Their first full-length album, Funs Cool, was released in 2016 and earned positive reviews from critics, who praised the blunt honesty of their lyrics, the prominent use of the ukulele in their music, and their inventive reinterpretations of other songs (The Misfits, Dolly Parton). Several reviewers noted that The Prettiots subvert the "cutesy" tropes and expectations that come along with being an independent band fronted by women and featuring ukulele.
The single, Suicide Hotline, has been especially praised for its sardonic humor and honest discussion of mental health. Katie Presley of NPR wrote that the song "couches stunning barbs of insight between sweet, fun harmonies and playful ukulele strums.
Boys
The Prettiots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I met him on Avenue A
I gave him my number because Why not? he was a DJ
He was so good at texting but our real conversations vexed me
So I moved on to the next thing because he was only good at texting
only good at texting
Martin that was your name
I met you on the One train
one the One train
You said you were a painter, mostly you were a waiter
a stoner and a skater so I had to say "later"
these are the boys that I dated in high school
I thought they were so nice and I thought they were so cool
these are the boys that I dated in high school
they weren't very nice and they weren't very cool
I remember Rocky, he was two grades above me
always wore a Bad Brains tee
I remember Rocky
He wouldn't dump his girlfriend
he said she gave such good head
and since her grandpa was dead, he couldn't dump her just yet
He said she gave such good head
I remember Beardy
I think his real name was Reid
We met at a Misshape's party and I just called him Beardy
I told him I was twenty, I was sixteen so that's sketchy
He found out and was angry that I told him I was twenty
these are the boys that I dated in high school
they weren't very nice and they weren't very cool
these are the boys that I dated in high school
I thought they were so nice and I thought they were so cool
these are the boys that I dated in high school
I thought they were so nice and I thought they were so cool
these are the boys that I dated in high school
they weren't very nice and they weren't very cool
Alex Mowry, you were kinda mean to me
I gave you my virginity
I was seventeen, you were twenty-three
we did it right before prom, I was scared to tell my mom
it wasn't really the bomb, we did it right before prom
we did it right before prom
we did it right before prom
The Prettiots’ song “Boys” is a comical and satirical reflection on teenage relationships and dating. The song is an incredibly relatable commentary on the individuals that one might have dated in their early years, with an added focus on the fact that these relationships may not have been as meaningful or as significant as they may have initially appeared.
The song details the singer’s experiences with various boys that she dated in high school. The first verse introduces Ian, a DJ that she gave her number to, but they quickly discovered that their conversations in person were uneventful. The second verse introduces Martin, who she met on a train and found to be attractive, but she ultimately ended things with him because he was only interested in smoking weed and skateboarding.
The remainder of the song details a handful of other boys she dated, including Rocky who wouldn't leave his girlfriend because of her ability in the bedroom, and Beardy who she lied to about her age. The final verse recounts her experience with Alex Mowry, who took her virginity right before prom, a moment that wasn't as magical as she hoped it would be.
Overall, The Prettiots’s song “Boys” takes a lighthearted approach to the complexities of teenage dating, using humor and satire to highlight the fleeting nature of early relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Ian was a DJ
I dated a guy named Ian who was a DJ
I met him on Avenue A
I met Ian on Avenue A
I gave him my number because Why not? he was a DJ
I gave Ian my number because he was a DJ and it seemed like a good idea
He was so good at texting but our real conversations vexed me
Ian was good at texting, but when we had real conversations, they were frustrating
So I moved on to the next thing because he was only good at texting
I ended things with Ian because he was only good at texting and our real conversations didn't work
only good at texting
Ian was only good at texting
Martin that was your name
I dated a guy named Martin
I met you on the One train
I met Martin on the One train
you were super-duper hot
I found Martin very attractive
you said you were a painter, mostly you were a waiter
Martin claimed to be a painter, but mostly he just worked as a waiter
a stoner and a skater so I had to say 'later'
Martin was a stoner and a skater, so I ended things with him
these are the boys that I dated in high school
I'm reflecting on the boys I dated in high school
I thought they were so nice and I thought they were so cool
At the time, I thought these boys were nice and cool
they weren't very nice and they weren't very cool
In hindsight, these boys weren't actually nice or cool
I remember Rocky, he was two grades above me
I dated a guy named Rocky who was two grades older than me
always wore a Bad Brains tee
Rocky always wore a t-shirt from the band Bad Brains
He wouldn't dump his girlfriend
Rocky wouldn't break up with his girlfriend
he said she gave such good head
Rocky claimed he couldn't break up with his girlfriend because she was good at oral sex
and since her grandpa was dead, he couldn't dump her just yet
Rocky also claimed he couldn't break up with his girlfriend because her grandfather had recently died
I remember Beardy
I dated a guy who I nicknamed Beardy
I think his real name was Reid
Beardy's real name might have been Reid
We met at a Misshape's party and I just called him Beardy
I met Beardy at a Misshapes party and just referred to him as Beardy
I told him I was twenty, I was sixteen so that's sketchy
I lied to Beardy and told him I was twenty, when I was really only sixteen, which was not okay
He found out and was angry that I told him I was twenty
Beardy found out I was actually only sixteen and was understandably angry
Alex Mowry, you were kinda mean to me
I dated a guy named Alex Mowry who was sometimes unkind to me
I gave you my virginity
I had sex with Alex Mowry for the first time
I was seventeen, you were twenty-three
I was seventeen years old, and Alex Mowry was twenty-three
we did it right before prom
Alex Mowry and I had sex right before prom
I was scared to tell my mom
I was nervous to tell my mother that I had sex with Alex Mowry
it wasn't really the bomb, we did it right before prom
The sex with Alex Mowry wasn't great, despite happening before prom
we did it right before prom
I had sex with Alex Mowry right before prom
Contributed by Joseph P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
wegder
For me this song is well crafted and infectious. It has been playing in my head for a couple of days now.
Chris Jernigan
It's good to know that this song isn't about me because I dated no one in high school.
Rafael Jesus
Notice that the guys were not in high school at the same time they did. Older guys were all boys bane in high school
Lea Biste
SAAAAAME
3D solix
same bro.
Mister Spoon
I love this. Just browsing and saw it. Fresh sound, good lyrics. More, more.
Tessa Joy
Randomly have this stuck in my head tonight, I used to be obsessed with this song
Kevin Block-Schwenk
Fun song, and ridiculously catchy!
Edinburgh Urbanmeister
Don't stop playing. Lovely mix of uke, (always my favourite), bass, (provides depth); and simple drum rhythm. Highly enjoyable. As others have said, don't stop and all the best.
Laura Wenzel
Wish this song had been around when I was in high school...will share with my teenaged daughter!