The World Is Trying to Make Green Day's "American Idiot" Number One to Annoy President Trump

Protesting Trump has just become a little more err... punk?

If you were alive in 2004 (let's assume we all were), then you probably know some important things happened that year. 

Firstly, Millie Bobby Brown was born and the world is clearly better for it. It was also the 2004 Athens Olympics (yay?).

But, perhaps most pertinent to this article, 2004 was the year that the frustratingly contagious earworm known as "American Idiot" by veteran rockers Green Day dominated the airwaves.

The song criticised the U.S. administration at the time for its invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the mass media for their support of it and the citizens who never questioned these decisions.

So, to protest current U.S. President Donald Trump's scheduled visit to the United Kingdom on Friday 13 July (spooky), some citizens are spreading a campaign to make "American Idiot" number one again when he arrives in the country.

I’ve just seen the campaign to get “American Idiot” to the top of the charts to coincide with Trump’s visit, and quite frankly, I’ll be disappointed in the whole nation if we don’t make it happen

— Paul Southall (@pjsouthall) April 28, 2018

But, as some pointed out, the gesture is not necessarily the best way to protest his arrival in the U.K.

I love American Idiot, it is one of the last great rock albums, but I hate those no.1 campaigns. Organise a march, write a letter, storm the airport. Don't give 79p to warner music

— AKA George (@akageorge) April 28, 2018

A campaign to get American Idiot to No.1 the week he visits? Isn't there something more constructive and less offensive to ears one could dream up? "Ooh yeah we really showed HIM" Honestly. It's utterly meaningless. Spend your 99p and support a new act/ something good instead.

— Ian Wade (@WadeyWade) April 27, 2018

Why? He'll never hear it & I doubt anyone tells him about it. If it's played at a function he attends, I'm all for it, but empty gestures aren't as effective as public protests. Or just stone-faced, silent people lining the street as he passes.

— Virginia Brown (@MsDixieDiva8253) April 29, 2018

July is only a few months away, so we'll have to wait and see if this all pans out.

If you've repressed those years from your memory, watch the music video and feel the 2004 vibes flow back to you.

Photo: YouTube (Green Day) / Flickr (Gage Skidmore)