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.
Holiday in My Head
Smash Mouth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everything that you see on the set
You look around at your sleepy little town
And think that this is as good as it gets
Well what you're looking at is heaven-sent
[Chorus:]
I got a holiday a paid holiday
I got a holiday in my head
And what you want, what you really need
Are two different things wouldn't you say
The line is thin between fun and sin
And we're all clocking in for the day
And our only care is what to wear
Every day is a getaway when all of it goes unsaid
I got a holiday a paid holiday
I got a holiday in my head
I got a job but I've got a problem
'Cause I eat too much and I can't afford to solve it
When I'm saving up for that cruise to the Caymans
And I'm hitting the snooze so I can keep on dreaming
I'm just trying to realize
I'm just dying to open my eyes
I'm just looking for paradise in my living room
Every day is a getaway when all of it goes unsaid
I got a holiday a paid holiday
I got a holiday in my head
I've got a holiday a paid holiday
I got a holiday in my head
I've got a holiday a paid holiday
I've got a holiday in my head
In the opening lyrics of Smash Mouth’s song, “Holiday In My Head,” the band talks about media influence, perception and contentment. The lead singer wonders if the listener believes everything they see, read or watch on TV. Fascinated by the way people view and evaluate their surroundings, he asks the listener to take a second look at their small town and try to see the hidden paradise in it.
The chorus of the song talks about the importance of having mental breaks and allowing oneself to travel mentally, even when one has no physical time off work. The lead singer sings that he has a holiday in his head, which could also mean he has found a way to escape mentally, regardless of the situation. According to him, the difference between what people want and what they need is thin; they all want to have fun but keep themselves from sinning. Regardless of their lifestyles, everyone is just working to feed their passion or cover their problems.
In the second verse, Smash Mouth talks about the band member’s personal experiences with life problems such as food and financial woes. According to them, the job is not the problem; it's the mundane routine that comes with it. The lead singer talks about needing to save up for a trip but being caught up in the daily grind, he finds himself barely affording groceries. He then dreams of a better life while oversleeping due to having nothing better to do.
In conclusion, the song talks about the importance of finding personal paradise in one's life, not just through physical travel but through mental escapades. Smash Mouth seemed to be enjoying themselves while illustrating a general message about life.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you believe everything that you read
Questioning the validity of information from external sources
Everything that you see on the set
Doubting the truthfulness of media and entertainment
You look around at your sleepy little town
Feeling restricted and unfulfilled in one's current surroundings
And think that this is as good as it gets
Believing that one's current situation is the best it can be
Well what you're looking at is heaven-sent
Realizing the beauty and value in one's present surroundings
Every day is a getaway when all of it goes unsaid
Finding solace in unspoken thoughts and unfulfilled desires
I got a holiday a paid holiday
Having a mental escape to a better reality
And what you want, what you really need
Recognizing the difference between desires and necessities
Are two different things wouldn't you say
Asking a rhetorical question to emphasize the point above
The line is thin between fun and sin
Acknowledging the fine line between enjoyment and temptation
And we're all clocking in for the day
Going through the routine of daily life
And our only care is what to wear
Prioritizing appearance over other aspects of life
I got a job but I've got a problem
Having a job does not solve all problems in life
'Cause I eat too much and I can't afford to solve it
Struggling with food addiction and financial limitations
When I'm saving up for that cruise to the Caymans
Longing for a luxurious vacation
And I'm hitting the snooze so I can keep on dreaming
Preferring to indulge in fantasies rather than facing reality
I'm just trying to realize
Attempting to understand and achieve personal goals
I'm just dying to open my eyes
Desiring to see the world in a new light
I'm just looking for paradise in my living room
Searching for happiness and contentment in mundane surroundings
I've got a holiday a paid holiday
Repeating a previous line to emphasize the escape from reality
I've got a holiday in my head
Concluding the song with the idea that one can find happiness within their own thoughts
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GREG CAMP, GREGORY D. CAMP, PAUL DELISLE, PAUL GERALD DELISLE, STEVEN HARWELL, STEVEN SCOTT HARWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tommy Jackman
This should’ve have been in this:
Announcer: Now
Angelica: We’re stuck on a topical island that don’t gots no people on it!
Kimi: But we’re here, Angelica.
Angelica: I mean people who matter!
Announcer: They’re about to discover
Angelica: Wow!
Announcer: Wild adventure
Tommy: Let’s go!
Angelica: Well, there’s the balds leading the bald.
Announcer: Wild life.
Tommy: Crocagadle!
Announcer: And something beyond they’re wildest dreams
(Darwin Screeches)
Angelica: Pipe down, monkey!
Debbie: Where’d you come from? This is supposed to be a deserted island.
Announcer: The Wild Thornberrys!
Tommy: Look, it’s Nigel Strawberry!
Nigel: I’m coming down! Whoa!
Susie: Are you okay, Mr?
Nigel: Watch what I can do. I’m a ballerina!
Lil: Maybe he’s got diapey rash!
Announcer: This summer, Spike finds his voice.
Spike: Could you give a dog a little warning?
Eliza: Oh, I’m so sorry.
Spike: You know, its funny. For a minute there, I thought I actually heard you talking to me. You talking to me? Are you talking to me?
Eliza: Yeah, I can talk to animals. It’s a long story.
Announcer: Chuckie meets his double
(Donnie Chittering)
Phil: When did Chuckie start talking backwards?
Announcer: And Angelica
Angelica: I love this song!
Debbie: Me too!
Announcer: Meets her match!
Both: #Whoo! Should I stay or should I go?# Whoo-hoo! Yeah!
Spike: Yeah, yeah. Put a sock in it, knuckle head.
Announcer: Rugrats Go Wild, featuring the voice of Bruce Willis as Spike.
Spike: I ate one of Chuckie’s diapers one time and let me tell you that is spicy. Woof! That’s right, I said “Woof!”
Going Overboard
June 2003
eblu
I wish people made music like this these days.
K A S H T H R I L L S
guess what friend you are in luck smash mouth never broke up i dont live in america so i miss out but guess what some lucky ducks actually get to see them do a tour with those other grand bastions of rocken roll you might of heard of them just a little band called SUGAR RAY who changed my life dont know about yours i am saving my money to get to america to see it because they do it every year i think i would just about die i remember once my dad said to turn that sugar ray noise off or he would leave forever i thought it was an empty thret but here we are 13 years on and still no dad i still listen to sugar ray a lot tho i cant help it so catchy sometimes i put on a sugar ray cd and close my eyes and prete nd i am at the big concert event and then i do it again with smash mouth because they are the headline act
eblu
thanks for replying to a comment that's nearly a year old.
sincerely, me
K A S H T H R I L L S
smash mouth is timeless
eblu
13 year old me was such a loser
Jeremy Montero
Haha lol
K.C. Rodgers
Thank you Smash Mouth, for being our musical transition from the 90s to the 00s. Not the one we needed, and not necessarily the one we wanted. But the one we got.
R3n3gad3
Only true 2000s kids would know what's going on.
Macarøns Døn't Exist
In that case, please explain everything to me.
Evanthecinemaguy
Do I not count as a true 2000s kid? I was born in 2001 and I never saw this movie until last September