Pretty Fly ( for a White Guy ) - wikipedia Pretty Fly ( for a White Guy ) `` Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) '' Single by The Offspring from the album Americana B - side `` Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) ( The Geek Mix ) '' Released November 9, 1998 Format Vinyl cassette CD Recorded 1998 Genre Punk rock Length 3 : 07 Label Columbia Songwriter ( s ) Dexter Holland Producer ( s ) Dave Jerden The Offspring singles chronology `` I Choose '' ( 1997 ) `` Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) '' ( 1998 ) `` Why Do n't You Get a Job ? '' ( 1999 ) `` I Choose '' ( 1997 ) `` Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) '' ( 1998 ) `` Why Do n't You Get a Job ? '' ( 1999 ) Music video `` Pretty Fly ( for a White Guy ) '' on YouTube `` Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) '' is a song by American rock band The Offspring. It is the fourth track from their fifth studio album Americana ( 1998 ) and was released as the first single from the album. It achieved significant pop and rock and alternative radio play and popularity, peaking at number 53 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 5 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks, and number 3 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song reached the charts in over 15 countries and topped the charts in nine of these, including Australia, where it went four times platinum, and the United Kingdom, making it one of the most commercially successful singles released by the band. The song is a mocking portrayal of a white man who likes to act like an African - American stereotype. The song appears as the seventh track on their Greatest Hits ( 2005 ). Contents 1 Composition and lyrics 2 Track listing 2.1 Cassette single and 7 '' black vinyl 2.2 Initial pressing 2.3 Australia CD Maxi 2.4 Italy 12 '' black vinyl 2.5 Promo 12 '' black vinyl 2.6 Promo CD 3 Music video 3.1 DVD appearances 4 Rock Band and Guitar Hero 5 Charts 5.1 Weekly charts 5.2 Year - end charts 6 Certifications 7 Antecedents and descendants 8 References 9 External links Composition and lyrics Beginning with a sample of the pseudo-German nonsense phrase `` 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, the song ridicules a `` wannabe gangsta '' who is immersed in hip - hop culture not because he truly loves or understands it, but because it is trendy, makes him feel tough ( `` 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 '' ), and because he believes it attracts women ( `` and all the girlies say I 'm pretty fly, for a white guy '' ). As summed up by Dexter Holland, the people described in the lyrics `` are from, like, Omaha, Nebraska, regular white - bread boys, but who act like they 're from Compton. The song was the genesis of the metal / post-avant - garde movement with its early tendencies in the genre defining the late 90 's early 00 's. It 's so fake and obvious that they 're trying to have an identity. '' Holland detailed that he meets many teenagers like those in his native Orange County, `` going to the mall, where they buy FUBU, Tommy Hilfiger, and Ice Cube 's latest record. '' Given rap culture is the starting point, Holland clarified that it was not an attack on African - Americans, but `` poseurs of any kind '', but without wanting `` to be preachy about it... We 're getting amusement out of it more than anything else. '' Track listing Cassette single and 7 '' black vinyl No. Title Length 1. `` Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) '' 3 : 08 2. `` Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) '' ( The Geek mix ) 3 : 01 Initial pressing No. Title Length 1. `` Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) '' 3 : 08 2. `` Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) '' ( The Geek mix ) 3 : 07 3. `` All I Want '' ( Live ) 2 : 02 4. `` Pretty Fly ( for a White Guy ) '' ( Spanish version ) 3 : 08 Australia CD Maxi No. Title Length 1. `` Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) '' 3 : 08 2. `` Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) '' ( The Geek mix ) 3 : 07 3. `` No Brakes '' 2 : 06 Italy 12 '' black vinyl No. Title Length 1. `` Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) '' 3 : 08 2. `` Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) '' ( The Geek Mix ) 3 : 07 3. `` Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) '' ( The Baka Boys remix ) 3 : 01 4. `` All I Want '' ( Live ) 2 : 02 Promo 12 '' black vinyl No. Title Length 1. `` Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) '' ( The Baka Boys Low Rider remix ) 2. `` Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) '' ( The Baka Boys remix ) 3 : 01 3. `` Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) '' ( Dust Bros Space Echo remix ) 4. `` Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) '' ( Dust Bros Dust mix ) Promo CD No. Title Length 1. `` Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) '' ( album version ) 3 : 11 2. `` Callout Hook # 1 '' 0 : 10 3. `` Callout Hook # 2 '' 0 : 05 Music video In the video, directed by McG, the video begins with the `` white guy '' singing the opening lines and with Offspring guitarist Noodles walking on the pavement with his guitar, playing the introductory riff. The `` white guy '' drives through town in his lowrider and tries to act cool in front of people, playing with his car 's hydraulic system and interrupting a break dance session to dance himself. He is then carried by girls watching it to a pool party and thrown into the pool. He jumps out of the pool only to find a bunch of bikini clad dancers in front of him. These scenes are cut by the band 's playing. The video ends with the `` white guy '' returning home and accidentally scaring his little sister, wearing a fairy costume, because of his dishevelled appearance. According to Dexter Holland, the band wanted Seth Green to play the `` white guy '', but he was unavailable. After seeing an audition tape with `` five unknowns '', they settled on Guy Cohen, who went on to cameo in the `` Why Do n't You Get a Job ? '' video and occasionally appear at Offspring concerts. DVD appearances The music video also appears on the Complete Music Video Collection DVD. It was released in 2005. The DVD also contains a storyboard version of the video ( in which the storyboard plays over top of the music video. ) Rock band and guitar Hero The song was released as downloadable content for the video game Rock Band. The song was released in the first `` Offspring pack '' which was released on October 7, 2008 along with `` Gone Away '' and `` Self Esteem ''. The song was released on the Guitar Hero : Van Halen spinoff track list on December 22, 2009. Charts Weekly charts Chart ( 1998 -- 99 ) Peak position Australia ( ARIA ) Austria ( Ö3 Austria Top 40 ) Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Wallonia ) Canada ( RPM ) 5 Denmark ( Tracklisten ) Finland ( Suomen virallinen lista ) France ( SNEP ) 10 Germany ( Official German Charts ) Ireland ( IRMA ) Japan ( Oricon ) Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) Norway ( VG - lista ) Poland ( OLiS ) Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan ) Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) US Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) US Billboard Hot 100 53 US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) 5 US Mainstream Top 40 ( Billboard ) 13 US Rhythmic ( Billboard ) 31 US Top 40 Tracks ( Billboard ) 36 Year - end charts Chart ( 1999 ) Position Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) 93 Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) 16 Certifications Region Certification Certified units / Sales Australia ( ARIA ) 4 × Platinum 280,000 Austria ( IFPI Austria ) Gold 25,000 Belgium ( BEA ) Gold 25,000 Canada ( Music Canada ) Diamond 100,000 France ( SNEP ) Gold 250,000 Germany ( BVMI ) Gold 250,000 Italy ( FIMI ) Gold 25,000 Norway ( IFPI Norway ) 2 × Platinum 20,000 Sweden ( GLF ) 3 × Platinum 90,000 United Kingdom ( BPI ) Platinum 600,000 sales figures based on certification alone shipments figures based on certification alone Antecedents and descendants The song was parodied by `` Weird Al '' Yankovic ( with Tress MacNeille ) as `` Pretty Fly for a Rabbi '' on his 1999 album Running with Scissors. Other parodies have been made, such as `` Pretty Fly for a Jedi '' by comedy music group The Axis of Awesome, `` Pretty Fly for a Draenei '' and others. They are frequently and incorrectly attributed to `` Weird Al '' Yankovic on file sharing networks. The song is available as a marching band arrangement. References Jump up ^ `` Offspring, The -- Pretty Fly ( For A White Guy ) ''. Discogs. Retrieved July 15, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) ''. Rate Your Music. Retrieved July 15, 2013. Jump up ^ Roberts, David ( 2006 ). British Hit Singles & Albums ( 19th ed. ). London : Guinness World Records Limited. p. 629. ISBN 1 - 904994 - 10 - 5. Jump up ^ LLC, SPIN Media ( 1 December 1998 ). `` SPIN ''. SPIN Media LLC -- via Google Books. Jump up ^ Dexter Holland 's Americana Tour ^ Jump up to : LLC, SPIN Media ( 1 March 1999 ). `` SPIN ''. SPIN Media LLC -- via Google Books. Jump up ^ CROMELIN, RICHARD ( 31 January 1999 ). `` How to Survive in Suburbia '' -- via LA Times. Jump up ^ ( 1 ) Jump up ^ `` Australian-charts.com -- The Offspring -- Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) ''. ARIA Top 50 Singles. Jump up ^ `` Austriancharts.at -- The Offspring -- Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) '' ( in German ). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- The Offspring -- Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- The Offspring -- Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) '' ( in French ). Ultratop 50. Jump up ^ Billboard - Google Books. Books.google.ca ( 1999 - 02 - 27 ). Retrieved on 2014 - 04 - 01. Jump up ^ `` The Offspring : Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) '' ( in Finnish ). Musiikkituottajat -- IFPI Finland. Jump up ^ `` Lescharts.com -- The Offspring -- Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) '' ( in French ). Les classement single. Jump up ^ `` Musicline.de -- The Offspring Single - Chartverfolgung '' ( in German ). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Jump up ^ `` The Irish Charts -- Search Results -- Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) ''. Irish Singles Chart. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- The Offspring -- Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Jump up ^ `` Norwegiancharts.com -- The Offspring -- Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) ''. VG - lista. Jump up ^ `` Polish Singles Chart ''. Lp3.polskieradio.pl. Retrieved 2014 - 04 - 01. Jump up ^ `` Swedishcharts.com -- The Offspring -- Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) ''. Singles Top 100. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- The Offspring -- Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Jump up ^ `` The Offspring : Artist Chart History ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` The Offspring Chart History ( Alternative Songs ) '' Billboard. Jump up ^ `` The Offspring Chart History ( Hot 100 ) '' Billboard. Jump up ^ `` The Offspring Chart History ( Mainstream Rock ) '' Billboard. Jump up ^ `` The Offspring Chart History ( Pop Songs ) '' Billboard. Jump up ^ `` The Offspring Chart History ( Rhythmic ) '' Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Top Singles - Volume 70, No. 8, December 13, 1999 ''. RPM. December 13, 1999. Retrieved November 21, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Swiss year - end chart ''. swisscharts.com. 1999. Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved November 22, 2017. Jump up ^ `` ARIA Charts -- Accreditations -- 1999 Singles ''. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 13, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Austrian single certifications -- The Offspring '' ( in German ). IFPI Austria. Retrieved September 13, 2015. Enter The Offspring in the field Interpret. Select single in the field Format. Click Suchen Jump up ^ `` Ultratop 50 Singles Vlaanderen 1999 ''. Ultratop Belgien Charts. ultratop.be. Retrieved September 13, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Canadian single certifications -- The Offspring ''. Music Canada. Retrieved January 22, 2015. Jump up ^ `` French single certifications -- OFFSPRING -- PRETTY FLY '' ( in French ). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved September 13, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Gold - / Platin - Datenbank ( ' Pretty Fly ' ) '' ( in German ). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved September 13, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Italian single certifications -- The Offspring -- Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) '' ( in Italian ). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved October 23, 2017. Jump up ^ `` IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993 -- 2011 '' ( in Norwegian ). IFPI Norway. Retrieved September 13, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Sverigetopplistan -- Sveriges Officiella Topplista ''. Sverigetopplistan ( in Swedish ). IFPI Sverige. Retrieved September 13, 2015. Note : Search for `` Offspring '' and press `` Sök '' to see the search results. Select `` PRETTY FLY ( FOR A WHITE GUY ) '' and press `` VISA '' to see various charting positions and certification awards. Jump up ^ `` British single certifications -- Offspring -- PRETTY FLY ( FOR A WHITE GUY ) ''. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 13, 2015. Enter PRETTY FLY ( FOR A WHITE GUY ) in the search field and then press Enter. Jump up ^ `` Pretty Fly ( For a White Guy ) ''. ActiveMusician.com. Retrieved 2014 - 04 - 01. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Preceded by `` A Little Bit More '' by 911 UK Singles Chart number - one single January 24, 1999 - January 30, 1999 Succeeded by `` You Do n't Know Me '' by Armand Van Helden featuring Duane Harden Preceded by No Aphrodisiac by The Whitlams Triple J Hottest 100 Winner 1998 Succeeded by These Days by Powderfinger The Offspring Dexter Holland Greg K. Noodles Pete Parada Jim Benton Doug Thompson Marcus Parrish James Lilja Ron Welty Atom Willard Studio albums The Offspring Ignition Smash Ixnay on the Hombre Americana Conspiracy of One Splinter Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace Days Go By Compilations Collection Greatest Hits Happy Hour ! EPs Baghdad They Were Born to Kill Club Me A Piece of Americana Summer Nationals Demos 6 songs cassette Tehran Singles `` I 'll Be Waiting '' `` Come Out and Play '' `` Self Esteem '' `` Gotta Get Away '' `` Smash It Up '' `` All I Want '' `` Gone Away '' `` The Meaning of Life '' `` I Choose '' `` Pretty Fly ( for a White Guy ) '' `` Why Do n't You Get a Job ? '' `` The Kids Are n't Alright '' `` She 's Got Issues '' `` Original Prankster '' `` Want You Bad '' `` Million Miles Away '' `` Defy You '' `` Hit That '' `` ( Ca n't Get My ) Head Around You '' `` Spare Me the Details '' `` Ca n't Repeat '' `` Hammerhead '' `` You 're Gonna Go Far, Kid '' `` Kristy, Are You Doing Okay ? '' `` Half - Truism '' `` Days Go By '' `` Cruising California ( Bumpin ' in My Trunk ) '' `` Turning Into You '' `` Coming for You '' Video albums Americana Huck It Complete Music Video Collection Tours Warped Tour 2005 Days Go By Tour Smash : 20th Anniversary Tour World Tour 2016 World Tour 2017 World Tour 2018 Related articles Discography List of songs Awards List of the Offspring band members Nitro Records Related bands Angels & Airwaves Face to Face Saves the Day Steady Ground Book Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pretty_Fly_(For_a_White_Guy)&oldid=815465915 '' Categories : The Offspring songs 1998 singles 1998 songs Multilingual songs Number - one singles in Australia Dutch Top 40 number - one singles Number - one singles in Finland UK Singles Chart number - one singles Irish Singles Chart number - one singles Number - one singles in Italy Number - one singles in Norway Number - one singles in Sweden Songs written by Dexter Holland Music videos directed by McG Comedy rock songs Hidden categories : CS1 German - language sources ( de ) CS1 French - language sources ( fr ) CS1 Italian - language sources ( it ) CS1 Norwegian - language sources ( no ) CS1 Swedish - language sources ( sv ) Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Australia Singlechart usages for Austria Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for Wallonia Singlechart usages for Finland Singlechart usages for France Singlechart usages for Germany Singlechart usages for Ireland2 Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for Norway Singlechart usages for Sweden Singlechart usages for Switzerland Singlechart usages for UKchartstats Singlechart usages for Billboardalternativesongs Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart usages for Billboardmainstreamrock Singlechart usages for Billboardpopsongs Singlechart usages for Billboardrhythmic Certification Table Entry usages for Australia Certification Table Entry usages for Austria Certification Table Entry usages for Belgium Certification Table Entry usages for Canada Certification Table Entry usages for France Certification Table Entry usages for Germany Certification Table Entry usages for Italy Certification Table Entry usages for Norway Certification Table Entry usages for Sweden Certification Table Entry usages for United Kingdom Talk Contents About Wikipedia Català Español Français Italiano עברית Nederlands 日本 語 Polski Português Русский Simple English Slovenčina Suomi Svenska Українська Edit links This page was last edited on 15 December 2017, at 00 : 15. 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Question: who sings the song pretty fly for a white guy
Answer: The Offspring