Teenage Dirtbag

Last updated

It came from the summer of 1984 on Long Island, when I was 10 years old. That summer in the woods behind my house, there was a Satanic, drug-induced ritual teen homicide that went down; and the kid who did it was called Ricky Kasso, and he was arrested wearing an AC/DC T-shirt. That made all the papers, and the television, obviously; and here I was, 10 years old, walking around with a case full of AC/DC and Iron Maiden and Metallica – and all the parents and the teachers and the cops thought I was some kind of Satan worshipper. So that's the backdrop for that song. [6]

Brown also added that the song's sing-along chorus remains an act of defiance: "so when I sing: 'I'm just a teenage dirtbag', I'm effectively saying: 'Yeah, fuck you if you don't like it. Just because I like AC/DC doesn't mean I'm a devil worshipper, and you're an idiot.' That's where it comes from." [6] In the same interview, regarding the possible reasons for its continued success, Brown recalled his father's words: "Every teenager has to go through that 'being an outsider' thing, at least a little bit. So that story is still the same for people, even if it's thirty years after I went through it." [6]

The song's vocals are all performed by Brown, including a segment in falsetto. When the group arranged a joint tour with MC Frontalot, MC Frontalot contributed a nerdcore rap verse to the song, as did MC Lars.

Critical reception

Ayhan Sahin of Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably, calling it a "gritty, on-the-edge track" and saying that its "keen melody, inventive production, and cool lyric about those who have felt like underlings during high school will entice listeners who prefer hanging out behind the gym with a smoke to Latin club." He went on to say that it "stands strongly on its own as an emphatic anthem and a song many teens will be proud to push hard from their car speakers." [7] In June 2013, Australian radio station Triple J ranked "Teenage Dirtbag" as number 82 on their "Twenty Years of Triple J's Hottest 100". [8] The song was ranked number 69 on the "Top 100 Greatest Pop Songs of All Time" countdown by British music channel The Hits.[ citation needed ]

Commercial performance

In the United Kingdom, the song peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, staying there for two weeks and kept off the top spot by Atomic Kitten's "Whole Again". It spent four weeks at number one in Australia and also topped the charts in Austria and Flanders. Despite being a chart success in the UK, Europe and Australia, it failed to appear on the US Billboard Hot 100, but it did peak at number seven on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. In March 2011, the song returned to the UK Singles Chart at number 43 and climbed to number 35 the following week, [9] nearly 11 years after its initial release. Bigtop40.com suggested that this was due to a promotion on iTunes. [10] The song has re-entered the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart on multiple occasions, including in March 2011, April 2012, and November 2023. [9] By 2014 the track had sold five million copies worldwide. [5]

Censorship

The second verse of the song originally began with, "Her boyfriend's a dick/He brings a gun to school". Radio edits usually omitted the word "dick" or edit it so that it sounds like the less offensive "prick", but most modern versions of the song have the words "gun to school" covered by turntable scratching sounds. Some versions also edit the lines "And he'd simply kick/My ass if he knew the truth", to remove the word "ass". When asked why "gun" is frequently censored, Brown stated that it is because the day he presented the song to the band's record label was around the time of the first anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre. [11] The song was re-recorded and re-released in 2020, retaining the original lines. [12]

Music video

The music video for "Teenage Dirtbag", directed by Jeff Gordon, [13] is based on the 2000 film Loser , which the song is featured in, and tells a different story from the film based on the song's lyrics. Jason Biggs plays a nerdy character and Mena Suvari is the love interest who unexpectedly invites the protagonist to an Iron Maiden concert, and in the end scene they dance together on prom night.

In some cases, the beginning and the end of the video were deleted: The full version of the video begins with Jason falling asleep while doing his homework and ends with a large glitter ball falling from the ceiling and striking him on the head. He then wakes up, revealing his brief romance with Suvari to have been all a dream. The video was nominated for Best Video at the Kerrang! Awards. [14]

Rerecording

As the multitrack masters to "Teenage Dirtbag" were lost, Wheatus rerecorded it in 2016. Brown said they felt "compelled to recreate them so that, if for no other reason, we could own a copy". Wheatus took lengths to rerecord every element, including the distorted snare drum caused by a recording error in the original. Brown estimated that it took two years to recreate the song. [15]

Track listings

"Teenage Dirtbag"
Teenage Dirtbag.jpg
Single by Wheatus
from the album Wheatus
ReleasedJune 20, 2000 (2000-06-20)
RecordedFebruary–March 2000 [1]
Genre
Length4:07
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s) Brendan B. Brown
Producer(s)
  • Wheatus
  • Philip A. Jimenez
Wheatus singles chronology
"Teenage Dirtbag"
(2000)
"A Little Respect"
(2001)
Music video
"Teenage Dirtbag" on YouTube

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [58] 3× Platinum210,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria) [59] Platinum50,000*
Belgium (BEA) [60] Platinum50,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [61] Gold45,000
Germany (BVMI) [62] 3× Gold750,000
Norway (IFPI Norway) [63] Gold 
Sweden (GLF) [64] Platinum30,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [65] Gold25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [66] 4× Platinum2,400,000
Summaries
Worldwide5,000,000 [5]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United StatesJune 20, 2000 Alternative radio Columbia [67]
June 26, 2000 [68]
July 10, 2000 Hot adult contemporary radio [69]
August 1, 2000 [70]
United KingdomFebruary 5, 2001
  • CD
  • cassette
[71]

Related Research Articles

<i>Wheatus</i> (album) 2000 studio album by Wheatus

Wheatus is the debut studio album by American rock band Wheatus, released by Columbia Records on August 15, 2000. Written mostly by guitarist and vocalist Brendan B. Brown, it was recorded in the basement of Brown's mother's house, and self-produced by the band with the help of multiple mixing engineers and George Marino as mastering engineer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ms. Jackson</span> 2000 single by Outkast

"Ms. Jackson" is a song by American hip hop duo Outkast, consisting of André 3000 and Big Boi. It was released on October 24, 2000, as the second single from Outkast's fourth album, Stankonia. It topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for one week on February 17, 2001, and reached number one in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. Rolling Stone ranked it 55th on its "100 Best Songs of the 2000s" list in June 2011 and at number 145 on its "Top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list in 2021. In October 2011, NME placed it at number 81 on its list of the "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shut Up (Black Eyed Peas song)</span> 2003 single by the Black Eyed Peas

"Shut Up" is a song recorded by American hip-hop group the Black Eyed Peas for their third studio album Elephunk (2003). Lyrically, it is about a disastrous courtship with the chorus consisting of the lines "Shut up, just shut up, shut up". The song was released as the second single from Elephunk on September 8, 2003, by A&M Records and Interscope Records. "Shut Up" was not commercially successful in the United States but became a hit internationally, topping the charts of Australia, New Zealand, and 12 European countries. It was Europe's second-biggest hit single of 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Family Affair (Mary J. Blige song)</span> 2001 single by Mary J. Blige

"Family Affair" is a song by American singer Mary J. Blige. It was written by Blige, her brother Bruce Miller, Camara Kambon, Michael Elizondo, and producer Dr. Dre for her fifth studio album, No More Drama (2001).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angel (Shaggy song)</span> 2001 song by Shaggy

"Angel" is a song by Jamaican reggae artist Shaggy featuring additional vocals from Barbadian singer Rayvon. Containing samples from Steve Miller Band's "The Joker" and the Chip Taylor-written "Angel of the Morning", it was released to radio on 9 January 2001 as the follow-up to Shaggy's international number-one hit, "It Wasn't Me". "Angel" also proved to be successful, reaching number one in 12 countries, including Australia, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It Wasn't Me</span> 2000 single by Shaggy

"It Wasn't Me" is the first single from Jamaican-American reggae musician Shaggy's fifth studio album, Hot Shot (2000). The song features vocals from RikRok. The lyrics of the song depict one man asking his friend what to do after his girlfriend caught him cheating on her with "the girl next door". His friend/Shaggy's character's advice is to deny everything, despite clear evidence to the contrary, with the phrase "It wasn't me."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butterfly (Crazy Town song)</span> 2000 single by Crazy Town

"Butterfly" is a song by American rap rock band Crazy Town. The song was released in October 2000 as the third single from their debut album, The Gift of Game. It gained mainstream popularity after being released physically on February 19, 2001. It is based on a sample of "Pretty Little Ditty" from the Red Hot Chili Peppers' 1989 album Mother's Milk, so band members Anthony Kiedis, Flea, Chad Smith, and John Frusciante are credited as writers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sha-La-La-La-La</span> 1973 single by Walkers

"Sha-La-La-La-La" is a song by Danish glam rock band Walkers. The song was co-written by band members Torben Lendager and Poul Dehnhardt. It entered the Danish charts at number eight in the last week of March 1973, and peaked at number two after three weeks, after which it disappeared from the charts. The song achieved worldwide exposure after being covered by Dutch Eurodance group Vengaboys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lady (Hear Me Tonight)</span> 2000 single by Modjo

"Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" is a song by French house duo Modjo, written and performed by vocalist Yann Destagnol and producer Romain Tranchart. It was released on 19 June 2000 as the lead single from the duo's self-titled debut studio album (2001). It became a major worldwide success, topping at least 10 music charts, including the national charts of Ireland, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. It also topped the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in January 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Outta Love</span> 2000 single by Anastacia

"I'm Outta Love" is the debut single of American singer Anastacia. Written by Anastacia, Sam Watters, and Louis Biancaniello and produced by the latter two, it was released on February 29, 2000, as the lead single from her debut album, Not That Kind (2000). The song became a major hit in Europe and Australia, reaching number one in Wallonia, Australia and New Zealand; it was the most successful song of 2000 in the latter two regions. It additionally reached the top five in several others, including France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">911 (Wyclef Jean song)</span> Duet between rap singer Wyclef Jean and soul music singer Mary J. Blige

"911" is a duet between Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean and American soul music singer Mary J. Blige. It was released on 5 September 2000 as the third single from Jean's second studio album, The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book (2000), and was later included on Blige's compilation Reflections (2006). The song peaked at number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and had success worldwide, particularly in Scandinavian countries, reaching number one in Norway and Sweden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Little Respect</span> 1988 single by Erasure

"A Little Respect" is a song written and recorded by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released in September 1988 by Mute. It was written by Vince Clarke and Andy Bell. The lyrics are a plea to a lover to show compassion and respect. The heavily synthesized instrumentation is accentuated by acoustic guitar and Bell's vocal falsetto in the chorus. It was their tenth single and was taken from their third studio album, The Innocents (1988). Known as one of their signature songs, the single reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and was Erasure's second consecutive top-20 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, where it made number 14, and reached number two on the US Billboard Dance Club Play chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shackles (Praise You)</span> 1999 single by Mary Mary

"Shackles (Praise You)" is the debut single by American gospel singer-songwriter duo Mary Mary, released on February 29, 2000, in the United States. It is considered the group's signature song and one of the best-selling gospel songs of all time. Stan North of GospelFlava.com deemed it one of the pioneer songs of urban gospel music. The song was originally released as a promotional single for their debut album, Thankful, in 1999. They both feature the same track listing but different album covers, the second using a picture of the duo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It Feels So Good</span> 1998 single by Sonique

"It Feels So Good" is a song by British singer Sonique. It was originally released on 9 November 1998 and peaked at number 24 on the UK Singles Chart. In May 2000, in the wake of the song's success in the United States, the single was re-released and spent three weeks at number one on the same chart. The song remained in the top 40 for 14 weeks and became the third-biggest-selling single of 2000 in Britain. It has sold over 800,000 copies in the UK as of May 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Don't Feel Like Dancin'</span> 2006 single by Scissor Sisters

"I Don't Feel Like Dancin'" is a song by American pop band Scissor Sisters. It was released in August 2006 as the first single from their second album, Ta-Dah (2006). The song was written by Jason Sellards, Scott Hoffman and Elton John, the last of whom provides piano for the song, and was the band's first top-10 single in many countries, peaking at number one in nine of them.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Proper Education</span> 2006 single by Eric Prydz and Pink Floyd

"Proper Education" is a remix of the 1979 song "Another Brick in the Wall, Part II" by Pink Floyd by the Swedish DJ and electronic music producer Eric Prydz. It was released in Sweden on 24 November 2006 and in the United Kingdom on 1 January 2007. "Proper Education" reached number two on the UK Singles Chart and topped the US Billboard Hot Dance Airplay chart in 2007. On 8 December 2007, the song received a nomination for Best Remixed Recording at the 2008 Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">7 Days (Craig David song)</span> 2000 single by Craig David

"7 Days" is a song by English singer Craig David. It was released on 24 July 2000 as the second single from his debut studio album, Born to Do It (2000). "7 Days" topped the UK Singles Chart and peaked within the top 10 of the charts in several countries, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Around the World (La La La La La)</span> 2000 song by German Eurodance group ATC

"Around the World (La La La La La)" is the debut single of German-based international Eurodance group ATC (an abbreviation of A Touch of Class). The song is a cover of the Russian hit "Pesenka" by Ruki Vverh! and uses the song's melody with additional English lyrics. Both songs feature the phrase "la la la la la" in a call and response format. Released in May 2000, the song is ATC's most successful single, reaching the top 20 in most countries where it was released.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sex Bomb</span> 2000 single by Tom Jones and Mousse T.

"Sex Bomb" is a song by Welsh singer Tom Jones. Performed in collaboration with German DJ and record producer Mousse T., the song was released in 1999 in several European countries; in January of the following year, it was issued across the rest of Europe except the United Kingdom, where it was not released until May 2000. Outside the UK, the track served as the second single from Jones' 34th album, Reload, while in the UK, it served as the fourth single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crying at the Discoteque</span> 2000 single by Alcazar

"Crying at the Discoteque" is a song by Swedish band Alcazar from their debut studio album, Casino (2000). The track samples Sheila and B. Devotion's 1979 hit "Spacer". Alexander Bard produced the song and can be heard in the middle of this song. Released in April 2000, "Crying at the Discoteque" became Alcazar's first international hit single the following year, reaching number one in Hungary and the top 10 in Flanders, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Switzerland.

References

  1. Millman, Rachel (August 17, 2022). "The Many Lives of the TikTok Hit 'Teenage Dirtbag'". Observer. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  2. Harrison, Flicky (May 31, 2012). "Those teenage dirtbags cleanup". Swindon Advertiser . Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  3. Russonello, Giovanni (March 2, 2017). "Pop, Rock and Jazz in NYC This Week". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  4. "Pop Punk Died 15 Years Ago Today, and 'Teenage Dirtbag' Killed It". August 17, 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 Ellis, Dawn (September 5, 2014). "INTERVIEW: Wheatus frontman Brendan B Brown talks tour news, One Direction and Teenage Dirtbag". Torquay Herald Express. Archived from the original on September 6, 2014. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 Lin, Sharona (August 9, 2012). "Wheatus - Tone Deaf". Tone Deaf. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  7. Billboard , July 8, 2000 - Vol. 112, No. 28, Page 22.
  8. "Countdown | Twenty Years of triple j's Hottest 100 | triple j". Abc.net.au. April 18, 2013. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  9. 1 2 3 "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  10. "Wheatus land in the iTunes chart". Big Top 40. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  11. Brendan B. Brown [@wheatus] (December 12, 2014). ""@vuIplx: why is gun blocked in teenage dirtbag & not ass @wheatus @god @jesus @barackobama" Columbine 1 yr anniv. the week I gave 2 Sony" (Tweet). Retrieved December 25, 2015 via Twitter.
  12. "Teenage Dirtbag 2020 (our version) is 100% uncensored". Twitter. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  13. "Wheatus - Teenage Dirtbag - Music Video". MTV. June 26, 2012. Archived from the original on July 1, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  14. "Archive News Aug 23, 2001". blabbermouth.net. August 23, 2001. Archived from the original on July 1, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  15. "How Wheatus re-recorded Teenage Dirtbag from scratch after losing the masters". CBC Radio . April 26, 2021.
  16. Teenage Dirtbag (Australian CD single liner notes). Wheatus. Columbia Records. 2000. 669707 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. Teenage Dirtbag (UK CD single liner notes). Wheatus. Columbia Records. 2001. 670796 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. Teenage Dirtbag (UK cassette single sleeve). Wheatus. Columbia Records. 2001. 670796-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. Teenage Dirtbag (European CD single liner notes). Wheatus. Columbia Records. 2001. COL 669656 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. Teenage Dirtbag (European maxi-CD single liner notes). Wheatus. Columbia Records. 2001. COL 669656 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. "Wheatus – Teenage Dirtbag". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  22. "Wheatus – Teenage Dirtbag" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  23. "Wheatus – Teenage Dirtbag" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  24. "Wheatus – Teenage Dirtbag" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  25. "Wheatus – Teenage Dirtbag". Tracklisten.
  26. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 18, no. 16. April 14, 2001. p. 6. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  27. "Wheatus: Teenage Dirtbag" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
  28. "Wheatus – Teenage Dirtbag" (in French). Les classement single.
  29. "Wheatus – Teenage Dirtbag" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  30. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Teenage Dirtbag". Irish Singles Chart.
  31. "Wheatus – Teenage Dirtbag". Top Digital Download.
  32. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 17, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  33. "Wheatus – Teenage Dirtbag" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  34. "Wheatus – Teenage Dirtbag". Top 40 Singles.
  35. "Wheatus – Teenage Dirtbag". VG-lista.
  36. "Major Market Airplay – Week 23/2001" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 16. June 2, 2001. p. 23. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  37. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  38. "Wheatus – Teenage Dirtbag". Singles Top 100.
  39. "Wheatus – Teenage Dirtbag". Swiss Singles Chart.
  40. "Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard . September 2, 2000. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  41. "Alternative Airplay" . Billboard. September 9, 2000. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  42. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2000". ARIA . Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  43. "Most Played Modern Rock Songs of 2000". Airplay Monitor . Vol. 8, no. 51. December 22, 2000. p. 38.
  44. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2001". ARIA. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  45. "Jahreshitparade Singles 2001" (in German). Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  46. "Jaaroverzichten 2001" (in Dutch). Ultratop . Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  47. "Rapports annuels 2001" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  48. "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2001" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 52. December 22, 2001. p. 14. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  49. "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 2001" (in German). GfK Entertainment . Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  50. "Best of Singles 2001". IRMA . Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  51. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2001". Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  52. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2001" (in Dutch). Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  53. "Årslista Singlar, 2001" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  54. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2001" (in German). Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  55. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2001" (PDF). UKChartsPlus . Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  56. "ARIA's End of Decade Charts" (PDF). ARIA. January 7, 2010. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  57. Radio 1 Official Chart of the Decade, as broadcast on BBC Radio 1 on December 29, 2009, presented by DJ Nihal
  58. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  59. "Austrian single certifications – Wheatus – Teenage Dirtbag" (in German). IFPI Austria.
  60. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2001". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
  61. "Danish single certifications – Wheatus – Teenage Dirtbag". IFPI Danmark . Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  62. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Wheatus; 'Teenage Dirtbag')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  63. "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.
  64. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2001" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011.
  65. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Teenage Dirt Bag')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  66. "British single certifications – Wheatus – Teenage Dirtbag". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  67. "Alternative: Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records . No. 1355. June 16, 2000. p. 158. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  68. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1355. June 23, 2000. pp. 100, 104. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  69. "Gavin AC/Hot AC: Impact Dates". Gavin Report . No. 2312. July 7, 2000. p. 27.
  70. "CHR/Pop: Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1361. July 28, 2000. p. 51. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  71. "New Releases – For Week Starting February 5, 2001: Singles" (PDF). Music Week . February 3, 2001. p. 27. Retrieved August 9, 2021.