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.
I'm A Beliver
Smash Mouth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Meant for someone else but not for me
Love was out to get me, that's the way it seemed
Disappointment haunted all my dreams
And then I saw her face
Now I'm a believer
Not a trace of doubt in my mind
I'm a believer
I couldn't leave her if I tried
I thought love was more or less a giving thing
But more I gave the less I've got, oh yeah
What's the use in trying, all you get is pain
When I wanted sunshine I got rain
And then I saw her face
Now I'm a believer
Not a trace of doubt in my mind
I'm in love
I'm a believer
I couldn't leave her if I tried
What's the use in trying, all you get is pain
When I wanted sunshine I got rain
And then I saw her face
Now I'm a believer
Not a trace of doubt in my mind
I'm in love
I'm a believer
I couldn't leave her if I tried
Then I saw her face
Now I'm a believer
Not a trace of doubt in my mind
Now I'm a believer,
Yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah
Now I'm a believer
(then I saw her face)
Now I'm a believer
(not a trace, of doubt in my mind)
I'm a believer
(Now I'm a believer...)
The lyrics to Smash Mouth's "I'm A Believer" describe the singer's past disbelief in the existence of true love, due to a series of disappointments and painful experiences he has had in the past. He believed that love was something that happened only in fairy tales and that it was meant for other people, but not for him. Instead, he felt that love was out to get him and that disappointment haunted his every dream. He also explains that he used to believe that love was more of a giving thing, but the more he gave, the less he received, leading him to believe that there was no point in trying anymore since all he ever got was pain. However, one day, he sees a woman's face that changes everything for him, and he becomes a believer in love.
The main theme of the song is the idea that love can change a person's perspective on life completely. The singer goes from being cynical and disillusioned about the prospect of love to being a believer in it. The song discusses the pain that comes with unrequited love and the feeling that love is out of reach for some people. However, the point of the song is to show that even people who have been hurt in the past can find love and believe in it again.
Line by Line Meaning
I thought love was only true in fairy tales
I used to believe that love only existed in fictional stories
Meant for someone else but not for me
I thought that love was for others, but I did not deserve it
Love was out to get me, that's the way it seemed
It appeared to me that love was trying to harm me
Disappointment haunted all my dreams
I was constantly let down and I felt hopeless
And then I saw her face
But then, I saw the face of a woman who changed everything
Now I'm a believer
I have complete faith in love now
Not a trace of doubt in my mind
I am fully confident in my feelings and my choice
I'm in love
I have fallen deeply in love
I couldn't leave her if I tried
I am willing to do anything to stay with her forever
I thought love was more or less a giving thing
I used to think that love meant just giving and sacrifice
But more I gave the less I've got, oh yeah
However, the more I gave, the less I ended up receiving
What's the use in trying, all you get is pain
I began to feel that love was not worth pursuing, as it only brought me pain
When I wanted sunshine I got rain
I expected happiness, but only found sadness
Now I'm a believer, Yeah yeah yeah
I now have faith in love, and I am filled with joy
(then I saw her face)
Her face was the turning point for me
(not a trace, of doubt in my mind)
I have complete clarity in my emotions now
(Now I'm a believer...)
I am now a true believer in the power of love and relationships
Contributed by Mason H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ZjoriBear
I thought love was only true in fairy tales
Meant for someone else but not for me
Love was out to get me
That's the way it seemed
Disappointment haunted all my dreams
And then I saw her face
Now I'm a believer
And not a trace
Of doubt in my mind
I'm in love, I'm a believer
I couldn't leave her if I tried
I thought love was more or less a given thing
More I gave, the less I got, oh yeah
What's the use in trying?
All you get is pain
When I wanted sunshine, I got rain
And then I saw her face
Now I'm a believer
And not a trace
Of doubt in my mind
I'm in love, I'm a believer
I couldn't leave her if I tried
What's the use in trying?
All you get is pain
When I wanted sunshine
I got rain
And then I saw her face
Now I'm a believer
And not a trace
Of doubt in my mind
I'm in love, I'm a believer
I couldn't leave her if I tried
Then I saw her face
Now I'm a believer
Not a trace
Of doubt in my mind
Now I'm a believer
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Now I'm a believer
Then I saw her face
Now I'm a believer
Not a trace
Of doubt in my mind
I'm a believer
@BearV8
RIP Steve, thanks for making such iconic music that made all of our childhoods so great. Fly high
@PacyMitchEditz
Rip
@tristinmesser4170
facts found out about like 2 minutes ago
@plzza_tlme
Its Monkees
@juanbflz
RIP
@Playlisterr
@@nickslick75 was that necessary?
@fredrickhex668
RIP
Steve Harwell (1967-2023)
Davy Jones (1945-2012)
Mike Nesmith (1942-2021)
Peter Tork (1942-2019)
The legendary music you guys brought to the world will not be forgotten.
@tommyward3536
Amen this is Trevor
@Zany-
Wow so the whole band is now gone? 😢 rip
@ValBurgess-th5dk
Rest in Peace!! But everybody going to have turn!!!😢❤️