Kill the DJ
{{About|the Green Day song|the FEMM song|Femm-Isation}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Kill the DJ
| cover = Green Day - Kill the DJ cover.jpg
| alt = The cover depicts a white stereo radio-cassette recorder with two skulls in place of speakers, which are black in color with pink crosses across the their eyes. Above the stereo is the text "Green Day", written in green and is against the striped, blue-and-black background. "Kill the DJ" is written below the stereo in white text overlaying a dark background, which shows contrast between dark-pink and black shades.
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Green Day
| album = ¡Uno!
| released = {{Start date|2012|08|14}}
| recorded = February 14–June 26, 2012 at Jingletown Studios in Oakland, California
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Dance-punk
| length = {{duration|m=3|s=43}}
| label = {{hlist|Reprise|Warner Bros.}}
| writer = {{hlist|Mirwais Ahmadzaï|Billie Joe Armstrong|Mike Dirnt|Tré Cool}}
| producer = {{hlist|Rob Cavallo|Green Day}}
| prev_title = Oh Love
| prev_year = 2012
| next_title = Let Yourself Go
| next_year = 2012
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|jW7VhkNqjnc|"Kill the DJ"}}}}
}}
"Kill the DJ" is a song by American rock band Green Day. It is the fifth track on their ninth studio album ¡Uno! (2012), and was released as the second single, on August 14, 2012. It is also the second from the ¡Uno!, ¡Dos! & ¡Tré! trilogy. The song was recorded at Jingletown Studios from February 14 to June 26, 2012, and was released on the record labels Reprise Records and Warner Bros. A music video, directed by Samuel Bayer, was released on September 4, 2012.
The song takes influences from dance music, a departure for the band. "Kill the DJ" was compared to The Clash albums Sandinista! (1980) and Combat Rock (1982), as well as the output of the band the Rapture. "Kill the DJ" was based on "static and noise"; it was an "imagery of waterboarding and torture straight into the dance club". The song appeared on charts worldwide and received mixed reviews from critics.
Production and release
Green Day began to record material for the albums ¡Uno!, ¡Dos! and ¡Tré! on February 14, 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1679342/green-day-new-music-studio.jhtml|title=Green Day Start Recording New Album|work=MTV News|publisher=MTV Networks|first=James|last=Montgomery|date=February 15, 2012|access-date=June 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203162346/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1679342/green-day-new-music-studio.jhtml|archive-date=December 3, 2013|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} During the sessions, Mike Dirnt asked the frontman Billie Joe Armstrong to write a song with a "four-on-the-floor" rhythm.{{cite magazine|first=David|last=Fricke|title=Q&A: Billie Joe Armstrong on Green Day's Album Trilogy|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/q-a-billie-joe-armstrong-on-green-days-raw-punk-albums-20120620|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=June 21, 2012|date=June 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302022412/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/q-a-billie-joe-armstrong-on-green-days-raw-punk-albums-20120620|archive-date=March 2, 2013|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} After the release of "Oh Love", the lead single from the album trilogy on July 16, 2012,{{cite magazine|last=Maloy|first=Sarah|title=Green Day Debuts 'Oh Love' Single: Listen|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/481449/green-day-debuts-oh-love-single-listen|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=July 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529051058/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/481449/green-day-debuts-oh-love-single-listen|archive-date=May 29, 2013|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} the band revealed the artwork of "Kill the DJ" during a press release on July 30, 2012.{{cite web|title=Kill the DJ — Artwork|url=http://www.greenday.com/news/kill-dj-artwork-26751|work=Greenday.com|publisher=Green Day|access-date=July 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305160041/http://www.greenday.com/news/kill-dj-artwork-26751|archive-date=March 5, 2016|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} The band performed the song eight days ahead of its release at a secret show held at the Echoplex on August 6, 2012.{{cite magazine|title=Green Day Play New Songs at Surprise Gig|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/green-day-play-new-songs-at-surprise-gig-20120807|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=August 7, 2012 |access-date=September 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811000547/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/green-day-play-new-songs-at-surprise-gig-20120807|archive-date=August 11, 2012|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}
BBC Radio 1 presenter Zane Lowe played the censored version of "Kill the DJ" on August 13, 2012.{{cite web|last=Lowe|first=Zane|title=Hottest Record — Green Day — Kill The DJ|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/zanelowe/2012/08/hottest_record_-_green_day_-_k.html|publisher=BBC|access-date=September 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924162737/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/zanelowe/2012/08/hottest_record_-_green_day_-_k.html|archive-date=September 24, 2015|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} The next day, the single was made available on the iTunes Store.{{cite news|first=Adam|last=Bychawski|title=Green Day unveil new single 'Kill The DJ' – listen|url=http://www.nme.com/news/green-day/65497|work=NME|access-date=November 10, 2015|date=August 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306020708/http://www.nme.com/news/green-day/65497|archive-date=March 6, 2016|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} The song's accompanying music video premiered on YouTube on September 4, 2012, to coincide with the release of the album trilogy's third single "Let Yourself Go" on September 5.{{cite web|last=Grabert|first=Jessica|title=Green Day's New Track Let Yourself Go Drops A Few F-Bombs|url=http://www.cinemablend.com/pop/Green-Day-Track-Let-Yourself-Go-Drops-Few-F-Bombs-46611.html|work=cinemablend|date=September 6, 2012 |publisher=Pop blend|access-date=September 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927045108/http://www.cinemablend.com/pop/green-day-track-let-yourself-go-drops-few-f-bombs-46611.html|archive-date=September 27, 2012|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} A teaser was previously uploaded on the channel on August 29, 2012.{{cite news|title=Green Day release "Kill The DJ" video teaser|first=Michael|last=Bird|date=August 29, 2012|url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/green_day_release_kill_the_dj_video_teaser|work=Alternative Press|access-date=November 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304135249/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/green_day_release_kill_the_dj_video_teaser|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}
Theme and composition
{{Listen| filename = Green Day - Kill the DJ.ogg| title = "Kill the DJ"| description = The sample contains a guitar-based, dance-punk melody with repetition of lines which was described to be "spikier" musically and "barbed" lyrically than the predecessor "Oh Love"| pos = left}}
"Kill the DJ" is a dance-punk song that Armstrong states is close to "straight-up dance music" with a four-on-the-floor rhythm; he compared the overall production of the song to the Clash's 1980 album, Sandinista!, Ian Dury's "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll," and Tom Tom Club's "Genius of Love".{{cite web |last=Hogan |first=Marc |url=https://www.spin.com/2012/08/hear-green-days-dance-punk-kill-the-dj-in-spiky-studio-form/ |title=Hear Green Day's Dance-Punk 'Kill the DJ' in Spiky Studio Form |work=Spin |date=August 14, 2012 |access-date=August 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519035825/http://www.spin.com/2012/08/hear-green-days-dance-punk-kill-the-dj-in-spiky-studio-form/ |archive-date=May 19, 2015 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}
The band said that while producing the song, they attempted to find out "how to make dance music" without turning themselves into a dance act. Armstrong said it was the first time the band had written a dance song. Michael Roffman of Consequence of Sound compared the song with the works of the Rapture, and the Clash's 1982 album, Combat Rock; he said it was "strictly for basement dancefloors everywhere".{{cite web |url=https://consequence.net/2012/08/new-music-green-day-kill-the-dj/ |title=New Music: Green Day – "Kill The DJ" « Consequence of Sound |work=Consequence of Sound |date=August 13, 2012 |access-date=August 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830050354/https://consequence.net/2012/08/new-music-green-day-kill-the-dj/ |archive-date=August 30, 2012 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} According to Armstrong, the lyrics of "Kill the DJ" can be considered as "a sweeping political statement" rather than being interpreted as "a comment on electronic music figures".{{cite web|last=Hohnen|first=Mike|title=Listen: Green Day Release 2nd Single 'Kill The DJ'|url=http://musicfeeds.com.au/news/listen-green-day-release-2nd-single-kill-the-dj/|work=Musicfeeds.com.au|date=August 14, 2012|access-date=September 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816015825/http://musicfeeds.com.au/news/listen-green-day-release-2nd-single-kill-the-dj/|archive-date=August 16, 2012|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} He told Rolling Stone the song is about "static and noise ... Like this government cannot, will not, agree with itself. They refuse to make it work. Right, left—it doesn’t matter. It blows your mind and pisses you off. It’s a song about being drunk, going through this chaos, feeling fucked up and all you want to do is get more drunk".{{cite magazine|last=Rahman|first=Ray|title=Green Day crash a rave in their new 'Kill the DJ' video|url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2012/09/05/green-day-kill-the-dj-video/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=September 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908003140/http://music-mix.ew.com/2012/09/05/green-day-kill-the-dj-video/|archive-date=September 8, 2012|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} Dirnt was inspired to create a dance song in the vein of Blondie's "Heart of Glass", or a song from Michael Jackson's Off the Wall album.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1691756/green-day-kill-the-dj-blondie-michael-jackson/|title=Green Day Channel Blondie, Michael Jackson on 'Kill the DJ'|website=MTV|access-date=January 26, 2019|archive-date=January 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126221209/http://www.mtv.com/news/1691756/green-day-kill-the-dj-blondie-michael-jackson/|url-status=dead}}
Todd Martens of Los Angeles Times wrote that the word DJ in "Kill the DJ" does not signify a real DJ but another figure. He compared "Kill the DJ" to "The Static Age", a song on Green Day's album 21st Century Breakdown (2009), which was "a foaming-at-the-mouth guitar rant that everyone—pundits, politicians, celebrities—should stop babbling and shut up". He added, "[Kill the DJ] drops some cursory nods to war and religion in the opening bars, but soon brings the imagery of waterboarding and torture straight into the dance club".{{cite news|last=Martens|first=Todd|title=The problems with Green Day's 'Kill the DJ'|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-the-problems-with-green-days-kill-the-dj-20120904,0,5160209.story|access-date=September 9, 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=September 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908071429/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-the-problems-with-green-days-kill-the-dj-20120904,0,5160209.story|archive-date=September 8, 2012|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}
Music video
File:Samuel_Bayer_shot_by_John_Clark.jpg, the band's longtime collaborator, directed the music video.]]
The accompanying music video for "Kill the DJ" was directed by Green Day's longtime collaborator Samuel Bayer, who previously directed the clip for the band's previous single, "Oh Love", and all the videos for their album American Idiot (2004).{{cite magazine |author=Sarah Maloy |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/viral-videos/480407/green-day-parties-with-models-in-oh-love-video-watch |title=Green Day Parties With Models in 'Oh Love' Video: Watch — Viral Videos |magazine=Billboard |date=August 16, 2012 |access-date=August 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130205025321/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/viral-videos/480407/green-day-parties-with-models-in-oh-love-video-watch |archive-date=February 5, 2013 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }} The band announced the release of the clip with a teaser video which was uploaded to their YouTube channel on August 29, 2012.{{cite web|title=COMING SOON: GREEN DAY'S "KILL THE DJ" MUSIC VIDEO|url=http://www.thewarnersound.com/blog/coming-soon-green-days-kill-dj-music-video|work=The Warner Sound|access-date=January 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427070725/http://www.thewarnersound.com/blog/coming-soon-green-days-kill-dj-music-video|archive-date=April 27, 2014|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} The teaser video featured several scenes from the video and a brief sample of the ending of the track. The full video premiered on September 4, 2012. The video starts with a black-and-white clip of the band riding motorcycles through a desert and finding their way into a nightclub. The band members walk through the club while others dance. As they perform in the club, two young women fight and some bottles are broken. Near the end, several dancers have a "bloodbath"; they are depicted with blood on their faces and clothes while they continue to dance.{{cite magazine|title=Green Day Have Bloody Fun in 'Kill the DJ'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/green-day-has-bloody-fun-in-kill-the-dj-20120904|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=September 4, 2012|access-date=September 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908063754/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/green-day-has-bloody-fun-in-kill-the-dj-20120904|archive-date=September 8, 2012|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}
Critical reception
"Kill the DJ" was included in Zane Lowe's Hottest Tracks of 2012; it finished second, while "Calling (Lose My Mind)" by Sebastian Ingrosso and Alesso came first.{{cite web|title=Green Day, Muse and Foals included in Zane Lowe's Hottest Tracks Of 2012 poll|url=http://www.nme.com/news/green-day/67868|work=NME|access-date=January 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121225025304/http://www.nme.com/news/green-day/67868|archive-date=December 25, 2012|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} Jack Brad, writing for Hive Magazine, said the song was a "fun and funky" track showcasing a different musical direction for the band. He also said it encompassed a "catchy melody and ... infectious chorus" that proves the band was capable of experimenting with new musical styles on every new production, citing Warning (2000) and Nimrod (1997) as examples.{{cite web |last=Jack |first=Brad |url=http://www.hivemag.com/green-day-kill-the-d-j-single-review/ |title=Green Day 'Kill The D.J.' Single Review |work=Hive Magazine |access-date=August 27, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230233215/http://www.hivemag.com/green-day-kill-the-d-j-single-review/ |archive-date=December 30, 2013 |df=mdy-all }} David Renshaw from Gigwise said "Kill the DJ"'s music video was not as violent as previous clips by the band; he said, "those who attended the band's brilliant Reading Festival set in August will testify" that things can get more violent than scenes in the video.{{cite web|last=Renshaw|first=David|title=Green Day Cause Cat Fight, Ride Bikes in 'Kill the DJ' Video|url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/76025/green-day-cause-cat-fight-ride-bikes-in-kill-the-dj-video|work=Gigwise|access-date=September 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915105609/http://www.gigwise.com/news/76025/green-day-cause-cat-fight-ride-bikes-in-kill-the-dj-video|archive-date=September 15, 2012|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}
David Greenwald of Billboard magazine described "Kill the DJ" as a "profanity-laced and Clash-channeling" track.{{cite magazine|last=Greenwald|first=David|title=Green Day Hit the Road & the Club in 'Kill the DJ' Video: Watch|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/475281/green-day-hit-the-road-the-club-in-kill-the-dj-video-watch|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528045653/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/475281/green-day-hit-the-road-the-club-in-kill-the-dj-video-watch|archive-date=May 28, 2013|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} Zara Golden of VH1 said of the video, "The hit is only a symbolic one, though, and the only real violence to be had here is a slaying guitar riff. Rather, this is an assault against the dubbed-out sound that seems to be dominating today’s air waves, Green Day’s own and only pretend bloody dubstep demolition."{{cite web|last=Golden|first=Zara|title=There Will Be Blood In Green Day's "Kill The DJ" Video|url=http://www.vh1.com/music/tuner/2012-09-04/there-will-be-blood-in-green-days-kill-the-dj-video/|work=VH1|access-date=September 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015163526/http://www.vh1.com/music/tuner/2012-09-04/there-will-be-blood-in-green-days-kill-the-dj-video/|archive-date=October 15, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} Todd Martens of Los Angeles Times, criticizing the single, said, "It's all played rather straight. 'I'll pick up what's left in the club,' Armstrong sings suspiciously, and the video released Tuesday doesn't do much to present the song as a statement". Alex Young, writing for Consequence of Sound said the opening clips of the band driving motorbikes were irrelevant. Young said, "There’s also a random scene of the band riding dirt bikes through the desert, which doesn't really make sense in the context of the video but seems like a good way to spend an excess video budget".{{cite web|last=Young|first=Alex|title=Video: Green Day – "Kill the DJ"|url=https://consequence.net/2012/09/video-green-day-kill-the-dj/|work=Consequence of Sound|date=September 3, 2012|access-date=September 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908152443/https://consequence.net/2012/09/video-green-day-kill-the-dj/|archive-date=September 8, 2012|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}
Credits and Personnel
- Songwriting: Mirwais Ahmadzaï, Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, Tré Cool
- Production: Rob Cavallo, Green Day
Chart positions
Track listing
- Digital download{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/album/foreverly/728775523 |title=Foreverly by Billie Joe + Norah |publisher=iTunes |access-date=October 24, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109100239/https://itunes.apple.com/album/foreverly/id728775523 |archive-date=November 9, 2013 }}
- "Kill The DJ" (Explicit) (3:41)
- Promotional CD
- "Kill The DJ" (Edit) (3:44)
- "Kill The DJ" (Album Version) (3:43)
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{YouTube|jW7VhkNqjnc|"Kill the DJ"}}
{{Green Day}}{{Green Day songs}}{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Billie Joe Armstrong
Category:Songs written by Mike Dirnt
Category:Songs written by Tré Cool
Category:Songs written by Jason White (musician)
Category:Music videos directed by Samuel Bayer