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.
Christmas Ain't Christmas
Smash Mouth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
New Year's just ain't New Year's without the ones you love
Underneath the mistletoe, I saw a face all a glow
Last year this time
An' now I stand all alone and my house is not a home
Without that girl of mine, oh
New Year's just ain't New Year's without the ones you love
12 o'clock and all is well and I was doing, oh so swell
Last year this time
Going shoppin' for presents together
Would make it last to leave each other, but never
It was a waste of time, oh
Christmas just ain't Christmas without the ones you love
New Year's just ain't New Year's without the ones you love
Christmas just ain't Christmas without the one you love
New Year's just ain't New Year's without the one you love
Christmas just ain't Christmas without the ones you love
New Year's just ain't New Year's without the one you love
Christmas just ain't Christmas without the one you love
New Year's just ain't New Year's without the one you love
The lyrics to Smash Mouth's song "Christmas Ain't Christmas" are about the feeling of loneliness during the holiday season. The singer expresses how Christmas and New Year's just don't feel the same without the presence of their loved one. The first verse talks about seeing someone under the mistletoe last year, but now being alone without them. The chorus repeats the sentiment that the holiday season just isn't complete without the ones you love. The second verse mentions how last year the singer and their loved one would go shopping together for presents, but now it's just a waste of time without them. The song emphasizes the importance of loved ones and how their presence makes the holiday season special.
The lyrics of this song are relatable to many people who have experienced the loss of a loved one or are separated from them during the holiday season. It emphasizes how important it is to spend time with loved ones during the holiday season as opposed to focusing on material things like shopping for presents. It also highlights how it's the people in our lives who make the holiday season special, rather than the things we buy or the experiences we have.
Line by Line Meaning
Christmas just ain't Christmas without the ones you love
The holiday season lacks joy if you are not surrounded by your loved ones
New Year's just ain't New Year's without the ones you love
Celebrating the new year is incomplete without the company of the people you love
Underneath the mistletoe, I saw a face all a glow
I saw a special someone under the mistletoe, looking radiant and happy
Last year this time
Referring to a year ago, when things were different and better
An' now I stand all alone and my house is not a home
Now I am standing by myself, and my home feels empty without my loved one
Without that girl of mine, oh
I am missing my girlfriend, and it's painful to be without her during the holidays
12 o'clock and all is well and I was doing, oh so swell
I was doing great at midnight a year ago
Going shoppin' for presents together
Shopping for gifts together was an enjoyable experience
Would make it last to leave each other, but never
We tried to make the most of our time together but it was never enough
It was a waste of time, oh
In retrospect, the time we spent apart feels like a waste
Christmas just ain't Christmas without the one you love
The holiday season is incomplete without the presence of your significant other
New Year's just ain't New Year's without the one you love
Welcoming the new year is not the same without your loved one
Contributed by Declan E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.