The visiting card of the American rock band Smash Mouth is the composition v. She was a major hit in the late nineties, but the public has not forgotten about her until now.
The unfading popularity of the track is facilitated by the love of filmmakers for it. Under it, the cartoon “Shrek” begins, the comedy “Rat Race” ends, and the producers of the film “Mysterious People” even paid for the shooting of the All Star video, using famous actors in the video.
The story of creation and the meaning of the song All Star – Smash Mouth
The words and music were composed by guitarist Greg Camp. In an interview with SongFacts.com, he explained how the idea to write All Star came about:
When we toured for the first record, the fans also sent us letters on paper, written in pencil, typed and stuff like that. We received large packets of letters from fans, took them with us to Laundromat and read them all while waiting for our things to dry. And 85%-90% of the emails were from guys who got bullied or got hit by big brothers for liking Smash Mouth or whatever or the way they dressed and so on. So we thought, “We should write a song for the fans.”
Greg expressed the main idea of All Star as follows:
It was like a daily statement. It was conceived as a life-affirming song that makes you believe in your own strength.
Camp also elaborated on what the All Star song is about:
It applies to anyone who is trying to be successful while everyone is saying, “Oh, you want to be a professional basketball player? Haha. Good luck. It will be very difficult. Chances are one in two million. And here it says, “No, no, don’t listen to them. Just go and do it.
SongFacts, 2017
On May 4, 1999, Smash Mouth released All Star as the second single from their Astro Lounge album. The track peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100.
All Star – Smash Mouth Meaning
The All Star music video was directed by McG (Joseph McGinty Nichol). The clip features Hank Azaria, William Macy, Ben Stiller and other Hollywood stars who played roles in the comedy Mystery Men.
Greg Camp talked about filming the All Star video:
Her [song] wanted to use in Mystery Men, so they paid for the video so they could include footage from the movie. Then we all rigged: in fact, those people were not there when we filmed it. But we drove to downtown Los Angeles, crashed into a trailer with a car and took a limousine. It looks like Janeane Garofalo is throwing a bowling ball out the window as we sit in the limousine.
Watch the online video All Star – Smash Mouth.
A new round of popularity was waiting for the composition in 2001, when it sounded on the soundtrack of the cartoon “Shrek” (Shrek).
Smash Mouth plays All Star in the final scene of the comedy Rat Race.
Cover versions
Someone Jon Sudano leads a YouTube channel dedicated to the track All Star. He performs the song to the music of world famous hits. He has over eight hundred thousand subscribers.
Greg Camp praised the guy’s work:
I think he’s amazing… The song was written for people like him…
SongFacts
Interesting Facts
- The recording of the voice saying “go for the moon” is from the NASA Sound Collection.
- All Star was also featured on the soundtracks of the films Inspector Gadget and Digimon: The Movie.
- On July 11, 2006, the song All Star woke up the Space Shuttle Discovery crew.
All Star Lyrics by Smash Mouth
Somebody once told me the world is gonna roll me
I ain’t the sharpest tool in the shed
She was looking kind of dumb with her finger and her thumb
In the shape of an “L” on her forehead
Well the years start coming and they don’t stop coming
Fed to the rules and I hit the ground running
Didn’t make sense not to live for fun
Your brain gets smart but your head gets dumb
So much to do, so much to see
So what’s wrong with taking the back streets?
You’ll never know if you don’t go
You’ll never shine if you don’t glow
chorus:
Hey now, you’re an all-star, get your game on, go play
Hey now, you’re a rock star, get the show on, get paid
And all that glitters is gold
Only shooting stars break the mold
It’s a cool place and they say it gets colder
You’re bundled up now, wait till you get older
But the meteor men beg to differ
Judging by the hole in the satellite picture
The ice we skate is getting pretty thin
The water’s getting warm so you might as well swim
My world’s on fire, how about yours?
That’s the way I like it and I never get bored
Chorus x2
Someone once asked could I spare some change for gas?
“I need to get myself away from this place”
I said, “Yep what a concept!
I could use a little fuel myself.
And we could all use a little change.”
Well, the years start coming and they don’t stop coming
Fed to the rules and I hit the ground running
Didn’t make sense not to live for fun
Your brain gets smart but your head gets dumb
So much to do, so much to see
So what’s wrong with taking the back streets?
You’ll never know if you don’t go (go!)
You’ll never shine if you don’t glow
Chorus
Lyrics All Star by Smash Mouth Alternate
Once someone told me that I would have a hard life,
After all, I’m not very smart
She looked stupid with her fingers crossed over her forehead
Letter L1
And the years go by and do not think to stop
I was fed the rules and I raced ahead
It used to make no sense to live not for pleasure,
And now your brains are getting smarter, and your head is getting dumber
So much to do, so much to see
So why not go back alleys?
You’ll never know if you don’t go
You will never shine unless you start to glow
Chorus:
Hey, you’re the best, play your game, come on, play
Hey, you’re a rock star, start a show, get paid
Gold is all that glitters
Only shooting stars break stereotypes
It’s cold in here and they say it’s getting colder
You are already wrapping yourself up, waiting for old age,
But meteorologists say otherwise,
Taking into account the hole in the satellite photo
The ice on the rink is getting very thin,
And the water is getting warmer, so you can even swim
My world is on fire, what about yours?
I like to live like this and I’m never bored
Chorus 2 times
One day someone asked me if I had any change for gas?
“I need to get out of here”
I replied, “What an idea!
I need some fuel myself
And we all need a little change.”
And the years go by and do not think to stop
I was fed the rules and I raced ahead
It used to make no sense to live not for pleasure,
And now your brains are getting smarter, and your head is getting dumber
So much to do, so much to see
So why not go back alleys?
You’ll never know if you don’t go
You will never shine unless you start to glow
Chorus
- Forefinger and thumb in the shape of the letter L, attached to the forehead, make it clear to the interlocutor that he is a loser (Loser).
