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)
Somebody Loved Me
Reel Big Fish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A knife in the back, felt it again. What did I do? Was it so wrong?
I used to fit in, now I don't belong
I think somebody loved me once, I think somebody loved me once
I think somebody loved me once but I cannot remember why
My confidence is stuck in my throat when you lay blame I'm your scapegoat
I think somebody loved me once, I think somebody loved me once
I think somebody loved me once but I cannot remember why
Reel Big Fish's "Somebody Loved Me" is a reflective song that deals with feelings of isolation, betrayal, and loss of self-identity. The lyrics paint a picture of a person who once had a circle of friends but now feels like an outcast. The opening line, "All of my friends- they're not my friends," sets the tone for the rest of the song as it signifies the longing for a place to belong to. The phrase "a knife in the back, felt it again" portrays the singer's feeling of betrayal, indicating that this is not the first time they are experiencing it. The singer questions themselves, wondering if they were wrong to have done something that led to such a situation.
"I used to fit in, now I don't belong," is a declaration of the emotional distance between the singer and their friends. What follows is the repetition of the phrase "I think somebody loved me once"; the uncertainty of the lyrics suggests that the singer is struggling to remember why they feel so alienated. The second verse further underscores the theme of alienation and low self-esteem, with the singer's "confidence stuck in my throat." They feel attacked and scapegoated, leaving them feeling embarrassed and misunderstood. The final lines show that the singer longs for someone to love them but cannot recall what made them fall out of love in the first place.
Overall the song is about encountering a time in your life when your original friends might seem unfamiliar, and how it seems like everyone is silently judging you. It's a process of learning to talk back and finding the right people to surround one with, people who would care for you dearly. The song's ambiguity and lack of a resolution might suggest that for the singer, the process of coming to terms with feelings of rejection and low self-worth is still ongoing.
Line by Line Meaning
All of my friends- they're not my friends
I do not consider my acquaintances as my true friends.
A knife in the back, felt it again. What did I do? Was it so wrong?
I have been betrayed by someone I trusted. I question what actions led to this and if I was at fault.
I used to fit in, now I don't belong
I used to feel like I belonged, but now I feel like an outsider.
I think somebody loved me once, I think somebody loved me once
I believe that someone cared for me before.
I think somebody loved me once but I cannot remember why
I am unsure of the reason why someone loved me in the past.
My confidence is stuck in my throat when you lay blame I'm your scapegoat
I become speechless and feel insecure when you shift the blame onto me, using me as a scapegoat.
Ears burnin' red, I heard what you said- you smile at my face but you wish I was dead
I am aware of the negative things you say behind my back, despite pretending to like me in person.
I think somebody loved me once, I think somebody loved me once
I still hold onto the belief that someone once loved me.
I think somebody loved me once but I cannot remember why
I cannot recall the reason behind their love despite holding onto the memory of it.
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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