ROUND 1: RECORD RACE
GREEN DAY: Green Day made its mark in 1990 when the artists released their first album originally titled 39/Smooth and ever since it’s been just as smooth sailing to the top. Eight albums and a “Superhits” LP later and we’re still seeing green.
SIMPLE PLAN: Meanwhile, Simple Plan has delivered two records to date: No Pads, No Helmets…Just Balls, and Still Not Getting Any. However, I can’t see why the band is complaining when we are the ones who aren’t getting any!
Green Day jumped “On the Wagon” sooner than SP. Green Day scores!
SCORE: GREEN DAY – 1
SIMPLE PLAN – 0
ROUND 2: GRAMMY GRADE
GREEN DAY: Billie Joe, Mike Dirnt, and Tre Cool are no strangers to the Grammy Awards, indisputably the most prestigious music honour. Green Day has won two; one for Best Alternative Music Performance (Dookie), the other for Best Rock Album (American Idiot).
SIMPLE PLAN: This Montreal-based band has yet to be nominated, far less win a Grammy. A Juno wouldn’t be half-bad, but they haven’t won one of them yet either. Green Day won a Juno for International Rock Album of the Year and they’re not even Canadian!
Simple Plan is having its “Worst Day Ever”. Green Day wins round 2!
SCORE: GREEN DAY – 2
SIMPLE PLAN – 0
ROUND 3: POP ROCKS
GREEN DAY: GD knows exactly what makes a hit and the band is unafraid to showcase it. They exploded onto the California punk scene and have remained loyal to their punk-rock-pop style.
SIMPLE PLAN: Pierre, Chuck, David, Sebastien, and Jeff have been criticized from the off for their punk image, but undeniably pop-infused tracks. Their response: “We just wanted to write good songs.” Why limit yourself to only one style of music?
Green Day went on a “Holiday” in round 3. Simple Plan fights back!
SCORE: GREEN DAY – 2
SIMPLE PLAN – 1
ROUND 4: SINGLE SUCCESS
GREEN DAY: Although “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” is technically Green Day’s biggest single to date, “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” comes in at number two. Simply put, you don’t have to like Green Day to love “Time of Your Life”.
SIMPLE PLAN: Simple Plan’s top EP, “Perfect”, is a good song although it doesn’t quite live up to its title. Admittedly, the more-pop-than-punk ballad is some of their better work. “Almost Perfect”, more like.
Sadly, Simple Plan loses yet another round. “Good Riddance”.
SCORE: GREEN DAY – 3
SIMPLE PLAN – 1
ROUND 5: RECENT RELEASE
GREEN DAY: Both Green Day and Simple Plan released a new album in 2004. American Idiot is GD’s take on life in America, a political rock opera that is altogether brilliant. It has gone 3x platinum.
SIMPLE PLAN: Still Not Getting Any is SP’s platinum second album featuring a taste of the school rock, anthem-style tunes that first made SP popular on their first record. Plus, we hear a softer side of the band with a more polished edge than before in “Untitled (How Could This Happen To Me?)”.
Green Day’s latest release has sold three times as many CDs as Simple Plan’s. The fans have spoken.
SCORE: GREEN DAY – 4
SIMPLE PLAN – 1
ROUND UP: Unfortunately for Simple Plan, we don’t live in a “Perfect World”. With a loyal cult-like following and a true originality about it, Green Day isn’t just a bunch of American Idiots. It’s not that there’s no comparison, but rather no contest and that’s because Green Day just plain rocks.
Web Links:
www.greenday.com
www.simpleplan.com