From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Racist, Sexist Boy"
Single by the Linda Lindas
ReleasedMay 27, 2021 (2021-05-27)
RecordedMay 4, 2021
Venue Los Angeles Public Library
Genre
Length2:05
Label Epitaph
Songwriter(s)Mila de la Garza · Eloise Wong
Producer(s) Carlos de la Garza
The Linda Lindas singles chronology
"Vote!"
(2020)
"Racist, Sexist Boy"
(2021)
" Oh!"
(2021)
Music video
"Racist, Sexist Boy" (Live at LA Public Library) on YouTube
"Racist, Sexist Boy"
Song by the Linda Lindas
from the album Growing Up
ReleasedApril 8, 2022
StudioMusic Friends, Los Angeles
Genre
Length1:49
Label Epitaph
Songwriter(s)Mila de la Garza · Eloise Wong
Producer(s) Carlos de la Garza

"Racist, Sexist Boy", originally "Idiotic Boy", is an anti-racist song [1] by American rock band the Linda Lindas. It is the final track from the band's debut album, Growing Up (2022), released on Epitaph Records. The song is about an experience Mila de la Garza, the band's drummer, had when a schoolmate made a racist comment at the beginning COVID-19 pandemic. Mila, along with the band's bassist Eloise Wong, wrote the song during a Zoom call.

A performance of the song at the Los Angeles Public Library gained media attention after a video was posted online. Multiple musicians praised the performance, including Tom Morello, Flea, Thurston Moore, Kathleen Hanna, and Kid Cudi. The Linda Lindas soon signed with Epitaph Records, though a deal had been in progress before the video went viral.

Background

In March 2020, near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mila de la Garza, the band's drummer, had what she described as her first experience of racism. She had an encounter with a boy at school who backed away from her upon discovering she was Chinese; he had been told by his father to stay away from Chinese people. [2] [3] Mila subsequently met with Eloise Wong, the band's bassist, on a five-hour Zoom call, during which they wrote "Racist, Sexist Boy". [4]

The song was originally titled "Idiotic Boy", however, the band subsequently learned about ableism and opted for a different message. [2] [5]

On May 4, 2021, the Linda Lindas played at the Los Angeles Public Library for an AAPI Heritage Month celebration, during which they played "Racist, Sexist Boy". [6] The library soon posted a video of the performance. [7] The video became a viral social media hit, earning praise from Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello, Red Hot Chili Peppers's Flea, [7] Thurston Moore, [8] Bikini Kill's Kathleen Hanna, [3] Kid Cudi, [9] and author Viet Thanh Nguyen, who said, "'Racist, Sexist Boy' is the song we need now". [3] On May 22, Epitaph Records announced that it had signed the Linda Lindas; [10] [11] it was later clarified that Epitaph had been working on a deal with the Linda Lindas before the video went viral. [12]

Recording and release

"Racist, Sexist Boy" was first recorded during a live performance in May 2021 at the Los Angeles Public Library. That live performance was released as a single later that on May 27. [13]

Carlos de la Garza, father of band members Lucia and Mila de la Garza, recorded and mixed the studio version of "Racist, Sexist Boy" at Music Friends, his backyard studio. [14] [15] It appeared on the band's debut album, Growing Up, in April 2022. [16]

Composition

"Racist, Sexist Boy" is classified as a punk rock song [17] with elements riot grrrl. [3] [18]

Accolades

"Racist, Sexist Boy" won Best Punk Record at the 2022 Libera Awards. [19] It was also nominated for Best Song at the 2022 Kerrang! Awards. [20]

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Growing Up. [14]

The Linda Lindas

  • Bela Salazar – guitar
  • Eloise Wong – bass guitar, vocals
  • Lucia de la Garza – guitar
  • Mila de la Garza – drums, vocals

Technical personnel

References

  1. ^ Jones, Damian (May 21, 2021). "LA teen punk band The Linda Lindas go viral with anti-racist anthem 'Racist Sexist Boy'". NME. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Levin, Sam (May 24, 2021). "The Linda Lindas on their viral song Racist, Sexist Boy: 'It's good to let the anger out and scream'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Hawkins, Derek (May 21, 2021). "Teen rockers fire back at anti-Asian comments with a viral punk anthem: 'Racist, Sexist Boy'". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 29, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  4. ^ Dunlea, Reed (June 4, 2021). "'The First Time' With the Linda Lindas on 'Racist, Sexist Boy' and DIY Punk". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  5. ^ Ryzik, Melena (March 9, 2022). "Punk Rock's New Hope: The Ferocious, Joyful Linda Lindas". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 14, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  6. ^ Gotrich, Lars (May 21, 2021). "What's More Punk Than Teens Screaming In A Public Library?". NPR. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Bosselman, Haley (May 20, 2021). "The Linda Lindas' Library Performance of 'Racist, Sexist Boy' Hailed by Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello". Variety. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  8. ^ Zhang, Cat (May 25, 2021). "The Linda Lindas Are More Than Just a Viral Punk Band". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  9. ^ Idibly, Leia (May 21, 2021). "'HOLY SH*T YES': Teenage AAPI Punk Rock Band Goes Viral for Performance of 'Racist, Sexist Boy'". Mediaite. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  10. ^ Aswad, Jem (May 22, 2021). "The Linda Lindas Sign With Epitaph Records". Variety. Archived from the original on May 22, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  11. ^ Richards, Will (May 23, 2021). "Viral teen punk band The Linda Lindas sign record deal with Epitaph". NME. Archived from the original on May 23, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  12. ^ Speer, Debbie (September 6, 2022). "The Linda Lindas: Bringing Punk Rock To A New Generation". Pollstar. Archived from the original on February 8, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  13. ^ "The Linda Lindas – Racist, Sexist Boy". Epitaph Records. May 27, 2021. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  14. ^ a b The Linda Lindas (2022). Growing Up (liner notes). Epitaph Records. 87875-1SLE.
  15. ^ Nugent, Annabel (April 10, 2022). "The Linda Lindas: Meet the punk-powered school girls rising to rock's feminist forefront". The Independent. Archived from the original on May 25, 2024. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  16. ^ Trakin, Roy (April 8, 2022). "The Linda Lindas Are 'Growing Up' in Public in Debut Album: Review". Variety. Archived from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  17. ^ Tozzi, Lisa (February 1, 2022). "'We're Putting a Piece of Ourselves Out There': The Linda Lindas Talk 'Growing Up' on Debut LP". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 8, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  18. ^ Battoclette, Augusta (June 4, 2021). "The Linda Lindas make their TV debut with "Racist, Sexist Boy"—watch". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  19. ^ Grein, Paul (June 17, 2022). "Japanese Breakfast, Arlo Parks & More Win Big at 2022 A2IM Libera Awards (Full List)". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 12, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  20. ^ "Vote now in the Kerrang! Awards 2022". Kerrang!. May 18, 2022. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2024.

External links