X Isabelle Orr Entertainment Editor AM someone with internet access, I have seen (read: been bombarded with) endless memes, videos, stories—you name it, I’ve seen it—featuring Smash Mouth’s “All Star” At a recent birthday party I attended, the host played the song no less than three times. I even heard it played at a straight club (quelle horreur!), further solidifying my personal opinion that I never again want to hear Steve Harwell scream about breaking the mould while I’m trying to bump n’ grind. I solely “go out” to listen to Euro-trance, astral project into the Milky Way, and dance like an inflatable tube man, Oh Retire Smash Mouths ‘All Star’ >» Grow up and out of the 2000s, people not to hear the same tired, old song played repeatedly. The point I’m trying to make here is that “All Star” simply isn’t funny anymore. In its heyday (think Vine era) it was a fun song that everyone knew well enough to sing along to. Now? Youve unoriginal if you sing it at karaoke—that is, if you arrive before the 16 other people who have already requested it. It’s time for people still desperately clinging onto “All Star” to find another joke to beat into the ground. “But what about Shrek?!” all the people in the audience yell. Yes, when I first watched it as a seven-year-old, Shrek was a good movie. However, let me share this morsel of advice: You're allowed to watch Have an idea for a story? M opinions@theotherpress.ca other movies. No, you're not locked ina permanent state of stasis and you can, in fact, watch other movies that you didn't first see in elementary school. Anyway, as long as we're talking about iconic songs from the Shrek movie soundtrack, let’s not forget the “Hungry Like the Wolf” Duran Duran cover sung by the Three Little Pigs in Far Far Away Idol (a Shrek deep cut). Maybe everyone who so wittily puts “All Star” in the Spotify queue should examine why they cling to the soundtrack of their childhood, consuming the same bits of pop culture over and over. But aren't I being a killjoy, you ask? Shouldn't people be allowed to have fun? Of course! To lighten the mood, I offer a list of fun (and timeless) joke-esque songs: ¢ Thoughts on Smash Mouth's ‘All Star' ¢ Don't rely solely on self-care * Death to al dente e ...and more! “Shoes” by YouTuber Liam Kyle Sullivan Have you listened to this lately? The song has a kind of house beat, and the music video is strangely avant-garde (very ahead of its time!). Kelly’s decision to get what she wants is a motto for these take-action times. Well done, Kelly! “My Neck, My Back” by Khia A LGBTQ+ anthem, this song is mandatory at all lesbian functions and must be played or else all participants have to go directly to jail. See also: “My Neck, My Mii,’ a fun mashup that works surprisingly well. “Like a Surgeon” by Weird Al Yankovic Atrue bop. I will defend this song to the grave. NAASEIM @winnMeominekAm. OM iTemslobrla Brom aaanele Coase V Cw Cc) CMe dit 1y “All Star” simply isn't funny anymore.” he ee - a Fost ane I think our generation needs a song like “All Star” to keep us going.” All that glitters is gold > ‘All Star’ is a generational anthem Jessica Berget Opinions Editor here are very few songs that unite people as much as Smash Mouth’s iconic 1999 hit “All Star” does, and for good reason. It’s a catchy (although admittedly corny) tune, it has a wholesome, positive message within the lyrics, and it’s a sentimental reminder of simpler times. It may be popularly known to be a “meme song,” but that should not deter from how significant it is in pop culture and with our generation. To retire it would be sacrilegious. Who said songs that become memes are bad? I think if a song is memorialized by becoming a meme, that means a lot of people love that song, and “All Star” is just one example of that. Whenever I hear this song performed in karaoke, a club, or anywhere with a conglomeration of people, the whole establishment erupts in cheers and everyone in the room starts singing along. I think any song that brings such joy to so many people, no matter how overplayed it is, should be celebrated. Since many of us grew up watching the movie Shrek, it’s understandable that “All Star” is such a nostalgic song. This explains why it’s so popular with millennials as a meme-y song from an equally meme-y movie. However, forget for a moment about the meme-ification of “All Star”—it still has a great message in it. Despite the song being 20 years old (and 18 years since the release of Shrek), it’s as relevant to our time as it was before, perhaps now even more so. In the song, lead singer Steve Harwell warns us about climate change, aging, and all the inevitabilities of life, but it is still a positive song. Harwell tells us that, despite all these things, we should enjoy life, take the back streets, “get your game on, go play,’ and “get the show on, get paid.” I think our generation needs a song like “All Star” to keep us going—to remind us that 3 fe \\ \ Ni Se ub aa, i Vr. oe AN. a ‘All Star' album cover via the our “world’s on fire,” but “that’s the way [we] like it and [we] never get bored,” and that we'll “never shine if [we] don’t glow.” Yes, it’s an old, cheesy song from an era rife with cheesy songs. It may have sprung into popularity ironically because of how cheesy it is, but that is only a testament to how important the song is to our generation. Honestly, it brings me great joy to know that despite all of our differences, we can still be united in our love of the same dumb song that was in the intro of Shrek. It may be a corny, overplayed song, but it is one that defines our generation.