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)
Big Fuckin' Star
Reel Big Fish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm so bored counting all my money, I sit here
and I think of you. It's so easy, its so easy to do.
I don't even have to try, I don't even want to try,
Why should I waste my precious time?
I cant make you love me... but I know you
will. I'm such an asshole, how could you resist?
I never meant to let it go to my head, I
never thought it would come to this.
its me... the asshole of your dreams.
I can't make you love me... but I know you do.
I'm so cool, no one wants to talk to me
and I'm so cool, no one wants to look at me.
I'm so fuckin' cool, nobody cares at all!
IM A BIG FUCKIN STAR OH YEA YEA YEA!
The lyrics of Reel Big Fish's song "Big Fuckin' Star" are a satirical take on the glamorous life of a big music star. The opening line of the song "Now that I'm a big star, what am I gonna do?" is a rhetorical question that sets the tone for the rest of the song. The persona singing the song complains about being bored while counting his money, indicating that the fame he has achieved is not as rewarding as he thought it would be. Despite this, he still thinks of someone he loves but seems to have lost touch with. He admits that he doesn't have to try to get the person's love but knows that he has it. He becomes cocky, calling himself "the asshole of your dreams" and saying that he's so cool that nobody cares about him.
Through the lyrics, the persona singing the song is conveying a feeling that fame and wealth are not enough to make him feel happy because it has made him arrogant and disconnected from people. The song is a commentary on the negative effects that fame and success can have on someone's personality and how it can lead to loneliness.
Line by Line Meaning
Now that Im a big star, what am I gonna do?
I have achieved great success, what do I do now?
I'm so bored counting all my money, I sit here
and I think of you.
With nothing else to do, I think of you, even though I have countless amounts of money.
It's so easy, its so easy to do.
My success has made everything so effortless.
I don't even have to try, I don't even want to try,
Why should I waste my precious time?
I have become so complacent that I no longer want to put in the effort for anything.
I cant make you love me... but I know you
will. I'm such an asshole, how could you resist?
I acknowledge my unpleasant behavior, but I am confident that you will love me regardless.
I never meant to let it go to my head, I
never thought it would come to this.
I did not expect to become so egotistical and self-absorbed because of my success.
its me... the asshole of your dreams.
I have managed to become both successful and unlikable at the same time.
I'm so cool, no one wants to talk to me
and I'm so cool, no one wants to look at me.
I'm so fuckin' cool, nobody cares at all!
My success has made me unapproachable and unrelatable, causing people to not be interested in me.
IM A BIG FUCKIN STAR OH YEA YEA YEA!
I have achieved a great level of success and I want everyone to know it.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
Written by: AARON BARRETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Krish Shanmugam
on Everyone Else is an Asshole
dont