“Teenage Dirtbag”
Writers: Brendan B. Brown
Original Release Date: July 17, 2000
If you’re wondering what one of the best sing-along songs in the world is, it’s Wheatus’ “Teenage Dirtbag”.
Seriously, who doesn’t love this song? You might not have been old enough to appreciate it when it first came out, but it’s still so good. The nasally voice, the Iron Maiden name-drop, the aggressive guitar in the chorus—it all comes together to make this perfect angsty pop-punk song from the 2000s. And it still gives dirtbags a little bit of hope: maybe that girl you have a thing for really does like the same music as you. Anything could happen!
The Bottom Line hasn’t been around for very long, but since their formation, they’ve managed to produce some decent covers (and an enjoyable EP). Their take on the Wheatus song is a little faster, and grittier, but still just as easy to sing along to as the original. They stayed true to the original’s early 2000s sound while still giving it their own spin and it feels like exactly what you’d expect: an updated pop-punk version of an existing pop-punk song.
Despite listening to both of them five times in a row, I still can’t decide which version I prefer. The original feels more nostalgic, but I like how The Bottom Line made it feel modern without changing it too much.