Top 15 Barenaked Ladies Songs

Hi Everyone!

Sorry I haven't been posting lately. Was on holiday in Paris last week and have been taking care of some business. In any event, I'm back now with a list of my Top 15 favorite songs from probably my favorite 90s band Barenaked Ladies.

15. "You Run Away" (Ed Robertson)

This was the first song the band released after the departure of Steven Page. Page and the band had a difficult falling out, but it was mutual for both parties accounted for. This led the band to decide whether or not they should call it quits or press on. They chose the later. After a year's time of picking up the pieces, they released "You Run Away", a song that may or may not be about the emotions the band was experiencing about Steven Page's departure. This is also one of the few big moments where Ed Robertson has written a more emotionally melancholy song. This was also the first track to their album All In Good Time, the first album without Page, which also contains similar vibes. In this album, we also saw more contributions from members Kevin Hearn and Jim Creeggan (more on him in a second). For me, personally, this song resonated with me at the time it came out and I heard it. It described the emotions I was feeling at the time, where someone I cared about or wanted to care about became distant, and I did everything I could to bring them closer, but to no avail. This is definitely one of the more mature BNL songs in the catalog, and a very likable one. A very simple, but solid song with a very identifiable message.



14. "I Saw It" (Jim Creeggan)

One of the few songwriting contributions from bassist Jim Creeggan, "I Saw It" is also one of the more mature songs, considering it was also on the Adult Contemporary-esque All In Good Time. Jim also sings lead on this record, as well as playing electric guitar, a setting we don't often here him in, and in my opinion, it's a damn shame. He's not only a talented instrumentalist, but a solid songwriter and very good singer. The song itself has a melancholy but hopeful message, about a person refusing to turn their back on a loved one, standing by there side, no matter when or where. I can't exactly explain why this song sticks out to me out of most songs on its respective album, but I will it's a very relaxing and hits you in the right feels, nostalgic yet fresh. I never get tired of listening to this song.

13. "Who Needs Sleep?" (Steven Page/Ed Robertson)

A very catchy album track from the album Stunt. This song especially shines when performed live with Steven Page playing the intro on the flute. The chorus is especially catchy and overall, it's just a fun song about an insomniac. I think everyone can identify with this song.



12. "Easy" (Steven Page/Ed Robertson)

A later-era Barenaked Ladies track from the 2006 album Barenaked Ladies Are Me. This was an extremely minor hit in the U.S., but has been found on the most recent greatest hits collection and continues to be performed live by the current line up. It's difficult to pinpoint what the subject matter of the song is, but the melodic repetition makes it very enjoyable and memorable. Ed Robertson's songwriting style is known for having catchy melodies with somewhat aimless and borderline nonsense lyrics (see #9 and #5). I guess this song doesn't do much for me lyrically, but the melody and whole vibe makes the song very attractive and constantly wanting to re-listen over and over again.

11. "Break Your Heart" (Steven Page)

The first song on the list written by Steven Page. Oddly enough, Page's songs seems to be the most emotionally charged with very heartfelt lyrics and subject matters, yet even though his songs were the fan favorites, they were never the big radio hits at the time. But I guess that makes his songs much more understated. This song is about a character admitting to his partner that he never loved her, that he had lied about loving her but stayed because of he would feel guilty for breaking her heart. The girlfriend actually calls out her boyfriend on his arrogance for not doing it sooner since he was unhappy. This song is some of the best story telling, as well as a great vocal performance from Steven Page. You can really hear him put his all into the song. 

10. "Jane" (Steven Page/Stephen Duffy)

A song from Steve Page and his longtime writing partner Stephen Duffy, formerly of Duran Duran (weird right?), although left the band before they got signed. The song "Jane" is essentially about unrequited love. A guy falls in love with a girl named Jane who works at a hair salon. She has experienced failed romances and become bitter towards getting close with a man, but still wears a charming smile. He wants to proclaim his true feelings, but back down. This song with filled with great storytelling, charm, and even subtle irony. I won't give it away here. Give it a listen for yourself.



9. "Too Little Too Late" (Steven Page/Ed Robertson)

It's got a catchy guitar riff and the melody is memorable. Again, I'm not entirely sure what the subject matter is of the song. It sounds like it's about a relationship going south due to people changing, miscommunication and selfishness. I actually saw Steve Page live in Chicago a few years ago, and I asked him why he didn't perform this song even though he sang it and co-wrote, and he said it never felt like his, and it makes sense. This does not sound like a song that Steven Page would necessarily go out of his way to sing. Nonetheless, like the band Barenaked Ladies, you can't hate this song. 

8. "The Old Apartment" (Steven Page/Ed Robertson)

Another song co-written by Page and Robertson. This song has a nostalgic feeling present in the lyrics, although it ends on a silver lining. Reminiscing on an old apartment and the memories shared between a couple, both good and bad, and wishing those memories could still remain in tangible form. I think this is a song some people overlook as one of the more emotionally invested lyric. Yes, the song is fun, but its also bittersweet at the same time, which definitely marks this as one of the best songs.



7. "Odds Are" (Kevin Griffin/Ed Robertson)

From the second post-Page BNL album Grinning Streak, the first U.S. Top 10 album from BNL since Maroon, this is, in my opinion, Ed Robertson's BEST solo songwriting contribution, "Odds Are" is catchy as hell, and the lyrics actually fit in terms of the subject matter and the melody. With every word there is a sense of yes shit happens, but be optimistic. Shit's always going to happen, but most likely good things will happen too. It's a damn shame this song wasn't played on radio in the US, cause it's got all the best elements of a great pop song. The respective album Grinning Streak is actually filled with great pop songs such as "Boomerang", "Best Damn Friend", "Limits", and "Did I Say That Out Loud?"."Odds Are" to the perfect song to listen to when you're feeling down or if you're already feeling hopeful.

6. "Pinch Me" (Steven Page/Ed Robertson)

This song is definitely a stream of consciousness. Feeling bliss, numbness, euphoria, and uncertainty, whatever you want to call it. It's fun, innocent, and the second most successful single from the band. Not much else there is to say really. Next...

5. "One Week" (Ed Robertson)

The one BNL everyone's most likely heard. A U.S. number one hit for exactly one week, this is song you can definitely tell who wrote which sections. Sounds like Steve Page wrote the chorus and Ed Robertson wrote the verses. Full of wordplay, humor, and utter nonsense, and a great vocal performance from both Steve and Ed.



4. "It's All Been Done" (Steven Page)

I love this song. The lyrics are fun, the melody is great. Don't know what the song's about, and I don't care. So yeah....moving on.

3. "If I Had $1,000,000" (Steven Page/Ed Robertson)

The essential BNL live staple. I don't think there's ever been a BNL concert where this song has not been performed. The improvisation of their live performances always makes this song fun, and every audience member knows all the words. One of the best songs that never ever takes itself too seriously, as with many other Barenaked Ladies songs.

2. "Call And Answer" (Steven Page/Stephen Duffy)

Once again co-written by Steven Page and Stephen Duffy, this song definitely hits close to home for me. This is a song about getting over a bad break up with someone you had a falling out with, most likely a close friend or loved one, whether romantic or platonic. At the beginning, the speaker is coming to terms with things starting to go back to normal, but we see that the tension is still present. The outro section is where things really hit home:

"But I'm warning you, don't ever do
Those crazy, messed-up things that you do
If you ever do, I promise you 

I'll be the first to crucify you
Now it's time to prove that you've come back
Here to rebuild"
This song closed out many BNL concerts in the later years, and was the last song Steven Page sang with his former band. This is a song I think everyone could relate to, in more than one way, depending on what side of the coin they've been on. This is not only one of the best Barenaked Ladies songs, but one of the best songs ever written, with great emotion and another fantastic vocal performance by Steven Page.



1. "Brian Wilson" (Steven Page)

Long story short, this song is about Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. Songwriting-wise, this is the best of the best for Barenaked Laides, which is interesting because it was written solely by Steven Page and it comes from their very first album Gordon, which became sort of a cult success when initially release and gave the band great momentum, as well as reaching #1 in Canada. The melody is memorable, the lyrics are well crafted, and has become the ultimate live fan favorite.