Teenage Dreaming: Fakeshark’s Take on Wheatus’ Classic “Teenage Dirtbag

If you’re like me and grew up in the early 2000s,

( I’m a 02 baby to be exact ) there’s a high chance that Wheatus’ “Teenage Dirtbag” was a cornerstone of your teenage angst playlist. Fast forward to 2024, and Fakeshark—our favorite Canadian alternative rock band from Vancouver—has breathed new life into this anthem As a long-time Fakeshark fan, this cover hits me right in the feels, and I’m thrilled to share my thoughts on this nostalgic yet refreshed banger

The album cover itself already sets the stage: Kevvy Mental, Louis Wu, Alex Glassford, and Jake Fox— it shows them as teenagers staring back at us like they just stepped out of a retro yearbook. There’s something poetic about these guys, who’ve lived their own teenage years, taking on this track about every high school misfit’s unspoken truth: being a “teenage dirtbag.” From the opening notes, you know you’re in for a ride that somehow captures both the charm of the original and Fakeshark’s unique, chaotic energy.

Back to Junior High…

From my own experience Fakeshark and I go way back, like, way back to my junior high days. One day, during one of my classes (I can’t even remember which I think it was my grade eight English class ), I stumbled across their music, and I’ve been hooked ever since. I listened to them religiously throughout grade 8 to grade 12 and Fakeshark has always been there—and they still are today. Even now, I find myself going back to their music, it’s like catching up with an old friend who’s been with you through all your awkward phases. So, when I found out they were covering Teenage Dirtbag, it was like two worlds colliding

“Her name is Noelle…”

So The song kicks off just how you’d expect: Kevvy singing that iconic line with just the right amount of nostalgia and snark. “Her name is Noelle, I have a dream about her, she rings my bell…” Instantly, I’m back in gym class, awkward and out of place, crushing on someone who probably didn’t know I existed. The way Kevvy delivers the lyrics feels like a knowing wink to everyone who’s ever been there, drowning in teenage hormones and self-doubt.

The familiar story unfolds: Noelle’s with some guy who’s all swagger, rocking an IROC, while the song’s narrator pines for her in the shadows. But honestly, doesn’t it feel even more relatable hearing it through Fakeshark’s lens in 2024? That feeling of being invisible, misunderstood, yet having your own secret identity as a lover of Iron Maiden? Yeah, that’s still as raw and real today as it was when I first discovered this song

I’ve Got Two Tickets to Iron Maiden, Baby…

When Kevvy gets to the part about having “two tickets to Iron Maiden,” I feel the teenage awkwardness all over again, like asking someone to a concert but totally expecting them to say no. The tension, the butterflies—Fakeshark taps into it so perfectly. It’s not just a cover; it’s a reliving of those high school moments when everything felt like the end of the world and your crush not knowing you existed was a personal tragedy.

The energy Fakeshark brings to the song ramps up as it goes on, with the classic guitars, drums, and Kevvy’s signature vocals making it feel both fresh and familiar. The lines, “Oh yeah, dirtbag, no she doesn’t know what she’s missin’,” still sting like they did back in the day, but now they carry that bittersweet, grown-up understanding. The magic of Teenage Dirtbag is that we’ve all been there, and Fakeshark makes sure we feel it all over again.

A New Anthem for Old Souls

Fakeshark’s cover doesn’t just transport me back to my teenage years; it reminds me of why I loved this band in the first place. Their knack for blending genres, their playful energy, and their ability to turn something old into something completely their own are all on full display here. Listening to this cover, I’m not just reminiscing about high school—I’m realizing that, in some ways, I’ll always be that teenage girl who was allways obsessed with Canadian bands , and maybe that’s okay.

So, whether you’re a fan of the original Wheatus version or a die-hard Fakeshark follower like me, this cover is worth every second. Throw it on, crank it up, and let yourself drift back to those awkward teenage days. After all, we’re all just teenage dirtbags at heart, right?

Oh, and Fakeshark? If you’re reading this review thanks for taking us all back. You guys rock!