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.
The Only Way To Be
Save Ferris Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Guess what I just found
Another wannabe, somebody
Gonna' sell their body pound for pound
Gonna' be a big star
If they can get the chance
But it takes more than talent
In this high priced world if you want a little song and dance
Do you like what you see?
To live this life of luxury?
No cares, no dignity
It's all about the money
It's the only way to be
Here's another person
Who's a little worse for wear
Tried to live that life so fast
Tried to live without a care
But fame can be a fickle friend
Who makes you feel quite tall
And when your empire starts to crumble,
It can push you for a fall
Do you like what you see?
To live this life of luxury?
No friends, just enemies
It's all about the money
It's the only way to be
If this is what you wanted
And everything you need
Then be quite prepared, my friend
For the life you choose to lead
Cuz' fame has many faces
For each of us to see
Bu the wise man is the one who knows that
You should never believe
Do you like what you see?
To live this life of luxury?
No cares. No dignity
It's all about the money
It's the perfect way to be.
The song “The Only Way to Be” by Save Ferris criticizes the idea of selling oneself for fame and fortune. The lyrics describe the common situation of people who try to become famous without understanding what they are getting into. The song discusses the fact that the entertainment industry is not just about talent, and that it is a high-priced world where people need to pay for their success with more than just their skills. The chorus line, “Do you like what you see? To live this life of luxury? No cares, no dignity It's all about the money. It's the only way to be,” highlights the idea that people are only concerned about making money, even if it means sacrificing their self-respect.
The second verse continues the negative portrayal of fame by discussing the life of another person who reached fame but lost everything in the end. The line, “But fame can be a fickle friend Who makes you feel quite tall And when your empire starts to crumble, It can push you for a fall,” highlights how damaging the cycle of fame can be. The last verse warns people that if they choose to pursue fame without considering the consequences, they should be prepared for the toll it takes on them. The song ends with the chorus line, “Do you like what you see? To live this life of luxury? No cares. No dignity, It's all about the money It's the perfect way to be,” echoing the refrain and emphasizing the dangers of using fame to replace true happiness and fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello Everybody
The song begins with a greeting to the listeners.
Guess what I just found
The singer found another person trying to become famous.
Another wannabe, somebody
The person the singer found is also trying to become famous.
Gonna' sell their body pound for pound
The singer implies that the person will do anything to become famous, even selling their body.
Gonna' be a big star
The person hopes to become famous.
If they can get the chance
The person is hoping for an opportunity to become famous.
But it takes more than talent
The singer suggests that becoming famous requires more than just talent.
In this high priced world if you want a little song and dance
Being successful in the music industry is expensive and requires more than just talent.
Do you like what you see?
The singer questions if the listener likes what they see in regards to the life of luxury and fame.
To live this life of luxury?
The singer questions if the listener wants to live a life of luxury.
No cares, no dignity
The singer implies that fame comes at a cost and may result in a loss of self-respect.
It's all about the money
Fame is primarily focused on money.
It's the only way to be
The singer implies that becoming famous is the only way to live a life of luxury.
Here's another person
The lyrics shift to describing another person trying to become famous.
Who's a little worse for wear
The person is not doing well mentally or physically.
Tried to live that life so fast
The person tried to become famous quickly.
Tried to live without a care
The person tried to live a carefree life despite the pressures of fame.
But fame can be a fickle friend
The singer warns that fame can change quickly and may not be a reliable friend.
Who makes you feel quite tall
Fame can make a person feel important and successful.
And when your empire starts to crumble,
When a person's fame begins to fade, they may experience a fall from grace.
It can push you for a fall
The pressure and expectations of fame can lead a person to make mistakes and fall from grace.
No friends, just enemies
The singer implies that fame can lead a person to have enemies instead of friends.
If this is what you wanted
The singer questions if this type of life is truly what the listener wanted.
And everything you need
The singer suggests that the listener may believe that fame and luxury are necessary for happiness.
Then be quite prepared, my friend
The singer warns the listener to be prepared for the consequences of their choices.
For the life you choose to lead
The life of luxury and fame is a choice made by the listener.
Cuz' fame has many faces
Fame can take many different forms depending on the person and the industry they are in.
For each of us to see
Fame looks different to everyone who experiences it.
But the wise man is the one who knows that
The singer suggests that wisdom is required to avoid the negative aspects of fame.
You should never believe
The singer warns the listener to not believe everything they see or hear about fame.
It's the perfect way to be
The singer sarcastically implies that living a life of luxury and fame is far from perfect.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Eamesam
Love this song!
@MisterUrbanWorld
11 yrs later, and it's sad you stopped watching my hero
@LanaDelGuey
Ugh. I love 90's pop punk. Its sounds so truthfully rebellious.
@talithat423
It’s finally on spotify! Yay 💖💖💖
@7477238
Ska, ska-punk, punk, pop punk, punk rock are quite similar. I always stuff them up but they all sound wonderfully 90s.
@Zenexfriend
“Oh please, she is just as fake as press-on nails”
@aal3x4
Rodrigo heyyyyy babaygurl
@brendsbirdseyeview6982
“What is up my sister!?”
@SteveLeicht1
I lived through the nineties but was unaware of this song until I looked it up after watching Scary Movie for the hundredth time.
@Runeless
HEEEYYY GURLFRIENDDDD MWAH MWAH