Welcome to Paradise
Encyclopedia
"Welcome to Paradise" is a song by the American punk rock
band Green Day
. It was released as the second single from its third studio album and its major label debut, Dookie
. The original version of the song was released on the band's second studio album, Kerplunk (1992) and was re-recorded for Dookie in 1994. The Dookie version was later included on the compilation album, International Superhits!
in 2001. "Welcome to Paradise" is playable in the video game, Green Day: Rock Band
.
, Mike Dirnt
and Tré Cool
. It is based on the band's experience moving out of their parents' houses and into an abandoned house in Oakland, California
where the band members, along with a number of others, lived without paying rent. The house was quite broken-down but to them it became home, and this sentiment is described in the song.
Billie Joe Armstrong said this of the song:
The song is played with the guitar tuned a half-step down, as are many of their Dookie songs.
The song is sung as Billie Joe Armstrong is talking or sending a message to his mother, after moving out her place. The first verse is Armstrong talking to his mother after three weeks of leaving her place, telling her that he's scared about being on his own. The second part retakes with Armstrong after six months living at his own place, being now happy of being on his own.
album is playing during the band's performance. It is their only video besides "Macy's Day Parade" not to be included on the band's first DVD, International Supervideos!
, though was not released on the film's soundtrack. The song was also featured in the trailer for Couples Retreat
.
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 second single from its third studio album and its major label debut, Dookie
Dookie
Dookie is the third studio album by the American punk rock band Green Day. It was released on February 1, 1994 through Reprise Records. It was the band's first collaboration with producer Rob Cavallo and its major record label debut. Dookie became a worldwide commercial success, peaking at number...
. The original version of the song was released on the band's second studio album, Kerplunk (1992) and was re-recorded for Dookie in 1994. The Dookie version was later included on the compilation album, International Superhits!
International Superhits!
-Track listing:-International Supervideos!:International Supervideos! was released on November 13, 2001, the same day as the compilation album, International Superhits!. It is a collection of all the band's videos from 1994 to 2001, excluding the music videos to "Welcome to Paradise", "Maria", and...
in 2001. "Welcome to Paradise" is playable in the video game, Green Day: Rock Band
Green Day: Rock Band
Green Day: Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and distributed by Electronic Arts. It is the fifth major console release in the Rock Band music video game series and, like other games in the series, it allows players to simulate the playing of...
.
Track listing
- "Welcome to Paradise" – 3:45
- "Chump" (live) – 2:44
- "Emenius Sleepus" – 1:44
- Track 2 recorded on March 11, 1994 at Jannus LandingJannus LandingJannus Live is an open-air concert venue in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, named after Tony Jannus. It plays host to various acts, both nationally prominent and local....
, St. Petersburg, Florida
Song meaning and composition
The song was written by Billie Joe ArmstrongBillie 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...
, Mike Dirnt
Mike Dirnt
Michael Ryan Pritchard is an American musician, best known as the bassist, backing vocalist and co-founder of the American Rock band Green Day. While at school, he would play "air-bass." While pretending to pluck the strings, he made the noise, "dirnt, dirnt, dirnt"...
and 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...
. It is based on the band's experience moving out of their parents' houses and into an abandoned house in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
where the band members, along with a number of others, lived without paying rent. The house was quite broken-down but to them it became home, and this sentiment is described in the song.
Billie Joe Armstrong said this of the song:
The song is played with the guitar tuned a half-step down, as are many of their Dookie songs.
The song is sung as Billie Joe Armstrong is talking or sending a message to his mother, after moving out her place. The first verse is Armstrong talking to his mother after three weeks of leaving her place, telling her that he's scared about being on his own. The second part retakes with Armstrong after six months living at his own place, being now happy of being on his own.
Music video
A video was released for the song. It features the band playing live, while the studio version from the DookieDookie
Dookie is the third studio album by the American punk rock band Green Day. It was released on February 1, 1994 through Reprise Records. It was the band's first collaboration with producer Rob Cavallo and its major record label debut. Dookie became a worldwide commercial success, peaking at number...
album is playing during the band's performance. It is their only video besides "Macy's Day Parade" not to be included on the band's first DVD, International Supervideos!
In popular culture
"Welcome to Paradise" was featured in the movie Surf's UpSurf's Up (film)
Surf's Up is a 2007 American computer-animated mockumentary family comedy film directed by Ash Brannon and Chris Buck. It stars the voices of Shia LaBeouf, Jeff Bridges, Zooey Deschanel and Jon Heder among others....
, though was not released on the film's soundtrack. The song was also featured in the trailer for Couples Retreat
Couples Retreat
Couples Retreat is a 2009 American comedy film written and directed by Peter Billingsley with contributions to the script by Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn, Dana Fox, Curtis Hanson, and Greg Beeman. Vaughn and Favreau star with Faizon Love, Jason Bateman, Kristin Davis, Kristen Bell, Malin Åkerman and...
.
Chart positions
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
20 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
21 |
| Australian ARIA Charts ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
44 |
| U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks | 7 |