Ryan Dale

MUSIC 1010

1
 The musicians/band I want to present today is….

The reason I chose this band is, as weird as it is and they are, they hold a special place
in my life. They were the first band I ever listened to and their album Americana was
the first album (on cassette believe it or not) I ever bought. They got me into that
genre of alternative/punk rock which I continue to expand upon till this day as a 30
year old man. When listening to this, it brings me back to my rebellious teenage
years. Whether it was kicking back at a friend’s house or just driving around, these
guy’s music and each song brings back its own unique memory. It brings me great
pleasure in diving deep into this band and get some background along with music.
Also, I get to listen to one of my favorite bands and call it schoolwork. Please enjoy!

2
 Brian "Dexter" Holland : Vocals, guitar

Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman : Guitar, vocals

Gregory "Greg K" Kriesel : Bass, vocals

Pete Parada : Drums (2007 – Present)

Ron Welty : Drums, vocals (1987-2003)

Adam "Atom" Willard: Drums (2003-2007)

In the year 1984, in Orange County, California, and even more specifically, Garden
Grove, California, were two high school students attending Pacifica High School. This
is where rock would change forever. Brian “Dexter” Holland and Greg Kiesel would
start a local punk band by the name of Manic Subsidal. This is the original duo that
would later become the Offspring. But, lurking in the underbelly of the high school,
was their future lead guitarist. Most would expect it to be another fellow student, but
alas, this is punk rock and they don’t play by normal rules. It was the school janitor by
the name of Kevin Wasserman best know as Noodles. In 1986, they picked up their
drummer friend Ron Welty and this when they changed the name officially and
recorded their first single, “I’ll Be Waiting/Blackball” and first demo tape.

3
 Discography
• The Offspring (Nemesis/Cargo, 1989 reissued on Nitro, 1995)
• Ignition (Epitaph, 1992)

• Smash (Epitaph, 1994)

• Ixnay on the Hombre (Columbia, 1997)

• Americana (Columbia, 1998)

• Conspiracy of One (Columbia, 2000)

• Splinter (Columbia, 2003)

• Greatest Hits (Columbia, 2005)

• Rise And Fall, Rage And Grace (Columbia, 2009)

• Days Go By (Columbia, 2012)

In 1989, they signed with Nemesis Records and debuted with their self-titled album
that only had 5000 copies and released on vinyl only. This album was later released
on CD in 1995. In 1992, they signed to Epitaph Records, which was formed by the
guitarist for Bad Religion Breet Gurewitz and released their album Ignition. 2 years
later, in 1994, they would release one of their most successful albums to date, Smash.
Some of their most famous hits came off this album: "Come Out and Play", "Self
Esteem" and "Gotta Get Away". With the success of Smash, they left Epitaph Records
and signed with a more know record company, Columbia Records, and this would
remain their home to date. In 1997, they would release a lesser known and popular
album, Ixnay on the Hombre. But it wasn’t a lemon, it did sell over 3 million records
but comparing to Smash and their next album, Americana, it did not do as well. In
1998, they release Americana, which is arguably, their best album to date. With hits
such as, "Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)", "Why Don't You Get a Job?" and "The Kids
Aren't Alright", its hard to argue against the point. It reached number 2 on the
Billboard 200 and sold over 10 million copies. In 2000, Conspiracy of One was
released and went platinum with its single hit: “Original Prankster”. When coming up
with a follow up for Conspiracy, long time drummer, Ron Welty, left the band and was
replaced by Adam Willard. In 2003, their album Splinter was released with mixed
reviews even though it still did well.

4
In 2005, they released their Greatest Hits album and played the famous Vans Warped
Tour for the first time. This is one the premier places to perform as a punk rock band.
Unfortunately, for the band, they again had to replace their drummer during this tour
with Pete Parada who is currently their drummer today. In 2008, they released Rise
and Fall, Rage and Grace whose single, “You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid’ went Gold. 4 years
later in 2012, they released their last album, “Days Go By”, and it went platinum. To
date, the Offspring have sold over 17 million albums in the United States, according
to Nielsen SoundScan.

5
 Pretty fly (for a white guy)
• Written by Brian “Dexter” Holland
• Album: Americana
• Length: 3:12 minutes

Americana debuted in 1998 from Columbia Records. The track was written in 1996 in
Eldorado Recording Studio in Hollywood, California by the lead singer, Brian “Dexter”
Holland. Of course, the team behind this is the band itself. The meaning of this song
is not as deep as the Kids aren’t alright. This song is the story of a white guy
(suprising) who is trying to fit in and be cool. This was written mostly for the lead
singer, Dexter. Growing up in Orange county/Huntington beach, California, the
pressure to be a cool and hip guy is always there. The reputation of white guys is they
are geeky and not with the times. This is a goofy song just like many of there songs
and they are known for that goofiness. 15

Listening Guide:
0:00-0:07 - "Gunter glieben glauchen globen" from Def Leppard's song "Rock of
Ages," chanted as a replacement for the traditional "1, 2, 3, 4" to start the recording
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretty_Fly_(For_a_White_Guy)
0:08-0:10 - Symbol crash with rolling drums
0:10-0:23 – Cow Bell, crow sounder, drums, and female and male vocals. Ascending.
0:23-0:33 - Distorted electric guitar, bass guitar, drums
0:33-0:36 - Spanish counting by guitarist. Melody.
0:36-0:49 – Verse 1 begins with lead vocals. Guitar, bass, and drums in background.

6
Sharp ascend 0:47-0:49 for emphasis
0:49-1:15 – Verse 1. 0:56-0:57 Vocals pitch goes lower for humorous effect. 1:00-1:12
Vocals pitch goes high almost screaming for humorous effect.
1:15-1:17 - Vocals stop. Verse 1 ends. Cow bell.
1:17-1:30 – Chorus begins. Guitar, bass, and drums. Timbre. Female and Male vocals
alternate descending pitch and melody.
1:30-1:43 – Verse 2 begins. Rap Type vocals with a melodic guitar strum and smooth
bass line. 1:42-1:44 Pitch ascending on vocals.
1:43-2:09 - Verse 2 continues. Guitar, bass, and drums with vocals. Whole band
vocals.
2:09-2:23 - Speed of song slows and vocals go back to rap type. Bass line slows down.
Guitar continues. Verse 2 ends.
2:23-3:12 - Chorus repeats 2 times.
3:12-3:14 - All music stops except for cow bell.

6
 The Kids aren’t Alright
• Written by Brian “Dexter” Holland
• Album: Americana
• Length: 3:00 minutes

Americana debuted in 1998 from Columbia Records. The track was written in 1996 in
Eldorado Recording Studio in Hollywood, California by the lead singer, Brian “Dexter”
Holland. Of course, the team behind this is the band itself. The meaning of this song
is as kids we are so innocent and have these huge and promising dreams of becoming
something great like an astronaut or race car driver. But, as it says in the song, the
worst dream is reality. It continues to go on to tell the sad story of reality when we do
not become those things. It brings up suicide, drugs, and dealing with those things.
15

Listening guide:
0:00-0:10 – Rhythm electric guitar with a up and down melody by itself.
0:10-0:21 – Drums come in here with an emphasis on cymbals. Rhythm.
0:21-0:39 – Bass guitar and lead guitar come in. Tempo increases.
0:39-0:57 – Verse 1 begins. Vocals begin. Ascending pitch till chorus. Fast tempo.
0:58-1:19 – Chorus Begins.
1:20-1:37 – Vocals stop, and lead guitar pitch increases with a medium tempo and
rhythm. Chorus ends.
1:37-1:55 – Verse 2 begins. Vocals begin with whole band singing “Wohhhh” in
background. Upbeat tempo and very melodic.

7
1:55-2:15 – Chorus begins.
2:15-2:20 – Vocals stop with same lead guitar riffs.
2:20-2:34 – Lead electric guitar solo with drums, bass, and rhythm guitar in
backgrounds. Roller coaster of pitch with solo.
2:34-3:02 – Chorus begins and ends song with a powerful guitar riff.

7
 Original Prankster
• Written by Brian “Dexter” Holland and Redman
• Album: Conspriracy of One
• Length: 3:40 minutes

Conspiracy of One was written and debuted in 2000. It had the single hit, “Original
Prankster”. It is a play on Ice Cube’s “Original Gangster”. It features RedMan on the
track. The song is a very simple song with a sweet beat. It is about not being too
serious and live life to the fullest. 17

Listening guide:
0:00 – 0:12 - Intro. Maracas shaking with electric guitar riffs. Ascending melody.
0:12-0:24 - Intro continues with the addition of cow bell strikes. Upbeat melody. 0:20
– You can do it! Vocal shout out
0:24-0:26 - Verse 1 begins. Vocals only.
0:26-0:52 Verse 1 continues. High pitched vocals with low bass line and cow bell
strikes. Guitar, bass, drums and vocals. 0:50-0:52 Ascending pitch into chorus
0:52- 1:19 - Chorus begins. Distorted Vocals with low pitch. Rhythm. 1:07 Redman
“Original Prankster” 1:10 Redman “Original Yeah” 1:14 Redman “Original Prankster”
1:19-1:31 – Vocals stop. Guitar, drums, and bass only. Melody.
1:31- 1:58 - Verse 2 begins. Vocals, guitar, bass and drums.
1:58-2:25 - Verse 2 ends and Chorus begins. 2:07 Redman “Original Prankster” 2:10
Redman “Original Yeah” 2:14 Redman “Original Prankster”
2:25-2:37 – Vocals end. Maraca shakes with guitar riffs with quiet pitch. Melody.

8
2:37-2:51 - Whisper type vocals come in. Low pitch.
2:51-3:03 - Normal pitch vocals with very rhythmic melody.
3:03-3:33 - Chorus begins. Distorted Vocals with low pitch. Rhythm. 3:07 Redman
“Original Prankster” 3:10 Redman “Original Yeah” 3:14 Redman “Original Prankster”
3:33-3:40 – Guitar strum with fade into end of song.

8
 Self Esteem
• Written by Brian “Dexter” Holland
• Album: Smash
• Length: 4:21 minutes

This song is off the album Smash. It is one of their most popular songs. It was written
in 1994 by the lead singer, Brian “Dexter” Holland. The meaning of the song is as the
title of the song says about self-esteem. It is the story of a guy who is in love with a
girl, but she mistreats him and abuses him mentally. He stays in the relationship even
though it’s abusive and it is the only thing that tells him he is wanted. But, as
miserable as he is, he would even more miserable without her, so he puts up with it.
So, all the abuse and self esteem problems that he has around her, he stills need her
around at whatever cost. 16

Listening Guide:
0:00-0:07 – Whole band vocals “Lalalala” almost drunk rhythm.
0:07-0:18 – Rhythm electric guitar, lead electric guitar, bass, and drums all play a slow
tempo low pitch melodic chords
0:18-0:29 – Bass guitar and drums only with the rhythm led by cymbals. Ends with a
slide on electric guitar.
0:29-0:49 – Bass guitar and drums continue with vocals to begin Verse 1.
0:49-1:05 – Lead and rhythm guitar come in strong with slow tempo. Melody. Verse 1
ends.
1:05-1:26 – Chorus begins with high pitch vocals and all instruments increase in pitch,

9
timbre, tempo and very melodic.
1:26-1:41 – Verse 2 begins only with bass and drums. 1:35 Heavy guitar riff enters
and begins into Chorus.
1:41- 2:27 - Chorus begins with all instruments with increased pitch and tempo.
2:27-2:45 – Chorus ends along with vocals. Bass and drums only leading into Verse 3.
2:45-3:45 - Verse 3 Begins with only bass, vocals, and drums. 2:50 – Electric guitar
comes in to lead into chorus.
3:45-4:20 – Repeat of Chorus 2x and finish off with a strong vocal and guitar chord.

9
1. https://www.pinterest.com/silvabros/sean-gordon-murphy/?lp=true
2. https://www.etsy.com/listing/488568943/punk-rock-skull-skeleton-rock-and-roll
3. https://chorus.fm/news/the-offspring-are-recording/
4. https://www.amazon.com/Americana-Offspring/dp/B00000DHRZ
5. https://www.facebook.com/cnccband/posts/10155375877297618
6. http://www.amiright.com/photoshops/o/offspringalbum_1132854798.shtml
7. http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/the-offspring/images/29352085/title/pretty-fly-white-guy-screencap
8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfpmfeZQ6Ug
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_Prankster
10. https://straightonmusic.com/2016/12/to-self-esteem-twn-offspring-se-vlaxikh-ekdoxh-exei-allh-xarh/
11. https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/the-offspring
12. http://player.listenlive.co/38041/en/artist/24_23a03e33-a603-404e-bcbf-2c00159d7067/biography
13. http://www.artistdirect.com/artist/bio/offspring/474954
14. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Offspring_discography
15. http://offspring.com/community/archive/index.php/t-36139.html
16. http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/4051/
17. http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1075

10