Released December 22, 1994 Label Epitaph | Length 4:17 Writer(s) Dexter Holland | |
B-side "Burn It Up"
"Jennifer Lost the War" Format Vinyl, cassette,
CD single, CD maxi | ||
"Self Esteem" is a song by the American punk rock group the Offspring, released as the second single from their third studio album Smash. The song was a worldwide hit, reaching number 1 in Latvia, Norway, and Sweden and was one of the most successful singles released by the band. "Self Esteem" was nominated for the 1995 MTV Europe Music Awards for Best Song, but did not win. The song also appears as the third track on their Greatest Hits (2005).
Contents
Music video
The music video for the song was directed by Darren Lavett (who directed the previous video "Come Out and Play") and was shot in August 1994 after the Offspring had just gone both gold and platinum with Smash. In the music video several people are doing stunts, inter cut with shots of the band playing on stage.
In the video, Dexter wears three different band t-shirts. Initially, he wears a Sex Pistols t-shirt. Later he dons a t-shirt of the Germs, and then a Vandals t-shirt when he briefly appears as a human skeleton.
In an interview on the Offspring's Greatest Hits DVD, Noodles claimed that he gave his Fender Stratocaster (which he played in the videos for "Come Out and Play" and "Self Esteem") to one of the actors who appeared in the video.
"Self Esteem" remains one of the Offspring's popular videos. Its popularity on MTV helped launch the song to success on mainstream radio.
DVD appearances
The music video also appears on the Complete Music Video Collection DVD. It was released in 2005.