In the year 2054, people will still listen to American Idiot. Or maybe even enjoy it live off-Broadway.

Green Day has pushed the envelope with American Idiot, transcending overtly political overtones to produce a solid mix of songs, scores and pieces that may very well be recognized as the first punk rock musical.

Green Day’s albums usually have themes that consist of smoking pot, wasting time and being lazy, to name a few. But on American Idiot, Green Day holds no hostages: they attack the current president, the “new media” and “Jesus of Suburbia,” a metaphor for the lazy “American Idiot” who soaks in propaganda like a sponge.

Two of the songs, “Jesus of Suburbia” and “Homecoming” are over nine minutes long, and broken up into five acts. Out of 13 tracks, these two songs in particular set the stage for an American Idiot musical that could rival Tommy and Jesus Christ Superstar.

Jesus of Suburbia, St. Jimmy, and Whatshername are the main characters on the album. Jesus of Suburbia gets his “television fix sitting on [his] crucifix” and St. Jimmy is Jesus’ friend, who later in the album, suffers the same fate as other teenagers who find only one tragic escape from their pain and suffering. Whatshername is a “rebel, a saint, and the salt of the earth.” She captures Jesus’ heart with her defiance of media and propaganda, but in the end, Jesus can’t remember her name-only the time they spent together.

Green Day has not only woven powerful lyrics and thought-provoking characters into this masterpiece, but they also experiment with a variety of genres, from rock ‘n’ roll (think Meatloaf) on “Rock And Roll Girlfriend,” to a catchy march-like tune in “Are We The Waiting.”

American Idiot will not only be recognized for its musical genius within the punk scene, but also as a musical voice that reflects the sentiment of young adults in the post-Sept. 11 and post-war Iraq generation. The sound of American Idiot extremely differs from that of their classic albums, such as Dookie and Insomniac. The obvious political statements may alienate some Green Day fans, but Green Day has never cared about the possibility of pushing people’s buttons. No listener can escape American Idiot without being accused of apathy or stupidity in some way.

-Kassel Pierre-Jean