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)
I Dare You To Break My Heart
Reel Big Fish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know there's something wrong.
I don't even know you yet
But I know what you want to do to me.
My latest dream girl,
My latest nightmare.
Could this be the start of another,
Long, long, hateful love-affair?
I just cannot allow,
Anyone else inside my head,
You know I'd rather just drop dead.
Well have cried,
As much as I can cry.
So just give it a try.
And I have bled,
As much as I can bleed.
No one can hurt me anymore.
So I dare you to break my heart,
Come on and give it your best shot.
Baby, I dare you to break my heart,
It's gonna take more than you got.
Woah yeah, so go ahead and try to break my heart.
Cause I've been working hard this time,
Just getting it hard for you.
I dare you.
Hey, now I think you're great.
And, maybe we could date?
We could go out drinking,
Have ourselves a beer and stay out late.
But I got a heart of stone,
Covered by brick and bone.
If you think you're gonna get close to it,
Well I think you better just get gone.
Don't try to tame me now,
You'll never slow me down.
I'm just gonna get up,
Gonna get right back up and get around.
Well I have bled,
As much as I can bleed.
You'll see what I mean.
And I have cried,
As much as I can cry.
No one can hurt me anymore.
And so I dare you to break my heart,
Come on and give it your best shot.
Baby, I dare you to break my heart,
It's gonna take more than you got.
Woah yeah, so go ahead and try to break my heart.
Cause I've been working hard this time,
Just getting it hard for you.
I dare you.
Woah yeah!
The harder that you try,
The harder you fail.
The river that you cry,
Is where I'm gonna,
Woah set sail!
Come on, break it!
When all is said and done,
And we have had our fun.
You won't have your chains on me,
You won't claim me as your only one.
I've got one thing to say,
As I push you far away.
Do you think someone like you,
Could make someone like me love you anyway?
The most important thing,
That I have ever learnt.
Is if you're not doing the hurting,
You're the one who's getting hurt.
Woah yeah.
Well I have cried,
As much as I can cry.
Just give it a try.
And I have bled,
As much as I can bleed, baby.
No one can hurt me anymore.
And so I dare you to break my heart,
Come on and give it your best shot.
Baby, I dare you to break my heart,
It's gonna take more than you got.
Oh yeah, I dare you to break my heart,
Come on and give it your best shot.
Baby, I dare you to break my heart,
It's gonna take more than you got.
Woah yeah, so go ahead and try to break my heart.
Cause I've been working hard this time,
And I've been working hard this time,
Yeah, I've been working hard this time,
Just getting it hard for,
Getting it hard for,
Getting it hard for you.
I dare you.
The song "I Dare You to Break My Heart" by Reel Big Fish tells the story of a person who has been hurt in the past and is now hesitant to let anyone else into their heart. They acknowledge that someone new has caught their eye, but they are wary of the potential pain that could come from a new relationship. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been through a lot and has built up emotional walls to protect themselves. They challenge the new person to try and break through those walls, but at the same time, they are daring them to try so they can prove to themselves that they are strong enough to withstand the pain.
The chorus is where the song really shines, with the repeated refrain of "I dare you to break my heart." This line is both a challenge and a warning, letting the other person know that the singer is not going to let their guard down easily. The lyrics also contain a sense of stubbornness and defensiveness, with lines like "I got a heart of stone" and "Don't try to tame me now." The song's message ultimately seems to be that love can be risky and painful, but it's worth the challenge if you're willing to be brave enough to try.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel it coming on,
I sense that something bad is about to happen.
I know there's something wrong.
I am aware of the problem, even though I don't know the details.
I don't even know you yet
We haven't met before, but I already have an idea of what you're like.
But I know what you want to do to me.
I can tell that you have bad intentions towards me.
My latest dream girl,
I see you as a potential partner.
My latest nightmare.
I am afraid that you will hurt me emotionally.
Could this be the start of another,
I fear that this relationship will be just like my past ones.
Long, long, hateful love-affair?
Will we end up loathing each other after a prolonged period of time?
I gotta tell you now,
I need to be upfront with you about something important.
I just cannot allow,
I refuse to let anyone hurt me again.
Anyone else inside my head,
I can't let anyone mess with my emotions anymore.
You know I'd rather just drop dead.
I would rather die than go through heartbreak again.
Well have cried,
I have shed enough tears already.
As much as I can cry.
I have hit my emotional limit when it comes to crying.
So just give it a try.
I dare you to try to hurt me emotionally.
And I have bled,
I have been hurt before.
As much as I can bleed.
I have reached my emotional limit when it comes to pain.
No one can hurt me anymore.
I am now immune to emotional pain.
So I dare you to break my heart,
I challenge you to try and hurt me emotionally.
Come on and give it your best shot.
Do your worst and try to break me down emotionally.
Baby, I dare you to break my heart,
I am daring you to try and make me fall in love with you.
It's gonna take more than you got.
You are not strong enough to hurt me emotionally.
Woah yeah, so go ahead and try to break my heart.
I am ready for whatever you throw at me.
Cause I've been working hard this time,
I have been preparing for this moment, emotionally.
Just getting it hard for you.
I am preparing myself for a possible relationship with you.
Hey, now I think you're great.
I have started to like you.
And, maybe we could date?
I am considering a romantic relationship with you.
We could go out drinking,
We could hang out and have fun together.
Have ourselves a beer and stay out late.
We could party and enjoy ourselves until the wee hours.
But I got a heart of stone,
I have purposely made myself emotionally unbreakable.
Covered by brick and bone.
My emotions are shielded and protected.
If you think you're gonna get close to it,
If you think you can break through my emotional barrier.
Well I think you better just get gone.
You should leave before you get hurt emotionally.
Don't try to tame me now,
Don't try to change me or my emotions.
You'll never slow me down.
You can't hinder my emotions; they are unbreakable.
I'm just gonna get up,
I will always rise from emotional defeat.
Gonna get right back up and get around.
I will always bounce back emotionally and continue living life.
When all is said and done,
After everything that has happened between us.
And we have had our fun.
After we have enjoyed our time together.
You won't have your chains on me,
You won't be able to control my emotions.
You won't claim me as your only one.
You won't be able to possess me emotionally.
I've got one thing to say,
Here's one important lesson that I've learned.
As I push you far away.
As I distance myself from you emotionally.
Do you think someone like you,
Do you honestly believe that someone like you can make me fall in love again?
Could make someone like me love you anyway?
Can you truly make me fall in love again?
The most important thing,
Here's what I have learned from my past experiences.
That I have ever learnt.
This is the most valuable lesson I have learned.
Is if you're not doing the hurting,
If you're not causing emotional pain.
You're the one who's getting hurt.
Then you're the one who ends up being emotionally hurt in the end.
The harder that you try,
The more you attempt to break my heart.
The harder you fail.
The more you'll realize you can't break me emotionally.
The river that you cry,
Your emotional pain and tears.
Is where I'm gonna, Woah set sail!
I am not moved by your emotional turmoil and will sail away from it.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: AARON ASHER BARRETT, RYLAND DAVID BURTON STEEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jamie9000001
I discovered this song accidently while searching for another song.
Do not regret that, love it.
Eric
When ever I feel down, this band always, without fail, has the ability to bring me right back on up!
Keto-eyed Joe
If you're drinking well you know that you're my friend
Grzegorz Bielny
Y
Greg Falco
Maybe because the message of many of their songs is, "The world is a shitty place, but that doesn't mean you can't have fun anyway."
Chris the Shrinerdawg
Agreed.
MatthewNJDavis
They're the best post break-up band.
thomaschavers
I love how upbeat ska music is and how good it makes you feel, but yet ska music rarely makes it's way into mainstream radio which is just fine with me.
bouncingsoul818
Man, their videos are always done well. They're a band that just keeps coming out with great songs and funny videos.
Chris the Shrinerdawg
For the last 20 years or so, they have always put me in a good mood.