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"Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young", commonly known by the title "Wear Sunscreen", is an
essay An essay is, generally, a piece of writing that gives the author's own argument, but the definition is vague, overlapping with those of a letter, a paper, an article, a pamphlet, and a short story. Essays have been sub-classified as formal a ...
written as a hypothetical
commencement speech A commencement speech or commencement address is a speech given to graduating students, generally at a university, although the term is also used for secondary education institutions and in similar institutions around the world. The commencement ...
by
columnist A columnist is a person who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Column (newspaper), Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs. They take the fo ...
Mary Schmich Mary Theresa Schmich ( ; born November 29, 1953) is an American journalist. She was a columnist for the ''Chicago Tribune'' from 1992 to 2021, winning the Pulitzer Prize in 2012. Her columns were syndicated nationally by Tribune Content Agency. S ...
, originally published in June 1997 in the ''
Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...
''. The essay, giving various pieces of advice on how to live a happier life and avoid common frustrations, spread massively via
viral email A viral email (also known as a "pass-along email") is an email which rapidly propagates from person to person, generally in a word-of-mouth manner. It is an example of a viral phenomenon, which is used for profit in viral marketing, but can also c ...
, is often erroneously described as a commencement speech given by author
Kurt Vonnegut Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (November 11, 1922 – April 11, 2007) was an American writer known for his satirical and darkly humorous novels. In a career spanning over 50 years, he published fourteen novels, three short-story collections, five plays, and ...
at
MIT The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has played a key role in the development of modern technology and science, and is one of the m ...
. The essay became the basis for a successful
spoken word Spoken word refers to an oral poetic performance art that is based mainly on the poem as well as the performer's aesthetic qualities. It is a late 20th century continuation of an ancient oral artistic tradition that focuses on the aesthetics of ...
song released in 1997 by
Baz Luhrmann Mark Anthony Luhrmann (born 17 September 1962), known professionally as Baz Luhrmann, is an Australian film director, producer, writer and actor. With projects spanning film, television, opera, theatre, music and recording industries, he is re ...
, "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)", also known as "The Sunscreen Song"."The Sunscreen Song (class of '99)" is used as an alternative title on the cover of the single; see als
the single's "Editorial Reviews" on Amazon
an

by the ''Washington Post''.
The song reached number one in Ireland and the United Kingdom and inspired numerous
parodies A parody, also known as a spoof, a satire, a send-up, a take-off, a lampoon, a play on (something), or a caricature, is a creative work designed to imitate, comment on, and/or mock its subject by means of satiric or ironic imitation. Often its sub ...
.


''Chicago Tribune'' column

Mary Schmich Mary Theresa Schmich ( ; born November 29, 1953) is an American journalist. She was a columnist for the ''Chicago Tribune'' from 1992 to 2021, winning the Pulitzer Prize in 2012. Her columns were syndicated nationally by Tribune Content Agency. S ...
's
column A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column is a compression member. ...
"Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young" was published in the ''
Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...
'' on June 1, 1997. In the column's introduction Schmich presents the essay as the
commencement speech A commencement speech or commencement address is a speech given to graduating students, generally at a university, although the term is also used for secondary education institutions and in similar institutions around the world. The commencement ...
she would give if she were asked to give one. In the speech she insistently recommends the wearing of
sunscreen Sunscreen, also known as sunblock or sun cream, is a photoprotective topical product for the skin that mainly absorbs, or to a much lesser extent reflects, some of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation and thus helps protect against sunburn and ...
, and dispenses other advice and warnings which are intended to help people live a happier life and avoid common frustrations. She later explained that the inspiration came from seeing a young woman
sunbathing Sun tanning or tanning is the process whereby skin color is darkened or tanned. It is most often a result of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight or from artificial sources, such as a tanning lamp found in indoor tanning beds. ...
, and hoping that she was wearing sunscreen, unlike what Schmich herself did at that age. The essay soon became the subject of an
urban legend An urban legend (sometimes contemporary legend, modern legend, urban myth, or urban tale) is a genre of folklore comprising stories or fallacious claims circulated as true, especially as having happened to a "friend of a friend" or a family m ...
which claimed it was an
MIT The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has played a key role in the development of modern technology and science, and is one of the m ...
commencement speech given by author
Kurt Vonnegut Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (November 11, 1922 – April 11, 2007) was an American writer known for his satirical and darkly humorous novels. In a career spanning over 50 years, he published fourteen novels, three short-story collections, five plays, and ...
. In reality, MIT's commencement speaker in 1997 was
Kofi Annan Kofi Atta Annan (; 8 April 193818 August 2018) was a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh secretary-general of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006. Annan and the UN were the co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize. He was the founder ...
and Vonnegut had never been a commencement speaker there. Despite a follow-up article by Schmich on August 3, 1997, the story became so widespread that Vonnegut's lawyer began receiving requests to reprint the speech. Vonnegut commented that he would have been proud had the words been his. Schmich published a short gift book adaptation of the essay, ''Wear Sunscreen: A Primer for Real Life'', in 1998. A tenth anniversary edition was published in 2008.


Baz Luhrmann version

The essay was used in its entirety by Australian film director
Baz Luhrmann Mark Anthony Luhrmann (born 17 September 1962), known professionally as Baz Luhrmann, is an Australian film director, producer, writer and actor. With projects spanning film, television, opera, theatre, music and recording industries, he is re ...
on his 1998 album ''
Something for Everybody ''Something for Everybody'' is the sixth studio album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released on RCA Victor in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 2370, in June 17, 1961. Recording sessions took place on November 8, 1960, at Radio Recorder ...
'', as "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)". Also known as "The Sunscreen Song", it samples Luhrmann's remixed version of the song "
Everybody's Free (To Feel Good) "Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)" is a song by Zambian-born Zimbabwean singer Rozalla, released in August 1991 as the second single from her second album, '' Everybody's Free'' (1992). It had been a staple in the clubs in Ibiza and Mallorca in ...
" by
Rozalla Rozalla Miller (born 18 March 1964), better known as simply Rozalla, is a Zimbabwean electronic music performer who was born in what was then Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). At the age of 18, she moved with her parents to her father's country o ...
, and opens with the words, "Ladies and Gentlemen of the Class of '99" (instead of "'97", as in the original column). The song features a spoken-word track set over a mellow backing track. The "Wear Sunscreen" speech is narrated by Australian voice actor Lee Perry. The backing is the choral version of "Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)", a 1991 song by
Rozalla Rozalla Miller (born 18 March 1964), better known as simply Rozalla, is a Zimbabwean electronic music performer who was born in what was then Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). At the age of 18, she moved with her parents to her father's country o ...
, used in Luhrmann's film ''
William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Engl ...
''. The chorus, also from "Everybody's Free", is sung by
Quindon Tarver Quindon Dan Tarver (August 4, 1982 – April 1, 2021) was an American singer. He was best known for his covers of Prince's "When Doves Cry" and Rozalla's " Everybody's Free" for the 1996 film ''William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet''. Life and ca ...
. Additionally, the song was played on the end credits of the 1999 John Swanbeck's film '' The Big Kahuna''. "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)" was released as a single in some territories in 1997, with the speech (including its opening words, "Ladies and Gentlemen of the Class of '97") completely intact. This version appeared in the
Triple J Hottest 100 The Triple J Hottest 100 is an annual music listener poll hosted by the publicly-funded, national Australian youth radio station, Triple J. Members of the public are invited to vote for their favourite Australian and alternative music of the ...
of that year at number 16 in the countdown, and was released on the subsequent CD in early 1998. A limited-edition
CD single A CD single (sometimes abbreviated to CDS) is a music single in the form of a compact disc. The standard in the Red Book for the term ''CD single'' is an 8 cm (3-inch) CD (or Mini CD). It now refers to any single recorded onto a CD of any si ...
was issued in the United States on February 9, 1999, but only in the
Pacific Northwest The Pacific Northwest (sometimes Cascadia, or simply abbreviated as PNW) is a geographic region in western North America bounded by its coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains to the east. Though ...
region. In the United Kingdom, the song was released on May 31, 1999. Luhrmann explained that Anton Monsted,
Josh Abrahams Josh Abrahams (born 1968 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) is an Australian musician who emerged from the underground dance music scene in the early 1990s. He has performed and recorded under the stage name Puretone, and is also known as The ...
, and he were working on the remix when Monsted received an email with the supposed Vonnegut speech. They decided to use it but were doubtful of getting through to Vonnegut for permission before their deadline, which was only one or two days away. While searching the Internet for contact information they came upon the "Sunscreen" authorship controversy and discovered that Schmich was the actual author. They emailed her and, with her permission, recorded the song the next day. The song was a top-10 hit across Europe, but largely obscure in the US until Aaron Scofield, a producer in
Phoenix Phoenix most often refers to: * Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore * Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States Phoenix may also refer to: Mythology Greek mythological figures * Phoenix (son of Amyntor), a ...
, edited the original 12-inch version into a segment of a syndicated radio show called ''Modern Mix''. This show played on many stations in the United States. In
Portland Portland most commonly refers to: * Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States * Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...
,
Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...
—where ''Modern Mix'' played on KNRK—listeners began requesting the track. KNRK program director Mark Hamilton edited the song for time and began playing it regularly. He distributed the song to other program directors that he networked with and the song exploded in the US. There are four versions of the song: the original 7:09 minute mix from the album ''Baz Luhrmann Presents: Something for Everybody''; a 1999 single release which features a 5:05 minute edit that lacks both choruses; "Geographic's Factor 15+ Mix" that runs for 4:42 minutes; and a "2007 Mix" of the original 7:09 minute version released on the 10th Anniversary Edition of the ''William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet'' soundtrack on which the opening words are changed to "Ladies and gentlemen of the class of 2007". The song also appeared in Germany and was soon followed by a German version with the title "Sonnencreme". The German translation is narrated by the German actor Dieter Brandecker. A Brazilian version, entitled "Filtro Solar", is narrated in Portuguese by journalist and TV presenter
Pedro Bial Pedro Bial (born March 29, 1958) is a Brazilian television producer, producer, television director, director, writer, journalist and a TV presenter. He is best known for hosting the variety show ''Fantástico'', and the reality show ''Big Brother B ...
and was released in the last 2003 edition of the program ''
Fantástico ''Fantástico'' (originally known as ''Fantástico: O Show da Vida'', Portuguese for ''Fantastic The Show of Life'') is a Brazilian weekly television news program broadcast on Sunday nights on Rede Globo since August 5, 1973, created by José Bo ...
'', on
Rede Globo TV Globo (, "Globe TV", or simply Globo), formerly known as Rede Globo, is a Brazilian free-to-air Television broadcasting, television network, launched by media proprietor Roberto Marinho on 26 April 1965. It is owned by media conglomerate Gr ...
. This version became a radio success in 2004. A Russian adaptation of the song, recorded live by
Silver Rain Radio Silver Rain Radio (russian: Серебряный Дождь) is a Russian (including post-Soviet countries) FM radio station since July 4, 1995. Radio frequency in Moscow, Russia - 100,1 FM. Initiator of the Silver Galosh Award for the most dub ...
, was performed by Alex Dubas and Yolka. An Israeli adaptation of the song, named "Matters One Should Know" (דברים שכדאי לדעת), was recorded and released for the Israeli Children's channel in 2004 by Avri Gilad, Rinat Gabay and MC Shiri.


Critical reception

'' Daily Record'' wrote, "Luhrmann's single is the biggest spoken-word hit since
JJ Barrie J. J. Barrie (born Barry Authors, July 7, 1933) is a Canadian songwriter and singer. He is best known for his 1976 UK record chart, chart-topper, "No Charge". Biography A former Blue Mink and Ocean (band), Ocean manager, and ex-comedian, Barrie ...
topped the charts with
No Charge "No Charge" is a country music song, written by songwriter Harlan Howard. It was first recorded by country singer Melba Montgomery, whose 1974 version was a #1 country hit in both the US and Canada, as well as making #39 on the US pop charts. I ...
in 1976. The lyrics began life as a newspaper article." James Oldham from ''
NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...
'' commented, "Unless you have been holidaying on
Jupiter Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the List of Solar System objects by size, largest in the Solar System. It is a gas giant with a mass more than two and a half times that of all the other planets in the Solar System combined, but ...
for the last two months, this remarkable and potentially nauseating record will have burrowed its way into your deep subconscious by now." He added, "Luhrmann's postmodern masterpiece is half pisstake, half soul-soothing brain massage and all genius; a DIY pop landmark for the end of the self-help decade. Buy this record. Twenty years from now, in ways you can't even begin to imagine today, you will be glad you did."


Chart performance

The song reached number 24 on the
Billboard Hot 100 Airplay The Radio Songs chart (previously named Hot 100 Airplay until 2014 and Top 40 Radio Monitor until 1991) is released weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine and measures the airplay of songs being played on radio stations throughout the United States acr ...
in the United States; by the time it was released as a commercial single in the country, radio airplay had declined significantly, and only managed to peak at number 45 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. In Canada the song peaked at number 11 on the ''RPM'' Top Singles chart and topped the ''RPM'' Adult Contemporary chart. It also reached number one in the United Kingdom and Ireland, partly due to a media campaign by Radio One DJ
Chris Moyles Christopher David Moyles (born 22 February 1974) is an English radio and television presenter, author and presenter of ''The Chris Moyles Show'' on Radio X. Previously he has presented ''The Chris Moyles Show'' on BBC Radio 1 from 2004 to 20 ...
. On August 10, 2008, the song re-entered the
UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
at number 72.


Music video

There are two videos for the song: one which uses the 1999 5:05 minute single edit of the song (the version in which
Quindon Tarver Quindon Dan Tarver (August 4, 1982 – April 1, 2021) was an American singer. He was best known for his covers of Prince's "When Doves Cry" and Rozalla's " Everybody's Free" for the 1996 film ''William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet''. Life and ca ...
is not featured), directed and animated by
Bill Barminski Bill Barminski (born November 26, 1962) is an American self taught artist and filmmaker born in Chicago, Illinois. His work has been part of creative projects such as Banksy's Dismaland, Beyond The Streets and ''The Cunning Little Vixen'', a new m ...
; and another using the 7:09 minute edit made by the Brazilian advertising agency DM9DDB.


Track listing

CD-Maxi Capitol 8871762 (EMI) / EAN 0724388717625 # "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)" (Edit) – 5:05 # "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)" (Geographic's Factor 15+ Mix) – 4:42 # "Love Is in the Air" (Fran Mix) performed by John Paul Young – 4:30


Charts and certifications


Weekly charts


Year-end charts


Certifications


Release history


Parodies

The Baz Luhrmann song version inspired numerous
parodies A parody, also known as a spoof, a satire, a send-up, a take-off, a lampoon, a play on (something), or a caricature, is a creative work designed to imitate, comment on, and/or mock its subject by means of satiric or ironic imitation. Often its sub ...
. In December 1997,
John Safran , citizenship = , education = , occupation = DocumentarianJournalistRadio presenterAuthor , years_active = 1997 – present , known_for = ''John Safran's Music Jamboree'' ''John Safran vs God'' ''Race ...
released a song entitled "
Not the Sunscreen Song "Not the Sunscreen Song" is a song by Australian personality, John Safran released in December 1997. The song is a Parody of Baz Luhrmann's 1997 single "Wear_Sunscreen#Baz_Luhrmann_version, Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)" which is a reco ...
" which peaked at number 20 in Australia. American comedian
Chris Rock Christopher Julius Rock (born February 7, 1965) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and filmmaker. Known for his work in comic film, television and stage, he has received multiple accolades, including three Grammy Awards for best come ...
enjoyed great success with his spoken word song "
No Sex (In the Champagne Room) "No Sex (in the Champagne Room)" is a comedic Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, boo ...
" which was in turn parodied on ''
Mad TV ''Mad TV'' (stylized as ''MADtv'') is an American sketch comedy television series originally inspired by '' Mad'' magazine. In its initial run, it aired on Fox from 1995 to 2009. After a one-off reunion show in 2015 to celebrate the twentiet ...
'' as "Ain't No Blacks on the TV Screen" in the style of Rock's stand-up. The song was also parodied in an episode of ''
Disney's House of Mouse ''Disney's House of Mouse'' (or simply ''House of Mouse'') is an American animated television series produced by Walt Disney Television Animation that originally aired for three seasons on ABC and Toon Disney from January 13, 2001, to its finale ...
'' performed by
Jiminy Cricket Jiminy Cricket is the Disney version of the "Talking Cricket" (Italian: ''Il Grillo Parlante''), a fictional character created by Italian writer Carlo Collodi for his 1883 children's book ''The Adventures of Pinocchio'', which Walt Disney adapt ...
. The comedy group
Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie (aka 'The Trolls') was a Canadian comedy group from Edmonton, Alberta formed in 1987. Their credits include numerous stage productions, a television show and five albums. The Trolls did sketch comedy, often on risqu ...
also made a parody entitled "The Sunscreen Marketing Board".
Jegsy Dodd Jegsy Dodd (born 1957, Wirral)Sills, Ben & Panja, Tariq (2009)Liverpool Tries Refinancing as Treatment Angers Fans, Bloomberg, 24 July 2009, retrieved 2011-08-14, "Jegsy Dodd, 51" is an English performance poet from Wirral. He first came to prom ...
and the Original Sinners' version, "Grumpy Old Men", was voted favourite track of 2005 by BBC Radio 1 listeners in their annual Festive 50 poll. Angelos Epithemiou's live tour included a parody of the song titled "Don't Muck About". A parody entitled "Mow Against The Grain" appears on the ''King of the Hill'' soundtrack album. Another parody by comedian Simmi Areff was played on South African radio station East Coast Radio at the conclusion of the
2010 FIFA World Cup , image = 2010 FIFA World Cup.svg , size = 200px , caption = ''Ke Nako. (Tswana and Sotho for "It's time") Celebrate Africa's Humanity'It's time. Celebrate Africa's Humanity'' (English)''Dis tyd. Vier Afrika se mensd ...
. Another parody was created in 1999 by London Capital Radio Breakfast Show host Chris Tarrant, who created a version called "wear slippers" which consisted of him reading an alternative version of the sunscreen lyrics and demonstrated his disdain for Baz Luhrmann's version.


References


Bibliography

*''Wear Sunscreen'' (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 1998)


External links


Original column
{{Baz Luhrmann 1998 songs Australian pop songs Novelty songs Songs based on speech samples Personal life Spoken word 1997 essays 1999 debut singles
Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) "Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young", commonly known by the title "Wear Sunscreen", is an essay written as a hypothetical commencement speech by columnist Mary Schmich, originally published in June 1997 in the ''Chicago Tribune' ...
Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) "Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young", commonly known by the title "Wear Sunscreen", is an essay written as a hypothetical commencement speech by columnist Mary Schmich, originally published in June 1997 in the ''Chicago Tribune' ...
Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) "Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young", commonly known by the title "Wear Sunscreen", is an essay written as a hypothetical commencement speech by columnist Mary Schmich, originally published in June 1997 in the ''Chicago Tribune' ...
Works originally published in the Chicago Tribune Songs written by Nigel Swanston Graduation EMI Records singles Capitol Records singles