. It doesn't really create a "future" so much as a prediction of where America would be in a year.
I wonder if what they predicted in the not-too-distant future (which has been passed at this point) actually did happen. Personally, I think that they fear will dominate the excitement because they do not know what to expect. A new era can bring many surprises and excitement but is it all worth it when fear lingers in the air? I don't think it does. I have to contradict myself when I say that sometimes I do want to know certain things ahead of time before they happen, but if that is so, there will be no more excitements and surprises; that I think, is not worth it. Sometimes being clueless isn't so bad, it gives us more options and roads to travel. We would be given more then one option unlike the people in the world of Fahrenheit 451
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