English
For the English aspect of my project, I analyzed 4 documentaries on pop punk bands such as Green Day, All Time Low, My Chemical Romance, and 5 Seconds of Summer. After watching each documentary, I wrote three paragraphs about that said film and elaborated and summarized what I had watched. In these paragraphs I also explained the recurring motifs that kept coming up in the films and the music videos.
Pop Punk Documentary Analyses
All Time Low - Straight to DVD Pt. 1
This film shows how life on tour truly is at such a young age. Since there were teenage boys on the road on a small tour bus, there was a lot of joking around, nudity, and partying. During the filming of this movie, All Time Low grew up and matured over the years. In the early years, the parents of each band member went on tour with them; they feared that the boys would get themselves into too much trouble and drama. However, the parents tried their best to stay out of the way, and let them pursue their dreams - even though they didn’t fully approve that their sons wanted to be rock stars instead of going to college.
In this film, one of the most significant parts was when they mentioned how the fans have impacted them. The fans of All Time Low are the reason they were discovered in the first place, without the fans there would be no All Time Low. To give back, the band has a fan club called the “Hustlers.” In the “Hustlers,” they receive meet and greet tickets, discounts, exclusive merchandise, etc. The most important concept from the film was the importance of family and friends. During their tours, they wouldn’t always be home during holidays so they created their own Thanksgiving with the crew and band members. It was very heartwarming to see the crew and the band be so caring towards one another, treating each other as if they were actually a family.
The music videos All Time Low has released are mostly comical and lighthearted. For example, in their music video, “Weightless” they try to show their perspectives on people in the crowd, and crew members just to make fun of the idea of labels. In another music video called, “I Feel Like Dancin” they make fun of other artists being sellouts, and being original. This music video to me would be the most original video about being unoriginal. However, with their newest album, “Last Young Renegade,” the recurring motif is neon lights. In each recent All Time Low video, they use imagery to tell a story and that really shows how much they have grown up and how much they have grown as artists.
My Chemical Romance - MCR Life On The Murder Scene
This documentary depicts My Chemical Romance as a band that started out in New Jersey with a man named Gerard Way. Gerard Way was a college graduate who had been on his way to a comic book convention on a ferry in New York. On his way to the convention, Gerard witnessed the tragic terrorist attack on 9/11 firsthand. From that day on, Gerard wanted to do what made him happy with his life and what made him happy was, making music.
In the film it mentions that when My Chemical Romance got together, they wanted to help as many people as they could, so they wrote songs about struggle, teen angst, death, and depression. Gerard Way shared his personal experiences with these topics through his lyrics. Gerard sang about his drug and alcohol addiction, as well as the death of his grandmother, his depression, and even his suicidal thoughts. During the making and release of this album, Gerard was an alcoholic, addicted to Xanax, and was doing cocaine. He believed that his music and band are what saved his life. He said he became another person as a whole. This band is about redemption, and it is an escape for those going through rough times.
In most of their music videos, it has the recurring motif of death and darkness. For example, in the music video “The Ghost of You” the setting takes place during World War II, and on the beach of Normandy. They were trying to prove that violence and war wasn’t the answer. In another music video called, “Helena (So Long And Goodnight)” the plot takes place in a funeral. This song was inspired by the death of Gerard and Mikey Way’s grandmother. Overall, My Chemical Romance’s music has a dark undertone that relates to how teenagers feel.
Green Day - Heart Like a Hand Grenade
This film showed the amount of time and effort that was put into the “American Idiot’” album, and it was astounding to watch all of the creativity and art. Green Day put their all into the “American Idiot” album, they used past experiences and made them into a masterpiece that won the Grammy award for best rock album in 2005. When they finished the album, Billie Joe Armstrong even cried from how personally attached he was to the album and its songs.
The songs on this album all have a different meaning, but the album has a constant theme and tone of rebellion. For example, in the song, “American Idiot” the lyrics specifically state, “Don't want a nation under the new media. And can you hear the sound of hysteria? The subliminal mind-f*** America.” These lyrics represent their view on America, and how corrupt the media is. In the song , “Holiday” they also mention how corrupt the government is, and how everyone should just rebel. “Sieg Heil to the president gasman Bombs away is your punishment Pulverize the Eiffel towers Who criticize your government Bang bang goes the broken glass and
Kill all the f**s that don't agree Trials by fire setting fire Is not a way that's meant for me Just cause Just cause Because we're outlaws yeah!”
In the music videos, they each have different moods. For example, in the “American Idiot” music video, they have an American flag behind them while they are playing the music, while acting rebellious by splashing green slime all over the music equipment and the American flag. In another music video called, “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” there is a setting of a ghost town filled with despair and sadness (just like the lyrics). All in all, Green Day’s music has a very political, and rebellious undertone to them.
5 Seconds of Summer - How Did We End Up Here
In the film, “How Did We End Up Here” there are many important aspects that made it so well made. One of these aspects is accepting who you are. Growing up, each band member had their own struggle, whether it was fitting in, a broken home, or even having trouble discovering their voice. This band was an escape from their small town, and a way out of a normal life.
Michael Clifford -the lead guitarist- barely went to school, and had trouble fitting in, he considered himself a reject and an outcast. Michael learned to embrace his individuality and be himself with his best friends. Luke Hemmings -the lead singer- also considered himself an outcast; for he was extremely shy and awkward therefor he didn’t have many friends besides his band members. Calum Hood -the bassist- was a shy boy who could have gone professional with football, (soccer in Australia) but decided to take a chance and join a band. Lastly, Ashton Irwin -the drummer- had to grow up quickly, his father walked out on his family at just 2 years old. Ashton had to take care of his siblings, and manage school at the same time. All he wanted was a way out, a way to make people’s lives better and happier. Ashton acts like a child on stage because he never got to experience a normal childhood.
The 5 Seconds of Summer songs each have a story behind them. For example, the song, “Broken Home” is about what Ashton had to adapt to in his childhood, without his father there. “I'm here alone inside of this broken home Who's right, who's wrong, who really cares? The fault, the blame, the pain's still there, I'm here alone inside of this broken home, this broken home” These lyrics show that Ashton had a very hard time both emotionally, and mentally. Another song that has a story is, “Social Casualty.” This song’s story is about taking chances with your career and learning to accept yourself for who you are. “So save me from who I'm supposed to be. Don't wanna be a victim of authority I'll always be a part of the minority, save me from who I'm supposed to be. So tell me, tell me, tell me what you want from me, I don't wanna be another social casualty. Just a girl turned eighteen She ran away to chase her dreams. And they said she wouldn't make it far. (Wouldn't make it far) She took a chance and packed her bags, she left town and didn't look back. So tired of wishing on the stars.” These lyrics are extremely relatable because it is very hard to accept yourself, and take big risks that involve your future, or career. In conclusion, 5 Seconds of Summer is a very inspirational and relatable band due to their young ages, and their stories/struggles.
This film shows how life on tour truly is at such a young age. Since there were teenage boys on the road on a small tour bus, there was a lot of joking around, nudity, and partying. During the filming of this movie, All Time Low grew up and matured over the years. In the early years, the parents of each band member went on tour with them; they feared that the boys would get themselves into too much trouble and drama. However, the parents tried their best to stay out of the way, and let them pursue their dreams - even though they didn’t fully approve that their sons wanted to be rock stars instead of going to college.
In this film, one of the most significant parts was when they mentioned how the fans have impacted them. The fans of All Time Low are the reason they were discovered in the first place, without the fans there would be no All Time Low. To give back, the band has a fan club called the “Hustlers.” In the “Hustlers,” they receive meet and greet tickets, discounts, exclusive merchandise, etc. The most important concept from the film was the importance of family and friends. During their tours, they wouldn’t always be home during holidays so they created their own Thanksgiving with the crew and band members. It was very heartwarming to see the crew and the band be so caring towards one another, treating each other as if they were actually a family.
The music videos All Time Low has released are mostly comical and lighthearted. For example, in their music video, “Weightless” they try to show their perspectives on people in the crowd, and crew members just to make fun of the idea of labels. In another music video called, “I Feel Like Dancin” they make fun of other artists being sellouts, and being original. This music video to me would be the most original video about being unoriginal. However, with their newest album, “Last Young Renegade,” the recurring motif is neon lights. In each recent All Time Low video, they use imagery to tell a story and that really shows how much they have grown up and how much they have grown as artists.
My Chemical Romance - MCR Life On The Murder Scene
This documentary depicts My Chemical Romance as a band that started out in New Jersey with a man named Gerard Way. Gerard Way was a college graduate who had been on his way to a comic book convention on a ferry in New York. On his way to the convention, Gerard witnessed the tragic terrorist attack on 9/11 firsthand. From that day on, Gerard wanted to do what made him happy with his life and what made him happy was, making music.
In the film it mentions that when My Chemical Romance got together, they wanted to help as many people as they could, so they wrote songs about struggle, teen angst, death, and depression. Gerard Way shared his personal experiences with these topics through his lyrics. Gerard sang about his drug and alcohol addiction, as well as the death of his grandmother, his depression, and even his suicidal thoughts. During the making and release of this album, Gerard was an alcoholic, addicted to Xanax, and was doing cocaine. He believed that his music and band are what saved his life. He said he became another person as a whole. This band is about redemption, and it is an escape for those going through rough times.
In most of their music videos, it has the recurring motif of death and darkness. For example, in the music video “The Ghost of You” the setting takes place during World War II, and on the beach of Normandy. They were trying to prove that violence and war wasn’t the answer. In another music video called, “Helena (So Long And Goodnight)” the plot takes place in a funeral. This song was inspired by the death of Gerard and Mikey Way’s grandmother. Overall, My Chemical Romance’s music has a dark undertone that relates to how teenagers feel.
Green Day - Heart Like a Hand Grenade
This film showed the amount of time and effort that was put into the “American Idiot’” album, and it was astounding to watch all of the creativity and art. Green Day put their all into the “American Idiot” album, they used past experiences and made them into a masterpiece that won the Grammy award for best rock album in 2005. When they finished the album, Billie Joe Armstrong even cried from how personally attached he was to the album and its songs.
The songs on this album all have a different meaning, but the album has a constant theme and tone of rebellion. For example, in the song, “American Idiot” the lyrics specifically state, “Don't want a nation under the new media. And can you hear the sound of hysteria? The subliminal mind-f*** America.” These lyrics represent their view on America, and how corrupt the media is. In the song , “Holiday” they also mention how corrupt the government is, and how everyone should just rebel. “Sieg Heil to the president gasman Bombs away is your punishment Pulverize the Eiffel towers Who criticize your government Bang bang goes the broken glass and
Kill all the f**s that don't agree Trials by fire setting fire Is not a way that's meant for me Just cause Just cause Because we're outlaws yeah!”
In the music videos, they each have different moods. For example, in the “American Idiot” music video, they have an American flag behind them while they are playing the music, while acting rebellious by splashing green slime all over the music equipment and the American flag. In another music video called, “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” there is a setting of a ghost town filled with despair and sadness (just like the lyrics). All in all, Green Day’s music has a very political, and rebellious undertone to them.
5 Seconds of Summer - How Did We End Up Here
In the film, “How Did We End Up Here” there are many important aspects that made it so well made. One of these aspects is accepting who you are. Growing up, each band member had their own struggle, whether it was fitting in, a broken home, or even having trouble discovering their voice. This band was an escape from their small town, and a way out of a normal life.
Michael Clifford -the lead guitarist- barely went to school, and had trouble fitting in, he considered himself a reject and an outcast. Michael learned to embrace his individuality and be himself with his best friends. Luke Hemmings -the lead singer- also considered himself an outcast; for he was extremely shy and awkward therefor he didn’t have many friends besides his band members. Calum Hood -the bassist- was a shy boy who could have gone professional with football, (soccer in Australia) but decided to take a chance and join a band. Lastly, Ashton Irwin -the drummer- had to grow up quickly, his father walked out on his family at just 2 years old. Ashton had to take care of his siblings, and manage school at the same time. All he wanted was a way out, a way to make people’s lives better and happier. Ashton acts like a child on stage because he never got to experience a normal childhood.
The 5 Seconds of Summer songs each have a story behind them. For example, the song, “Broken Home” is about what Ashton had to adapt to in his childhood, without his father there. “I'm here alone inside of this broken home Who's right, who's wrong, who really cares? The fault, the blame, the pain's still there, I'm here alone inside of this broken home, this broken home” These lyrics show that Ashton had a very hard time both emotionally, and mentally. Another song that has a story is, “Social Casualty.” This song’s story is about taking chances with your career and learning to accept yourself for who you are. “So save me from who I'm supposed to be. Don't wanna be a victim of authority I'll always be a part of the minority, save me from who I'm supposed to be. So tell me, tell me, tell me what you want from me, I don't wanna be another social casualty. Just a girl turned eighteen She ran away to chase her dreams. And they said she wouldn't make it far. (Wouldn't make it far) She took a chance and packed her bags, she left town and didn't look back. So tired of wishing on the stars.” These lyrics are extremely relatable because it is very hard to accept yourself, and take big risks that involve your future, or career. In conclusion, 5 Seconds of Summer is a very inspirational and relatable band due to their young ages, and their stories/struggles.
Art
For the artistic aspect of my project I created a skateboard design that had multiple symbols that represent Punk music. That being, a rose, spiked bracelets, the rock 'n' roll hand sign, a guitar, a coffin, and a safety pin, along with a banner below that stated, "DEFEND POP PUNK". In the process of creating this design, I faced many difficult hardships in order to transfer the design I created onto the skateboard. However, I got through those conflicts and finished my skateboard. To add to the punk aspect, I used a lot of darker colors such as maroon, and black for the paint job, the trucks/wheels, and the grip tape.
Social Studies
As for my Social Studies aspect for my project, I created a large mind map on the topics of Punk music and the historical events that were occurring during that time. After connecting the historical events to the music, I created 4 main ideas of Teen Angst, Mental Health, Death, and Politics. These 4 main ideas connect to the events in both historical and musical in several different ways. To sum up the information, I created 4 small conclusions along with an overall conclusion.