Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)
The Offspring
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You know it's kind of hard Just to get along today Our subject isn't cool But he fakes it anyway He may not have a clue And he may not have style But everything he lacks Well he makes up in denial So don't debate, a player straight You know he really doesn't get it anyway He's gonna play the field, and keep it real For you no way, for you no way So if you don't rate, just overcompensate At least you'll know you can always go on Ricki Lake The world needs wannabe's So do that brand new thing Give it to me baby Give it to me baby Give it to me baby And all the girls say I'm pretty fly (for a white guy) He needs some cool tunes Not just any will suffice But they didn't have Ice Cube So he bought Vanilla Ice Now cruising in his Pinto, he sees homies as he pass But if he looks twice They're gonna kick his lily ass Now he's getting a tattoo He's gettin' ink done He asked for a '13', but they drew a '31' Friends say he's trying too hard And he's not quite hip But in his own mind He's the dopest trip So don't debate, a player straight You know he really doesn't get it anyway He's gonna play the field, and keep it real For you no way, for you no way So if you don't rate, just overcompensate At least you'll know you can always go on Ricki Lake The world needs wannabe's The world loves wannabe's So let's get some more wannabe's And do that brand new thing
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Written by: Bryan Keith Holland
Lyrics © Round Hill Music Big Loud Songs
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Album Release"Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)" is a track from The Offspring's fifth studio album, "Americana," which was released in 1998.
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Chart PerformanceThe song debuted on top of the charts in more than 10 countries, including Australia, Norway, and the UK. In the US, it peaked at number 53 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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Streaming SuccessAs of 2021, the song has garnered over 238 million streams on Spotify.
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Music Video RecognitionThe music video for "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)" won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video in 1999.
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Satirical LyricsThe song is a satirical take on a white wannabe gangster, it uses humor to address cultural appropriation and identity issues.
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German Count in the IntroThe song's intro prominently features a woman counting in German. This unusual choice was inspired by a Def Leppard song that used a similar device.
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Sample UseThe song samples the recognizable riff from "Rock of Ages" by Def Leppard, the main theme of which was also borrowed from "Una Paloma Blanca" by George Baker Selection.
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Cover VersionsNumerous artists have covered "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)" in various styles. Some notable examples include Richard Cheese's lounge-style interpretation and "Weird Al" Yankovic's parody version, titled "Pretty Fly for a Rabbi."
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Use in MediaThe song has been featured in several TV shows, video games, films, and commercials, including The Simpsons, The Drew Carey Show, Charlie's Angels, 10 Things I Hate About You, and the Joe Boxer underwear ad campaign.
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Reception and ImpactAlthough the song didn't initially receive critical acclaim, its popularity boosted The Offspring's visibility and recognition, contributing to the band's global success.
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Citation
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"Pretty Fly (For a White Guy) Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 13 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/8146223/The+Offspring/Pretty+Fly+%28For+a+White+Guy%29>.
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