For the Martin Solveig song, see All Stars (song)

"All Star" is a song by the American rock band Smash Mouth ♠ from their second studio album, Astro Lounge (1999). Written by Greg Camp and produced by Eric Valentine, the song was ♠ released on May 4, 1999, as the first single from Astro Lounge. The song was one of the last tracks ♠ to be written for Astro Lounge, after the band's record label Interscope requested more songs that could be released as ♠ singles. In writing it, Camp drew musical influence from contemporary music by artists like Sugar Ray and Third Eye Blind, ♠ and sought out to create an "anthem" for outcasts. In contrast to the more ska punk style of Smash Mouth's ♠ debut album Fush Yu Mang (1997), the song features a more radio-friendly style.

The song received generally positive reviews from music ♠ critics, who praised its musical progression from Fush Yu Mang as well as its catchy tone. It was nominated for ♠ the Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards. Subsequent reviews from ♠ critics have regarded "All Star" favorably, with some ranking it as one of the best songs of 1999. The song ♠ charted around the world, ranking in the top 10 of the charts in Australia, Canada, and on the Billboard Hot ♠ 100, while topping the Billboard Adult Top 40 and Mainstream Top 40 charts.

The song's accompanying music video features characters from ♠ the superhero film Mystery Men (1999), which itself prominently featured "All Star". The song became ubiquitous in popular culture following ♠ multiple appearances in films, most notably in Mystery Men, Digimon: The Movie and DreamWorks Animation's 2001 film Shrek. It received ♠ renewed popularity in the 2010s as an internet meme and has ranked as one of the most-streamed rock songs from ♠ 2024 to 2024 in the United States.

Background and recording [ edit ]