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Reel Big Fish, "Sell Out" (live) from Our Live Album Is Better Than Your Live Album, Disc 2: Move Fastly with the Fast Music (T.L.A.M.)

Commentary: Not the most serious way to end the R.B.D.S.O.T.D.'s week-long look at contemporary capitalism's flaws, perhaps, but don't be too hasty to sell "Sell Out" short. From the talentless clown auditioning for American Idol & its myriad clones to the high school athlete doping in pursuit of a scholarship to a prestigious university where he can spend four years majoring in preparing for the N.F.L. combine, one of the features of our economy—whether this constitutes a problem is up for debate–is the fierce, often desperate competition for the few jobs available as pop stars or professional athletes. More than economic considerations motivate this worship of the "fame monster" (thank you, Lady Gaga), but that is not to say economics play no part. "Sell Out" also addresses the tension between artistic self-expression & commercial success, a theme R.B.F. would revisit in their first album after the one-hit wonder success of "Sell Out," Why Do They Rock So Hard?.

"'Well, I know you can't work in fast food all your life,
But don't sign that paper tonight,' she said, but it's too late…

"Sell out! with me, oh yeah,
Sell out! with me tonight,
The record company's gonna give me lots of money
And everything's gonna be all right…

"'Baby, don't you sign that paper tonight,' she said,
But I can't work in fast food all my life."