¡Viva La Gloria!

Album: 21st Century Breakdown (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong explained to Q magazine May 2009: "It's like, the older you get the more you get detached from the naivety you had when you were growing up. How do you keep that spark?"
  • Gloria is one of two reoccurring characters that feature on 21st Century Breakdown. Whilst the kamikaze nihilist Christian is the side of Armstrong that he tries to keep under wrap, Gloria, who is fighting to hold on to her youthful idealism is a combination of the singer and his wife Adrienne.

Comments: 10

  • Marri from Tartu, EstoniaThis album is so awesome and this song is awesome.
  • Hope from Oblivion, TnAwsome song. From an awsome mind.
  • Hannah from Jackson, MiI love this song and love the band and love the album. Even my little sister who dosent really like Green Day loves this song.
  • Sc from Anchorage, AkI noticed the resemblance between 'viva La Gloria' and 'Letterbomb', too...
    However, I don't think that the similarities were intentional. '21st Century Breakdown' and 'American Idiot' have two different storylines, although they are overlapped in the musical production of 'American Idiot'.
    It can be debated, though. Billie says that Green Day's songs can be interpreted differently by everyone. :)
  • Shannon from Mankato, MnI have had people compare me to Gloria/Lisa Stelly before. (haha)
  • Joanna from Scotland, United KingdomI like this song a lot, and it should have really been a single, but has anyone else noticed the resemblence to Viva la Gloria and Letterbomb?
  • Josh from Athens, OhI find it amazing how versatile Green Day has proved to be. On this album alone!
  • Denise from Richmond, VaI love this song! It's my second fave song on the album, my first fave is Murder City. :)
  • D from Waterloo, Iai totally agree. i think this is the best album ever by any band though!!
  • Sarawoll from Burlington, NjIt's 5-15-2009 and this album was just released today! It is the greatest Green Day album yet and this song is incredible. i love the lyrics.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Dwight Twilley

Dwight TwilleySongwriter Interviews

Since his debut single "I'm On Fire" in 1975, Dwight has been providing Spinal-Tap moments and misadventure.

Lita Ford

Lita FordSongwriter Interviews

Lita talks about how they wrote songs in The Runaways, and how she feels about her biggest hit being written by somebody else.

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Jimmy Jam

Jimmy JamSongwriter Interviews

The powerhouse producer behind Janet Jackson's hits talks about his Boyz II Men ballads and regrouping The Time.

Charlie Benante of Anthrax

Charlie Benante of AnthraxSongwriter Interviews

The drummer for Anthrax is also a key songwriter. He explains how the group puts their songs together and tells the stories behind some of their classics.

Adam Young of Owl City

Adam Young of Owl CitySongwriter Interviews

Is Owl City on a quest for another hit like "Fireflies?" Adam answers that question and explains the influences behind many others.