The Offspring - Pretty Fly - Meaning of the song
Fly is a slang term for "cool," and this song calls out youngsters who becomes wannabe gangstas as its trendy. Guitarist Noodle explained:
"It's about a kid that tries to mingle with the cool gangsters and it just doesn't work out. He makes a complete fool of himself. It's about guys who want to be so cool." Offspring frontman Dexter Holland added:
"I always took 'fly' to be this kind of word that white people co-opted from the black world, going all the way back to Superfly and other blaxploitation movies," he explained. "Once it has been taken up by white culture, it was kind of the opposite of fly, right? I knew that some people would pick up on the obviousness of the fact that the song was taking the piss out of a certain kind of person. And I figured that the guys who thought it was about them would think it was cool and like it. Even if they didn't get that the joke was on them."
Sugar Ray's "Fly" director McG, who went on to direct action flicks like Charlie's Angels and Terminator Salvation, helmed the music video about a suburban white kid who tries to earn a cool rep around the neighborhood. Offspring frontman Dexter Holland hoped to get Seth Green for the role, but the part went to unknown actor Guy Cohen, who also appeared in the band's "Why Don't You Get a Job?" clip.
The Offspring - Pretty Fly - Lyrics
Gunter glieben glauten globen Give it to me, baby! Uh huh, uh huh! Give it to me, baby! Uh huh, uh huh! Give it to me, baby! Uh huh, uh huh! And all the girlies say, I'm pretty fly for a white guy Uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, cinco, seis You know, it's kinda 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 Gotta 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 that you'll know you can always go on Ricki Lake The world needs wannabes, ah Hey, hey, do that brand-new thing! Give it to me, baby! Uh huh, uh huh! Give it to me, baby! Uh huh, uh huh! Give it to me, baby! Uh huh, uh huh! And all the girlies 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 cruisin' in his Pinto, he sees homies as he pass But if he looks twice, they're gonna kick his lily ass So don't debate, a player straight You know he really doesn't get it anyway Gotta 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 that you'll know you can always go on Ricki Lake The world loves wannabes, ah Hey, hey, do that brand-new thing! Now he's gettin' a tattoo, yeah, he's gettin' ink done He asked for a 13 but they drew a 31 Friends say, he's tryin' too hard and he's not quite hip But in his own mind, he's the, he's the dopest trip Give it to me, baby! Uh huh, uh huh! Give it to me, baby! Uh huh, uh huh! Give it to me, baby! Uh huh, uh huh! Uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, cinco, seis So don't debate, a player straight You know he really doesn't get it anyway Gotta 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 that you'll know you can always go on Ricki Lake The world needs wannabes, ah The world loves wannabes, ah Let's get some more wannabes, ah Hey, hey, do that brand-new thing!
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