The band released their debut EP Introducing Save Ferris in 1996. Later that year, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences gave the band a Grammy showcase award for best unsigned band, earning them a recording contract with Epic Records. The band released their debut full length for the label in 1997. It Means Everything featured several re-recorded tracks from the EP, several new songs, and a cover of Dexys Midnight Runners' "Come on Eileen," which the band released as a single and was a minor hit. The band also released "The World is New" as a single which was featured in the film The Big Hit as well as being used in Tara Lipinski's debut program as a professional skater in the 1998 Skate TV Championships.
The band toured extensively in support of the album, opening for bands such as Sugar Ray, The Offspring, and Reel Big Fish, and Powell also provided vocals on the Reel Big Fish song "She Has A Girlfriend Now." In April 1998, they made their television debut on HBO's music series Reverb and made an on-screen appearance in the film 10 Things I Hate About You. The album proved to be a moderate success in the United States, selling over 400,000 copies, and spawned three Top Ten hits in both Japan and Mexico.[1]
Winter 1998 saw the departure of drummer Marc Harismendy. Evan Kilbourne joined shortly thereafter, and the band began writing their follow-up to It Means Everything. The appropriately-titled Modified was released in October 1999, approximately one year later. The album saw the band moving away from their ska-punk roots and into pop-rock territory. It was largely panned by critics and fans alike, with fans unhappy about the drastic change in the band's sound. The band toured with fewer ska-punk and pop-punk bands as a result, opening for bands like Lit.
José Castellaños left the band in June of 2000, citing a desire to return to school.[2] He was replaced by T-Bone Willy's former bandmate from Six Feet Deep and Nuckle Brothers, Oliver Zavala.
The band continued to tour in support of Modified throughout 2000 and 2001, but by the end of 2001 were becoming increasingly less active. Throughout 2002, the band updated their website infrequently and toured sporadically, rarely venturing outside of the Southern California area. Rumors circulated that Monique Powell had been scheduling tour dates without the rest of the band's input or consent since mid-2001. The rest of the band had initially played the dates anyway, but eventually left Powell who assembled a new band so she could continue touring under the name Save Ferris.
In June 2002, the band's website announced they were working on a new album, but later that year, the site began redirecting to Powell's own website. The band officially announced their breakup in mid-2002, stating they'd originally wanted to quietly disappear from the music scene but Powell's insistence on continuing under the Save Ferris moniker forced them to officially announce a breakup. The band's final performance was held in Culver City on September 20, 2002.
On March 29th 2003 at Ska Summit 2003 in Las Vegas a band named Save Ferris played on the main stage. Monique was the only actual member of the former band. More statements were made about the new lineup and work on an album continuing but nothing came from it.
Spam
Save Ferris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Its pink and its oval,
Spam!
I buy it at the mobil,
Spam!
It's made in Chernobyl,
Spam
My family was so poor
They didn't have the finer things in life to eat
So they had a plan,
In a big blue can
The government substitute for meat
Spam!
Its pink and it's oval,
Spam!
I buy it at the mobil,
Spam!
Its made in Chernobyl,
Spam
To get me to eat it at dinner,
They said id grow up like bruce jidder,
He was a winner that never knew defeat
And when he got hungry,
When he got hungry,
He'd crack open that special treat
Spam!
It's pink and its oval,
Spam!
I buy it at the mobil,
Spam!
It's made in Chernobyl,
Spam
S-P-A-M, don't you know its my best friend?
S-P-A-M, oh, again and again and again and again, oh
S-P-A-M, don't you know its my best friend,
S-P-A-M, oh, again and again and again and again
So go on forget your O-S-see-A-are,
There's one meat by-product that's best by far,
Oh and its spam!
It's pink and its oval,
Spam!
I buy it at the mobil,
Spam!
It's made in chynobil,
Spam
Everybody!
The song "Spam" by Save Ferris appears to be a humorous tribute to the infamous canned meat, Spam. The lyrics describe the singer's childhood experience of growing up poor and being served Spam as a substitute for meat. The song also pokes fun at the product's packaging and its association with the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl. The repeated chant of "S-P-A-M, don't you know it's my best friend?" adds to the playful and ironic tone of the song.
The lyrics also reference a fictional character named Bruce Jidder, who allegedly grew up on Spam and became a successful winner. This alludes to the idea that Spam, despite its low cost and reputation, can still provide sustenance and perhaps even contribute to success.
Overall, "Spam" seems to be a light-hearted and quirky take on a food item that is often looked down upon. The song's catchy melody and upbeat tempo add to its charm.
Line by Line Meaning
Spam!
The repetition of the word Spam emphasizes its significance in the singer's life.
Its pink and its oval,
Spam is described in detail, highlighting its distinctive features.
I buy it at the mobil,
The singer reveals their preferred location for purchasing Spam.
It's made in Chernobyl,
The disturbing revelation about the origin of Spam creates a sense of alarm and disbelief.
When I was a child,
The artist recalls their childhood experiences with Spam, providing context for their current relationship with it.
My family was so poor
The socioeconomic status of the singer's family is revealed, indicating their limited options for food.
They didn't have the finer things in life to eat
The singer's family lacked access to high-quality food, resulting in the need for Spam as a substitute.
So they had a plan,
The artist's family developed a strategy to make Spam more appealing for consumption.
In a big blue can
The packaging of Spam is described, highlighting its visual impact.
The government substitute for meat
Spam is identified as a government-provided alternative to meat, intended for impoverished families such as the artist's.
To get me to eat it at dinner,
The singer's reluctance to eat Spam is acknowledged, prompting their family to incentivize its consumption.
They said id grow up like bruce jidder,
The artist's family tells them that if they eat Spam, they will become like Bruce Jidder, a successful and undefeated individual.
He was a winner that never knew defeat
Bruce Jidder is depicted as an ideal figure, emphasizing the positive effects of Spam.
And when he got hungry,
Bruce Jidder's hunger is highlighted, reinforcing the satisfaction provided by Spam.
He'd crack open that special treat
The appeal of Spam is emphasized through Bruce Jidder's alleged preference for it as a snack.
S-P-A-M, don't you know its my best friend?
The artist's obsession with Spam is evident through their declaration that it is their best friend.
Oh, again and again and again and again, oh
The repeated use of 'again' emphasizes the cyclical nature of the artist's relationship with Spam.
So go on forget your O-S-see-A-are,
The singer dismisses other meats, suggesting that Spam is superior.
There's one meat by-product that's best by far,
The singer proclaims Spam as the ultimate meat alternative.
Oh and its spam!
The song ends with the artist's repeated declaration of their love for Spam.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nick Adrian
It's Bruce Jenner; not Bruce Jidder.
@celticcat1015
One of my favorite Save Ferris songs. They just rock!
@agentlemensport
Monique has an amazing voice
@TheJiggsCasey
Thanks for posting this, didn't think I'd find it. Brings back memories as a poor kid growing up.
@Texas3Step
Back to when you could only afford to listen to ska punk bands on the neighbor's radio? :- ) We ate a lot of SPAM when I was a kid too. I liked it fried crispy, with ketchup.
@Tadesan
I love her voice!
@Texas3Step
I made Spambalaya this past weekend, for a Mardi Gras Goes Hawaiian party. It was delicious!
@TS_Mind_Swept
I love this song, it's my fav on this album.
@BenLiteral
My show choir in high school had to sing this song. Oy.
@spambrando
You'll look back on it with good memories. Awesome tune!