Sublime released three studio albums, one live album, five compilation albums (one of which also contains never-before released material), three EPs, and one box set. Although their first two albums—40oz. to Freedom (1992) and Robbin' the Hood (1994)—were quite popular in the United States, Sublime did not experience major commercial success until 1996 with their self-titled third album, released two months after Nowell's death, which peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard 200, and spawned the single "What I Got", which remains the band's only No. 1 hit single (on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart) in their musical career. As of 2009, the band has sold over 17 million albums worldwide, including about ten million in the U.S. alone. Michael "Miguel" Happoldt and Marshall "Ras MG" Goodman contributed to several Sublime songs.
Following Sublime's dissolution, former members Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh founded the Long Beach Dub Allstars in 1997, which also included many frequent Sublime contributors such as Michael "Miguel" Happoldt (former member of The Ziggens), Marshall Goodman "Ras MG" (former Sublime member), and Todd Forman (3rd Alley). LBDAS disbanded in 2002, due to several members of the band breaking a no-drug vow they had taken. In 2009, the surviving members attempted to reform the band with Rome Ramirez, a young guitarist and admitted Sublime fan from California. However, not long after performing at Cypress Hill's Smokeout Festival, a Los Angeles judge banned the new lineup from using the Sublime name as they needed permission from Nowell's estate, which owns the rights to the Sublime name. This prompted the lineup of Wilson, Gaugh and Ramirez to change their name to Sublime with Rome, which has since released three albums, although Gaugh left the group shortly after the release of their 2011 debut Yours Truly.
With the mainstream success of their self-titled album, going five times platinum and earning worldwide airplay, Sublime's influence persists to this day. Sublime was one of the most popular bands of the third wave of ska, specifically characterized as ska punk. Sublime often combined punk rock and hardcore punk with hip hop, heavy metal, dancehall, reggae, ska, funk, and (21st century) surf music. Sublime also has been described as 'reggae rock'.
Their signature sound and their songs are often associated with the beach and coastal areas of Southern California, such as San Diego, Orange County, Venice Beach and Long Beach as well as areas of Northern California like Eureka. Over two decades after Nowell's death and the band's breakup, Sublime remains immensely popular throughout North America, especially in its state of origin, California.
Sublime's songs have been featured via soundtrack in a variety of media. Los Angeles alternative rock radio station KROQ has listed Sublime at No. 3 in their annual "Top 106.7 biggest KROQ bands of all time" list for the past six years in a row, behind Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nirvana, and No. 81 at the "Top 166 Artists of 1980–2008" list.
With over 17 million units sold worldwide, Sublime is one of the most successful, and "powerfully moving" ska-punk acts of all time influencing many modern reggae and ska acts.
Perfect World
Sublime Lyrics
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Hangin' on third and daisy
Whoa bo bo, policeman after you
Smokin' crack cocaine make you crazy
You think everything's perfect in your world today
I think everything's just not really
Take out your glass pipe, take off your sunglasses
And I say lies, corruption, look this way
Girly on the corner but she's not okay
You got lies if you got rats in the street
You got, no shoes no shoes on your babies feet
Whoa ho ho ho ho
It's a perfect world, perfect world
It's a perfect world
It's a perfect world, yow
Bo bo bo take a look at you on your way to Kenny's
Whoa bo bo, why don't you stop that crap?
Smokin' that bum makes you crazy
But everything's crazy in the world today
So you, you might as well smoke it anyway
I say, you might as well
It hit, it lit, you well like that
Which you cannot say
What is up? What's down?
What is up? What's down?
What's up, what's down?
I don't know what's going round
Head is spinning and it feels alright
But the kids, the kids
The kids are alright
Bo bo bo bo
It's a perfect world
Whoa on and on it's a perfect world
Gotta keep living in a perfect world
Gotta keep pushing in a perfect world
Gotta keep pushing in a perfect world
Gotta keep pushing
You know we could end it right there
The lyrics of Sublime's song Perfect World can be seen as a commentary on the broken state of society. The opening lines are about a person who is in a state of drug addiction, as he is caught by the police for smoking crack cocaine. The lyrics then lead on to the idea that this person is living in a world where everything seems perfect, but in reality, it isn't. There is corruption, lies, and poverty. The singer is aware of this, and wants the person to take off their rose-tinted glasses and see the world for what it is.
However, at the same time, there is also an acceptance of the situation. The repeated line 'It's a perfect world' almost seems sarcastic, indicating that even though the world is far from perfect, that is the way it is. The lyrics also suggest that the heady rush of drug use can make this imperfect world seem alright, at least temporarily. The final lines are about optimism, and that despite everything, the kids will be alright.
Overall, the lyrics of Perfect World are a commentary on the harsh realities of life in modern society, and how people may try to escape this reality through drugs or by wearing rose-tinted glasses. It also suggests that, in the end, all we can do is keep pushing through despite the imperfections.
Line by Line Meaning
Boo boo boo, take a look at you Hangin' on third and daisy
I see you there, hanging out on the corner, just existing in your own little world.
Whoa bo bo, policeman after you Smokin' crack cocaine make you crazy
Now the cops are after you, and you're losing your mind because of the drugs.
You think everything's perfect in your world today I think everything's just not really Take out your glass pipe, take off your sunglasses And tell me what you can see
You believe that your life is going great, but I can see that things aren't as perfect as they seem. Take a step back and really look around.
And I say lies, corruption, look this way Girly on the corner but she's not okay You got lies if you got rats in the street You got, no shoes no shoes on your babies feet
There's so much deceit and dishonesty around us, we can't ignore it. Even the people who seem okay are struggling, and there are children who don't even have shoes to wear.
It's a perfect world, perfect world It's a perfect world It's a perfect world, yow
Saying it's a perfect world sarcastically, because it's far from perfect.
Bo bo bo take a look at you on your way to Kenny's Whoa bo bo, why don't you stop that crap? Smokin' that bum makes you crazy But everything's crazy in the world today So you, you might as well smoke it anyway
I see you heading off to get more drugs, but everything's messed up anyway, so I guess it doesn't really matter at this point.
I say, you might as well It hit, it lit, you well like that Which you cannot say What is up? What's down? What is up? What's down? What's up, what's down?
Might as well continue with the drugs, it's what you know and it feels good. But everything else is so uncertain, what's even right or wrong, what matters?
I don't know what's going round Head is spinning and it feels alright But the kids, the kids The kids are alright
Life is so chaotic and confusing, but it's almost like that's how it should be. The future, the kids, seem to still have hope, though.
Bo bo bo bo It's a perfect world Whoa on and on it's a perfect world Gotta keep living in a perfect world Gotta keep pushing in a perfect world Gotta keep pushing You know we could end it right there
Repeating the idea that it's a perfect world sarcastically, and how we have to keep fighting to live in such a world despite all its flaws, and then questioning if there's even a point to it all.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRADLEY JAMES NOWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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