Their debut album, "Everything Sucks" (1995), was an underground hit and led to a deal with Mojo Records (see also Mojo), an indie label. "Turn the Radio Off" (1996) established the band in the underground music scene, and they began touring throughout the USA. After the single "Sell Out" began breaking into the mainstream, including MTV, the album made an appearance on the charts. The ska revival was short-lived, however, and "Why Do They Rock So Hard?" (1998) did not lead the group to the mainstream.
Reel Big Fish released "Cheer Up" (2002) which began a movement into harder rock and pop sounds, with much less ska than the previous albums. The song "Where Have You Been?" was aimed at a wider audience, trying to drop the less popular ska sound, but was met with little mainstream success, despite the video. Their second most recent studio album was "We're Not Happy Until You're Not Happy" (2005).
They recently released "Our Live Album is Better Than Your Live Album" (2006) which includes 2 discs worth or their own tunes and a few covers of popular songs along with a DVD. They have worked on the soundtrack to BASEketball, which included a cover of A-Ha's Take On Me.
In 2006, they split from Jive records, who produced a "Best of" album against the will of the band, who could not prevent the release. The band has made a campaign to try and stop people buying the album.
Their 7th album "Monkeys For Nothing and the Chimps For Free" (2007) includes some songs that were previously recorded and released on other albums. It was also the first album with the band's new label, Rock Ridge Records.
In 2009, they released "Fame, Fortune, and Fornication" an album composed of covers of older songs, including "Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty, and "Nothin' But a Good Time" by Poison.
In 2012, Reel Big Fish released "Candy Coated Fury", which is their second album on Rock Ridge Records. This album was met with heavy amounts of criticism from fans and reviewers alike. PunkNews.org gave the album a 2/10.
in 2014, they released "Happy Skalidays", a holiday themed EP.
Their current release is 2018's "Life Sucks... Let's Dance!", which gained generally positive reviews from fans and critics.
Current members:
Aaron Barrett - guitar, lead vocals (1992–present)
Dan Regan - trombone, backing vocals (1994–present)
John Christianson - trumpet, backing vocals (2004–present)
Ryland Steen - drums (2005–present)
Derek Gibbs - bass guitar (2007–present)
Past members:
Ben Guzman - vocals (1992–1994)
Zach Gilltrap - keyboards/synthesizers (1992–1994)
Lisa Smith - guitar (1992–1994)
Eric Vismantes - trumpet (1994)
Stephan Reed - saxophone (1994)
Robert Quimby - trombone (1994–1995)
Adam Polakoff - saxophone (1994–1995)
Grant Barry - trombone (1995–1998)
Andrew Gonzales - drums (1992–1998)
Tavis Werts - trumpet (1994–2001)
Carlos de la Garza - drums (1999–2003)
Tyler Jones - trumpet (2001–2004)
Justin Ferreira - drums (2003–2005)
Matt Wong - bass, backing vocals (1992–2007)
Scott Klopfenstein - trumpet, guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1995–2011)
99 Red Balloons
Reel Big Fish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Buy a bag of balloons with the money we've got
Set them free at the break of dawn
'Til one by one, they were gone
Back at base, bugs in the software
Flash the message, "Something's out there."
Floating in the summer sky
99 red balloons go by
99 red balloons floating in the summer sky
Panic bells, it's red alert
There's something here from somewhere else
The war machine, it springs to life
Opens up one eager eye
Focusing it on the sky
As 99 red balloons go by
99 Decision Street, 99 ministers meet
To worry, worry, super-scurry
Call out the troops now in a hurry
This is what we've waited for
This is it boys, this is war!
The President is on the line
As 99 red balloons go by
99 Kriegsminister
Streichholz und Benzinkanister
Hielten sich fuer schlaue Leute
Witterten schon fette Beute
Riefen "Krieg!" und wollten Macht
Mann, wer hätte das gedacht
Dass es einmal soweit kommt
Wegen 99 Luftballoons
99 Luftballoons
99 dreams I have had
In every one, a red balloon
It's all over and I'm standin' pretty
In the dust that was a city
If I could find a souvenir
Just to prove the world was here
And here it is, a red balloon
I think of you and let it go
"99 Red Balloons" is a song by the German band Nena. It was first released in 1983 and became a worldwide hit. The English-language version by the band Reel Big Fish is a cover that preserves the original song's story and imagery. The song tells a story about 99 red balloons that are released into the air, mistaken for UFOs, and cause a global conflict that destroys a city.
The first verse describes a joyful moment when two people go to a toy shop and buy a bag of balloons to set them free. The second verse introduces the conflict that arises when the 99 balloons are detected by military radars and perceived as a threat. The third verse describes a meeting of ministers who decide to start a war, thinking that they can profit from it. The fourth verse is a reflection on the aftermath of the war, with the singer standing in the ruins of a city and finding a red balloon as a symbol of the world that used to exist.
Line by Line Meaning
You and I in a little toy shop
Two people are in a small store selling toys
Buy a bag of balloons with the money we've got
They spend their limited money on buying a bag of balloons
Set them free at the break of dawn
They release the balloons at sunrise
'Til one by one, they were gone
As time passes, the balloons disappear into the distance until there are none left
Back at base, bugs in the software
In a command center, there are issues with the system
Flash the message, "Something's out there."
An alarm goes off indicating that there is something unknown in the area
Floating in the summer sky
The balloons are rising in the atmosphere during summer
99 red balloons go by
A total of 99 red balloons can be seen moving by
Panic bells, it's red alert
Sirens sound in response to a dangerous situation
There's something here from somewhere else
There is an object or entities present that is not usually found there
The war machine, it springs to life
Military forces and intelligence become active
Opens up one eager eye
Vehicles, radar or other devices monitor the situation
Focusing it on the sky
The technology is directed to point specifically to the sky to observe the objects
As 99 red balloons go by
The 99 balloons are identified as a possible threat by those monitoring the sky
99 Decision Street, 99 ministers meet
Politicians convene in a local government building at 99 Decision Street
To worry, worry, super-scurry
They are distressed and agitated, scurrying around in haste
Call out the troops now in a hurry
The military is called in for combat
This is what we've waited for
The situation they've expected to occur has arrived
This is it boys, this is war!
The situation is perceived as an act of war
The President is on the line
The country's leader is alerted and involved
As 99 red balloons go by
The balloons' presence heighten everyone's tension
99 Kriegsminister
99 German war ministers
Streichholz und Benzinkanister
Matches and gasoline cans
Hielten sich fuer schlaue Leute
They thought of themselves as smart people
Witterten schon fette Beute
They had already caught the scent of fat prey
Riefen "Krieg!" und wollten Macht
They shouted 'war' and wanted power
Mann, wer hätte das gedacht
Man, who would have thought that
Dass es einmal soweit kommt
That it would ever come this far
Wegen 99 Luftballoons
Because of 99 air balloons (in German)
99 Luftballoons
99 air balloons (in German)
99 dreams I have had
The singer has had 99 dreams
In every one, a red balloon
In each dream, a red balloon appears
It's all over and I'm standin' pretty
The events subsided and the artist is left standing unharmed
In the dust that was a city
The city was reduced to rubble and dust
If I could find a souvenir
If the singer could find a memento
Just to prove the world was here
To serve as evidence that the world once existed
And here it is, a red balloon
The only evidence left is a single red balloon
I think of you and let it go
The singer lets go of the balloon while thinking of someone specific
Contributed by Micah M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@fathurrahman4978
You and I in a little toy shop
Buy a bag of balloons with the money we've got
Set them free at the break of dawn
'Til one by one they were gone
Back at base, bugs in the software
Flash the message, something's out there
Floating in the summer sky
Ninety-nine red balloons go by
[Verse 1]
Ninety-nine red balloons
Floating in the summer sky
Panic bells, it's red alert
There's something here from somewhere else
The war machine springs to life
Opens up one eager eye
Focusing it on the sky
As ninety-nine red balloons go by
[Verse 2]
Ninety-nine decisions treat
Ninety-nine ministers meet
To worry, worry, super scurry
Call out the troops now in a hurry
This is what we've waited for
This is it, boys, this is war
The President is on the line
As ninety-nine red balloons go by
[Bridge]
Neunundneunzig Kriegsminister
Streichholz und Benzinkanister
Hielten sich füare schlaue Leute
Witterten schon fette Beute
Riefen: Krieg und wollten Macht
Mann, wer hätte das gedacht?
Daß es einmal so weit kommt
Wegen neunundneunzig Luftballons
Neunundneunzig Luftballons
[Outro]
Ninety-nine dreams I have had
And every one a red balloon
It's all over, and I'm standing pretty
In the dust that was a city
If I could find a souvenir
Just to prove the world was here
Here it is, a red balloon
I think of you and let it go
@Berd
damn.. that long ago
@discardtv842
BERBMMMMMM??
@Steven-nq7fx
Ikr
@Engie17
Berd, can you do more Tf2 stuff ❤
@alexchristensen2047
@@Engie17no 😂j JJ a
@maeganschwartz3730
Love how they have one verse left in the original german.
Thats about the best german pronunciation i've ever heard from an american!
@qifocusman
So true though. It's very underground punk despite the pop vibe it leaks.
@smhez4766
Dann sollst du mal meine Aussprache hören.
@smhez4766
Aber ich muss auch zugeben, dass seine Aussprache ziemlich gut ist.
@Marshallnd
Turns out, if you just shout German words you say it better. Who knew.