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)
Super Hero #5
Reel Big Fish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Caught up on some scaffold high
I took chances with my life
Shot up and I made her safe
Tucked her in my super cape
I am super hero number five.
She was,
We made love and electrocute
Gave her the history of my life
Begged her that she be my wife
I am super hero number five
She was,
Picture perfect ball and chain
She was pulling back the reigns
Took my cape and my blue suit
Went to find a new young cutie
I am super hero number five
The song Super Hero #5 by Reel Big Fish appears to be a humorous take on the traditional superhero trope. The song is about a superhero who saves a woman caught up on some scaffold high. He takes chances with his own life, as he shoots up to save her and tucks her in his super cape. He then becomes enamored with this woman, even giving her the history of his life and begging her to be his wife. The lyrics also describe a sexual relationship between the two, as they make love and electrocute. However, the irony of the situation is that the superhero is not Superman or Batman, but rather just the “super hero number five.”
In the second verse, the woman is described as a “Lois Lane substitute,” indicating that she may have been a damsel in distress type, always in need of saving. She was picture perfect ball and chain, always pulling back the reins, trying to control or contain the superhero. Eventually, the superhero realizes that she is not worth it and leaves her, taking his cape and blue suit to go find a new, young cutie.
Overall, the lyrics playfully poke fun at the superhero genre and traditional gender roles, as the woman in this scenario takes on the role of the typical “damsel in distress” while the superhero seems more interested in his own ego and lustful desires. It is a lighthearted and amusing take on the classic superhero trope.
Line by Line Meaning
She was, Caught up on some scaffold high
I found a woman in distress, who was stuck on a high scaffold
I took chances with my life
I risked my own life to save hers
Shot up and I made her safe
I managed to save her from danger
Tucked her in my super cape
I took care of her and protected her like a superhero
I am super hero number five.
I identify myself as the fifth superhero in the world
She was, Lois Lane substitute
She resembled Lois Lane, Superman's famous love interest
We made love and electrocute
We had a sexual encounter that was electrifying
Gave her the history of my life
I shared my life story with her
Begged her that she be my wife
I asked her to marry me
I am super hero number five
I still see myself as the fifth superhero in the world
She was, Picture perfect ball and chain
She appeared to be the ideal partner, but also controlling
She was pulling back the reigns
She was trying to control or hold me back
Took my cape and my blue suit
She took my superhero identity away from me
Went to find a new young cutie
I left her and decided to find a new, younger partner
I am super hero number five
Despite the breakup, I still consider myself a superhero
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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