All Star Lyrics

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About

Genius Annotation

Smash Mouth’s best known song, with part of its enduring popularity/infamy caused by its inclusion in the opening scene of Shrek. And yet the music video is a tie-in to another film, 1999’s Mystery Men.

On “All Star,” Smash Mouth takes us through the simple, action-oriented philosophy of a dumb but aggressively upbeat narrator.

In the first verse, the narrator establishes himself as dumb. In the pre-chorus, he describes his philosophy of breaking rules, living hedonistically, and embracing action. In the chorus, he recites a mantra of self-encouragement (and self-delusion): “I am capable and will thrive when I take bold chances to pursue superficial goals.” In the second verse, the narrator provides an example of how his jester-like philosophy plays out. In this verse, global warming melts the ice caps, so the narrator simply suggests going swimming.

Of course, despite asserting that he is an “all star” and a “rock star,” he certainly is neither of those things. He is a fool who was (properly) advised that the world would roll him. He is so far from an “all star” that a dumb girl called him a loser. He subscribes to the plainly ill-advised belief that all that glitters is gold. He aspires to be a “shooting star” just to break a mold, unaware that a shooting star is, by its nature, destined to immediately fade out and die. And his response to global warming, while cheerful and resourceful, does nothing to address the problem.

Smash Mouth may have been offering an arch commentary on this quintessentially American (and Californian) philosophy. Maybe they saw some of this narrator in themselves. What is clear, however, is that they have identified this narrator as a loser and idiot, so his philosophy is not to be interpreted as a Smash Mouth lifestyle endorsement. The band’s aim is to present a jolly jester’s worldview, and perhaps comment on the jester himself, but not to advocate that listeners follow this jester. After all, that path leads to delusion, destruction by external environmental factors, and flaming out as quickly as a shooting star.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

How is the song composed?
Genius Answer

“All Star” is composed in the key of F-sharp major with a tempo of 104 beats per minute, according to MusicNotes.

What have the artists said about the song?
Genius Answer

It’s weird, people ask me, “Do you get bored of playing these songs?” I’m like, “Why would I get bored of playing them? This is what puts bread and butter on my table.” You know, there’s always somebody in the crowd who hasn’t heard it. Or hasn’t seen it live. When I go out onstage, I look at it that way. Once that classic song starts, people just go bananas. Has “Free Bird” ever got old?

–Steve Harwell of Smash Mouth via Vice (2014)

Credits
Produced By
Written By
Performance Rights
Trombone
Release Date
May 4, 1999
Songs That Sample All Star
Wonderwall.mid by Himynameisshan., Listening by David0Mario, Face by David0Mario, Anamanake$ha by David0Mario, Intro by Himynameisshan., The Party Rock Crew (Reprise) by Himynameisshan., Navi Flies by David0Mario, The World Is A Blade by David0Mario, Wond The Way You Wall by David0Mario, Alm Star by David0Mario, Satirist's Melody by David0Mario, I Like Ones Company by David0Mario, Guess What's Back by David0Mario, Huh by David0Mario, Say It Ain't Stew by David0Mario, Closerboy by David0Mario, Spider-Flies by David0Mario, Smells Like Magic by David0Mario, Enter Anthony by David0Mario, Mr. SkyCrash! by David0Mario & himynameisshan., Deep Cuts (Extro) by David0Mario, Daft Mouth - The Neptunes Remix by David0Mario, White Rose by Cacola, Spiral of Empire Ants by David0Mario, StarThumping by L3GACY, Video Games by Ontopic, Smash Christmas by Neil Cicierega, Blackstar by Cosmic Latte, The End by Ontopic, Young Mouth by Ontopic, Back Like an Egyptian by Ontopic, Run by Ontopic, Dying by Dummykick, Ralsei (Part 1) by RAWINTHEVOID, MEME TILL YOU'RE DEAD by Dabunky (Ft. Cyranek), Lion King Got Us Falling In Love by Ontopic, Satellite Pictures At An Exhibition by Noodle Noggin, Planet Allstar by Chongo, BOne(r) by Memetallica (Ft. BandiPat, Cosmic Latte, Frus77 & Metallica), Again by Galactic Hole, All I Want to Beer by Ellie Spectacular, Ryuuseigun mashup by Jan Misali, Parkedcar by EXPERIVERSE 3024, Beach Mouth by Dumphop, Damnesiac by Dumphop, Overture by Dumphop, ​kulupu jan tenpo by Jan Misali (Ft. ​shysterish), Get Steve Harwell On Your Phone! by DaytonaBandcamp, When you give everyone in the server a radio by DJ Blurz (Ft. Martinek0074 & TBKQP), Shrek Anthem by Chaos Sprite, Copyright Strike by Ontopic, Intro by Ontopic, Samba Mouth by Noodle Noggin, Famous Star by Noodle Noggin, File Select Fusion 3½ by TheGuy, SMASH MOUTH IS LISTENING by Neil Cicierega, Mouth Dreams (Extro) by Neil Cicierega, T I M E [Original Version] by Dean Aguiar, Hole In The Wall by Dean Aguiar, Das Rad by Dean Aguiar, Mouth Pressure by Dean Aguiar, All Thx by Dean Aguiar, Lifted by Dean Aguiar, Melt Everyone by Dean Aguiar, Modest Mouth by Dean Aguiar, All Waters by Dean Aguiar, The Monk And The Fish by Dean Aguiar, Smash Weezer by Dean Aguiar, Extra Axel by Dean Aguiar, White by Dean Aguiar, Imagine All Star People by Dean Aguiar, Triton by Dean Aguiar, All Gabber by Dean Aguiar, Somebody's Dance by Dean Aguiar, S O M E by Dean Aguiar, All Good by Dean Aguiar, The Sharpest Tool by Dean Aguiar, Finding Star by Dean Aguiar, Digitally Mouthed by Dean Aguiar, All Star Is Steal by Dean Aguiar, Out The Window by Dean Aguiar, All Balogna by Dean Aguiar, All Star Is Just for Me by Dean Aguiar, Scat Numbers by Dean Aguiar, Somebody's Once Told Me by Dean Aguiar, Negative Response by Dean Aguiar, Chariots Of All Star by Dean Aguiar, Memey Hell by Reason (ES), All Peace by Dean Aguiar, A L L by Dean Aguiar, All Hopes by Dean Aguiar, Promenade (Satellite Pictures At An Exhibition) [Organ Version] by Dean Aguiar, SUPER MEME MEGAMIX ULTIMATE 2 by Vincent Mashups, Like Wow! by Mowtendoo, Float On All Star Matata by Dean Aguiar, TECH it NO it LO it GIC it by Duuzu, Aerostar by Dean Aguiar, All Star Life by Dean Aguiar, Daft Mouth by Dean Aguiar, All Star Twist by Dean Aguiar, All Wonders by Dean Aguiar, Pies, Pies, Pies by Dean Aguiar, All Tonight by Dean Aguiar, All Star Band by Dean Aguiar, Good As Gurlz by Dean Aguiar, Throw Love by Dean Aguiar, Drywall by Dean Aguiar, Goodbye by Dean Aguiar, Wallspin by Dean Aguiar, Dead Star by Dean Aguiar, Don't Join The Band by Dean Aguiar, Promenade (Satellite Pictures At An Exhibition) by Dean Aguiar, Smash Glass by Dean Aguiar, Viper by Dean Aguiar, I've Seen All Star People by Dean Aguiar, All Silence by Dean Aguiar, Hakuna Star by Dean Aguiar, G I V E by Dean Aguiar, Somebody's Goodbye by Dean Aguiar, Back To The Past by Pluffaduff, Through the Tables and Memes by PhucYoou, Despacito II by DespacitoTV, Ruck Star by Mark Yacavone, All Star but its sung by XXXTENTACION by Acrylo, EXTREME MEME MEGAMIX III by Gyrotron, NEW MEME TIME MEGAMIX V: EVERYONE'S FINAL SOUNDCLOWN MASHUP by Knock Monsterr, Extreme Meme Music Megamashup 3 by DaymanOurSavior, SUPER MEME MEGAMIX ULTIMATE by Vincent Mashups, Extreme Meme Music Megamashup 2 by DaymanOurSavior, Promenade (Boingy Pictures At An Exhibition) by Noodle Noggin, White by JoeyVFX, Chariots of All Stars by JoeyVFX, Another Grunt by V-FUN, ​get rekt by ​christtt, Rather Be An All Star by TheGuy (Soundcloud), The Sharpest Tool by Neil Cicierega, I'm Onto Something (That's What She Said) by Super Mash Bros., MEME MUSIC SLIDE by DaymanOurSavior & Maniac Pop, Asian Star by Big Jaw (Ft. Angelo Tienzo, Josue Badenas & Woojin Choi), Bih I Juh Sih Lea (Tribute) by Lil Socky, Neil Cicierega is SiIvagunner CONFIRMED by Half Pixel, Down with the Rickness by JoeyVFX, S O M E by JoeyVFX, Caillou by JoeyVFX, Sun Fever by JoeyVFX, Revolution #5 by Neil Cicierega, Man Piano by Neil Cicierega, McRoyalty - מקרויאלטי by KE$EP MOB - כספ מוב (Ft. KE$EP Manaiac - כספ מאנאייק, KE$EP Thebe - כספ טבה, Lil KE$EP - ליל כספ & NateTheMate), Daft Mouth by Neil Cicierega, Smooth Flow by Neil Cicierega, Melt Everyone by Neil Cicierega, Promenade (Satellite Pictures at an Exhibition) by Neil Cicierega, P1MP KiiNG by Mcfluff, Wndrwll by Neil Cicierega, T.I.M.E. by Neil Cicierega, Modest Mouth by Neil Cicierega, Imagine All Star People by Neil Cicierega, Full Mouth by Neil Cicierega, Wow Wow by Neil Cicierega, The Starting Line by Neil Cicierega, Mouth Pressure by Neil Cicierega, BINGOLAS FORA by RapB0y, Cranberry by David0Mario, Delicate Whale by David0Mario, Staying With Our Lights Blind by David0Mario, Late Whalegistration by David0Mario, Wolfgang Armadeus Gorillaz by David0Mario, Skinny Mouse by David0Mario, Smells Like Paranoia by David0Mario, Welcome To Huhbreak by David0Mario, Only In Memes by David0Mario, Lights Of Wrath by David0Mario & himynameisshan., Everybody Make Decisions by David0Mario & himynameisshan., Nirvana cover by Smash Mouth by Neil Cicierega, YouTube Rewind: The Shape of 2017 by YouTube, Very Go Round by Chongo, Death On Contact by David0Mario, The Good Ending by David0Mario, Tonite U Die by David0Mario & himynameisshan., Boy With Young by David0Mario, Re-Hash Pipe by David0Mario, All Star/Don't Dream It's Over Unfinished Mashup by Neil Cicierega, Resent Yourself by Koopastar, Young Stars by David0Mario, Wall I've Done by David0Mario, Eat Derp by DJ Pacifier, Rockin' (Over The Hedge Version) [Bandcamp Exclusive] by David0Mario & himynameisshan., Piss On (Shan's 'Mouth' Mix) [Bonus Track] by David0Mario & himynameisshan., Spiral Of Empire Ants (Remastered) by David0Mario, Rockin' by David0Mario & himynameisshan., What's Wrong? by Izaac Sebastian Reather (Ft. Smash Mouth), Twisted Phantom by David0Mario & LK CORVUS, Odysuey by David0Mario, MEME MEGAMIX ULTRA by Knock Monsterr, EXTREME SOUNDCLOWN MEGAMIX V by Gyrotron, A BIT OF MEGAMASHUP by DaymanOurSavior, Daft Meme (Technologic) by Duuzu, Memory Fender by David0Mario & himynameisshan., Just Being Based by David0Mario & himynameisshan., She Will Be Held by David0Mario, E Eu Boto o Pé na Estrada by MIZUKiDz, Onionskin by R4YMiX, The World (BONUS TRACK) by Nearly a Fox, Walk Free by Nearly a Fox, Does Everybody Wonder About Stars? by Nearly a Fox, Country Star by Nearly a Fox, Born To Rock by Nearly a Fox, Lost But Turning Slowly by Izaac Sebastian Reather, War by Izaac Sebastian Reather, 小屋の中で一番鋭利な道具 by Izaac Sebastian Reather, We Do It by Izaac Sebastian Reather, Decade Of Pop - The 1990s (100 Song Mashup) by DJ Earworm, All Scorch by DougSalad, Horchataparks by LK CORVUS, Confusion Vol. 4 - A Confusing Return by Ph0ton, Confusion Vol. 1 by Ph0ton, Nickelmouth by Ph0ton, Unspoken Chances by David0Mario & himynameisshan., Wepdt Jamb by David0Mario & himynameisshan., Cruel Number by David0Mario, How Michael Rosen Beat Shaq by DaThings, All Star but it's me instead of smash mouth by Lil Jogger & Blue Star by Acrylo
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