Starting off the album with a bang, “American Idiot” is a scathing takedown of American culture in the years following 9/11. Released as the first single from the album, it has since become one of Green Day’s biggest hits and most recognizable songs. The song heavily criticizes the state of the United States circa 2004 (during the presidential campaign in which George W. Bush was re-elected), with lines referencing the danger of the “new, biased media.” As the first and title track also works as an introduction to the overarching themes and concepts of the album, which was envisioned as a rock opera.

Billie Joe Armstrong was inspired to write this after hearing Lynyrd Skynyrd’s song “That’s How I Like It” on the way to the studio. He told Q magazine in May 2009:

It was like, I’m proud to be a redneck and I was like, Oh my God, why would you be proud of something like that? This is exactly what I’m against. I looked at the guys like, Do you mind that I’m saying this? And they were like, No, we agree with you. And it started the ball rolling.

The song received mostly positive reviews from critics and was nominated for four Grammy Awards; Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, Best Rock Song, Best Short Form Music Video, and Record of the Year.