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.
Justin Bieber
Smash Mouth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whatever happened to Justin Bieber
Was he all that or was he left behind
Did Keith stay with Nikki or did he leave her
Just a little something that's been on my mind
Whatever happened to hi top sneakers
Or did they go out of style baby just like streakers
Was it all for real or were we caught in time
Oh oh, where did everybody go?
In another ten years or so
When it's after the show
Would you buy another ticket
Or just let me go
Whoa oh, oh oh oh oh
Whoa oh, oh oh oh oh
Did we have enough of all the Facebook Twetters?
Did we really have to hear about it all the time?
Whatever happened to the die hard Gleekers
They covered everything except a song of mine
Oh oh, where did everybody go?
In another ten years or so
When it's after the show
Would you buy another ticket
Or just let me go
Whoa oh, oh oh oh oh
Whoa oh, oh oh oh oh
Whoa oh, oh oh oh oh
Whoa oh, oh oh oh oh
And the years just keep on flying
And I think we've lost control
Is anybody out there?
Does anybody know?
Whoa oh, oh oh oh oh
Whoa oh, oh oh oh oh
Oh oh, where did everybody go?
In another ten years or so
When it's after the show
Would you buy another ticket
Or just let me go
Oh oh, where did everybody go?
In another ten years or so
When it's after the show
Would you buy another ticket
Or just let me go
Whoa oh, oh oh oh oh
Whoa oh, oh oh oh oh
The lyrics of "Justin Bieber" by Smash Mouth express the performers' concern about the fleeting nature of pop culture and the seemingly disposable nature of pop icons. The song poses a series of rhetorical questions about the fates of various cultural phenomena, such as Justin Bieber, hi-top sneakers, and die-hard Gleekers (fans of the TV show "Glee"), reflecting on whether these phenomena are remembered fondly or consigned to obscurity.
As the song progresses, introspective questions become more pointed, as the lyrics suggest that we as a society may be losing control of the rush of information flowing around us: "Is anybody out there? Does anybody know?" The repetitive "whoa oh, oh oh oh oh" refrain underscores the message that time flies by, and human experiences both memorable and mundane can slip away.
Smash Mouth's "Justin Bieber" is a thought-provoking exploration of fame and the ephemeral nature of pop culture. As the song asks whether we will still remember or care about Justin Bieber, split-second fads, or even our own experiences over time, the ballad is a reminder that our attention is finite, and that the present moment can quickly turn into a distant memory.
Line by Line Meaning
Whoa oh, oh oh oh oh
Introspective reflection by the singer on the change in times and the sensation of being left behind
Whatever happened to Justin Bieber
Asking what happened to pop culture phenomenon Justin Bieber, who was once seen as the next huge star favored by young ladies worldwide
Was he all that or was he left behind
Questioning if Justin Bieber was a flash in the pan or if he's still relevant
Did Keith stay with Nikki or did he leave her
Wondering about the actions and decisions of the public figures and celebrities in the entertainment industry
Just a little something that's been on my mind
Casually bringing up random topics that the singer has been thinking about or looking up online
Did we have enough of all the Facebook Twetters?
Asking if people were tired of hearing about social media platforms, which seemed to have proliferated and preoccupied everyone at a point in time
Did we really have to hear about it all the time?
Questioning whether it was appropriate to frequently discuss social media or not
Whatever happened to the die hard Gleekers
Questioning whether the television show Glee still exists, or if it has been replaced by another musical or drama based TV series
They covered everything except a song of mine
Unhappy that none of the songs made by the singer was covered by the popular show Glee
And the years just keep on flying
Reflecting on how time seems to be moving faster as they grow older
And I think we've lost control
Feeling out of control of his life or the changing world around us
Is anybody out there?
Questioning if there is someone else out there going through the same feeling of being left behind or powerless
Does anybody know?
Asking if anybody else knows what is happening or can even give a good mentorship or advice
When it's after the show
When the concert is over
Would you buy another ticket
Asking the audience if they would still be interested in attending another Smash Mouth concert
Or just let me go
Prepared to move on to other interests if the audience does not want to pursue a long-term following relationship
Whoa oh, oh oh oh oh
Repeating the same reflective introspective feeling of being left behind in the changing times
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Mike Krompass, Shelly Peiken, Shelly M Peiken, Steve Harwell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind