Original Prankster

{{Infobox song

| name = Original Prankster

| cover = Theoffspringoriginalprankstercover.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = the Offspring featuring Redman

| album = Conspiracy of One

| B-side = Come Out Swinging

| released = {{start date|2000|10|10}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Punk rock, rap rock

| length = 3:40

| label = Columbia

| writer = Dexter Holland

| producer = Brendan O'Brien

| chronology = The Offspring

| prev_title = She's Got Issues

| prev_year = 1999

| next_title = Want You Bad

| next_year = 2000

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|Qp6Qn8IwPf8|"Original Prankster"}}}}

}}

"Original Prankster" is a song by American rock band the Offspring. It is featured as the third track from their sixth studio album, Conspiracy of One, and was released as its first single on October 10, 2000. The song features additional vocals by Redman{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0714983/ |title=Redman |publisher=Internet Movie Database |access-date=July 17, 2013}} and is included on the band's 2005 Greatest Hits album.

Prior to the release of Conspiracy of One, The Offspring distributed the track for free as a downloadable MP3 file on their official website.{{cite web |url=http://www.mp3newswire.net/stories/2000/offspring2.html |title=Sony Forces The Offspring to Cancel MP3 Giveaway |publisher=MP3 Newswire |access-date=July 17, 2013 |date=September 26, 2000 |author=Menta, Robert |archive-date=November 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081108071926/http://www.mp3newswire.net/stories/2000/offspring2.html |url-status=dead }} A competition was held, featuring a prize of $1 million (USD), which was awarded to a randomly selected participant who downloaded the song.

"Original Prankster" reached the top 10 in several countries, including Australia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, and went to the top 10 on the US and Canadian rock charts. The single went Platinum in Australia in 2001, becoming the third song by The Offspring to reach Platinum status in that country after "Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)" and "Why Don't You Get a Job?."{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-singles-1999.htm|title=ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 1999 Singles|publisher=ARIA|access-date=2 May 2018}}

Music video

The song follows the prankster, the subject of the song, through his life, pulling various pranks on his superiors, being motivated by Redman as a spiritual guide. As a child, he slips his dog's feces into his father's sandwich. In his teen years, he uses a bunsen burner on a perverted science teacher. When sent to the principal's office, he sets up the principal to be photographed in a compromising position with two students. Throughout the video, the band is shown to be playing around the Venice Fishing Pier in Venice, Los Angeles.

Finally, in the present, he switches off the whole city's power supply, though the band still manages to play in the dark and the crowd use flares to light the scene. At the end of the video, lightning strikes the prankster and disintegrates him.

Track listings

Version 1

{{track listing

| title1 = Original Prankster

| length1 = 3:40

| title2 = Come Out Swinging

| length2 = 2:47

| title3 = Staring at the Sun

| note3 = Live

| length3 = 2:26

}}

Australia CD Maxi

{{track listing

| title1 = Original Prankster

| length1 = 3:40

| title2 = Dammit, I Changed Again

| length2 = 2:49

| title3 = Come Out Swinging

| length3 = 2:47

| title4 = Gone Away

| note4 = Live

| length4 = 4:19

| title5 = Staring at the Sun

| note5 = Live

| length5 = 2:26

}}

Promo CD

{{track listing

| title1 = Original Prankster

| note1 = Album version

| length1 = 3:40

}}

Personnel

= The Offspring =

Dexter Holland – vocals, guitar
Noodles – guitar
Greg K. – bass
Ron Welty – drums

= Additional musicians =

Redman – additional vocals

Charts

=Weekly charts=

scope="row"\| Canada (Nielsen Soundscan){{cite web\|url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com:80/JamMusicCharts/SINGLES.html\|title=The Hits Charts (Singles): Top 50 Singles\|publisher=Jam!\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001206070800/http://www.jamshowbiz.com:80/JamMusicCharts/SINGLES.html\|archive-date=December 6, 2000\|date=December 6, 2000\|url-status=dead\|access-date=January 2, 2025}} \|29
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (2000–2001) !Peak position
{{single chart\|Australia\|5\|artist=The Offspring\|song=Original Prankster\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Flanders Tip\|6\|artist=The Offspring\|song=Original Prankster\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Wallonia\|40\|artist=The Offspring\|song=Original Prankster\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Canadarock\|5\|chartid=7280\|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"\| El Salvador (El Siglo de Torreón){{cite news\|url=http://h.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib:LowLevelEntityToSaveGifMSIE_ELSIGLO&Type=text/html&Locale=spanish-skin-custom&Path=EDT/2000/12/25&ChunkNum=-1&ID=Ar04800&PageLabel=48\|access-date=August 10, 2021\|work=El Siglo de Torreón\|title=listas de popularidad\|date=December 25, 2000\|language=es}} \|3
scope="row"\|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine\|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2000/MM-2000-11-25.pdf\|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles\|magazine=Music & Media\|volume=17\|issue=48\|page=15\|date=November 25, 2000\|access-date=August 28, 2020}} \|14
scope="row"\|European Radio Top 50 (Music & Media){{cite magazine \|url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2000/MM-2000-11-18.pdf \|title=European Radio Top 50 \|magazine=Music & Media \|volume=16\|issue=12\|date=November 18, 2000\|page=17\|oclc=29800226 \|access-date=April 30, 2023 \|via=World Radio History}} \|22
{{single chart\|Finland\|12\|artist=The Offspring\|song=Original Prankster\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|France\|34\|artist=The Offspring\|song=Original Prankster\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Germany\|46\|artist=The Offspring\|song=Original Prankster\|songid=4501\|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"\|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40){{cite news\|url=https://timarit.is/page/3009641#page/n11/mode/2up\|title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 20 (22.12–29.12 2000)\|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir\|language=is\|page=12\|date=December 22, 2000\|access-date=October 7, 2019}} \|19
{{single chart\|Ireland2\|24\|song=Original Prankster\|rowheader=true\|access-date=October 7, 2019}}
{{single chart\|Italy\|11\|artist=The Offspring\|song=Original Prankster\|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"\|Italy Airplay (Music & Media){{cite magazine\|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2000/MM-2000-12-23.pdf\|title=Major Market Airplay: Italy\|magazine=Music & Media\|volume=15\|issue=20\|page=23\|date=23 December 2000\|access-date=28 August 2023}} \|11
{{single chart\|Dutch40\|35\|year=2000\|week=50\|rowheader=true\|access-date=June 28, 2019}}
{{single chart\|Dutch100\|44\|artist=The Offspring\|song=Original Prankster\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|New Zealand\|34\|artist=The Offspring\|song=Original Prankster\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Norway\|7\|artist=The Offspring\|song=Original Prankster\|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"\|Portugal (AFP){{cite magazine\|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2000/MM-2000-11-25.pdf\|title=Top National Sellers\|magazine=Music & Media\|volume=17\|issue=48\|page=15\|date=November 25, 2000\|access-date=March 1, 2020}} \|6
scope="row"\|Quebec (ADISQ){{cite web\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151129063315/http://bibnum2.banq.qc.ca/bna/palmares/2010-Anglo-Allophone/Anglo-Compilation_succes_ordre_alpha_interpretes.pdf\|url=http://bibnum2.banq.qc.ca/bna/palmares/2010-Anglo-Allophone/Anglo-Compilation_succes_ordre_alpha_interpretes.pdf\|title=Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec\|publisher=BAnQ\|language=fr\|access-date=September 11, 2019\|archive-date=November 29, 2015\|url-status=dead}} \|3
{{single chart\|Scotland\|6\|date=20001118\|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"\|Spain Airplay (Music & Media){{cite magazine\|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2000/MM-2000-11-18.pdf\|title=Major Market Airplay: Italy\|magazine=Music & Media\|volume=15\|issue=20\|page=23\|date=18 November 2000\|access-date=28 August 2023}} \|11
{{single chart\|Sweden\|5\|artist=The Offspring\|song=Original Prankster\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Switzerland\|20\|artist=The Offspring\|song=Original Prankster\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|UK\|6\|date=20001118\|rowheader=true\|access-date=June 28, 2019}}
{{single chart\|Billboardhot100\|70\|artist=The Offspring\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Billboardalternativesongs\|2\|artist=The Offspring\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Billboardmainstreamrock\|7\|artist=The Offspring\|rowheader=true}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (2000) !Position
scope="row"\|Australia (ARIA){{cite web\|url=https://www.ariacharts.com.au/annual-charts/2000/singles-chart\|title=2000 ARIA Singles Chart\|publisher=ARIA\|access-date=August 28, 2020}} \|93
scope="row"\|Sweden (Hitlistan){{cite web\|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/43?dspy=2000&dspp=1\|title=Årslista Singlar, 2000\|publisher=Sverigetopplistan\|language=sv\|access-date=August 28, 2020}} \|52
scope="row"\|US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine\|title=Most Played Mainstream Rock Songs of 2000\|magazine=Airplay Monitor\|volume=8\|issue=51\|page=33\|date=December 22, 2000}} \|98
scope="row"\|US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine\|title=Most Played Modern Rock Songs of 2000\|magazine=Airplay Monitor\|volume=8\|issue=51\|page=38\|date=December 22, 2000}} \|72

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (2000)

!Position

scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.ariacharts.com.au/annual-charts/2000/singles-chart|title=2000 ARIA Singles Chart|publisher=ARIA|access-date=August 28, 2020}}

|93

scope="row"|Sweden (Hitlistan){{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/43?dspy=2000&dspp=1|title=Årslista Singlar, 2000|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|language=sv|access-date=August 28, 2020}}

|52

scope="row"|US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Most Played Mainstream Rock Songs of 2000|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=8|issue=51|page=33|date=December 22, 2000}}

|98

scope="row"|US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Most Played Modern Rock Songs of 2000|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=8|issue=51|page=38|date=December 22, 2000}}

|72

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (2001) !Position
scope="row"\|Australia (ARIA){{cite web\|url=https://www.ariacharts.com.au/annual-charts/2001/singles-chart\|title=2001 ARIA Singles Chart\|publisher=ARIA\|access-date=August 28, 2020}} \|68
scope="row"\|Canada (Nielsen SoundScan){{cite web\|url=http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2001_singles2.html\|title=Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2001\|publisher=Jam!\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020726120310/http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2001_singles2.html\|archive-date=July 26, 2002\|access-date=March 28, 2022}} \|193
scope="row"\|US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine\|title=America's Best: 2001 – Most-Played Mainstream Rock\|magazine=Airplay Monitor\|volume=9\|issue=51\|page=45\|date=December 21, 2001}} \|47
scope="row"\|US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine\|title=Most-Played Modern Rock Songs of 2001\|magazine=Airplay Monitor\|volume=9\|issue=51\|page=40\|date=December 21, 2001}} \|60

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (2001)

!Position

scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.ariacharts.com.au/annual-charts/2001/singles-chart|title=2001 ARIA Singles Chart|publisher=ARIA|access-date=August 28, 2020}}

|68

scope="row"|Canada (Nielsen SoundScan){{cite web|url=http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2001_singles2.html|title=Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2001|publisher=Jam!|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020726120310/http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2001_singles2.html|archive-date=July 26, 2002|access-date=March 28, 2022}}

|193

scope="row"|US Mainstream Rock Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=America's Best: 2001 – Most-Played Mainstream Rock|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=9|issue=51|page=45|date=December 21, 2001}}

|47

scope="row"|US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Most-Played Modern Rock Songs of 2001|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=9|issue=51|page=40|date=December 21, 2001}}

|60

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2000|certyear=2001|access-date=May 2, 2018}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Offspring|title=Original Prankster|type=single|award=Silver|relyear=2000|certyear=2024|access-date=July 12, 2024|id=20165-2164-1}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" !scope="col"\|Region !scope="col"\|Date !scope="col"\|Format(s) !scope="col"\|Label(s) !scope="col"\|{{abbr\|Ref(s).\|Reference(s)}}
scope="row"\|United States \|October 10, 2000 \|{{hlist\|Mainstream rock\|active rock radio}} \|Columbia \|align="center"\|{{cite magazine\|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2000/RR-2000-10-06.pdf\|title=Going for Adds\|magazine=Radio & Records\|issue=1372\|pages=109, 114\|date=October 6, 2000\|access-date=May 30, 2021}}
scope="row"\|Japan \|October 25, 2000 \|CD \|Epic \|align="center"\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/International/Arch/ES/TheOffspring/index.html\|title=オフスプリング\|trans-title=Offspring\|publisher=Sony Music Entertainment Japan\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070129142134/http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/International/Arch/ES/TheOffspring/index.html\|archive-date=January 29, 2007\|access-date=August 26, 2023}}
scope="row"\|United Kingdom \|November 6, 2000 \|{{hlist\|CD\|cassette}} \|rowspan="3"\|Columbia \|align="center"\|{{cite magazine\|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2000/Music-Week-2000-11-04.pdf\|title=New Releases – For Week Starting November 6, 2000: Singles\|magazine=Music Week\|page=29\|date=November 4, 2000\|access-date=August 7, 2021}}
scope="row"\|United States \|November 14, 2000 \|Contemporary hit radio \|align="center"\|{{cite magazine\|title=CHR/Pop: Going for Adds\|magazine=Radio & Records\|issue=1376\|page=60\|date=November 10, 2000}}{{cite magazine\|title=Gavin Top 40/Rhythm Crossover: Impact Dates\|magazine=Gavin Report\|issue=2329\|page=7\|date=November 3, 2000}}
scope="row"\|New Zealand \|November 27, 2000 \|CD \|align="center"\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.netcd.co.nz/NewReleases.html\|title=New Releases\|website=netcd.co.nz\|date=November 27, 2000\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001201202300/http://www.netcd.co.nz/NewReleases.html\|archive-date=December 1, 2000\|access-date=November 8, 2023}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref(s).|Reference(s)}}

scope="row"|United States

|October 10, 2000

|{{hlist|Mainstream rock|active rock radio}}

|Columbia

|align="center"|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2000/RR-2000-10-06.pdf|title=Going for Adds|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1372|pages=109, 114|date=October 6, 2000|access-date=May 30, 2021}}

scope="row"|Japan

|October 25, 2000

|CD

|Epic

|align="center"|{{cite web|url=http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/International/Arch/ES/TheOffspring/index.html|title=オフスプリング|trans-title=Offspring|publisher=Sony Music Entertainment Japan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070129142134/http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/International/Arch/ES/TheOffspring/index.html|archive-date=January 29, 2007|access-date=August 26, 2023}}

scope="row"|United Kingdom

|November 6, 2000

|{{hlist|CD|cassette}}

|rowspan="3"|Columbia

|align="center"|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2000/Music-Week-2000-11-04.pdf|title=New Releases – For Week Starting November 6, 2000: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=29|date=November 4, 2000|access-date=August 7, 2021}}

scope="row"|United States

|November 14, 2000

|Contemporary hit radio

|align="center"|{{cite magazine|title=CHR/Pop: Going for Adds|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1376|page=60|date=November 10, 2000}}{{cite magazine|title=Gavin Top 40/Rhythm Crossover: Impact Dates|magazine=Gavin Report|issue=2329|page=7|date=November 3, 2000}}

scope="row"|New Zealand

|November 27, 2000

|CD

|align="center"|{{cite web|url=http://www.netcd.co.nz/NewReleases.html|title=New Releases|website=netcd.co.nz|date=November 27, 2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001201202300/http://www.netcd.co.nz/NewReleases.html|archive-date=December 1, 2000|access-date=November 8, 2023}}

References

Category:The Offspring songs

Category:2000 singles

Category:2000 songs

Category:Columbia Records singles

Category:Comedy rock songs

Category:Epic Records singles

Category:Music videos directed by Dave Meyers (director)

Category:Songs written by Dexter Holland

Category:Song recordings produced by Brendan O'Brien (record producer)