Smash Mouth Songwriter Didn’t Want All Star to Be Used in Shrek

Even though Steve Harwell retired as a songwriter from Smash Mouth, the band’s “All Star” hit will always be remembered as the iconic song from Shrek. However, did you know that the writer didn’t want it to be featured in the film? Keep on reading to find out why.

Smash Mouth’s Iconic Hit

Steve Harwell left Smash Mouth two years ago, but the band’s manager, Robert Hayes, has always praised the musician’s talent. He said that Steve’s voice was one of the most recognizable voices from his generation. Hayes also mentioned Harwell’s love for his fans and the stage. And he’s not wrong, since we all recognize his vocals from one of the songs in Shrek.

Smash Mouth released their hit “All Star” in 1999, and Harwell’s iconic voice did not go unnoticed. Considering the popularity of Shrek, the song was loved by every fan of the animated movie. The single’s music video actually featured characters from Mystery Men, and the tune also appeared during the opening credits of Shrek in 2001 and in Shrek the Third in a little instrumental.

The Songwriter’s Disapproval

Despite the song becoming an iconic film hit, Smash Mouth’s songwriter Greg Camp didn’t actually want “All Star” to be featured in Shrek. Back then, he thought putting the song in the movie was going to make it sound like a Disney hit. Also, he was afraid the band would have to start making songs for children and families, and he didn’t want that.

He also explained that the rest of the band members were thinking about making tons of money off the hit, but he thought they needed longevity and credibility. He was scared that their fans would be disappointed if they started making music for commercials. However, there’s no denying that Shrek made the song popular.