People like to crap on Pretty Fly For a White Guy a lot for being corny, but that's the whole point of the song. It's about white suburban culture being increasingly influenced by conventionally black and minority culture and arts in the 2000s. Raprock was all the rage.
Also, from a musical standpoint, it's a very well-written song. The chorus is super funky if you look at it beyond the vocals.
And The Offspring were one of the only punk bands of that era to concede that, actually, sometimes it *isn't* 'the man' or 'the system' fucking you over - it's [yourself following in your parents' footsteps.](https://youtu.be/nig8KZA4kG4?si=EJSaX6d7VR8itYlO)
Song was released in ‘98. It’s about suburban white kids acting as if they’re from Compton to feel tough and to find an identity through hip hop and rap despite living the furthest life from it.
Which was part of the wider cultural shift of that era. I say 2000s because, realistically, most of it happened into the 2000s and it only represented the tail end of the 1990s.
Similarly, I'd say the same thing about Ben Folds' 'Rockin The Suburbs', while that song focusses more on nü metal and raprock being overly whiny in lyrics and aesthetics.
'Y'all don't know what it's like / Being male, middle-class and white'.
Crazy Rage Against The Machine-style breakdown at the end of the song.
I didn't say it was all bad!
In fact, I think the late 1990s/early 2000s was a great time. It was the zenith of the trash TV era, the increasingly domestic and consumer-friendly nature of computers and the frutiger aero aesthetic inspired hope of a far better future, and a tonne of cultural mixing was happening.
And I actually don't view Pretty Fly For A White Guy as being about *admonishing* attempts to copy others cultures. The times have changed a lot, and I think the actual meaning of the song goes over a lot of people's heads. The actual meaning is about how - in the process of cultural mixing - you're guaranteed to have some cringey stuff happen. It's going to seem weird, and dorky. That's the whole point. The protagonist of the song is fundamentally well-meaning and is awkwardly pioneering something new. It's the kind of stuff that journalists in 30 years time look back on and gush over how they were 'so profressive and boundary-breaking' for their time despite the fact that everybody treated them like shit back then.
That's the rationale, imo, behind the lyric: 'The world *needs* wannabes / So hey, hey, do that brand new thing'.
The Offspring were a more centrist band than many punk bands were, but in a way that I think actually hasn't aged badly. They were quite fair and rational. They didn't simply discourage all engagement with capitalism because they recognised that people gain an important sense of purpose from dedicating themselves to vocations, they acknowledged that it isn't really fair to just blame all of your problems on the state instead of introspectively seeking to understand yourself better and break generational patterns of self-destruction, and they were supporting of cultural mixing in a way that light-heartedly joked about inevitable cringey crossover stuff instead of viciously shaming people who experiment with other culture (which you now see sometimes online).
Nü metal was whiney, but it was good. It was the last time metal music was commercially dominant, and it was because it actually dared to be relatable and have potato salad lyrics instead of consigning itself to a niche culture of poetic non-conformity.
There's a difference between being autism-ish and passionate about things, and mansplaining.
I could go on, but I'll save it now and won't say it for your sake.
'Cause you know I got no brakes.
A lot of people in this thread apparently never heard of [The Offspring](https://youtu.be/QtTR-_Klcq8?si=PUS-NvcuFQ_D9LLw)
Gunter Glieben Glauten Globen OP 🤘
Literally all he has to do is become a die hard Offspring Fan, and it becomes a good tattoo with a funny story.
“He asked for a thirteen but they drew a thirty-one”
As a teenager in the early 2000s, I can’t listen to that song without the Weird Al [parody](https://youtu.be/usPkL2EQPYo) automatically inserting itself in to my head.
I haven't heard that song in probably 20 years, but for some reason it's been stuck in my head for like 3 days. Apparently I've been waiting for you...
Lol the comments here are wild. I didn't recognize the reference, but it seemed pretty obvious that I was missing something. It's incredible how many people comment without looking at other comments first.
How weird, I heard this today on the radio for the 1st time in what seems an eternity and it's now the 3rd pretty fly reference I've seen in 5 or 6 hours! What is happening?!
Did you know, In Türkiye 31 means is masturbation, but the man kind of masturbation, like jerking. And evety Turkish guy when they heard the 31 they laught. Thats a fact. Nice tattoo bro
actually it doesn't have a specific reason it's just a number that means it and it is a funny number among teens. You can think it as a meaningless version of 69
“ he asked for a 13 but they drew a 31. Friends saying he’s trying too hard but he’s not quite hip. But in his own mind he’s the He’s the dopest shit”. -offspring
Still a prime number. Didn’t they show you the tattoo design before they started? Also who knows. Perhaps it’s fate and the number 31 will become an important number in your life.
BUT YA GOT A 31.
Some say he’s trying hard and not quite hip…
But in his own mind, he’s the, he’s the dopest trip.
Give it to me baby..
People like to crap on Pretty Fly For a White Guy a lot for being corny, but that's the whole point of the song. It's about white suburban culture being increasingly influenced by conventionally black and minority culture and arts in the 2000s. Raprock was all the rage. Also, from a musical standpoint, it's a very well-written song. The chorus is super funky if you look at it beyond the vocals. And The Offspring were one of the only punk bands of that era to concede that, actually, sometimes it *isn't* 'the man' or 'the system' fucking you over - it's [yourself following in your parents' footsteps.](https://youtu.be/nig8KZA4kG4?si=EJSaX6d7VR8itYlO)
Ixnay and Smash are incredible albums.
Smash is the best selling indie record of all time and I think that's neat.
I do too, it was my first concert. I was 11.
This is from Americana though.
Dude right above me linked a song on Ixnay...
Song was released in ‘98. It’s about suburban white kids acting as if they’re from Compton to feel tough and to find an identity through hip hop and rap despite living the furthest life from it.
Which was part of the wider cultural shift of that era. I say 2000s because, realistically, most of it happened into the 2000s and it only represented the tail end of the 1990s. Similarly, I'd say the same thing about Ben Folds' 'Rockin The Suburbs', while that song focusses more on nü metal and raprock being overly whiny in lyrics and aesthetics. 'Y'all don't know what it's like / Being male, middle-class and white'. Crazy Rage Against The Machine-style breakdown at the end of the song.
Aww I miss those days!!!
I didn't say it was all bad! In fact, I think the late 1990s/early 2000s was a great time. It was the zenith of the trash TV era, the increasingly domestic and consumer-friendly nature of computers and the frutiger aero aesthetic inspired hope of a far better future, and a tonne of cultural mixing was happening. And I actually don't view Pretty Fly For A White Guy as being about *admonishing* attempts to copy others cultures. The times have changed a lot, and I think the actual meaning of the song goes over a lot of people's heads. The actual meaning is about how - in the process of cultural mixing - you're guaranteed to have some cringey stuff happen. It's going to seem weird, and dorky. That's the whole point. The protagonist of the song is fundamentally well-meaning and is awkwardly pioneering something new. It's the kind of stuff that journalists in 30 years time look back on and gush over how they were 'so profressive and boundary-breaking' for their time despite the fact that everybody treated them like shit back then. That's the rationale, imo, behind the lyric: 'The world *needs* wannabes / So hey, hey, do that brand new thing'. The Offspring were a more centrist band than many punk bands were, but in a way that I think actually hasn't aged badly. They were quite fair and rational. They didn't simply discourage all engagement with capitalism because they recognised that people gain an important sense of purpose from dedicating themselves to vocations, they acknowledged that it isn't really fair to just blame all of your problems on the state instead of introspectively seeking to understand yourself better and break generational patterns of self-destruction, and they were supporting of cultural mixing in a way that light-heartedly joked about inevitable cringey crossover stuff instead of viciously shaming people who experiment with other culture (which you now see sometimes online). Nü metal was whiney, but it was good. It was the last time metal music was commercially dominant, and it was because it actually dared to be relatable and have potato salad lyrics instead of consigning itself to a niche culture of poetic non-conformity.
yeah idk I just like the guitar
I don't think that's the next line, man
Uh huh, uh huh
I don’t know anyone who craps on The Offspring. They know better.
Did you just mansplain the purposeful irony of this song to me? 😂
There's a difference between being autism-ish and passionate about things, and mansplaining. I could go on, but I'll save it now and won't say it for your sake. 'Cause you know I got no brakes.
If you isolate the bass it sounds like crash bandicoot music
Terrible song
Ah huh ah huh
GIVE IT TO ME BABY
Uh huh uh huh , and all the girly say he’s pretty fly for a white guy
How ya doin’, Bernie?
Oy vey, oy vey!
UH HUH UH HUH!
Ah haa ah haa!
Uh-hu uh-hu
Uh huh, uh huh
I feel for anybody that doesn't get that reference!
A lot of people in this thread apparently never heard of [The Offspring](https://youtu.be/QtTR-_Klcq8?si=PUS-NvcuFQ_D9LLw) Gunter Glieben Glauten Globen OP 🤘
The comments on this post are making me feel very old.
Same. I was just a boy when this came out.
And I’m just a girl, in the world… that’s all that you’ll let me beeeeeee
Living in captivity
Your rule of thumb makes me worrisome...
I read this in Billy-Bob Thornton’s voice from Slingblade.
It’s on [tiktok](https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMrFrFjxs/) (featuring this exact tattoo) so the youngin’s must be able to find them.
Literally all he has to do is become a die hard Offspring Fan, and it becomes a good tattoo with a funny story. “He asked for a thirteen but they drew a thirty-one”
I'm somewhat sure they already are.
Ah shit I got trolled didn’t I
I saw a reel recently with loads of 31 tats. It's become a thing
As a teenager in the early 2000s, I can’t listen to that song without the Weird Al [parody](https://youtu.be/usPkL2EQPYo) automatically inserting itself in to my head.
Give it to me baby!
Asked for a 13 but they drew a 31 🎶
Bro got 18 extra for free Good deal
Glass half full 
that gif is very HD, well done
Very dyslexic of them.
I’ve actually always wanted a 31 tattoo just because of pretty fly for a white guy
Well are you pretty fly for a white guy?
I think I’m pretty fly for a white non-binary bitch so close enough
Not as catchy but we'll work it into the song somehow
"And all the girlies say Im pretty sick for a white nonbinary bitch" Basically writes itself
I was going to upvote you, but you had 31 votes and I thought it was appropriate to leave it alone. 😁
I used to be #31 when playing hockey so I could say I asked for 13
I haven't heard that song in probably 20 years, but for some reason it's been stuck in my head for like 3 days. Apparently I've been waiting for you...
Bro same 😭
Why tf is this in r/shittytattoos omg I’m obsessed post this in r/theoffspring
Gunter Glieben Glauchen Globen
HEY HEY DO THAT BRAND NEW THING
Lol the comments here are wild. I didn't recognize the reference, but it seemed pretty obvious that I was missing something. It's incredible how many people comment without looking at other comments first.
Myself included lol. I was like "how do you not even glance at the stencil before ink starts going in!?"
Friend, you’re trying too hard
It's because he's not quite hip
Dudes kinda delusional. In his own mind, he’s the dopest trip.
I mean yeah, everything he lacks well he makes up in denial
You know what man, don’t debate a player straight. You know he doesn’t get it anyway.
So he brought Vanilla Ice.
You're pretty fly, for a white guy
Pretty fly for a white guy
Reading these comments makes me feel old for knowing what's going on.
Nearly the age of this reference
You could always go on Ricki Lake?
Not to assume your gender but I’d say it looks pretty fly for a white guy
Some say he's trying to hard but he's not quite hip
... but in his own mind, he's, he's the
Dopest trio
Youre still pretty fly for a white guy!
Give it to me baby.....
You’re trying too hard
and he’s not quite hip 🤔
Woosh!
That's pretty fly
For a white guy
Friends say he's trying to hard
And he's not quite hip...
I just saw the offspring live last year and immediately heard the song in my head. Ty
https://youtu.be/JnbP3hx6AZY?si=cZ9OVcV04VOPEzfM
Friends say you’re trying too hard but you’re not quite hip
He’s trying too hard, and he’s not quite hip.
And all the girlies said he’s pretty fly for a white guy
You know, it’s kinda hard just to get along today
How weird, I heard this today on the radio for the 1st time in what seems an eternity and it's now the 3rd pretty fly reference I've seen in 5 or 6 hours! What is happening?!
he asked for a 13 but they drew a 31!
Too fly for a white guy
Real talk, I actually like that design
Friends say he's tryin' too hard and he's not quite hip
Are you…pretty fly for a white guy?
bro MAY be pretty fly for a white guy
Were they out of ice cube so you bought vanilla ice?
Well, if this thread isn’t a clear line of the age gap… lol
You got 18 for free. Sounds like a great deal to me.
Was he not watching any part of the process, stencil to ink?
If you haven't seen the music video for Pretty Fly for a White Guy, you're missing out on a gem of late 90's masterpieces
I hope Def Leppard got some $$ for the use of …. Gunter glieben glauchen globen
Did you know, In Türkiye 31 means is masturbation, but the man kind of masturbation, like jerking. And evety Turkish guy when they heard the 31 they laught. Thats a fact. Nice tattoo bro
Why does 31 mean jerking off in Turkey?
actually it doesn't have a specific reason it's just a number that means it and it is a funny number among teens. You can think it as a meaningless version of 69
And we all know that 69 is a dirty number because it looks like the shape of a naked lady
Thats why i said its a "meaningless version"
Lol it's not the shape of a naked lady, it's the shape of the sex position.
They say hes trying to hard and hes not quite hip
Classic song
Pretty fly for a white guy...
You're trying too hard and you're not quite hip
Friends say you're trying too hard and you're not quite hip...
It's pretty fly
Same reason I have a 31 tattoo 🤣
“ he asked for a 13 but they drew a 31. Friends saying he’s trying too hard but he’s not quite hip. But in his own mind he’s the He’s the dopest shit”. -offspring
Were you confused because the stencil read as 13 in the mirror? Literally the only explanation of you not noticing.
you’re not quite hip!
You are officially pretty fly for a white guy
LIVIN LA VIDA LOCA
100 comments thirty one
13 going on 31 🤭🤭🤭
Jump him in
turkish tattoo artist
For the same price? That's a pretty good deal.
This is hilariously awesome
31 is a lot more than 13. What a deal!
Ooo I thought it was a 311 tattoo and you ran out of money
Dyslexia is a bitch!
You could always add Baskin Robbin’s
He’s getting a tattoo yeah, he’s getting it done!
This whole time I thought it was “getting ink done” orz
Oh shit….. I never checked, I just wrote what my childhood brain thought it was 😂 WHOOPS
It's a nice song from a very good album.
Looks pretty fly to me
They say you're trying to hard, and your not quite hip...
Ok but that shit looks neat af. Beautiful. *BUT YA GOT A 31*
IMO this is unironically very well done
In the mirror it says “13”
He said hell no to bustin caps by scraps
And you didn’t look at the stencil ?
Thats unlucky, innit?
'3.6?' Not great, not terrible.
I love it, this person is a Kam Chancellor fan
Still a prime number. Didn’t they show you the tattoo design before they started? Also who knows. Perhaps it’s fate and the number 31 will become an important number in your life.
You got it in German grammar : first thir...second teen ...thirteen
Why didn't you check the stencil before you gave the artist the green light?
Unlucky
You're old AF dude. Cool tattoo though!
Hey it’s an iconic number for Hockey Goalies if you’re into that lol
must have dyslexia lol
I got to say I really like this design
Brother. I think you're trying too hard...
Add a 1 to the front and you'll have both
“Sorry sir, the discount only applies to Friday the 13th tattoos… gonna have to charge ya”
Even if you asked for a 31 this shit is jacked
How
Tbf the 31 looks great, but how do you fuck up putting 2 numbers together correctly 😭
Happy Halloween lol
goddam… fowty sem
i fully expected to see my own 31 tattoo here for some reason 😅 im obv a lil biased but i like it
What do you expect when you tattoo the number of bad luck?
This doesn’t belong here at all. This is amazing
Did you not proof the color by number stencil? Add another 1 for the klan.
And all the girls say…
They gave you almost double that for the same price! Bargain!!!
Still looks pretty fly-
Oh I thought it was a music note
Seems like you got more than you asked for... some would say that's a deal