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)
Dateless Losers
Reel Big Fish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You are so lucky, beautiful and bright
All the cool kids go steady they're making
Out at 12- we sit in our rooms alone
By ourselves it's Friday
No phone call, nobody asked us out
We are the dateless losers lonely until we die!
We're not so bad you know
But you won't give us a chance
Take us to the movies, to dinner, or to dance
Not perfect, not too hip, but we need lovin' too
We are the dateless losers lonely until we die!
So unappreciated why, why, why, why?
In Reel Big Fish's song, "Dateless Losers," the lyrics speak to those who feel left behind in the dating world. The opening verse sets the scene for the listener - feeling alone with no one by their side. Then, the subject of the song is jealous of those who seem to have it more together. They describe someone as "lucky, beautiful and bright" and reference "all the cool kids" - something the subject feels left out of. Instead, they sit alone in their room on a Friday night, with no phone call or invitation out for the evening.
The chorus of the song is the most memorable section. The phrase "We are the dateless losers lonely until we die!" is easy to sing along to and has a catchy rhythm. The message of the song is particularly relevant to anyone who has ever felt like they don't fit in. Whether it be in the dating world or another aspect of life, it's easy to relate to the feeling expressed in the song. The lyrics express sadness that these people feel unappreciated and overlooked.
The final verse is a plea for someone to give them a chance. They don't claim to be perfect or the coolest people in the room, but they argue that they still deserve love and attention. In a way, the song is a call to action for listeners to be more open to those who might not seem like the typical person they would go out with. It's a message about looking beyond appearances and seeing what someone has to offer on a deeper level.
Line by Line Meaning
We are all on our own with no one by our side
We are alone and have no romantic partner to share our experiences with.
You are so lucky, beautiful and bright
You have it easy with your attractiveness and charm.
All the cool kids go steady they're making
All the popular and well-liked people are in relationships and enjoying themselves.
Out at 12- we sit in our rooms alone
While others are out having fun and socializing, we are stuck at home by ourselves.
By ourselves it's Friday
Friday nights are especially lonely because we have no one to spend them with.
No phone call, nobody asked us out
No one is interested in us romantically and we are constantly overlooked.
We are the dateless losers lonely until we die!
We feel like we will never find love and will be alone forever.
So unappreciated, why, why, why, why?
We feel unrecognized and unacknowledged in our loneliness and desire for companionship.
We're not so bad you know
Despite being dateless, we still have positive qualities and deserve love.
But you won't give us a chance
People see our lack of dating experience as a red flag and are unwilling to give us a fair chance.
Take us to the movies, to dinner, or to dance
We just want a basic date and a chance to connect with someone.
Not perfect, not too hip, but we need lovin' too
We are not the coolest or most interesting people, but we still have the same emotional needs as everyone else.
So unappreciated why, why, why, why?
We continue to feel ignored and undervalued in our dating lives.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AARON BARRETT, CARLOS F. GARZA, DAN REGAN, MATT WONG, SCOTT ALLEN KLOPFENSTEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Krish Shanmugam
on Everyone Else is an Asshole
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