Focused at times playing "neo-ska" music, the band has adopted retro styles spanning several decades of popular music, as well as performing covers of popular songs such as The Monkees' "I'm a Believer" and War's "Why Can't We Be Friends" as well as cult favorites such as ? and the Mysterians' "Can't Get Enough of You Baby" (though their version owes more to The Colourfield's interpretation; in fact, the band at first believed it was a Colourfield original). Smash Mouth's first album Fush Yu Mang came out in June 1997. This album could be said to be "neo ska". Its top position in the charts was #19 (on Billboard). The promo for this album said that "While the twelve songs on Fush Yu Mang sound like they belong side by side, each has it's own feeling like the very '60's "Walkin' On The Sun," the surf 'n' turf of "Nervous In the Alley," the Buzzcocks like "Pet Names," the Mafia rock of "Padrino," and the fret rock of "Let's Rock"." Smash Mouth's second album Astro Lounge was released two years later, in June 1999. It is the band's most critically and commercially successful album to date. It reached #6 on the Billboard charts and it featured the massive hit All Star.
Smash Mouth released their third album Smash Mouth (Self-Titled) in November 2001. It has been said that this is the band's most experimental album to date. It reached #48 on Billboard charts. Smash Mouth's fourth album Get the Picture?, released in August 2003, wasn't as well-received by fans or the critics as previous albums (it only reached #100 on the Billboard charts). Smash Mouth released a Christmas cover album in November 2005 (The Gift of Rock). Their newest album is called Summer Girl, and, after being delayed for over a year, was released on September 19th, 2006. Smash Mouth's music was used in the film "Shrek" and they starred on-screen as themselves in the turbulent finale of the all-star-comedy "Rat Race", while performing "All Star" on stage during the showdown.
In May 2011 lead singer Steve Harwell agreed to eat two dozen eggs in one sitting for charity. That June, Harwell apparently backed out of the challenge -- with over ten thousand dollars for overseas children's hunger charities at stake -- potentially because he is afraid to eat the eggs. Fans continue to demand Harwell eat the eggs.
Two albums were released in 2012, The Gift Of Rock and Magic. A best-of compilation, Playlist: The Very Best of Smashmouth was released in 2016. A comeback single, Unity, was released in 2018.
In 2021, the band collaborated with Timmy Trumpet for the song "Camelot". This would be the band's last song with original lead vocalist Steve Harwell before his retirement later that year and his death 2 years later.
Steve Harwell retired in 2021 due to health issues and was replaced by Divided By Zero singer Zach Goode.
On September 4, 2023, original lead vocalist Steve Harwell died at age 56 at his home of liver failure.
Blue Christmas
Smash Mouth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A Blue Christmas
Without you
I'll be so blue
Thinking about you
Decorations of red
On a green Christmas tree
Won't be the same
And when those
Blue snowflakes start fallin'
And when those
Blue melodies start callin'
You'll be doin' all right
With your Christmas of white
But I'll have a blue
Blue, blue, blue Christmas
Decorations of red
On a green Christmas tree
Won't be the same
If you're not here with me
I'll have a Blue Christmas
That's certain
And when that blue heartache
Starts hurtin'
You'll be doin' all right
With your Christmas of white
But I'll have a blue
Blue Christmas
The lyrics to the song Blue Christmas by Smash Mouth refer to the loneliness and sadness that comes with spending the holidays without a loved one. The singer expresses their feelings of emptiness and longing for their special someone who is not present during the festive season. The song starts with the line "I'll have a Blue Christmas without you," which sets the tone of the song, and the following lines "I'll be so blue, thinking about you" further emphasizes the sense of loss.
The decorations of red on a green Christmas tree that are usually meant to represent joy and happiness during the occasion become meaningless without the person whom the singer is missing. The line "When those blue melodies start calling" could imply that the singer hears songs about love, happiness, and togetherness during the holiday but finds them insignificant due to their heartache. The song ends with the repetition of the chorus to stress the plight of the singer and the blueness that will accompany their Christmas.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll have
I will experience
A Blue Christmas
a sad and melancholic Christmas season
Without you
in your absence
I'll be so blue
I will feel extremely down
Thinking about you
reflecting on memories of you
Decorations of red
ornaments and decor in crimson color
On a green Christmas tree
on a festive tree adorned in green
Won't be the same
will not have the same significance or joyousness
If you're not here with me
if you are not physically present by my side
And when those
and at the time that
Blue snowflakes start fallin'
snowflakes that symbolize sadness or dejection begin to appear
And when those
and at the time that
Blue melodies start callin'
songs that evoke feelings of misery or heartbreak start playing
You'll be doin' all right
you will manage or cope with the situation
With your Christmas of white
having a cheerful and merry Christmas season
But I'll have a blue
but I will still have a sad and depressed
Blue, blue, blue Christmas
Christmas season that is filled with feelings of sorrow and loneliness
That's certain
that is definite and assured
And when that blue heartache
and at the moment when intense sadness or heartache
Starts hurtin'
overwhelms me with pain and anguish
You'll be doin' all right
you will still be able to manage and be okay
With your Christmas of white
enjoying the festive season with joy and cheerfulness
But I'll have a blue
however, I will still experience sadness and melancholy
Blue Christmas
Christmas season that is associated with feelings of grief, sorrow, and loss
Contributed by Zachary J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.