Blame It on My Youth (Blink-182 song)


"Blame It on My Youth" is a song recorded by American rock band Blink-182. The song was released on May 8, 2019 through Columbia Records, as the lead single from the band's eighth studio album Nine. The song is an upbeat, nostalgic track that recounts the band's early days. It was written by bassist Mark Hoppus, drummer Travis Barker, and guitarist Matt Skiba, as well as producer Tim Pagnotta, and songwriters Sam Hollander and Matt Malpass. The song debuted with a lyric video featuring renowned graffiti artist Risk.

Background

"Blame It on My Youth" originated from a drum pattern that drummer Travis Barker created that the band and their songwriters took and developed further. The song was produced and co-written by Tim Pagnotta, best known for his work with the Strumbellas, Neon Trees, and Plain White T's. Additional writers credited on the track include Sam Hollander and Matt Malpass. The song is their first release as part of their new deal with Columbia Records. Lyrically, the song nostalgically recounts the band members' upbringings, and how they came to start a band.

Commercial performance

"Blame It on My Youth" was sent to rock and alternative radio on May 14, 2019. It debuted at number 31 on Billboard Alternative Songs chart, and slightly higher on their Hot Rock Songs chart at number 29. The song was added by over 60 radio stations in its opening week in North America, according to Hits columnist Ted Volk.

Release and reception

The band announced the single one day after unveiling their 2019 headlining tour with rapper Lil Wayne; it premiered on May 8, 2019 on all streaming platforms, as well as on radio. Travis Barker also guested on KROQ's Kevin and Bean that morning and discussed the song's origins. It premiered with a lyric video online featuring famed graffiti artist Risk spray-painting the song's lyrics on a wall in a time lapse.
The band received backlash directed towards the change in style and formulaic pop composition. As a response to this criticism, Hoppus said "I can't try and write a song to hit a moving target of what I think people are going to expect Blink is or should be or what they want Blink to be... And we've never sat down with the intent of 'Let's write a radio single' because what is a radio single? I don't know what works with radio. I can't write a song for the radio."
Lake Schatz at Consequence of Sound described the song as bouncy and anthemic, while Claire Shaffer of Rolling Stone said the song "celebrates their continued youthfulness and tendencies toward teenage rebellion."

Track listing

  1. "Blame It on My Youth" – 3:06

    Personnel

Blink-182
Production

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Release history