Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)

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"Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)"
Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) cover.jpg
Single by Green Day
from the album Nimrod
B-side
  • "Desensitized"
  • "Rotting"
ReleasedOctober 17, 1997
Recorded1997
Genre
Length
  • 2:34 (album version)
  • 2:28 (music video)
LabelReprise
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Green Day singles chronology
"Hitchin' a Ride"
(1997) 		"Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)"
(1997) 		"Redundant"
(1998)
Music video
"Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)" on YouTube

"Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" (or "Time of Your Life (Good Riddance)") is a song by American rock band Green Day, released in October 1997 as the second single from their fifth studio album, Nimrod (1997). Although different from the band's usual sound, it is one of the band's most popular songs. It has also become a staple of the band's concerts and is usually played as the final song in their live shows.

"Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" became a chart hit, peaking at number 11 on the US Billboard Radio Songs chart and reaching the top 20 in Australia, Canada, Iceland, and the United Kingdom. As of November 2014, the song had sold over 2.6 million download copies.[5] It was certified platinum in the United Kingdom for sales and streams of 600,000.

Background and composition[]

Billie Joe Armstrong wrote "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" in 1993 about his girlfriend named Amanda who moved to Ecuador, with him naming the song "Good Riddance" to show his anger towards her. He did not show the song to his bandmates until the Dookie recording sessions later the same year.[6] During the sessions, however, the song was determined to be too different from the rest of the songs on Dookie, and producer Rob Cavallo was unsure of how to structure the recording.[6]

An early version of the song (in a different key, with a faster tempo and sparer arrangement) simply titled "Good Riddance" appeared as a B-side to the European single for "Brain Stew/Jaded".[7]

When the time came to record Nimrod, Armstrong decided to record the song again, and Cavallo suggested they add strings to the track. He sent the band to play foosball in another room while he recorded the strings, which took "like fifteen, twenty minutes, maybe a half an hour at the most."[6] Cavallo reflected on his decision to add the strings "I knew we had done the right thing. It was a hit the second I heard it."[6]

In comparison to previous Green Day material, "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" features more mellow, contemplative lyrics with acoustic music. Band member Mike Dirnt said that the release of this song was probably the "most punk" thing they could have done.[8]

Album version[]

The album version of the song begins with Armstrong messing up the opening chords twice, muttering "fuck" under his voice before starting over and getting it right, thus getting the song underway. This mess up was purposely recorded in order to provide some minor comic relief for an otherwise serious and contemplative song.[citation needed] Radio versions and the music video omitted this.[9]

Music video[]

The music video was directed by Mark Kohr in Los Angeles in November 1997, and is based on a concept by Armstrong.[10] The video features Armstrong singing and playing an acoustic guitar in an apartment (filmed in LA's Ambassador Hotel), intercut with "pull-in" shots of various people involved in mundane activities. All of the subjects are shown seemingly staring into space absent-mindedly. Dirnt and Tré Cool make cameo appearances in the video as a person pumping gas (Dirnt), and an injured bike rider being attended by paramedics (Tré). When the video came out, the name of the song was inverted, hence the video's title is "Time of Your Life (Good Riddance)". This title was also used on the single cover.

In 1998, Green Day won their first MTV Video Music Award for Best Alternative Video for "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" and they were also nominated for Viewer's Choice.[11]

The video can be found on their music video compilation DVD, International Supervideos!.

Legacy[]

To the band's surprise, the song became a hit at prom dances.[12][13][14][15] Because of the song's lyrics, which many graduating seniors interpret as nostalgic and reflective of their time in high school, it has become a staple song at proms. Armstrong remarked that, in retrospect, the lyrics make sense when viewed that way. "The people that you grew up and braved the trials of high school with will always hold a special place. Through all the BS of high school you hope that your friends had the time of their life, and that's what the song is talking about".[13]

The song is featured in the season nine episode of Seinfeld, entitled "The Chronicle" (also known as "The Clip Show"). The song plays in the closing minutes of the episode, which feature a series of bloopers, behind the scenes production, and a montage. It is the second-to-last episode of Seinfeld before the show's series finale in 1998.

The song was played on ITV, after the England football team were knocked out of the quarter finals of the 2002 Fifa World Cup by Brazil.

On May 28, 2015, Rolling Stone named "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" as one of the 20 Best Graduation Songs of the Past 20 Years (1995–2015).[16]

Credits and personnel[]

  • Billie Joe Armstrong – acoustic guitar, vocals
  • David Campbell – strings arrangement
  • Conan McCallum – first violin

Additional credits[]

  • Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Tré Cool – songwriting, production
  • Rob Cavallo – production

Track listing[]

CD
No.TitleLength
1."Good Riddance" (album version)2:34
2."Suffocate" (non-LP track)2:47
3."You Lied" (non-LP track)2:25
4."Good Riddance" (clean remix)2:28
5."Desensitized" (non-LP track)2:47
6."Rotting" (non-LP track)2:50
Total length:8:40
European CD
No.TitleLength
1."Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" (clean album remix)2:28
2."Desensitized" (non-LP track)2:47
3."Rotting" (non-LP track)2:50
Total length:8:05
Australian CD
No.TitleLength
1."Redundant"3:18
2."Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" (album version)2:34
3."Redundant" (video)3:20
4."Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" (video)2:29
Total length:11:41

Charts and certifications[]

References[]

  1. ^ Acoustic Nation (August 12, 2015). "Best Acoustic Rock Song of All Time Poll: "Time of Your Life (Good Riddance)" Vs. "Jack & Diane"". Guitar World. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
  2. ^ "The 79 Best Alternative Rock Songs of 1997". Spin. April 25, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
  3. ^ Richin, Leslie (January 12, 2017). "20 Alternative Rock Hits Turning 20 in 2017". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  4. ^ Kot, Greg (October 2, 1997). "Green Day - "Nimrod"". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 13, 2020. "Redundant," with its chiming, Byrds-ian guitars and soaring vocals, and "Walking Alone," with its plaintive harmonica, are persuasive midtempo pop songs, while "Good Riddance" is a surprisingly sweet folk anthem buoyed by strings.
  5. ^ Appel, Rich (November 13, 2014). "Revisionist History, Part 4: Queen Scores a Hat Trick, 'Good Riddance' to Three Dog Night". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Spitz, Marc (2006). Nobody Likes You: Inside the Turbulent Life, Times, and Music of Green Day. Hyperion. p. 131. ISBN 978-1401309121.
  7. ^ "Green Day - Brain Stew / Jaded". Discogs.
  8. ^ VH1 Top 100 Songs of the '90's: "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)"
  9. ^ "Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) by Green Day - Songfacts". www.songfacts.com.
  10. ^ "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) by Green Day". Song Facts.
  11. ^ "Rock On The Net: 1998 MTV Video Music Awards". www.rockonthenet.com.
  12. ^ Schwartz, Terri (May 8, 2013). "The Best Prom Songs of the '80s, '90s and '00s". iVillage. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b CBS Local (April 30, 2012). "Top 10 Prom Songs". CBS. Archived from the original on November 1, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  14. ^ Lamb, Bill (c. 2006). "Top 10 Prom Songs 2006". Top 40 / Pop. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  15. ^ Atlantic Coast Entertainment. "Popular Prom Songs". Atlantic Coast Entertainment. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  16. ^ Rolling Stone (May 28, 2015). "The 20 Best Graduation Songs Of The Past 20 Years". Rolling Stone Magazine. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  17. ^ "Australian-charts.com – Green Day – Time of Your Life (Good Riddance)". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  18. ^ "Australian-charts.com – Green Day – Redundant / Time of Your Life (Good Riddance)". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  19. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3469." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  20. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3473." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  21. ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 3442." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  22. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15 no. 6. February 7, 1998. p. 9. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  23. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (5.2. – 12.2. 1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). February 6, 1998. p. 26. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  24. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Time of Your Life (Good Riddance)". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  25. ^ "Charts.nz – Green Day – Time of Your Life (Good Riddance)". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  26. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
  27. ^ "Green Day: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  28. ^ "Green Day Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  29. ^ "Green Day Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  30. ^ "Green Day Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  31. ^ "Green Day Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  32. ^ "Green Day Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  33. ^ "Green Day Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  34. ^ "Green Day Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
  35. ^ "Green Day Chart History (Rock Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
  36. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1998". ARIA. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  37. ^ "RPM's Top 100 Hit Tracks of '98" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 63 no. 12. December 14, 1998. p. 20. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  38. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 100 – Vinsælustu Lögin '98". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1999. p. 34. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  39. ^ Jump up to: a b "Nielsen Year-End Music Report US 2019" (PDF). Billboard. Nielsen Music. pp. 40–41. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  40. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  41. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Green Day – Time of Your Life". Music Canada.
  42. ^ "Italian single certifications – Green Day – Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved August 19, 2017. Select "2017" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  43. ^ "British single certifications – Green Day – Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)". British Phonographic Industry.
  44. ^ "American single certifications – Green Day – Good Riddance". Recording Industry Association of America.
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