Although the band received much commercial attention during the ska wave, they decided to continue down the independent road with STOMP Records, which had become and remains a major player in the international independent music scene. Their fourth release, “No Self Control” (2001) was produced by Steven Drake (Tragically Hip, Barenaked Ladies, The Odds etc.) and was also well received by national college radio and spawned hit videos such as the animated “Blind” and the tongue in cheek “Wish I Were American”.
“Mighty”, the Planet Smashers’ fifth full length, was produced/engineered by Rod Shearer (Bran Van 3000, Bionic, Corey Hart) and co-produced by The Planet Smashers (not to mention mixed on the same board as Madonna’s “Like a Virgin”!). Having moved past the dark and critical themes of “No Self Control”, “Mighty” became the band’s most success record internationally after being licensed by labels in Japan, Europe, Russia, Brazil and Australia.
The Planet Smashers released their first and only DVD “10” in 2004, commemorating the last 10 years of the band. Countless tours all over the world, 12 videos, 5 full length releases and a ton of good times. The Planet Smashers celebrated their 10th by joining the Vans Warped 2004 which also entered it’s 10th year. In 2005, the Smashers released “Unstoppable” their sixth and most recent commercial offering. The album was licensed in Japan by Sky/Sony, in the UK by Household Name Records/Plastic Head, in Europe by Leechredda/Cargo and in Russia by AudioFind. In 2006 the band played over 60 shows in Europe including Moscow, London, Vienna, Berlin, Zurich, Amsterdam, Dublin and many more.
In terms of touring, not many indie Canadian bands come close. They have headlined countless tours in North America, 8 European tours, been included on 5 Vans Warped Tour as well as a Japanese tour in 2002. They have toured with such acts as AFI, the Toasters, Sick of it All, Billy Talent, Rancid, Mustard Plug, Simple Plan, Samiam, The Aquabats, Mighty Mighty Bosstones and countless others.
The 80 Bus
The Planet Smashers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's crowded as hell, someone's raising up a fuss,
Shove past an old man and take the last free spot,
I lean back in my bucket seat and check out what I've got,
Sparkle in my eye, smile on my face,
Slicked back hair, gotta keep up with the pace,
Cheap smelling perfume is drifting here and there,
I open up a window 'cause it's really hard to bear
Take another peek at a wonderful complection,
All this stress makes me suffer indigestion
Hey, won't you notice, spend a moment in reflection
You'll always find me hanging around,
Playing pool at Gert's and drinking 'till I drown,
A leisure suit, I can't get dusty,
Karaoke mic, you know my singing's rusty,
Friday night is here, and I'm on the move,
Fall down some stairs, and roll me up a dube,
Rev up the engine of my shiny Trans-am,
I guess I never realized that I'm my only fan
You'll always find me hanging around,
Playing pool at Gert's and drinking 'till I drown,
A leisure suit, I can't get dusty,
Karaoke mic, you know my singing's rusty
The Planet Smashers's song The 80 Bus is a fun and upbeat song that tells the story of an average working-class individual on their daily commute home from work on the crowded and chaotic 80 bus. The song opens with the singer struggling to find a spot on the bus, shoving past an old man to secure the last free seat. From here, we get a glimpse into the singer's life, complete with slicked-back hair, cheap perfume, and indigestion from the stress of everyday life.
Despite the chaos of the commute, the singer seems to take it all in stride with a sparkle in their eye and a smile on their face. As the song progresses, we learn more about the singer's life outside of work. They frequent Gert's bar, play pool, and drink to excess. They have a leisure suit they can't let get dusty and love to sing karaoke, even though their singing is rusty. The song paints a picture of a person who is just trying to get through life with a positive attitude and some good old-fashioned fun.
Overall, The Planet Smashers's The 80 Bus is a lighthearted and relatable song that captures the spirit of working-class life with humor and charm.
Line by Line Meaning
On my way from work, I'm on the 80 bus,
I am commuting home from work on the bus numbered 80.
It's crowded as hell, someone's raising up a fuss,
The bus is packed and someone is causing a disturbance.
Shove past an old man and take the last free spot,
I rudely push past an elderly man to grab the last available seat.
I lean back in my bucket seat and check out what I've got,
I sit in my seat and admire my possessions.
Sparkle in my eye, smile on my face,
I feel happy and confident, with a glimmer in my eye and a smile on my face.
Slicked back hair, gotta keep up with the pace,
My hair is styled neatly and I feel the need to keep up with the latest trends.
Cheap smelling perfume is drifting here and there,
There is an unpleasant smell of cheap perfume wafting around.
I open up a window 'cause it's really hard to bear
I open a window because the smell is too overpowering.
All I need is a look in my direction,
I desire attention and recognition from others.
Take another peek at a wonderful complection,
I want someone to admire my good looks.
All this stress makes me suffer indigestion
The stress of everyday life is taking a toll on my physical health.
Hey, won't you notice, spend a moment in reflection
I am asking someone to notice me and reflect on their actions towards others.
You'll always find me hanging around,
I spend a lot of time in certain places.
Playing pool at Gert's and drinking 'till I drown,
I often spend my time at a bar called Gert's, playing pool and drinking excessively.
A leisure suit, I can't get dusty,
I take great pride in my leisure suit and make sure it always looks clean and sharp.
Karaoke mic, you know my singing's rusty,
I enjoy singing karaoke, but am not very good at it.
Friday night is here, and I'm on the move,
It is Friday night and I am getting ready to go out and party.
Fall down some stairs, and roll me up a dube,
I have a tendency to get drunk and smoke marijuana, which can lead to injuries like falling down stairs.
Rev up the engine of my shiny Trans-am,
I am proud of my Trans-am and enjoy showing it off by revving the engine.
I guess I never realized that I'm my only fan
I have an inflated ego and am my own biggest supporter.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind