Blame It on My Youth

"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 was their first release with Columbia Records, with whom they signed for Nine. Lyrically, the song nostalgically recounts the band members' upbringings, and how they came to start a band. Composition John Aubert of All Punked Up described "Blame It on My Youth" as "a modern-pop-nostalgia track" which rings "true to failed youths on the dawn of the millennia". Andrew Sacher of BrooklynVegan labeled the song "fist-pumping, festival-ready 'whoa-oh' rock". However, in a review of the song's parent album Nine, Sacher unfavorably linked the song to "empty, Imagine Dragons-style arena rock". Jim Moster and Jacob Neisewander of The Observer noted that the band "declares victory over their childhood circumstances amidst a blend of electronic and rock elements" on "Blame It on My Youth". 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. The song ended up peaking at number nine on Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart at number nine, and at position 11 on its sister ranking, Alternative Airplay.