Walking Contradiction
Encyclopedia
"Walking Contradiction" is a song by American punk rock
band Green Day
. It was released as the fourth and final single from their fourth album Insomniac. The song reached number 21 on the Modern Rock Tracks in August 1996.
Walking Contradiction also bears a resemblance to "Do It Again" by The Kinks
.
. Much of it was filmed in San Pedro
, CA. The main theme of the video was the line from the song "I'm a smart ass but I'm playing dumb". Therefore, the video features the three members of Green Day going about in a town casually causing accidents, explosions, and all kinds of mayhem and acting like they're completely unaware of their actions. It remains one of the most popular Green Day videos.
The members all did their own stunts, although at first, Billie Joe Armstrong
refused to do the stunt work required for it. He was about to pull out until Tré Cool
talked him into it.
The song's music video is one of few music videos to have colored closed captioning, a practice that is rare in North America. The captioning appears on most modern televisions as green.
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
. It was released as the fourth and final single from their fourth album Insomniac. The song reached number 21 on the Modern Rock Tracks in August 1996.
Walking Contradiction also bears a resemblance to "Do It Again" by The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
.
Music video
The video was directed by Roman CoppolaRoman Coppola
Roman Coppola is an American film director and music video director.-Early life:Coppola was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, the son of set decorator/artist Eleanor Coppola and Francis Ford Coppola. Coppola was born in the American Hospital in Neuilly-sur-Seine while his father was in Paris...
. Much of it was filmed in San Pedro
San Pedro, Los Angeles, California
San Pedro is a port district of the city of Los Angeles, California, United States. It was annexed in 1909 and is a major seaport of the area...
, CA. The main theme of the video was the line from the song "I'm a smart ass but I'm playing dumb". Therefore, the video features the three members of Green Day going about in a town casually causing accidents, explosions, and all kinds of mayhem and acting like they're completely unaware of their actions. It remains one of the most popular Green Day videos.
- Armstrong throws a stick into the spokes of a man's bike, causing him to crash. Moments later, a car runs over the bike.
- Cool makes a bread truck roll into some parked cars and a moving car.
- Dirnt presses a pedestrian crossing sign that says "Out of order, do not use!" and electrocutes an electrician (mere seconds after exchanging pleasantries with him).
- Armstrong takes a newspaper from a newspaper stand, which causes the whole stand to collapse.
- Armstrong walks into traffic (due to the malfunctioning traffic signals triggered by Mike's previously-mentioned pedestrian crossing button) causing cars to swerve to avoid him and crash.
- While looking into a mirror which fell off one of the cars (which is the same one that ran over the aforementioned bike), Billie Joe blinds a man lifting a piano.
- The man drops the piano, narrowly missing Tré.
- The truck from earlier on crashes into a fire hydrant.
- A police car coming to the scene gets launched into the air after crashing into the stalled traffic. The car spins around in air as it rolls over.
- The band drives away in a Ford PintoFord PintoThe Ford Pinto is a subcompact car produced by the Ford Motor Company for the model years 1971–1980. The car's name derives from the Pinto horse. Initially offered as a two-door sedan, Ford offered "Runabout" hatchback and wagon models the following year, competing in the U.S. market with the AMC...
, which is notorious for bursting into flames upon a crash. When they pull away in the Pinto, a building in the background collapses, probably due to the car's exhaust fume.
The members all did their own stunts, although at first, Billie Joe Armstrong
Billie Joe Armstrong
Billie Joe Armstrong is an American rock musician and occasional actor, best known as the lead vocalist, main songwriter and lead guitarist for the American punk rock band Green Day...
refused to do the stunt work required for it. He was about to pull out until Tré Cool
Tre Cool
Frank Edwin Wright III, a.k.a. Tré Cool, is an American drummer, best known as the drummer for the punk rock band Green Day. He replaced the group's former drummer John Kiffmeyer in 1990...
talked him into it.
The song's music video is one of few music videos to have colored closed captioning, a practice that is rare in North America. The captioning appears on most modern televisions as green.