Brain Stew/Jaded Explained

"Brain Stew/Jaded" is the third single from Green Day's 1995 album Insomniac released in 1996. The two songs are transitional: "Brain Stew" ending and moving right into "Jaded" without the music stopping. They are tracks 10 and 11 on the album Insomniac, and International Superhits. Due to the transition they were put out together as one single. The combination of the two became an alternative-rock radio staple.

Track listing

1. "Brain Stew/Jaded" - 4:44
2. "Do Da Da" (Voc. Up) - 1:30
3. "Good Riddance" - 2:01
4. "Brain Stew" (Clean Radio Faded Ending) - 3:12

Composition

The composition of "Brain Stew" is relatively simple. The song contains only five power chords, five bass notes, and a relatively simple drum pattern for Tre Cool's usual fast tom fills and explosive transitions. Many of Green Day's fans consider it to be one of their first songs to appear in the repertoire of many garage bands. Billie Joe Armstrong has stated that he used as many as 10 guitar overdubs to achieve the scratchy dissonant sounds in the latter part of the song.

The intro to "Panic Song" is often played in between "Brain Stew" and "Jaded" at live performances, although the key is changed to be relevant with the songs.

Other versions

"Brain Stew"

• A remix of the song featured on the Godzilla soundtrack in 1998.
• A live version featured on Bowling Bowling Bowling Parking Parking. (recorded March 26, 1996 at Sporthalle, Prague, Czech Republic)
• Another live version on Bullet in a Bible.

"Jaded"

• A live version found on Bowling Bowling Bowling Parking Parking. (recorded March 26, 1996 at Sporthalle, Prague, Czech Republic)

Music videos

The "Brain Stew/Jaded" single was accompanied by a visually striking video which received heavy airplay on MTV which was split into two different halves that contrasted visual:

Brain Stew Music Video

The music video for "Brain Stew" is all in sepia for the "Brain Stew" part and shows the band lying on a couch being pulled through a landfill by a bulldozer. Several strange things appear, such as Hawaiian Hula dancers and an old lady with a chalkboard (both in the construction site). The video is meant to depict the effects insomnia has on the brain (for example, the hallucinations, in which Billie Joe admits to being high during the filming to give the correct feel to the video.).

Jaded Music Video

When the song transitions into "Jaded", the color comes back and shows the band playing the song in a fast-cut, wobbly-camera style. This video project was directed by Kevin Kerslake, who had previously directed videos for Nirvana, and would go on to make videos for Rise Against.

Notes

• The CD single was available on a limited edition CD shaped like a brain.
• "Brain Stew" is actually the name of one of Billie Joe's old friends. He can be seen on the VH1 show 'Green Day: Behind The Music' under the name James Washburn. His picture can be seen on the '39/smooth' vinyl record in the center, as well as in an old picture of Green Day playing live circa 1991 in the pictures section of the remastered version of 1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours. His name was also thanked in the liner notes of Kerplunk.
• "Brain Stew" was included on Clear Channel's list of "songs with questionable lyrics" following the September 11, 2001 attacks.
• "Brain Stew" was featured in the movie Stick It.
• The combination of Brain Stew/Jaded is sometimes refered to as "Brainstewed."

Chart positions

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1996	Brain Stew/Jaded	Modern Rock Tracks (US)	No. 3
1996	Brain Stew/Jaded	Mainstream Rock Tracks (US)	No. 8
1996	Brain Stew/Jaded	Official UK Singles Chart	No. 28