Lettuce be cereal: Blink-182 is one of the best punk bands of all time. Much like New Found Glory, it’s funny to me how they were pretty much universally despised 10-15 years ago by “tr00 punx” and people who listened to “real hardcore,” only to be cited as a “legendary, seminal band” these days, but that’s another discussion. What makes Blink so special to me is that unlike most bands, who put out 1 or maybe 2 albums and then suck, Blink’s catalog is all pretty great.
With so many songs to choose from, it’s really hard to pick favorites, but I feel like it’s time for us to talk about how awesome Blink is. I could go on forever, but I’ll limit myself to 5 of my favorites- what are yours??
Even though they could barely play their instruments on “Dude Ranch,” their songwriting and lyrics made up for it. This song = a time machine back to being 19, crushing on the girl who from Auntie Anne’s at the mall by my work, going to hardcore shows 3 times a week, and wishing I had a girlfriend like the one in this song. Also, huge LOL @ the frosted tips and Black Flys sunglasses in the video, and how hard did Scott kick himself for quitting the band after this record came out??
“All The Small Things” is the holy grail of music videos: an awesome song that stands on its own, coupled with a video that is also hilarious on its own. I think of the song as “Josie” part 2, and since I’m a huge pussy I love the lyrics. I can’t lie, I miss 1999 even more than I miss 2008, so this video is a little bittersweet for me to watch, capturing so many of my favorite 1999 pop culture memes in one place. MISS U LOU PERLMAN/LFO/XTINA BEFORE YOU GOT FAT.
I love every song on “Enema of the State”, but I feel like “Dysentary Gary” doesn’t get as much love as it should. “Fuck this place, I lost the war, I hate you all, Your mom’s a whore
Where’s my dog? Cause girls are such a drag” = a line I think we can all relate to, and the little bossanova-inspired breakdown at :35 is some of Travis Barker’s best work.
Joke songs are usually the worst thing ever, and even when they’re good they’re rarely good for more than one listen. But Mark Hoppus is a funny motherfucker, and I still giggle every time I listen to “When You Fucked Grandpa.”
The perfect pop punk summer jam! What’s better than getting wasted with your bros, going to Warped Tour, and crushing on girls?? The video is based on the idea that being ignorant and wasteful = funny, which I couldn’t possibly agree with more. Buying TVs and cars, then immediately smashing them in the street?? Brilliant!
What is YOUR favorite Blink song, and why?? Do you think it’s funny that the dudes in ADTR, Man Overboard, and other bands who jock Blink in 2011 would have hated them in 1997 (and Set Your Goals would DEFINITELY have hated Civ)? Is Blink the best pop punk band of all time???
yeah they’re up there. I remember having to keep liking them on the down low b/c my “friends” back in the the day were uber Troo punks/hardcore (ebullution type hardcore no fun crew). Also getting ridiculed for playing sports and digging metal too. I like that song Carosel and a bunch more too. My wife gives me shit about liking them too but whatev’s.
Probably one of my fav blink songs would be Dammit!. As soon as you hear the intro riff I dare you not to think about highschool and all the stupid shit you did with your buddies back then. The Party Song off Enema of the State is a nice short follow up after All The Small Things, and Down from their last album kinda makes me feel nostalgic for some reason.
this
Never a huge fan of Blink 182, but Dumpweed was/is a fucking rad song. Although, when Blink was popular, I was into tr00 punk so I couldn’t admit I like this song.
Blink 182 was an essential part of my childhood, even when I didn’t know what “the state looks down on sodomy” meant. Now I’m 19 and they’re still my favorite band but now that I’m not 9 years old I love them more because their songs have such truth about how much life sucks sometimes and shit like that.
“Family reunion”, hands down.
I can’t remember the other ones name…..the “she’s better off sleeping on the floor” song.
No love for the self titled?? I Miss You and Stockholm Syndrome have gotta be some my favs, along with the obvious Rock Show.
While Green Day will always be the greatest pop punk band of all time, Enema of the state is the best “Listen to in the shower before High School, end up being late for class” album of all time
Sarge, if you’ve never listened to the interview that Howard Stern did with Rich Cronin from LFO, you NEED to do it. Seriously hilarious guy and the stuff he has to say about Lou Perlman is LOL worthy.
It’s all on youtube
listening now, this is fucking mindblowing! thanks for the tip!!
Always loved All The Small Things – great video with a sense of humor.
But fuck them for making random lib/eye brow piercings acceptable… we are still living that shit down.
retweeted. people must see this.
thanks dude!
Sg D: as an ex No Fun Club/Real punx kid, the reason we hated this stuff is that we secretly listened to it even then. And that is why it is so easy to say how good it is now, because we always listened to it! I remember talking shit about NFG when I was 17 at 2003 Warped Tour with some No Fun 14 year old, but if I was alone in my car- it was always on.
Man I am watching the videos and I miss summer 2001 :( I remember going to Borders with my buddy to sample the new blink album (take off your pants…) and I thought Anthem pt. 2 was THE BEST THING EVER.
DAMMIT
Good look on Dysentery Gary — those natural harmonics are one of the highlights of their whole catalog. Dick Lips is awesome, too.
That’s probably because it was never played live by them.
wow, really? I didn’t know that– why?
That’s not true – I saw them play it in Aus in 2004. You don’t forget moments like that :)
For some reason, my favorite (besides “The Rock Show”) is “Don’t Leave Me.” I can’t explain why, but it’s the blink song that has been stuck with me from the beginning.
that’s a great one too– like i said, i love every track on “enema”
what do you think of the new song? how has this not been mentioned?
I like it OK, but it sounded like an AVA outtake to me– that’s not a bad thing, since I like AVA, but it wasn’t really what I was hoping for. Maybe it will grow on me though.
Feeling This for me. Guy in this band’s favorite band is Blink and he’d probably give some long drawn out answer where he talks about a bunch of stuff.
Say it aint so, I will not go; turn the lights off, carry me home
Nanananananananannanananananananana
wheres “whats my age again”??? i always thought all the small things was one of the most overrated songs ever, even when it first came out. good call on “josie” though.
i always thought “lemmings” from dude ranch was a really sick song.
there isn’t a blink song i don’t like…but if i had to pick just one, i think i would have to go with “mutt”
Dumpweed fosho. Perfect mix of melody + punx. And that breakdown at the end is seriously harder than any easycore tough guy part I’ve ever heard.
Oh man, don’t make me choose just one song. In no particular order my top 5 would be M+M’s, Feeling This, Carousel, Roller Coaster, Josie, and First Date. Yes, that is 6 songs, I had to limit myself and not add more. I wonder if in 2025 it’ll be ok to like ADTR and still be into hardcore. If so I’ll totally be there to say I liked them in 2011.
Dumpweed!! also didnt Scott get kicked out?!!
Did he?? I could certainly be wrong.
I hated them when they were just called Blink, and nothing seems to have changed since 1994.
Cheshire cat was acceptable with the troo crowd back then cause it wasn’t Fat or Epitaph. That was the last album I listened to until recently. Already had 1 foot out the punx/hardcore door by the time Dude Ranch came out so I never really got the chance to get butthurt by this band like others did (or so it sounds).
shantz- a common theme throughout
I have so many favorite songs from them? Why was it that people hated Blink-182 and New Found Glory back then? They were phenomenal!
Anyway, my favorite song (drawing from a hat with so many songs from Blink-182) would be “Dumpweed”…
I need a girl that I can train.
Same reason dummies hate ADTR now– they’re popular and fun
I’ve always found them to be mediocre. :/
They do have their moments, though.
I remember liking blink-182 and then hating them for influencing every other band to run with whiny vox. Also for being responsible for the way this abortion of a Dallas DJ talks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHjLDhQz36o
Josie/Dammit
Tied for favorite. They remind me of high school and the freshman crush I had on a senior girl (late 90s). Both dude ranch and enema were a big deal in my school (Fontana High) because Travis had gone there a few years earlier and just left the aquabats to join them. Hometown kid was doing big thangs.
Dysentery Gary is one of my favourites also Mutt is fucking briliant!
“as an ex No Fun Club/Real punx kid, the reason we hated this stuff is that we secretly listened to it even then..”
I STILL hate these types of bands and the Epifat types. For whatever reason listening to it always gives me this feeling that’s somewhere between actually getting ready to vomit and clinical depression (not joking, it actually makes me feel ill.) There is some quality to the tone of the guitars, sound of the voices they sing in, and recording style that makes me feel like a sweaty retard is rubbing a chunk of degraded styrofoam covered in KY Jelly against the surface of my brain.
I would say the best pop punk bands came from the Midwest; Gizmos, Dow Jones and the Industrials, etc.
Dat Intro.
No love for Stay Together for the Kids? o_O
I like a good handfull of their other songs, but cant really tell them apart since I havent listened to them in some years. But I think I like every song they have made a video too…. (not too sure about the s/t stuff though)
First Date is a killer tune. Perfectly sums up trying to hit on chicks in high school for me.
Stay together for the Kids is classic.
I’ve always loved Adams Song too.
Going away to College is one I effin’ love at the moment.