"Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young", commonly known by the title "Wear Sunscreen",[1] is an essay written as a hypothetical commencement speech by columnist Mary Schmich, originally published in June 1997 in the Chicago Tribune.

[2] The essay, giving various pieces of advice on how to live a happier life and avoid common frustrations, spread massively via viral email, is often erroneously described as a commencement speech given by author Kurt Vonnegut at MIT.

[3] In the speech she insistently recommends the wearing of sunscreen, and dispenses other advice and warnings which are intended to help people live a happier life and avoid common frustrations.

[7] Despite a follow-up article by Schmich on August 3, 1997,[8] the story became so widespread that Vonnegut's lawyer began receiving requests to reprint the speech.

[3][10][11] The backing is the choral version of "Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)", a 1991 song by Rozalla, used in Luhrmann's film William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet.

[12] Originally released in the album Something for Everybody (1997), "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)" gained popularity in 1998 in some areas of the US, when a Portland radio station started to air it.

[14] "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.

[19] A Brazilian version, entitled "Filtro Solar", is narrated in Portuguese by journalist and TV presenter Pedro Bial and was released in the last 2003 edition of the program Fantástico, on Rede Globo.

[23][24] Daily Record wrote, "Luhrmann's single is the biggest spoken-word hit since JJ Barrie topped the charts with 'No Charge' in 1976.

"[25] James Oldham from NME commented, "Unless you have been holidaying on Jupiter for the last two months, this remarkable and potentially nauseating record will have burrowed its way into your deep subconscious by now."

"[26] The song was a top-10 hit across Europe but was largely obscure in the US until Aaron Scofield, a producer in Phoenix, edited the original 12-inch version into a segment of a syndicated radio show called Modern Mix.

It also reached number one in the United Kingdom and Ireland, partly due to a media campaign by Radio One DJ Chris Moyles.

Jegsy Dodd 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.