Minority (Green Day song)

"Minority" is a song by the American rock band Green Day. It was released to radio in August 2000 as the lead single from their sixth studio album, Warning. The song remained at No. 1 for five weeks in a row on the Billboard Modern Rock chart in late 2000, making it one of the most successful songs from the band in the 2000s.

"Minority"
Single by Green Day
from the album Warning
B-side
  • "Brat"
  • "86"
  • "Jackass"
ReleasedAugust 22, 2000
RecordedMarch–April 1992
StudioStudio 880, Oakland, California
Genre
Length2:49
LabelReprise
Composer(s)Green Day
Lyricist(s)Billie Joe Armstrong
Producer(s)Green Day
Green Day singles chronology
"Nice Guys Finish Last"
(1999)		 "Minority"
(2000)		 "Warning"
(2000)
Music video
"Minority" on YouTube

The song was heard on several US radio stations prior to the scheduled August 22 release date. Around the same time, Green Day was shooting the music video for the song. At the end of August, the single debuted on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart at number 17. The video first aired on September 14 on MTV's Total Request Live. A retail single was released the next day. In the UK, the single first entered the Official Charts at number 18 at the end of September, and stayed on the chart for three weeks.[3] At the end of October, a four-track maxi single was released on vinyl through Adeline Records.

Track listing
  1. "Minority" (Radio version)
  2. "Brat" (Live from Tokyo) – 1:42
  3. "86" (Live from Prague) – 2:59

AU single
  1. "Minority" (Album version) – 2:49
  2. "Brat" (Live from Tokyo) – 1:42
  3. "86" (Live from Prague) – 2:59
  4. "Jackass" (Album version) – 2:47

7"

Side A

  1. "Minority"
  2. "Brat" (Live from Tokyo) – 1:42

Side B

  1. "Jackass"
  2. "86" (Live from Prague) – 2:59

7" vinyl box set
  1. "Minority" – 2:49
  2. "Warning" – 3:42
  3. "Hold On" – 2:56
  4. "Outsider" – 2:17

Promo single
  1. "Minority" (radio edit)
  2. "Minority" (album version) – 2:49

Meaning

In an interview, frontman Billie Joe Armstrong said that "The song is about being an individual and how you have to drift through the darkness to find where you belong."[4]

Billie Joe Armstrong commented that this was the point in which their song writing became slightly more politically based. The lyrics "I pledge allegiance to the underworld, one nation under dog..." were taken from the American Pledge of Allegiance but "twisted upside down a bit."

Music video

The music video was released in September 2000 and directed by Evan Bernard (who also directed the "Nice Guys Finish Last" video). It shows the band on a parade float, playing their instruments in the middle of San Diego (specifically Broadway) followed by a very reduced number of people. There are also computer-generated balloons made to look like each individual member. In the end they destroy the float (this is typical of a Green Day music video: destruction of instruments, props and buildings can also be seen in a number of their other videos, including "Walking Contradiction", "Basket Case", "Longview", "Hitchin' a Ride". The video was released uncut on International Supervideos!. It was filmed in downtown San Diego. When he first sings the phrase "Fuck 'em all," Billie Joe can be seen giving the middle finger to the buildings to both the left and right. A rare behind the scenes video is on YouTube uploaded by user Thibaut78240 but the audio cuts out through almost the entire video.[5]

Other versions
  • A live version on Tune in, Tokyo.
  • Another live version on the CD/DVD Bullet in a Bible.
  • Another live version on the CD BBC Sessions (live).

Personnel

Charts
Weekly chart performance for "Minority"
Chart (2000–2001) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[6] 29
Ireland (IRMA)[7] 43
Italy (FIMI)[8] 19
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[9] 38
Scotland (OCC)[10] 15
UK Singles (OCC)[11] 18
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[12] 1
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[13] 33
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[14] 1
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[15] 15
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[16] 1

Certifications
Certifications for "Minority"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[17] Gold 100,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Hiatt, Brian (March 31, 2005). "Our favorite Green Day songs -- and yours?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  2. Rae, Harvey (April 30, 2017). "Green Day kick off Aussie arena tour". The West Australian. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  3. "Official Singles Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". Official Charts.
  4. "GDA | Song Meanings". Archived from the original on March 11, 2007.
  5. "Green Day Making Of Minority 2000". youtube.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13.
  6. "Green Day – Minority". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  7. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Green Day". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  8. "Green Day – Minority". Top Digital Download. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  9. "Green Day – Minority". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  10. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  11. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  12. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  13. "Green Day Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  14. "Green Day Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  15. "Green Day Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  16. "Green Day Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  17. "Japanese digital single certifications – Green Day – Minority" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved May 20, 2021. Select 2015年6月 on the drop-down menu
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