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)
Say "Ten"
Reel Big Fish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And she won't eat eggs not eatin' chicken
Not eatin' turkey she won't have a steak
But I just can't help feelin' sorry
For this poor little lettuce head
You know I can't stop cryin' cause I
Know this broccoli's dead
Vegetarian I'm not a vegetarian vegetarian...she's a
How can I sleep? when carrots are bleedin'
Plants are screamin' and tomatoes cry,
You say "it's not so bad, they're only
Vegetables", that's what you said
Maybe I'm a murderer, but I'm hungry
And they're better off dead.
Save a plant, eat a cow,
I want beef, I want it now!
I'm gonna eat it cause it's red!
I'm gonna eat it cause it's dead!
Maybe I should eat it raw let the
Blood run down my jaw
I'd eat people if it was legal,
I'd eat people if it was legal!
The song "Say "Ten"" by Reel Big Fish addresses the topic of vegetarianism in a humorous yet thought-provoking way. The singer is not a vegetarian and is frustrated with someone who refuses to eat meat or animal products. He expresses pity for the "poor little lettuce head" and sarcastically comments on the supposed sentience of vegetables. The lyrics also touch on the hypocrisy of people who claim to be animal rights activists but do not extend the same compassion to plants. The singer's hunger and desire for meat are conveyed through the aggressive repetition of "I want beef, I want it now!" and the extreme statement that he would "eat people if it was legal."
Overall, the song is a critique of the idea that being a vegetarian automatically makes someone morally superior, and that the consumption of meat is inherently evil. While it doesn't necessarily promote or advocate for meat-eating, it challenges the strict black-and-white thinking of some vegetarians and encourages a more nuanced perspective on the topic.
Line by Line Meaning
She's not eatin' bacon not eatin' sausage
She doesn't eat meat, including bacon and sausage.
And she won't eat eggs not eatin' chicken
She also avoids animal products like eggs and chicken.
Not eatin' turkey she won't have a steak
She doesn't eat other types of meat like turkey or steak.
But I just can't help feelin' sorry
The artist empathizes with her strict dietary restrictions.
For this poor little lettuce head
The artist humorously refers to her as a 'lettuce head' due to her diet.
You know I can't stop cryin' cause I
The singer is exaggerating their emotional response to her food choices.
Know this broccoli's dead
The singer is acknowledging that even plants die when we consume them.
Vegetarian I'm not a vegetarian vegetarian...she's a
Despite their sympathy for her, the artist proudly declares that they are not a vegetarian, while she is.
Poor little cow little sheep little fish
The artist sarcastically refers to different types of animals as 'little' and 'poor' in an attempt to make a point about the worth of plant-based diets.
How can I sleep? when carrots are bleedin'
The artist uses hyperbole to express their disdain for the idea that plants are sentient beings with feelings and are being harmed by consumption.
Plants are screamin' and tomatoes cry,
Continuing the hyperbole, the singer suggests that plants and even tomatoes have emotions like crying and screaming.
You say "it's not so bad, they're only Vegetables", that's what you said
The artist is mocking someone who dismisses the idea that plants have feelings and therefore don't deserve our sympathy.
Maybe I'm a murderer, but I'm hungry
The singer acknowledges that plant-based diets may be ethically superior but they prioritize their own hunger over moral concerns.
And they're better off dead.
The singer rationalizes their consumption of meat by arguing that plants are better off dead and being consumed as opposed to being alive and having emotions.
Save a plant, eat a cow,
The singer uses reverse psychology to argue that consuming meat is actually better for the environment than eating plants.
I want beef, I want it now!
The artist's lust for meat overrides moral concerns or environmental considerations.
I'm gonna eat it cause it's red!
The artist is being facetious and making fun of the idea that people solely eat meat because it's red.
I'm gonna eat it cause it's dead!
The singer emphasizes the absurdity of choosing to consume meat because it's no longer alive.
Maybe I should eat it raw let the
The singer is being outrageous and playful in the suggestion that they may eat meat raw and let the blood run down their face.
Blood run down my jaw
The artist is using graphic imagery to be provocative and shock the listener.
I'd eat people if it was legal,
The artist is using hyperbole to suggest the absurdity of suggesting that consuming humans would be justified merely because it was legal.
I'd eat people if it was legal!
The artist is being provocative and extreme in their hypothetical scenario to highlight the absurdity of prioritizing their hunger over moral considerations.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AARON BARRETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Krish Shanmugam
on Everyone Else is an Asshole
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