‘Self Esteem’ is a song by American punk rock band the Offspring. It is the eighth track and second single from their third studio album, Smash (1994). The song was released on 22 December 1994 by Epitaph and was a worldwide hit, reaching number one in Iceland, Norway, Latvia and Sweden. ‘Self Esteem’ was nominated for the 1995 MTV Europe Music Awards for Best Song. The song also appears as the third track on their Greatest Hits (2005). Its music video was directed by Darren Lavett.
Offspring lead singer Dexter Holland wrote this song. It's a semi-true story based on his own experiences and that of his friends. "The thing where late at night she knocks on my door was real," he told Radio.com, referring to the lyrics, "Late at night she knocks on my door, she's drunk again and looking to score." He added: "And practicing all the things you would say was a funny thing that had happened before." According to The Offspring's Greatest Hits DVD, the famous intro on the song where the members sing along to the tune of the main riff was first going to be played on acoustic guitar before the electric guitars come in.
In his review of the album, Andrew Mueller from Melody Maker wrote, "The clear highlight here is "Self Esteem", a self-abasing, self-pitying slandering of some or other black-hearted wench set to a rocket as inventive as they get." Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "Coming out once more to play the role of Nirvana's perfect replacement, Offspring delivers the punky action so sadly missed on rock radio because of Seattlers who take themselves way too seriously." John Harris from NME said, "The male-only dorms of US colleges have surely been throbbing to this for months. Small wonder: "Self-esteem" — to which the phrase "Crap Teen Spirit" barely does justice — is built around a premise that roots it firmly in the odorous world of the knucklehead male adolescent."
‘Self Esteem’ was part of the punk rock battering ram that stormed the pop music castle in 1994 with the album Smash. The Offspring were signed to Epitaph Records, owned by punk rocker Brett Gurewitz, co-founder of the group Bad Religion. The label was home to acts like Pennywise, L7 and NOFX, which had fervent fans but were never heard on the radio to the right of the college radio stations on the FM dial. The Offspring had more pop appeal though, with more hooks and catchier riffs than most punks could produce. Along with Green Day, they led the way for this punk breakthrough. (Nirvana lowered the drawbridge with their 1991 album Nevermind, introducing grunge to the mainstream. From there, punk was only a few steps away. Kurt Cobain was found dead on April 8, 1994, the same day Smash was released.) Epitaph somehow managed to ship millions of albums with their limited resources, but they lost The Offspring to the major label Columbia. Both Green Day and The Offspring faced the wrath of some hardcore early fans who felt they were selling out by signing to a major.
Label – Epitaph
Songwriter – Dexter Holland
Producer – Thom Wilson
SONG LYRICS
[Intro]La, la, la-la-la
La, la, la-la-la
[Verse 1]
I wrote her off for the tenth time today
And practiced all the things I would say
But she came over, I lost my nerve
I took her back and made her dessert
[Pre-Chorus]
Oh, I know I'm being used
That's okay, man, 'cause I like the abuse
I know she's playing with me
That's okay 'cause I've got no self-esteem
[Chorus]
Oh, way, oh yeah, yeah
Oh yeah, yeah
Oh yeah, yeah
Oh yeah, yeah
[Verse 2]
We make plans to go out at night
I wait 'til two, then I turn out the light
This rejection's got me so low
If she keeps it up, I just might tell her so
[Chorus]
Oh, way, oh yeah, yeah
Oh yeah, yeah
Oh yeah, yeah
Oh yeah, yeah
[Post-Chorus]
When she's saying, oh, that she wants only me
Then I wonder why she sleeps with my friends
When she's saying, oh, that I'm like a disease
Then I wonder how much more I can spend
Well, I guess I should stick up for myself
But I really think it's better this way
The more you suffer
The more it shows you really care
Right? Yeah
[Verse 3]
Now I'll relate this little bit
It happens more than I'd like to admit
Late at night, she knocks on my door
She's drunk again and looking to score
[Pre-Chorus]
Oh, I know I should say no
But it's kind of hard when she's ready to go
I may be dumb, but I'm not a dweeb
I'm just a sucker with no self-esteem
[Chorus]
Oh, way, oh yeah, yeah
Oh yeah, yeah
Oh yeah, yeah
Oh yeah, yeah
[Post-Chorus]
When she's saying, oh, that she wants only me
Then I wonder why she sleeps with my friends
When she's saying, oh, that I'm like a disease
Then I wonder how much more I can spend
Well, I guess I should stick up for myself
But I really think it's better this way
The more you suffer
The more it shows you really care
Right? Yeah