Billie Joe Armstrong Flips Tasteless September Jokes into Push to Vote | KSAN-FM
×

Billie Joe Armstrong Flips Tasteless September Jokes into Push to Vote

Sep 2, 2020 | 2:35 PM

Kevin Winter via Getty Images

Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong has flipped a typically tough time of year for himself into a rally call for the American people to go out and vote.

September can be melancholic time for many as it signals the end of summer and ushers in colder weather. For Green Day fans, the rock anthem Wake Me Up When September Ends perfectly embodies this visceral feeling, but diehards know the true meaning of the song and are quick to defend it against parody.
The song, released on their 2005 six times platinum record American Idiot, is about Armstrong losing his father to esophageal cancer when he was 10 years old. The title, and chorus, of the song comes from his actual response the moment he learned of his fathers death.

“I think it’s something that just stayed with me; the month of September being that anniversary that always is just, I don’t know, kind of a bummer,” Armstrong told Howard Stern in a 2019 interview. “But it’s weird. When things happen like that when you’re that young, it’s almost like life starts at year zero, or something like that.”

Fans who are aware of the significance of the line have, for years, taken to defending Billie Joe on social media as the annual wave of jokers come out of the woodwork.

However, this year Armstrong has flipped September memes into a call to vote Trump out of office in the upcoming November 3rd election.

“It’s September 1st 2020 and I am WIDE AWAKE IN AMERICA.” Armstrong said in an Instagram post. “As the song goes ‘wake me up when September ends’. I plead to everyone to WAKE UP AND REGISTER TO VOTE.
I am whole heartedly backing JOE BIDEN FOR PRESIDENT. KAMALA HARRIS FOR VICE PRESIDENT.”

“TRUMP HAS GOT TO GO. America cannot afford another 4 years of Trump in office. Our democracy is at stake. Our earth is at stake,” he continued. “We need health care for all. We need justice. We need peace. We need police reform. If you are 18 and over PLEASE register to vote!! This is urgent. This is a national emergency. We must be WIDE AWAKE FROM SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER 3rd!!!”

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CEm6dY5l234/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Now Playing
KSAN-FM
On Air Now
KSAN-FM
San Francisco, CA, USA
40 °F Clear

Last 5 Played

More