"21st Century (Digital Boy)" | ||||
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Single by Bad Religion | ||||
from the album Against the Grain and Stranger Than Fiction | ||||
Released | 1990 (original released) 1994 (rereleased) |
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Format | vinyl record 7" | |||
Recorded | Original version: May 1990 at Westbeach Recorders, Hollywood, California Later version: 1994 |
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Genre | Punk rock | |||
Length | 2:50 (original), 2:47 | |||
Label | Epitaph Records | |||
Writer(s) | Mr. Brett | |||
Producer(s) |
Andy Wallace Bad Religion |
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Bad Religion singles chronology | ||||
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"21st Century (Digital Boy)" is a song by the punk rock group Bad Religion. It was originally recorded in 1990 on their fifth full-length studio album Against the Grain and rerecorded on the 1994 album Stranger Than Fiction. The following year it was included on the All Ages compilation release.
Although the Against the Grain version was not released as a single, the Stranger Than Fiction version was a popular hit. The hit version was also featured on the 2002 compilation Punk Rock Songs, which was not endorsed by the band.
In 1994, Bad Religion re-recorded the song for their eighth studio album Stranger Than Fiction. Guitarist Brett Gurewitz claimed that Bad Religion re-recorded it because their then-label Atlantic Records said they did not "hear a single" in that album and thought the song was a hit so they asked the band to redo it.
When also asked why "21st Century (Digital Boy)" would be re-recorded for Stranger Than Fiction, bassist Jay Bentley replied:
The lyrics of the song could be interpreted as a rejection of modern consumerist culture, as exemplified in the lyrics "I'm a 21st Century Digital Boy / I don't know how to live, but I've got a lot of toys". This alienation and rejection of consumerism and mainstream culture is a common theme in the music of Bad Religion. The bridge includes references to the group's two previous records (as of the original recording), Suffer and No Control. Contrary to rumor, "21st Century (Digital Boy)" was not written or performed live in 1988 nor was it going to appear on No Control.