Course:Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus
| CRWR 501P 003 |
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| Advanced Writing of Poetry |
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"Teenage Dirtbag" by Wheatus
"Teenage Dirtbag" is a song by the pop/rock band Wheatus. It was the band’s debut in 2000, and remains its most well-known song over two decades later. Though the era of the song is ambiguous, the band’s lead singer (and writer of the song) Brendan B Brown was born in 1973, placing his high school years between 1986 and 1991. The song is written from the point of view of a teenager who is seen as a loser in his high school. He is pining after one of the girls in his class named Noelle, who wears “Keds and tube socks” like Baby in Dirty Dancing and has an asshole boyfriend. The narrator is sure that she would never look at him in real life, because he’s “just a teenage dirtbag, baby” and listens to Iron Maiden (which in the 80s and 90s was considered to be a sign of devil-worship). He describes a dream that he has about her, in which Noelle approaches him on prom night with two tickets to Iron Maiden’s concert.
Mainly because Brown was 27 when the song released, "Teenage Dirtbag" is largely seen as an ironic song. You can hear Brown’s attempt to make his voice sound younger in the vocals; the result is a slightly snivelly character suited to the story told by the lyrics. Interestingly, the song is taken seriously by some teenagers who relate to the narrative, but most adults agree that "Teenage Dirtbag" is a satirical reflection of teenage angst.
I was introduced to "Teenage Dirtbag" in overheard iTunes clips and “Summer 2006 Road Trip Mix” CDs. Like many songs from my childhood, I rediscovered it in my adulthood and now enjoy it unironically. I’m interested by works like this: humorous pieces that are also serious. The premise pokes fun at tropes, or even at the self, but is also a quality work in its genre/form, and fully commits to the character and premise (in other words, there is no punchline). Though I have yet to write a poem that fits in this category, when I hear "Teenage Dirtbag" I am reminded how seriously I took myself as a teen, even though my problems were pretty minor. The song prompts me to inject some of my teenage voice into my work; Teenage Me was dramatic and full of inspiration, and I would do well sometimes to follow her lead in her approach to poetry. I am also reminded that I don't need permission to create work that isn't all that serious. Like "Teenage Dirtbag", I can write something funny that is still well-made.