Ayyyy! Our last little 8 day run we made, we played Teenage Dirtbag as our only cover song in the set. It always got people hype!! Just want to say thank you for the fire track fellas!!
Percussionists are so happy because they hit things for a living -- they're constantly working off their angst and rage -- leaving nothing but smiles behind. 😉😁
i was lucky enough some years ago to tour with Wheatus and even be in the music video for An American in Amsterdam. i can honestly say that it was one of, if not the best tour I've been on. what an underrated band, truly awesome live, great songs and so down to earth, there was never any separation between them and us (the two bands) and they made us feel welcome into their little family from day one. Love you guys, we still have the memories. xx
I love that whole album too! As a Long Islander, Wannabe Gangster was always a favorite of mine. As a Huntingtonian, and can say from personal experience that Commack is awful lol
Justin, I love the fact that you play your intro live each video, it's so authentic, something I believe we have lost in world. Just like Teenage Dirtbag, it's also so honest in it's emotions, and ours. Thank you.
Listening to you trying to figure out what the term "dirtbag" means, was the highlight of my day. Lol, the world doesn't deserve you, Justin. I'm so glad that you started this channel, your insight is fantastic, and funny as hell. You got me into playing guitar decades ago, and for that I'm so thankful. Keep it up!
I saw Wheatus at Nottingham Rock City when they were supporting “A”. The singer said that they were going to do a song off their fifth album and crowd gasped as one at the news that Wheatus had released five albums. Edit: I will say, in all fairness, that Wheatus weren’t bad.
Oh man I saw Wheatus in Sailors Newquay for free. The band are legends. They hung out afterwards had drinks. Nice down to earth guys. Their set list was Teenage dirtbag couple off their first album then the rest was requests. One of the best nights I've had.
Mr. Hawkins, your sense of humor is so dry... it always puts a smile on my face no matter how the day is going. Another great vid. As for the song.... I think a lot of people could relate to the lyrics in some way. Most of us have been passed over at various times in our lives. The song's catchy, too. Sort of a send off to the 1990's pop vibe, too.
The only bit of Teenage Dirtbag that hasn't aged well is the line about having two tickets to Iron Maiden. What kind of teenager can afford one ticket to IM, never mind two? And to give one voluntarily away? She must have been loaded
Well, in the story of the song, the love interest is the popular girl in school. So it's not too difficult to imagine that perhaps her family is rich and she is spoiled.
I have seen Wheatus 4 times live. I bloody love this band and catch so much flack for it. Tipsy is a great song for anyone looking for something a bit deeper in the ol' back catalogue.
Hi Justin, love the channel. As a teenager once myself, the best tambourine playing I ever saw was by Pete Townsend when The Who recorded a live version of Baba O’Reilly for the movie “The Kids are Alright”. Last seen flying off into the ether, I doubt if the tambourine survived.
I saw Wheatus playing at my university in 2019. Justin is bang-on about how happy they look while playing. I've literally never seen a band have a better time playing live
This very song got me into music. I always liked what my parents listened to such as The Beatles and Queen, but I heard this on the radio and it was the first time I wanted to own a song. I got the album that xmas along with a few others from around that time (I got the darkness permission to land the following xmas). I still love this song and Wheatus are a totally underrated band that have a unique and great sound!
The early 2000s were a special time and this song was one of the soundtracks of that era. This song and those years will stay in my heart for the rest of my life.
Song has a specific meaning - Brendan B Brown’s experiences (having to move school as he was unfairly being targeted as a prospective future “school shooter” because he was a fan of heavy metal music) as a “teenage dirtbag”. Trash Theory covered this. Very interesting video - recommended. 🤟🏻
Read an interview by the lead singer recently he had given the original recordings of the song to the record company and they’d lost them so he was having to re record the whole song again from scratch so that he had a copy as such Plus he mentions he sang the vocal on the Mina Suvari bit and was in a rush to record as he’s voice with getting older won’t much longer be able to reach that high a note
I randomly discovered this channel yesterday. And I've only now just found out who Justin Hawkins is. Makes the existence of this channel feel more special.
My friend saw then with Electric Six in Southampton and they opened with it and told the crowd to go home if that was all they came to hear. It thinned out pretty fast.
I think I can take this one on. In North American high-school society, there are many different sub-cultures of teens: the jocks (athletes), the cool kids (usually from a wealthy family), the nerds (brainiacs who go on to make millions in tech), goths, punks, and yes…the dirt bag. Essential, the dirt bag was any long haired kid that was scruffy, maybe a little anti-social, didn’t play sports or go to dances etc. but was essentially a good kid at heart. And yes…listened to Iron Maiden…and metal in general. Back in the 80’s when I was in high school, kids could smoke and the smoking area was where you best saw these groups hanging out…always amongst their own. The jocks (and back then, the Preps-short for Preppy) got most of the really pretty girls due to their alpha-male status and general douchey ways. And the dirtbag, metal kids usually had long hair-or were trying to grow it out-which looked worse. They sometimes lacked good hygiene, often had bad acne and wore cut-out denim vests over leather jackets, white high-top sneakers and skinny tight jeans. And of course…the ubiquitous concert-shirt. The gorier the better: Maiden, Sabbath, Dio, Ozzy and Metallica et al. I was a long haired teenage musician who had a foot in this camp, but was more of a hair rocker-let’s says little more vain about my appearance 😂At any rate, the jocks usually didn’t like the dirtbags and often picked on them, including resorting to violence. And all of that is captured in this classic song-the longing, the wanting of a pretty, cool girlfriend. Being frustrated knowing that you often had a better personality and more smarts, were kinder etc. than the football players. If they’d only give you a chance. But it was all for naught…the Jocks and Rich Kids usually got most of the girls. And as always, looks were deceiving. These scruffy kids that smoked and tried to look fierce actually were harmless, and typically gathered together on Saturday nights to play Dungeons and Dragons in a parent’s basement and compare notes about their imaginary, non-existent girlfriends. Or about which tv star they would like to ‘shag’. Usually Heather Locklear or Heather Thomas. They often felt misunderstood and generally apart from society. Teenage angst, to the 9th degree. This song NAILS the feelings. All of them. A classic.
And yes, I know the UK has these groups, too. But growing up in a British family and visiting ‘back home’ I saw first hand (via my cousins) that the divide between kids in ‘high’ school wasnt as deep of a chasm as here. Here it was essentially class warfare..at a teenage level.
People always use 'one-hit wonder' as an insult. My feeling is that you've had one hit you are, within the accepted margins of statistical error, as good a songwriter as anyone who ever lived. And even without the maths, there's a good chance you've had one more hit than whoever's taking an unjustified shot at you. I tend to agree with you about 'Teenage Dirtbag' but that was an unusually rich period for genius pop. 'Stacey's Mom'. 'The Girl All the Bad Guys Want'. 'Bohemian Like You' 'Toxic'
A dirtbag is a kid from the 80's who was into metal and rock and roll, and represented a threat to conformist middle America. A teenage dirtbag was a kid who wore a jean jacket, smoked and drank, and who listened to metal bands and had long hair.
Thanks Justin for explaining why this is the greatest and catchiest song written for MANY years....totally agree and I have had a steady diet of the greatest punk and pop songs over the last 40 years (from The Saints, Birthday Party, XTC, The Clash, The Sex Pistols, Buzzcocks, Stranglers, The Scientists to Fugazi...to name a few who also have awesome, catchy songs enjoyed by 'smaller audiences' but this song is truly great. If you hear the history behind it, it really is quite sad, intelligent and ironic. People who complain about it do not have any understanding about modern music, no musical experience or appreciation but are probably just envious. Brendan is a genius (14 hours practice on guitar a day? WOW!!)
Your sad percussionist brought back memories of seeing a sad looking Brian Jones playing the maracas on Symphony For The Devil on The Rolling Stones: Rock n Roll Circus. Perhaps you could do video on that? There are some notable performances by Taj Mahal, The Who, John Lennon with The Dirty Mac. The Rolling Stones didn't release it until 1996. I remember hearing or reading somewhere it was because they felt their performance wasn't up to par.
Thankyou Justin Hawkins for all you do for us here on your channel!I've learned a lot from you and look forward to seeing and hearing more of you.The ppl that have the towards you are very insecure with herself and pretty much do not like themselves. That's just my opinion. From my wife and I we love you keep up the great work
Hey Justin. Pretty new to your channel and I'm loving it. I think we might need to test your distaste for 'rock scratching' by seeing a review of a classic Beastie Boys track. Sabotage?
What a weird little pop/rock combo! Been listening to the playlist on spotify. The bloke is an incredible songwriter. Sort of music I'd listen to by myself, not with mates, though would thoroughly recommend.
I saw this band in Williamsburg Brooklyn at, I think it was The North Sixth or some iteration of that venue back in probably 2007 and they had no amps, no floor monitors, no onstage sound whatsoever, everything was direct, even the drummer played through all electronic drums and in-ears - it was the cleanest mix I've heard and the absolute best sounding show I've ever been to.
JH you might want to check out the version they did in Paste Studio in 2019. Hilarious to see the big windup for the female vocal part. It’s here on UA-cam. I really enjoy the relaxed vibe of your channel.
Girl all the bad guys want by Bowling for Soup is probably on par with it for me but I loved Teenage Dirtbag back in the day. I get what you mean about the scratching though
So glad you said one of your favorite songs ever. One hit wonder only bc of the single aspect. As far as pop-ish bands go they’re easily top 3 fav ever. They have so many awesome songs but only 1 single. Lemonade, song that I wrote when you dissed me, so many others are so fucking good
Arctic Monkeys did a Wheatus by dropping the impossible to follow-up I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, and then remarkably followed it up, consistently.
[Justin is spot on about the scratching. I first heard this song on CMJ New Music Monthly Volume 87 November 2000 . Loved it. Take the scratching out and the song is timeless.]
I had the Wheatus album and loved it. still remember alot of the lyrics to the B songs :D - Theres a rocket I built, its under my kilt, its coming to blow you away!
First of all Justin, I just wanna say thank you for helping to keep Rock N Roll alive. The Darkness Rocks!!! Also… to this day I still think Teenage Dirtbag is one of the best songs of the 200s. His vocals, and the cheesy scratching are what make it so dam hilarious. There will never be another hit quite like it.
This song is absolutely brilliant, by far my favourite in this naughties rock type of vibe. Just genius. Although I will say if you're asking for better rock songs, I think Arctic Monkeys might have a few.
One of those “LA cool guys” insulted my music by comparing it to Wheatus years ago. Went home and wrote a song (“Trust Fund”) inspired by this track. Currently writing this from the studio that song paid for.
Love this song. We used to play it in my covers band, with me singing as the protagonist, and Lisa, our main (proper!) lead singer singing Noel's part. It worked really well!
They’re a great band who cannot be defined by one song. Have seen them on a few occasions have a fair share of their discography. Brendan is a excellent songwriter, guitarist and singer. 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
12:00 that is such an interesting point. it hjas me wondering, for a lot of one-hit-wonders, maybe it was the case that their debut song was just too good? Also, on one-hit-wonders, I don't like how that's a pejorative term -- to have a SINGLE chart-topping song in your lifetime is a monumental achievement. Especially if you're a genuine artist and not some record label product.
It is a little bit TOO American "High School" for me. If they did a follow it up with a track now called "I'm just a middle-aged twat" I could definitely be into that 1 though
Buck Rogers was undoubtedly an anthem, but for me it’s the rawness and unchecked emotion on (the almost psychedelic) “High” and the spectacular “Shatter” (which, fun fact for non-Feeder fans, was used as the main song for the crazy Russian film adaptation of “The Night Watch” (with “Nochnoy Dozer”taken from a series of really rather good, gritty, Moscow-based dark fantasy books written by Sergei Lukyanenko.). Please give Feeder some love Justin!
Great great song. But doesnt resonate with a whole generation like Wheatus did. Everyone resonates with the character he portraits. Not sure everyone resonated with having a new car the same way.
This is such a coincidence, if you'll permit me the liberty of telling a story to you, i was going to Suffolk from Durham and happened upon Lowestoft on my way there. i was perusing the local charity shops to find some hidden gems for my cd collection and low and behold I found permission to land nestled away at the bottom of a big old bin full of cds for £3.99. I was both enamoured with the price but also disgusted that such an excellent album had been resigned to such a demure disposition, I snagged it before anyone else could in a rush and upon further examination was wheatus' self titled album and evanescence's fallen adjacent to your very own debut album for £1.99 each, I boisterously snatched both of these albums too. now gone are the days of these musical marvels stand perched atop my cd collections standing as three proud kings.
This song is inspired by the singers experience in the 80’s with a “teenage dirtbag” basically a “metal head” who was responsible for a school shooting and so his mom made him transfer to a preppy all boys school much to the singers chagrin. The singer felt like it robbed him of the high school experience and he himself was an outcast and metal t shirt wearing “teenage dirtbag” when they released this song just months later the columbine school shooting happened and the label made them bleep out “gun” in the song which is why he rolls his eyes at that part in the video because he felt it compromised the integrity of the song and his truth.
The Darkness - Love is only a feeling, The Killers - Mr. Brightside, Foo Fighters The Pretender, The Fratellis - Chelsea Dagger... Just to name a few. So many great rock songs got written after Teenage Dirtbag. I recon it's a brilliant song, however there were several amazing songs that came after.
@@JustinHawkinsRidesAgain i was blown away by your recommendation of Verve's "Life's an ocean", been playing that in repeat these days so i was a bit caught off-guard with this one...
Last week my son was playing teenage dirtbag in his car, he has seen him in a little club, in Bradford, England, they was only 100 in the crowd, the song came out when he was only 2 years old.
You should do a whole series about underrated bands|songs starting with 'Teenage Dirtbag' by Wheatus. & Next you should revisit 'The Way' by Fastball. Although, it was created in 1998... However, perfect in its own right.
I've always found this to be one of the worst songs of the 00s .. it's what made that era so insufferable.. it's like the whitest fucking music, in the worst of ways - so much that it makes me hate being white myself -- like is THAT what we do? that's us? fuck .... it's incredible how much this makes me hate rock, and 20 years later I'm sill livid. Fucking awful.
Justin, I’ve absolutely fell in love with your channel - reminds me of - if “Del Preston” the legendary UK roadie from Wayne’s World 2 was real and had a UA-cam channel. Brilliant work, respect. 💚🙏💚
C'mon, let's see your suggestions!
Volbeat Lola Montez
Ugh. Was gonna suggest Liz Phair or Cake but nothing post-2000. You may be right, JH…
Tangerine Speedo by Caviar but that's 2000 as well...
not saying its better, but Len and "you steal my sunshine" about the same time as Dirtbag.
Chelsea Dagger by The Fratellis
This video melted our brains. Seriously, you've been a hero to us for years, and this means the world. The love & respect is mutual. 🤘
Aww!
Ayyyy!
Our last little 8 day run we made, we played Teenage Dirtbag as our only cover song in the set. It always got people hype!!
Just want to say thank you for the fire track fellas!!
We love you Wheatus!
inb4 Justin sees this
Thank you for the song
Fun fact, the singer of Wheatus was/is a huge fan of The Darkness and he saw them live in the early 2000's!
He / they even commented on this video, too! 😊👍
Well there's a nice backslapping surprise. I think it's a good song btw.
Wheatus did a phenomenal cover of A Little Respect aswell. I saw them live a few years ago too and they were brilliant! 😊
Yes, I love that version!
Yess! They did that when I saw them opening for Busted, that cover was literally the way I found out about the song lmao
Pisses all over the Erasure version. Brilliant cover
Percussionists are so happy because they hit things for a living -- they're constantly working off their angst and rage -- leaving nothing but smiles behind. 😉😁
Plus all the exercise
I'm digging the whole 'my girlfriend kicked me out, and I'm couch surfing until I can get my stuff back' vibe of the studio. Perfect for this video.
The bottle irritates me
@@Dbdilly it adds to the 'she left me, I'm a dirtbag on my bro's couch' vibe.
Hahahaha, perfect! 😅👏
She even cut the sides of his guitar 🤣
😂😂😂
A one hit wonder is one more hit than most of us will ever have.
2 hit wonder.
@@avh700 agreed, there cover of A Little Respect was phenomenal!
Far better to have no hits
Who was it that said everyone wanted a hit?
@@TheGreatGadfly I just had a hit. Bouta have another.
Perfect fusion of poppy hook meeting big guitars (and no solo) and a lyric that a lot of guys can relate to. Genius
i was lucky enough some years ago to tour with Wheatus and even be in the music video for An American in Amsterdam. i can honestly say that it was one of, if not the best tour I've been on. what an underrated band, truly awesome live, great songs and so down to earth, there was never any separation between them and us (the two bands) and they made us feel welcome into their little family from day one. Love you guys, we still have the memories. xx
So cool!
Really? A friend of mine supported him on a solo gig and said he was right up himself
@@pads-zr9ln brendan isn't up himself at all. He's a normal bloke
@@pads-zr9ln Bad day maybe?
@@callumsnaylam4252 maybe, could be a cultural thing aswell, us brits are a bit dry with our sense of humor
The whole album that Teenage Dirtbag is on is criminally underrated. Listen to Truffles, amazing song! "I'm just another gringo, a bitter jalapeño"
I love that whole album too! As a Long Islander, Wannabe Gangster was always a favorite of mine. As a Huntingtonian, and can say from personal experience that Commack is awful lol
Justin, I love the fact that you play your intro live each video, it's so authentic, something I believe we have lost in world. Just like Teenage Dirtbag, it's also so honest in it's emotions, and ours.
Thank you.
Listening to you trying to figure out what the term "dirtbag" means, was the highlight of my day. Lol, the world doesn't deserve you, Justin. I'm so glad that you started this channel, your insight is fantastic, and funny as hell. You got me into playing guitar decades ago, and for that I'm so thankful. Keep it up!
I saw Wheatus at Nottingham Rock City when they were supporting “A”.
The singer said that they were going to do a song off their fifth album and crowd gasped as one at the news that Wheatus had released five albums.
Edit: I will say, in all fairness, that Wheatus weren’t bad.
Ouch 😂
Ditto at Manchester, closing on Dirtbag was great though!
A are absolutely amazing too tbf
@@davidthomas9960 A were fantastic, they were playing the Hi-Fi Serious album in full, which is great, but I’d have liked a bit more A vs Monkey Kong.
“Nerds in paradise” is a fairly accurate description of your channel, I warmly submit.
Oh man I saw Wheatus in Sailors Newquay for free. The band are legends. They hung out afterwards had drinks. Nice down to earth guys. Their set list was Teenage dirtbag couple off their first album then the rest was requests. One of the best nights I've had.
Mr. Hawkins, your sense of humor is so dry... it always puts a smile on my face no matter how the day is going. Another great vid. As for the song.... I think a lot of people could relate to the lyrics in some way. Most of us have been passed over at various times in our lives. The song's catchy, too. Sort of a send off to the 1990's pop vibe, too.
I laugh out loud at least once for every video. Sometimes more--like this time. I'm a fan of your searching for meaning.
seeing your vids in my home feed lowkey makes me so happy keep going dude
The only bit of Teenage Dirtbag that hasn't aged well is the line about having two tickets to Iron Maiden. What kind of teenager can afford one ticket to IM, never mind two? And to give one voluntarily away? She must have been loaded
There's no mention of remuneration, granted, but maybe it's implicit.
Really? That's the only line that hasn't aged well? Not the line about bringing a gun to school? Lol
They were giving Maiden tickets away back then.
@@brad563 that line was always a record scratch when I heard it
Well, in the story of the song, the love interest is the popular girl in school. So it's not too difficult to imagine that perhaps her family is rich and she is spoiled.
I have seen Wheatus 4 times live. I bloody love this band and catch so much flack for it.
Tipsy is a great song for anyone looking for something a bit deeper in the ol' back catalogue.
'You OK love? You've hardly touched your bongos' is the way I check if people are truly OK from now on.
Hi Justin, love the channel. As a teenager once myself, the best tambourine playing I ever saw was by Pete Townsend when The Who recorded a live version of Baba O’Reilly for the movie “The Kids are Alright”. Last seen flying off into the ether, I doubt if the tambourine survived.
I thought there weren't many of us, I too was a teenager once! Small world.
@@dr_jacko wth me too
I have been binge watching your channel , 10 hours and still going. Justin you have such a great demeanour.
Worked with a percussionist that made a crying face while performing holiday songs on sleigh bells; the irony brought me to tears
Saw them in South Africa in 2019 and they really looked like they loved performing this song! Amazing
I see you and raise you an “In the Meantime” by SpaceHog. The bass line alone deserves it’s own episode. Great stuff! Keep it coming
Yup, agreed!
I play this to test basses cause it's easy and it allows you to test the movement of the board well enough.
Last 22 years. That song was released in 1996
That is a great song.
and I think he played a ricky bass as well , in the video at least :)
I saw Wheatus playing at my university in 2019. Justin is bang-on about how happy they look while playing. I've literally never seen a band have a better time playing live
This very song got me into music. I always liked what my parents listened to such as The Beatles and Queen, but I heard this on the radio and it was the first time I wanted to own a song. I got the album that xmas along with a few others from around that time (I got the darkness permission to land the following xmas). I still love this song and Wheatus are a totally underrated band that have a unique and great sound!
The early 2000s were a special time and this song was one of the soundtracks of that era. This song and those years will stay in my heart for the rest of my life.
Song has a specific meaning - Brendan B Brown’s experiences (having to move school as he was unfairly being targeted as a prospective future “school shooter” because he was a fan of heavy metal music) as a “teenage dirtbag”.
Trash Theory covered this. Very interesting video - recommended. 🤟🏻
I don't know if that's the same video as the Vice one on the song, but the story of it is great
@@ollcanoe
🤷🏻 ua-cam.com/video/4myqphgH3Uk/v-deo.html
Trash Theory is great
@@ollcanoe It's not the same video as the Vice one.
Funny mustach, great voice, great content... Awesome song, bless u man!
"their only job is to provide vibes" priceless
2 tambourines, one in each hand and he's wobbling em like that for the grand finale!!
You seem so happy listening to this! I love it!
Much love to you Mr. Hawkins
The high harmony on the chorus of this song is stellar.
Read an interview by the lead singer recently he had given the original recordings of the song to the record company and they’d lost them so he was having to re record the whole song again from scratch so that he had a copy as such
Plus he mentions he sang the vocal on the Mina Suvari bit and was in a rush to record as he’s voice with getting older won’t much longer be able to reach that high a note
Great song…
22 years later us middle aged dirtbags are still rocking to it.
Well done.🎸💪👍🥃
I randomly discovered this channel yesterday. And I've only now just found out who Justin Hawkins is. Makes the existence of this channel feel more special.
My friend saw then with Electric Six in Southampton and they opened with it and told the crowd to go home if that was all they came to hear. It thinned out pretty fast.
What a shame, that sounds like a fun concert to see!
The part that makes this song perfect is the four note riff after "baby" in the chorus, so simple and so perfect
This has become one of my favorite channels very quickly. Mr. Hawkins your taste in music is impeccable.
Deftones - White Maggit was my go to for that era
I think I can take this one on.
In North American high-school society, there are many different sub-cultures of teens: the jocks (athletes), the cool kids (usually from a wealthy family), the nerds (brainiacs who go on to make millions in tech), goths, punks, and yes…the dirt bag. Essential, the dirt bag was any long haired kid that was scruffy, maybe a little anti-social, didn’t play sports or go to dances etc. but was essentially a good kid at heart. And yes…listened to Iron Maiden…and metal in general. Back in the 80’s when I was in high school, kids could smoke and the smoking area was where you best saw these groups hanging out…always amongst their own. The jocks (and back then, the Preps-short for Preppy) got most of the really pretty girls due to their alpha-male status and general douchey ways. And the dirtbag, metal kids usually had long hair-or were trying to grow it out-which looked worse. They sometimes lacked good hygiene, often had bad acne and wore cut-out denim vests over leather jackets, white high-top sneakers and skinny tight jeans. And of course…the ubiquitous concert-shirt. The gorier the better: Maiden, Sabbath, Dio, Ozzy and Metallica et al. I was a long haired teenage musician who had a foot in this camp, but was more of a hair rocker-let’s says little more vain about my appearance 😂At any rate, the jocks usually didn’t like the dirtbags and often picked on them, including resorting to violence. And all of that is captured in this classic song-the longing, the wanting of a pretty, cool girlfriend. Being frustrated knowing that you often had a better personality and more smarts, were kinder etc. than the football players. If they’d only give you a chance. But it was all for naught…the Jocks and Rich Kids usually got most of the girls. And as always, looks were deceiving. These scruffy kids that smoked and tried to look fierce actually were harmless, and typically gathered together on Saturday nights to play Dungeons and Dragons in a parent’s basement and compare notes about their imaginary, non-existent girlfriends. Or about which tv star they would like to ‘shag’. Usually Heather Locklear or Heather Thomas. They often felt misunderstood and generally apart from society. Teenage angst, to the 9th degree.
This song NAILS the feelings. All of them. A classic.
And yes, I know the UK has these groups, too. But growing up in a British family and visiting ‘back home’ I saw first hand (via my cousins) that the divide between kids in ‘high’ school wasnt as deep of a chasm as here. Here it was essentially class warfare..at a teenage level.
People always use 'one-hit wonder' as an insult. My feeling is that you've had one hit you are, within the accepted margins of statistical error, as good a songwriter as anyone who ever lived. And even without the maths, there's a good chance you've had one more hit than whoever's taking an unjustified shot at you.
I tend to agree with you about 'Teenage Dirtbag' but that was an unusually rich period for genius pop. 'Stacey's Mom'. 'The Girl All the Bad Guys Want'. 'Bohemian Like You' 'Toxic'
"Why are percussionists so happy?"
-They can bang all the time while playing a concert.
A dirtbag is a kid from the 80's who was into metal and rock and roll, and represented a threat to conformist middle America. A teenage dirtbag was a kid who wore a jean jacket, smoked and drank, and who listened to metal bands and had long hair.
The Wheatus Album was amazing. One of my favourites growing up.
Thanks Justin for explaining why this is the greatest and catchiest song written for MANY years....totally agree and I have had a steady diet of the greatest punk and pop songs over the last 40 years (from The Saints, Birthday Party, XTC, The Clash, The Sex Pistols, Buzzcocks, Stranglers, The Scientists to Fugazi...to name a few who also have awesome, catchy songs enjoyed by 'smaller audiences' but this song is truly great. If you hear the history behind it, it really is quite sad, intelligent and ironic. People who complain about it do not have any understanding about modern music, no musical experience or appreciation but are probably just envious. Brendan is a genius (14 hours practice on guitar a day? WOW!!)
I think drummers are so happy because they don't have to worry about the harmonic side of music
We play with the bass line
I'm guessing the scratching was a producer's suggestion rather than the bands. Considering scratching + rock was in during that stage.
I triple dog dare you to feature a song by the Bay City Rollers! Hahaha I truly enjoy you & your channel!!!!
Your sad percussionist brought back memories of seeing a sad looking Brian Jones playing the maracas on Symphony For The Devil on The Rolling Stones: Rock n Roll Circus. Perhaps you could do video on that? There are some notable performances by Taj Mahal, The Who, John Lennon with The Dirty Mac. The Rolling Stones didn't release it until 1996. I remember hearing or reading somewhere it was because they felt their performance wasn't up to par.
The Darkness - Growing On Me 🤘 springs to mind 🤘
Thankyou Justin Hawkins for all you do for us here on your channel!I've learned a lot from you and look forward to seeing and hearing more of you.The ppl that have the towards you are very insecure with herself and pretty much do not like themselves. That's just my opinion. From my wife and I we love you keep up the great work
Hey Justin. Pretty new to your channel and I'm loving it. I think we might need to test your distaste for 'rock scratching' by seeing a review of a classic Beastie Boys track. Sabotage?
Tunetastic….videotastic!
For me the scratching is there as an irritant? LOL!!!! Great episode, thanks Justin, 😄👍👍👍👊✌️.
Love this song. Vice did a great documentary on it, well worth a watch.
What a weird little pop/rock combo! Been listening to the playlist on spotify. The bloke is an incredible songwriter. Sort of music I'd listen to by myself, not with mates, though would thoroughly recommend.
It’s a permanent on my playlist. Sits alongside such classics as Heaven and Hell by Sabbath and Touch too much by AC/DC 😄
I saw this band in Williamsburg Brooklyn at, I think it was The North Sixth or some iteration of that venue back in probably 2007 and they had no amps, no floor monitors, no onstage sound whatsoever, everything was direct, even the drummer played through all electronic drums and in-ears - it was the cleanest mix I've heard and the absolute best sounding show I've ever been to.
Such a great song. Tells a story with a happy ending that gives hope to all us dirtbags!
Please cover this song when you tour Australia next month 😊
I actually think they did a decent cover of A Little Respect
Agree
JH you might want to check out the version they did in Paste Studio in 2019. Hilarious to see the big windup for the female vocal part. It’s here on UA-cam. I really enjoy the relaxed vibe of your channel.
Girl all the bad guys want by Bowling for Soup is probably on par with it for me but I loved Teenage Dirtbag back in the day. I get what you mean about the scratching though
This scratching style often served as the universal call for dirtbags of the 2000s era
This song was featured in the movie "Loser" and the "Loser" actors are featured in the music video. 🤓
Quote of the year 2022: 'He's hardly touched his bongos!'. 😂
“I believe in a thing called love” is that better song.
I've never heard that one. Who's that by? 😁🤪😜😇
So glad you said one of your favorite songs ever. One hit wonder only bc of the single aspect. As far as pop-ish bands go they’re easily top 3 fav ever. They have so many awesome songs but only 1 single. Lemonade, song that I wrote when you dissed me, so many others are so fucking good
Arctic Monkeys did a Wheatus by dropping the impossible to follow-up I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, and then remarkably followed it up, consistently.
Nah
Hahahaha that song is uh.... not even close to the level of this song. That song blows.
I mean I like arctic monkeys but somewhat strange comparison lol
[Justin is spot on about the scratching. I first heard this song on CMJ New Music Monthly Volume 87 November 2000 . Loved it. Take the scratching out and the song is timeless.]
I had the Wheatus album and loved it. still remember alot of the lyrics to the B songs :D - Theres a rocket I built, its under my kilt, its coming to blow you away!
First of all Justin, I just wanna say thank you for helping to keep Rock N Roll alive. The Darkness Rocks!!! Also… to this day I still think Teenage Dirtbag is one of the best songs of the 200s. His vocals, and the cheesy scratching are what make it so dam hilarious. There will never be another hit quite like it.
This song is absolutely brilliant, by far my favourite in this naughties rock type of vibe. Just genius. Although I will say if you're asking for better rock songs, I think Arctic Monkeys might have a few.
Beyond that mega-hit first album, 'Lemonade' and 'London Sun' were terrific Wheatus songs.
One of those “LA cool guys” insulted my music by comparing it to Wheatus years ago. Went home and wrote a song (“Trust Fund”) inspired by this track. Currently writing this from the studio that song paid for.
Love this song. We used to play it in my covers band, with me singing as the protagonist, and Lisa, our main (proper!) lead singer singing Noel's part. It worked really well!
They’re a great band who cannot be defined by one song. Have seen them on a few occasions have a fair share of their discography. Brendan is a excellent songwriter, guitarist and singer. 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
12:00 that is such an interesting point. it hjas me wondering, for a lot of one-hit-wonders, maybe it was the case that their debut song was just too good?
Also, on one-hit-wonders, I don't like how that's a pejorative term -- to have a SINGLE chart-topping song in your lifetime is a monumental achievement. Especially if you're a genuine artist and not some record label product.
It is a little bit TOO American "High School" for me. If they did a follow it up with a track now called "I'm just a middle-aged twat" I could definitely be into that 1 though
This is the audio form of American Pie (the movie...inb4 some cheesy Don McLean reply). Hell, the dude from it is in the damn music video.
Love this channel
Feeder - Buck Rogers. Same year and definitely a better radio song. Extremely under looked band. Great song writer grant 👍
For real and just a day
Buck Rogers was undoubtedly an anthem, but for me it’s the rawness and unchecked emotion on (the almost psychedelic) “High” and the spectacular “Shatter” (which, fun fact for non-Feeder fans, was used as the main song for the crazy Russian film adaptation of “The Night Watch” (with “Nochnoy Dozer”taken from a series of really rather good, gritty, Moscow-based dark fantasy books written by Sergei Lukyanenko.). Please give Feeder some love Justin!
Great great song. But doesnt resonate with a whole generation like Wheatus did. Everyone resonates with the character he portraits. Not sure everyone resonated with having a new car the same way.
@@firetv2169 just the way I’m feeling haha yeah was a bit slower wasn’t it yeah just a day the video was cool used to be on kerrang a lot
Exceptionally disappointed this didn't play out to your Teenage Dirtbag montage Monsieur Hawkins. 😩
"Closing Time" by Semisonic, brilliant song! It's 2 years older than 22 years old though.
This is such a coincidence, if you'll permit me the liberty of telling a story to you, i was going to Suffolk from Durham and happened upon Lowestoft on my way there. i was perusing the local charity shops to find some hidden gems for my cd collection and low and behold I found permission to land nestled away at the bottom of a big old bin full of cds for £3.99. I was both enamoured with the price but also disgusted that such an excellent album had been resigned to such a demure disposition, I snagged it before anyone else could in a rush and upon further examination was wheatus' self titled album and evanescence's fallen adjacent to your very own debut album for £1.99 each, I boisterously snatched both of these albums too. now gone are the days of these musical marvels stand perched atop my cd collections standing as three proud kings.
This song is inspired by the singers experience in the 80’s with a “teenage dirtbag” basically a “metal head” who was responsible for a school shooting and so his mom made him transfer to a preppy all boys school much to the singers chagrin. The singer felt like it robbed him of the high school experience and he himself was an outcast and metal t shirt wearing “teenage dirtbag” when they released this song just months later the columbine school shooting happened and the label made them bleep out “gun” in the song which is why he rolls his eyes at that part in the video because he felt it compromised the integrity of the song and his truth.
This - Vice did a great look into the history ua-cam.com/video/2mTq7BSLe74/v-deo.html
@@dandronemoan4041 thats where i learned this lol
I went to all boys school and thought it was great… not cheated of anything.
Dude columbine happened in April, 1999 and the song was released in June, 2000. Your story doesn't hold up.
@@kazman2442 well in their defense, that was months later.....just not a defined amount
I personally love that whole album but I was literally just hoping you'd do this video!
The Darkness - Love is only a feeling, The Killers - Mr. Brightside, Foo Fighters The Pretender, The Fratellis - Chelsea Dagger... Just to name a few. So many great rock songs got written after Teenage Dirtbag. I recon it's a brilliant song, however there were several amazing songs that came after.
Chelsea Dagger is a terrible song. Doesn't belong in there and I fucking hate The Killers but I can see why MB was a hit.
@@Sniffles69 IMO Chelsea Dagger is great, the main melody is almost a ragtime hook. Would be keen on Justin covering the Fratellis on the channel!
I love the idea of the percussionist running on the spot because he has more percussion attached to his ankles 😂 great vid Justin 👌
This can't possibly be the best song ever made, right? I mean it's catchy and everything, but come on...
Not ever made, in the last 22 years!
@@JustinHawkinsRidesAgain i was blown away by your recommendation of Verve's "Life's an ocean", been playing that in repeat these days so i was a bit caught off-guard with this one...
Dedicated Scratchingman. This is my favourite thing ever sir!!
Phoebe Bridges did a fantastic cover of this.
Last week my son was playing teenage dirtbag in his car, he has seen him in a little club, in Bradford, England, they was only 100 in the crowd, the song came out when he was only 2 years old.
It’s a great album too. His version of Have A Little Respect is great.
I love that the heavy guitar is just acoustic through distortion pedals... shouldn't work... but totally does.
You should do a whole series about underrated bands|songs starting with 'Teenage Dirtbag' by Wheatus.
& Next you should revisit 'The Way' by Fastball.
Although, it was created in 1998...
However, perfect in its own right.
Fastball!!! I love them! My favorite will always be Out of My Mind. That song is so beautiful and is such an underrated ear worm.
Would love to see Justin's reactions to the Vice documentary about the history and production of this song. It's a fucking trip.
I've always found this to be one of the worst songs of the 00s .. it's what made that era so insufferable.. it's like the whitest fucking music, in the worst of ways - so much that it makes me hate being white myself -- like is THAT what we do? that's us? fuck .... it's incredible how much this makes me hate rock, and 20 years later I'm sill livid. Fucking awful.
Chill bro.
@@holliswilliams8426 it's been a tough 20 years for mr uppity, still mad at teenage dirtbag
Stroke incoming if you keep up that anger bud, like previous answer chill
If you don't like being white then paint yourself a different colour. A nice shade of green might be nice?
You sound like a pretty cool guy
Justin, I’ve absolutely fell in love with your channel - reminds me of - if “Del Preston” the legendary UK roadie from Wayne’s World 2 was real and had a UA-cam channel. Brilliant work, respect. 💚🙏💚