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)
Party Down
Reel Big Fish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Daddy,
Baby Sis.
Tell your
Cousins
All about this.
Coming to you now,
Living large in space.
Take your wallet out,
All the Dingos Shout,
"We'll eat your baby Mate!"
I'm upsetting you,
But I'm getting through,
I'm just sick of the same old something.
And you want me to stay but I am out the door.
Baking a cake!
We just came to party down!
Killing every scene around!
We just came to party hardy hardy hardy hardy!
Who ho ho!
Oh oh oh!
She fell down the stairs,
Snakes eat Baby Bears,
Sharks are coming now.
Tearing off my flesh,
Are you getting fresh?
Slap me in the plough.
We like popsicles,
We have lost control,
I can't run 'cause i'm in slow motion.
The mechanical bulls are melting in the snow.
Flipper hurray!
We just came to party down,
Whee-ha!
Killing every scene around!
We just came to party hardy hardy hardy hardy.
We won't let you down,
We won't let you down.
We Just Need To Party Down!
Baking a cake!
We just came to party down,
Ah yeah, party down.
Killing every scene around.
We just came to party hardy hardy hardy hardy hardy!
It's hard to discern a deep meaning from the lyrics of Reel Big Fish's "Party Down." The song appears to be an ode to a wild night out with references to various chaotic and absurd scenarios. From the very beginning, the song gives shoutouts to Mama, Daddy, Baby Sis and Cousins, indicating that the band wants everyone to come along for the ride. The line "Living large in space" may suggest a theme of breaking free from mundane reality and embracing a carefree existence. As the song goes on, we hear about dingoes eating babies, snakes devouring baby bears and sharks approaching, painting a picture of a dangerous, anarchic world. The lyrics "I'm just sick of the same old something, and you want me to stay but I am out the door," suggests a desire to escape monotony and rigidity, and to seek out new and exciting experiences.
However, in context, it appears that the lyrics are meant to be taken humorously, rather than seriously. The repeated line "We Just Need To Party Down!" and the enthusiastic exclamations of "Hardy Hardy Hardy Hardy!" suggest that the song is meant to be lighthearted and silly. The line "The mechanical bulls are melting in the snow," is another example of the song's absurdist and nonsensical tone.
Overall, "Party Down" appears to be a song about letting go and having fun, rather than a serious reflection on any deep emotions or insights. It celebrates the joy of living in the moment and not taking oneself too seriously.
Line by Line Meaning
Mama,
Introducing the person's mother.
Daddy,
Introducing the person's father.
Baby Sis.
Introducing the person's younger sister.
Tell your
Requesting the person to pass the message on.
Cousins
Asking the person to inform their cousins.
All about this.
Asking the person to share information about something unspecified.
Coming to you now,
Announcing the start of something.
From the Money Cow,
Describing the current situation as financially prosperous.
Living large in space.
Living freely and extravagantly.
Take your wallet out,
Requesting someone to take their own money out.
All the Dingos Shout,
Creating a scene and instilling fear.
"We'll eat your baby Mate!"
Threatening to harm someone's child.
I'm upsetting you,
Acknowledging that the person is bothered by something.
But I'm getting through,
Saying that the message is still being conveyed despite the resistance.
I'm just sick of the same old something.
Bored of experiencing the same thing repetitively.
And you want me to stay but I am out the door.
Refusing to stay for something or someone that isn't worth it.
Baking a cake!
Announcing the act of baking a cake.
We just came to party down!
Stating that the purpose is to party and have fun.
Killing every scene around!
Dominating and enhancing every situation.
We just came to party hardy hardy hardy hardy!
Reinforcing the desire to party and have a good time.
Who ho ho!
Expressing joy and excitement.
Oh oh oh!
Expressing surprise or shock.
She fell down the stairs,
Describing a scenario where someone has fallen down a flight of stairs.
Snakes eat Baby Bears,
Mentioning the idea of danger and predators attacking the vulnerable.
Sharks are coming now.
Announcing the approach of danger.
Tearing off my flesh,
Describing pain and/ or torture.
Are you getting fresh?
Asking if someone is being inappropriate.
Slap me in the plough.
Encouraging someone to physically hit them.
We like popsicles,
Declaring appreciation for popsicles.
We have lost control,
Admitting the lack of control over something.
I can't run 'cause I'm in slow motion.
Battling with the inability to move or act quickly.
The mechanical bulls are melting in the snow.
Describing an unlikely and surreal scenario.
Flipper hurray!
Celebrating the arrival of Flipper, suggesting that they’ve been waiting for him for some time.
We won't let you down,
Promising that they won't disappoint.
We Just Need To Party Down!
Reinforcing that the desire to party is necessary and cannot be ignored.
Ah yeah, party down.
Agreement to party and have a good time.
Whee-ha!
A vocal expression of joy and excitement.
We just came to party hardy hardy hardy hardy hardy!
Reaffirming the motivation to party and enjoy life to the fullest.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: WILLIAM ALEXANDER SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
PIPIL87JOHN8
Mama,
Daddy,
Baby Sis.
Tell your
Cousins
All about this.
Coming to you now,
From the Money Cow,
Living large in space.
Take your wallet out,
All the Dingos Shout,
"We'll eat your baby Mate!"
I'm upsetting you,
But I'm getting through,
I'm just sick of the same old something.
And you want me to stay but I am out the door.
Baking a cake!
We just came to party down!
Killing every scene around!
We just came to party hardy hardy hardy hardy!
Who ho ho!
Oh oh oh!
She fell down the stairs,
Snakes eat Baby Bears,
Sharks are coming now.
Tearing off my flesh,
Are you getting fresh?
Slap me in the plough.
We like popsicles,
We have lost control,
I can't run 'cause i'm in slow motion.
The mechanical bulls are melting in the snow.
Flipper hurray!
We just came to party down,
Whee-ha!
Killing every scene around!
We just came to party hardy hardy hardy hardy.
We won't let you down,
We won't let you down.
We Just Need To Party Down!
Baking a cake!
We just came to party down,
Ah yeah, party down.
Killing every scene around.
We just came to party hardy hardy hardy hardy hardy!
Itiswhatitis
reel big fish doesnt need more than 240p to be amazing
Marc Burger
Mannitherucus hell yeah hahahaha!!
Mark DeYoung
Love these guys, pure energy. A band when you go see live just makes you move and you can't help yourself, and I'm a hard rocker . But the horns are so awesome and thank god for Aaron for taking then this far. Great talents in this band regardless of the lineup change over the last 25 years. Keep it up Punks ;)
nachito82
Sounds awesome! Is this their best song?
Phillip Addington
I'm more of a deathcore fan, but i love ska and punk. It's so upbeat and fun to listen too.
Hywel Ridley
@Desert Ranger desert ranger + homophobic comment = where the fuck was he even going with that, it makes literally no fucking sense
Steven Engel
Desert Ranger dude, hating on someone else's musical tastes is the one of the most annoying things a person can do. It's like crapping on someone else's religious beliefs, you believe in different things, so what, it doesn't mean you can't be friends based on the similar things you like.
Mehar Singh
Same, I mostly listen to heavier stuff but ska punk is amazing
Perry Lawrence
This song is probably the best intro song on an album, ever.
Katrina Healey
I really wish I hadn't lost this cd. Not that I'm annoyed that I need to buy it again, I don't think it's possible for me to throw enough of my dollars at RBF, but it just makes me sad.