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Basket Case (song)

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This article is about the Green Day song. For other songs of the same name, seeBasket Case § Music.

"Basket Case"
One of artworks used for commercial overseas releases
SinglebyGreen Day
from the albumDookie
ReleasedAugust 1, 1994(1994-08-01)
RecordedSeptember–October 1993
StudioFantasy(Berkeley, California)
Genre
Length3:01
LabelReprise
Composer(s)Green Day
Lyricist(s)Billie Joe Armstrong
Producer(s)
Green Daysingles chronology
"Longview"
(1994) 		"Basket Case"
(1994) 		"Welcome to Paradise"
(1994)
Music video
"Basket Case"onYouTube

"Basket Case"is a song byrockbandGreen Day,released on August 1, 1994 byReprise Recordsas the second single from the band's third studio album,Dookie(1994). The song spent five weeks at the top of the USBillboardAlternative Songschart and garnered aGrammy Awardnomination in the category forBest Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.[1]Its music video was directed by Mark Kohr and filmed in an abandoned mental institution inCalifornia.In 2001, the song appeared on their greatest hits albumInternational Superhits!.In 2021, "Basket Case" was ranked number 150 inRolling Stone's updated list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".[2]As of March 2024, "Basket Case" is the most streamed song by the band onSpotify(exempting remixes and alternate versions), with over 1 billion streams.

Origin and recording

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Green Day vocalist/guitaristBillie Joe Armstrongsaid "Basket Case" is about his struggle withanxiety;before he was diagnosed with apanic disorderyears afterward, he thought he was going crazy. Armstrong commented that at the time, "The only way I could know what the hell was going on was to write a song about it."[3]

"Basket Case" was one of the songs producerRob Cavalloheard when he received Green Day's demo tape. He ended up signing the band toReprise Recordsin mid-1993.[4]Green Day and Cavallo recorded the version of "Basket Case" released on the trio's major label debutDookiebetween September and October 1993 atFantasy StudiosinBerkeley, California.[5]

In April 2021, Armstrong revealed in his bookWelcome to My Panicthat he wrote the song whilst onspeedand that it was written in Glasgow, Scotland[1].[6]

Composition

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"Basket Case"
A 27-second sample of "Basket Case"
Problems playing this file? Seemedia help.

"Basket Case", is apunk rock[7][8][9][10][11][12][13]andpop-punksong,[14][15][16][17][18][19]performed in the key of E-flat.[5]The introductory verse features only Armstrong and his guitar. Towards the end of the first chorus, the rest of the band joins in, withTré Cooladding fast tom fills and explosive transitions andMike Dirntadding a bass line that is reminiscent of the vocal melody. In the second verse, "Basket Case" references soliciting a maleprostitute;Armstrong noted that "I wanted to challenge myself and whoever the listener might be. It's also looking at the world and saying, 'It's not as black and white as you think. This isn't your grandfather's prostitute – or maybe it was.'"[20]The song's chord progression closely mirrors that ofPachelbel's Canon.[21]

Release and reception

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"Basket Case" was the second single released fromDookie,following "Longview".It peaked at number one on theBillboardModern Rock Trackschart, a position it maintained for five weeks.[5]In 1995, the song garnered aGrammy Awardnomination in theBest Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Groupcategory.[22]

In his weekly UK chart commentary,James Mastertonwrote, "Something of an instant classic [...] it is certainly one of the most alternative Top 10 smash sinceRadiohead's "Creep".As to where it goes next it is hard to tell but it could potentially open the door for a flood of the post-Nirvanayoung American rock bands who are currently making waves on the other side of the Atlantic. "[23]Andrew MuellerfromMelody Makercommented, "Green Day themselves are an enthusiastically rockin' kind of act who've learnt a neat trick or two fromThe BuzzcocksandThe Ramonesand are the sort of band I'm regrettably likely to think are the future ofrock'n'rollif I've drunk enough to stun an ox. "[24]A reviewer fromMusic Weekgave the song three out of five, describing it as "the Generation X-flag-wavers' splenetic slice ofBay Areapunk".[25]John Mulvey fromNMEwrote, "Long-time heroes of the USskatepunkscene. Green Day areThese Animal Menwithout the crap Brit-mod trappings and with slightly better songs. Bouncy, a bit fraggly and a bit annoying, but there are worse things in the world. Like 'Speed King', for starters. "[26]Upon the re-release, anotherNMEeditor,Andy Richardson,praised it as "an irresistible punk snort, a ripping three-minute blast or the ultimate good mood record to play before you go out, depending which way you look at it."[27]Paul Evans fromRolling Stonedeclared it as a "rave-up", noting that Green Day's lyrics "score graffiti hits".[28]Charles AaronfromSpinranked "Basket Case" number 19 in his list of the "Top 20 Singles of the Year" in December 1994.[29]Troy J. Augusto fromVarietycalled it "psycho-rave".[30]

Music video

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The accompanying music video for "Basket Case" was directed by Mark Kohr.[31]It was filmed in an actual mental institution calledAgnews Developmental CenterinSanta Clara County, California,at the request of the band members. The mental institution had been abandoned, but most of the structure remained in a broken-down state. The band members found old patient files, deep scratches in the walls and dental molds scattered around.[32]The video frequently references the filmsOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's NestandBrazil.The video was originally filmed in monochrome with the colors painstakingly added in later, hence the over-saturated, surreal look.[33]

The video was nominated for nineMTV Video Music Awardsin 1995: Video of the Year, Best Group Video, Best Metal/Hard Rock Video, Best Alternative Video, Breakthrough Video, Best Direction, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, and Viewer's Choice Award. The video did not win in any of the categories it was nominated for.[34]

The video for "Basket Case" was later published on Green Day's officialYouTubechannel in October 2009. It has amassed more than 339 million views as of January 2024. In February 2024, the video was remastered in 4K.[35]

Impact and legacy

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In 2006, onMike DaviesandZane Lowe's Lock Up Special onBBC Radio 1,the listeners voted "Basket Case" the Greatest Punk Song of All Time.[36]In 2009, it was named the 33rd best hard rock song of all time byVH1.[37]In 2021,Kerrangranked the song number three on their list of the 20 greatest Green Day songs,[38]while it was ranked number 150 inRolling Stone's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time"that same year.[2]In 2022,American Songwriterranked "Basket Case" number two on their list of the 10 greatest Green Day songs.[39]As of February 2024, it is the most streamed song by the band onSpotify(exempting remixes and alternate versions), with over 1 billion streams.

[edit]

"Weird Al" Yankovicfeatured "Basket Case" in his 1996polka medley"The Alternative Polka"fromBad Hair Day.[40]

In August 2017, the English bandBastillereleased a version of the song for thePeter SerafinowiczseriesThe Tick.[41]Unfortunately, the song was never used in the show.

The song has also been covered and released as a promotional single byAvril Lavigne,who performed the song during her first headlining tour, the Try to Shut Me Up Tour.[42]

In 2024, It was added toFortniteinFortnite Festivalas a jam track alongside "Welcome to Paradise"and"When I Come Around".

The song was featured in the video gameBMX XXX.It is also set to be featured in the upcoming dance rhythm gameJust Dance 2025 Edition.

Track listings

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Credits and personnel

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Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[72] 6× Platinum 480,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[73] Gold 45,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[74] 2× Platinum 200,000‡
Japan (RIAJ)[75] Gold 100,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[76] 2× Platinum 1,200,000‡

*Sales figures based on certification alone.
‡Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States 1994 Radio Reprise
United Kingdom August 1, 1994
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [77]
United Kingdom (re-release) January 16, 1995 [78]
Japan June 25, 1995 CD [79]

References

[edit]
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