Hitchin' a Ride (Green Day song)
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| “Hitchin' a Ride” | |||||
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| Single by Green Day from the album Nimrod |
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| Released | September 22, 1997 | ||||
| Format | CD | ||||
| Recorded | 1997 | ||||
| Genre | Punk rock | ||||
| Length | 2:51 | ||||
| Label | Reprise | ||||
| Producer | Mark Kohr, Green Day | ||||
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"Hitchin' a Ride" was the first single that American punk band Green Day released from their album Nimrod in 1997. The song contributed to the critical opinion that the album was more musically varied than previous Green Day albums.
"Hitchin' a Ride" begins with a violin introduction reminiscent of the Jewish Klezmer style and then leads into a distinct 4 note bass guitar riff that carries on throughout the song. Listeners may hear a slight change in lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong's usual voice tone that he claims was adopted merely for the purpose of the song.[citation needed] The walking tempo to Hitchin' a Ride is interrupted in the middle by the heavier bridge featuring the trademark distortion and general loud noise similar to many Green Day songs.
[edit] Track listing
- Hitchin' a Ride
- Sick (Non-LP Track)
- Espionage (Non-LP Track From Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me original motion picture soundtrack)
[edit] Music Video
The music video for Hitchin' a Ride was directed by Mark Kohr, the director that Green Day had favoured throughout the Dookie and Insomniac singles. Other videos to his name are classics such as "Basket Case", "When I Come Around", "Geek Stink Breath", and then later "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" and "Redundant". The video shows the band performing in a theatre amongst strange characters in theatrical costumes. They're also shown walking off a treadmill style machine while still playing. In the video, Billie Joe's infamous Fernandes Stratocaster 'Blue' can be seen. Mike Dirnt uses a Fender Precision Bass and drummer Tré Cool has a single snare drum with a cymbal attached slung over his shoulders, on which he plays. He also has a bass drum hung over his back.
During the chorus, the members of Green Day switch to a stage setup. During the bridge, Billie Joe is shown jumping on a bar counter and throwing glasses and bottles at the other characters.
"Hitchin' a Ride" can also be found on International Superhits! and Bullet in a Bible. Its music video can be found on International Supervideos!.
[edit] Chart Positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
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| 1997 | U.S. Modern Rock Tracks | 5 |
| 1997 | U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks | 9 |
| 1997 | Official UK Singles Chart | No. 25 |
| 1997 | U.S. Hot 100 Airplay | 59 |
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