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Reel Big Fish
Reel Big Fish, formed in Southern California in the early 1990s, became one of the defining bands of the "third wave" American ska revival, blending traditional ska rhythms with punk and pop-punk influences during that genre's mid-to-late 1990s mainstream commercial peak. Their 1997 song "Sell Out," a satirical take on bands abandoning their artistic principles for commercial success, ironically became the band's biggest mainstream hit, giving Reel Big Fish a self-aware, comedic relationship to their own commercial breakthrough. The band's horn-driven, upbeat sound and their frequently comedic, self-deprecating lyrical content distinguished them from more politically serious ska acts, reflecting the generally lighter, more overtly fun-focused tone of the American third-wave ska scene compared to its British 2 Tone predecessor. Reel Big Fish's sustained touring career, continuing well past third-wave ska's mainstream commercial decline in the early 2000s, has made them one of the most enduringly active bands from that specific American ska revival era.
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Madness
Madness, formed in London in 1976, became the most commercially successful act of the late-1970s and early-1980s British ska revival, known as "2 Tone" after the record label central to the movement, and their song "Our House" became one of the most enduringly popular British pop songs of the era. The band's playful, comedic public persona, including their exaggerated "nutty train" dance routine performed during live shows, distinguished Madness from some of their more politically serious 2 Tone contemporaries, giving them broader mainstream commercial crossover appeal. Madness holds the record for the most weeks spent on the UK singles chart of any group during the 1980s, reflecting sustained commercial dominance throughout the decade beyond just their initial ska-revival breakthrough period. Their combination of genuine ska revival credibility and their broader mainstream pop accessibility made Madness the most commercially significant band to emerge from the 2 Tone movement, and the band's continued periodic touring and recording decades later reflects their sustained popularity in the UK specifically.
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