Watch any of the TransCanada Highwaymen performances of BNL songs and compare them to any BNL performance of the same song, you really begin to feel the loss of charm without Ty or Jim. This is especially true for songs that are usually very energetic and bass heavy like Brian Wilson, It's All Been Done, Alcohol, etc.
Just discovered it today, it's incredible. I didn't even know of the original. I've been listening to BNL all day, I grew up listening to Stunt and I have such a newfound appreciation for them.
I only watched this to make sure “When I Fall” was mentioned. Such a well-written song that stops me in my tracks every time I hear it. I studied the band a lot when writing, my earliest songs, and that one in particular stuck with me.
As a huge BNL fan, I truly appreciate you making this video. I’ve turned so many people onto them in my time. Too many songs to name, but something like “What a Good Boy” is my go-to recommendation for people who ask me what they should check out.
Same! What a Good Boy is beautiful and one of my favourites. Listening to it loud is the only way I listen to it. I look back to when I saw them at Kingswood Music Theatre at Canada'a Wonderland and people were still throwing open boxes of KD at them during $1million. Great band and totally underrated. I still have all of their CDs.
@@lilmagsiemae8they've been my favorite band since I was 12 or 13. My first time seeing them was when I was 15 and I've seen them I think 3 more times over the years. It's been over 20 years. 😊
Those of us in Detroit and other US metro areas that border Canada were fortunate enough to know about BNL long before the rest of United States, thanks to free over-the-air signals making Canadian radio and TV stations part of our normal media environment, as well as the "Canadian Content" rules for programmers at Canadian TV and radio stations making sure they filled a certain percentage of the broadcast day with material made by Canadian artists. Their first three albums in particular were absolutely phenomenal, and they could always be counted on for entertaining and tightly rehearsed live shows that displayed their technical skills as well as their comedic sensibilities. Page and Robertson are also both underrated as songwriters, and together they were even better than the sum of their parts. I still think of those two as a Canadian version of Lennon and McCartney, or at least the Gen X version of Cummings and Bachman. It was sad that when they finally had a big hit here across the entire USA , it was from an album that wasn't quite as good overall as their previous work. Because most casual listeners back in those days - before TH-cam existed, and the earliest streaming services were just getting started and still of questionable legality - would not bother seeking out the earlier discography. And then, right when BNL were about to add another genre that was part of their destiny and completely up their alley - music for children that is also just as entertaining for the grown-ups - Page closed that doorway for the entire band with that cocaine bust. Yes, the rest of them continued on and had a satisfying career, but some of that magic was lost forever.
In terms of their first big American hit being from a weaker album, I feel the same about finger eleven. Its bizarre to me, that there is a whole country that thinks of finger eleven as "the one thing" / "paralyzer" band.
@@17R3W -- I'm currently upset that July Talk hasn't become hugely successful here in the states. Peter Dreimanis is a fantastic songwriter. Now that we do have the Internet available, I don't understand why more people outside of legacy media broadcast distance from Canada have not at least come across some of their songs randomly on TH-cam.
@@17R3W -- Oh, and I almost forgot about another Canadian who will unfortunately probably not make it big in the States anytime soon, and might even be denied bigger success in Canada, even though she was right on the edge of making it big: Nehmasis. It sounds like things were headed in the right direction for her before everything fell apart in the Middle East a year ago, locking her out based on her ethnic and religious background.
LOVE THIS! Traveled to Vancouver BC for the Xmas concert.... was in the front rows, and security told me to sit down. Ed told them... "This is a Rock and Roll Concert." I stood back up and danced my ass off!!!
Barenaked Ladies are my favourite band ever, this video helped me actually realized why I loved them. Also glad you mentioned that part of conventioneers, it’s so amazing. Also Maroon is my favourite album ever, absolute banger
I've been waiting forever for someone to make this video. I have an intense love/hate relationship with BNL, always frustrated with weird choices in mixing (oh my God their second album...), sequencing, and marketing (their not being taken seriously could've been avoided at least in part with some different promotion choices). Seriously, even though they're pretty beloved in Canada, I feel like even there they're not taken particularly seriously, they're more like the beloved silly songsters who -- lol! -- talk about Kraft Dinner in that one song you love singing along to in the car!!! You hit on pretty much all the stuff I love about this band: the harmonies, the deeper more "serious" songs ("When I Fall" and "Wrap Your Arms Around Me" are personal favs), the perfect mix of silly/serious that can genuinely catch anyone by surprise, their understated musicality (especially Jim's award-winning bass playing) and the clever lines that enhance almost every song (imo these are much more of a product of Ed's songwriting, as he's said his approach is much more influenced by rap writing than stuff like folk or pop, so when you keep that in mind you start seeing his verses more like bars. It can get corny but I'd say he pulled it off more often than not). I'd also add that they were surprisingly politically outspoken, with tracks like "Helicopters", "Take It Back", and "Fun and Games" being pretty openly anti-war back when the topic was pretty touchy, and "I Know" with its surreal, tongue-in-cheek, and considered look at white supremacy. I could go on about so much more, like how integral Michael Phillip Wojewoda was as producer for some of their albums, how incredibly GENEROUS of a band they are for their fans (you showed a couple clips here but I highly encourage people to watch the "bathroom sessions" -- a ridiculous number of acoustic versions of their songs Ed uploaded to youtube over a decade before other artists would do the same at a much lesser extent during quarantine), or how they have some terrific unofficial tracks people should try and dig up like Moonstone or Lilac Girl (only rough recordings exist like from a live album or an early demo tape, but still really worth listening to imo), but this comment is already way longer than I planned it to be. So I'll just say that despite being a longtime fan, I'd kinda fallen off BNL for a while, but finding this video on your channel after the algorithm fed me your Japanese music one has rekindled that old scorched love. That's pretty cool, thank you
You should listen to “Detour de Force” there latest album it’s going to have you fall in love with them again! I have been a huge fan for a long time and feel this one they are having fun enjoying playing together and the album reflects that IMO. I love all but one of their songs. LOL 😊 They have a new album coming out in September. They are on tour right now and playing a very mixed set list expanding over BNL time. I am so excited thinking I will see them July 19th!
@@frankhildebrand6131 Detour de Force is a solid album and In Flight is a great follow up. My only thing is I probably would have gone with "One Night" as the leadoff single and then follow up with "Lovin' Life" or "Too Old"
love so many of the unofficial tracks their version of McDonalds Girl is the only version of that song I can stand (and because it's bnl I love it) and Ed did a song called Satellite in the bathroom sessions which the original is unlistenable in comparison for me (like going back to Dylan after you've heard Hendrix's version of a Dylan song)
I grew up with BNL on in my house here in the states, so much so when I was 5, 6, and 7 we went to three of their cruises, named Ships & Dip. The third cruise included Steven Page's final show with the band (before 2018).
Agreed with starting a new fan off with Rock Spectacle. Then it’s like a choose your own adventure, if they want more serious songs then I’ll recommend Maybe You Should Drive - if they want a solid pop/rock sound I’ll say Stunt, and once they’re full on fans they’ll LOVE Maroon.
I have seen BNL live 3 times now and they always Blow Me Away With how clean and impressive there live performances are, will always be my favorite band.
Dammit I thought I was the only with this idea. In all seriousness, amazing vid! Amazing how you touched perfectly on Brian Wilson and Steven’s writing, it’s my favorite BNL song of all time and not many people talk about it’s lyrics.
As a gigantic barenaked ladies fan, you hit the nail on the head. But the two things that I think you got the *most right* are Rock Spectacle being a good starting album - that was my first album of theirs, and yeah. Look where that’s gotten me, I’m working on a video ranking all their songs. And secondly, using Straw Hat and Dirty Old Hank as the demonstration of why the album stands on its own, despite being a live album, and Steven’s range. I constantly go back and forth fighting between whether I like the studio version of the song better - I prefer the violins to the accordion - or the live version, because Steve’s vocals there make the narrative of the song even more frightening. And ending with that bit from Tonight Is The Night I Fell Asleep at the Wheel? Well played man, I can tell that you care a lot about this band, which is always just. So refreshing in our One Week, Pinch Me, and Another Postcard dominated climate 😭
When I was a child, my mom had the CD of Stunt in the car, which I listened to constantly and loved. When I was 10, my first concert was the Barenaked Ladies. As I got older, I kind of moved on. Now I'm about to turn 30 and I've been trying to rediscover the things I love in the past as it gets harder and harder to enjoy anything anymore. I've always felt this band was massively underrated, and I still think Stunt is underrated among their fans. Your excellent analysis highlights the very adult themes of depression and social issues they address that perhaps went over my head as a child. Your videos have the quality of a much bigger channel, which I can only conclude means that you will soon be much bigger! Thanks for the work you put into making this video, because of you I'm re-listening to Rock Spectacle this morning and tearing up a bit, honestly. I also love your video on Japanese music and I hope you'll continue to find success and make more videos like these.
Steve and Ed are my idols. I’ve said this for a few years now. My 3rd favourite band behind Van Halen and The Beatles all for reasons you point out. BUT you put perspective on some lyrics that in literal decades I’ve never been able to decipher. I love that and thank you!
This video was made for me and I am happy you made. You encapsulated why people should of listen to them at the height of the popularity and why they are/were so great.
I think I was 11 or 12 when I first heard 'One Week' on TV. Stunt was one of the first albums I ever bought and boy did that CD get played on loop. Remember 'anti-skip' cd players? What a time. Love the videos btw. Easy Intro to Japanese Music was dope.
I heard them from a college friend in 1996, and I was hooked. I bought all their albums up to that point and found a treasure trove of such great songs! Plus, so many instruments, great harmonies, and an upright bass! They were fearless in the pop/rock genre in their writing and arranging. I'm with you, that there are gems in every single album, but no album without fat that could've been cut. A single playlist with their best stuff would really show how formidable they are though.
this video is incredible, if i were to have the skill of making one, it would likely be 1:1 with this. conventioneers is one of my all time favorite songs and BNL are a fantastic band!
I love BNL. I think Maybe You Should Drive is my favourite album, but I have must listen to songs from all their albums. I was in Grade 9 when I first heard Gordon. It would be played in Art class for us, among other cds and bands.
thankyou for this. i grew up on the Barenaked Ladies as a Canadian teen in the 90s. they were very big here, even way up in the north of BC. their music is fun and the vocals are so unique
So, I'm an old guy. 67 at the time of this writing. Back then, I was a bit too old to be a groupie, but that's kinda where my heart was. They brought out the boy in me. I was listening to BNL from the days when they were hanging around CFNY and busking around town, appearing occasionally on City-TV and I was working in a photo finishing store back when that was a thing. That was when you could call the radio station and hang out with the DJs. This is a great review and a nice introduction for anyone who might have missed them, or as you say, mistook them for a joke which is actually quite easy to do. But I knew how great they were from the first time I heard them. It wasn't a question in my mind if they were destined for success, but when they would hit and become household names. Despite my premonitions, I don't think it really worked out quite that way. I showed up at the Scarborough Town Centre the day the band first got signed. There was a big release party open to the public. I had already escaped the Big Smoke by that time and headed for the wilds of Eastern Ontario, but it was worth the trip back into town to cheer them on and show my appreciation. That's when it hit me. I got 20+ years on their average fan. Made me feel old beyond my years. Grandpa Fan. So I sighed, and went home. But I waited with great anticipation for the first studio album. When it finally came, it was quite a disappointment in my mind. Gone was the raw energy that made the band so unique. It just fell flat for me. With each "hit" that made its way to my exiled existence in the country, I felt much the same. Good, competent, charming even, but not great. Not as good as they could be. Not as good as they actually were. Mostly I found they were just wildly overproduced. If you really want to hear the genius of the band, there is a perfect studio album, but it comes from before they signed to a record label. It's known as The Yellow Tape. Check it out. th-cam.com/video/ZOpgd3Jj-bo/w-d-xo.html
There's not many albums I can listen to front to back without skipping at least one track. Bare Naked Ladies All Their Greatest Hits: Disc One 1991-2001 is amazing front to back. Sure it's a compilation album, but still.
Hey I just wanted to say I really like this kind of stuff! I've always been fascinated by music and music history but I'd need to go to college to learn anything about it :( Just don't have the money, so thanks for filling me in on music culture!
Love the vid!! Found you through your anime music video, I knew you had good taste. Highly recommend Steven’s recent solo stuff. Heal thyself part 1 has I think some of his best songwriting and is an excellently crafted album. Bit biased myself hahaha
Never agreed so much with one video in my life 😂 one of the greatest bands of all time…super talented, super versatile, amazing chemistry…and the most important factor to any legendary act…UNIQUE ❤️
Re: the farmer mentioned at 06:12, the song "Straw Hat and Old Dirty Hank" is about a real-life stalker that Canadian singer Anne Murray had to deal with in the 1970s and early 1980s. He was a wheat farmer from Saskatchewan.
I just wrote about how much the album Gordon became a part of my soul 32 years ago when no one else was sure why I was listening to them at all to now when I somehow love them even more.
Rock Spectacle is a good starting point for introducing someone to the five-piece BNL days. Good representation of the band live. Or hunt down any number of the live concert recordings from the "Everything To Everyone" tour. But for studio...Disc One: All Their Greatest Hits is a good "gateway" to old-school BNL. (Which will give you non-album faves like "Lovers In A Dangerous Time", "Get In Line" (from "King Of The Hill"), the unreleased Ed-lead "Thanks, That Was Fun", and a witty tongue-in-cheek unreleased tune, "It's Only Me (The Wizard Of Magicland)"...(which I believe might have been one of the aforementioned "naked" tracks...) I will also second another comment here about the Steven Page "Live From Home" Zoom concerts. Those shows are a great mix of the old BNL days and what Steven has gone on to do since his departure. Tons of fun at every show.
I was 18-19 years old when “Gordon” released in 1992 and that record was everything to me at the time. I’ve been a massive fan ever since. As you pointed out, they are SO MUCH more than “One Week”. Also, for what it’s worth, let’s not forget that, not long before Steven Page’s unfortunate departure from the band, Paul McCartney, when asked what current bands he liked, was quoted as saying, “The Barenaked Ladies have to be my favorite. Their harmonies are right on. They could outsing us any day of the week. I don't think John and myself ever had the sort'of range they do." McCartney added he wouldn't mind cutting an album with the band. That’s pretty high praise.
One lyrical thing I love is in Jane. The first verse has “Was dazzled by her smile while I shopped there” while the final verse has “Still dazzled by her smile while I shoplift there”.
"Pinch Me", "Testing 1, 2, 3", "Some Fantastic", "Call and Answer", "Matter of Time", "Falling for the first Time", "New Disaster" BNL are the masters of songs that are catchy and poppy, but have this undercurrent of melancholy with a performatively cavalier attitude toward ones own sadness that no other band can replicate. Like any band that has as many albums as the do there are a lot of ups and downs in their discography, but their ups are enduring and I'll never get tired of them. And to this day each album they drop has at least 1 song that I really love and really touches me in a way no other band does.
They ARE , not "were" great. Not EVERYONE thought they were a joke either- I was impressed from the first listen. Only gripe is the song live- I saw them and they played a cover by Queen and some nonsense fill in about the event but almost none of my top 20 songs by them,
I've come to love BNL. I thought they were just a comedic band with nothing worthwhile bc of the memes. But after actually hearing their stuff, they have so much banger music I don't get sick of hearing them. Definitely one of my favorite bands ever.
They are the best. I had an obscure cassette in '89ish with alternate lyrics to $1M. I wish I still had it, it was completely different lyrics to the treehouse verse.
Gordon is a crazy strong debut for a bunch of kids in their early 20s. It’s goofy and wise beyond their years at the same time. Born On A Pirate Ship is a close second.
Great overview. You defined some things about them I struggled to put into words. I was and still am a huge fan of their Page era. I saw them literally countless times on every tour from Stunt to E2E. I tried so hard to like them since Page left and I just... don't. :-\ I'm off to listen to Rock Spectac now.
Barenaked Ladies have some of the best concerts. Their first album their concert was like 3 hours long because they spent half the concert doing improv, covers, making up stuff, it was great.
What I've said to others is that I currently don't know enough about it for a thorough full video on multiple artists. But for now, some sort of video about Seru Giran is on the shortlist for the next 7-ish probable videos.
@@ShoesInTheDryer dude i love your vids. this type of semi long format type of videos (30-40 mins or so) are exaclty my vibe. Suggestions on latinoamerican rock artist, well it all comes down to argentinian rock for most of the part, spinetta (and all the bands he was in), charly garcia (and all the bands he was in again lol), fito paez, soda estereo andres calamaro. Of course theres stuff outside of argentina ,in mexico the artist that stands out the most id say is cafe tacvba, but theres also caifanes, el tri, molotov. Peru has this band called los saicos, which has been labeled as the first punk band ever. The only band in uruguay that really stands out to me is el cuarteto de nos. Chile has some really big names as well like los prisoneros, Los bunkers and los tres. Thtas all i that i remember, but let me tell ya its much more than only these names, latinoamreican music in general is a whole new world of music that takes time to investigate, so just take your time getting in to this music world and if you do a video about it might be cool. I love the way you make your videos and a video with your style about this would be amazing
Of course they are good. Any adult with ears can attest to that. As a child, I thought they were weirdos and their name made me blush, but as an adult I listen to and enjoy a lot of their songs. They have great hamornies, fun lyrics, and great accoustic guitar playing.
They were fantastic yes, even in 'One Week': "I have a tendency to wear my heart on my sleeve/I have a history of losing my shirt" I.E he loses his mind, later they change the back line to "take off his shirt" He's willingly causing the domestic arguments. It's probably the happiest sounding song about a toxic relationship ever written. "I'm the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral/Can't understand what I mean... Well you soon will." They weren't the first band to do this sort of thing, obviously, but they were mine. I will always love their "happy songs about depression" as Page once described them.
I have always loved their songs. So many 'favorites'. War on Drugs blew me away the first time I heard it. Old Apartment and It's All Been Done probably my top 2. With all due respect to the current band members, I continue to pray that somehow, someday Steve returns and rejoins the band. 🙏🏼
F anyone who says they arent great, listen to any song on the albums and tell me any track isn't at least worth a listen ot two, my favorite is still grade 9, it still makes me chuckel with the RUSH and Led Zep references. It's like they were observing me in grade 9.
Barenaked Ladies are tied with Led Zeppelin for my favorite band. I don't know why people are surprised that their songs are awesome. Hell, even without Page, they're still going, and still making great music, though my favorites will always be I Know, Old Apartment, Be My Yoko Ono, Shoebox, actually there are too many to list.
This video as a candian raised on BNLmade no sense i was like "yeah they are a good band everyone thinks that" but I had no idea about how they were perceived outside of the great white north
I actually think Gordon is their best album full stop. Hit after hit after hit after hit. Hello City, If I Had $1000000, Be My Yoko Ono, Brian Wilson, Enid. All fantastic songs, but also the lesser played tracks on the album are solid. King of Bedside Manor is this eclectic fast paced comedy number that they all absolutely go nuts on, Box Set is this snazzy sort of love story that shows off not only Steve's song writing talents but the bands individual talents that unify into a great composition, and Crazy is the best showcase of Ed's ability as a performer and also has some of the best micro songwriting on the album, with lines like "I climb the walls of my mind just like climbing on a jungle gym" or "I don't need a rubber room but that might be nice" It's just an all around solid time. Long, yes, but worth it.
I also need to gush about how good Enid is. That horn section. the drum skin rub sound that keeps coming up in the song. The lyrics. Especially that bit you mentioned at the end where Steve is singing the chorus, the Creeggans are doing harmonies about the things that they could do for Enid, and then Ed is just off to the races showing off his improv and rap abilities making up random shit he could do for Enid. It's just so well crafted and put together.
Hi, recently got into your content but I just want to say you sound exactly like another TH-camr I follow named Trey the Explainer except with a better mic. It's seriously uncanny.
Huh, I never looked up the lyrics. I always thought the line was, "The very fear that makes you want to dive" not "The very fear that makes you want to die." It doesn't change the meaning in context since the method of suicide in the song is jumping off a viaduct, but still.
I also think them doing the big bang intro took away from their perception of being a great band. Their drummer alone is way more talented than he ever gets recognition for
It often gets overlooked but the bassist and Drummer are top notch, The bass lines in my opinion are what push many of the songs from good to great.
Tyler is a criminally underrated drummer.
Watch any of the TransCanada Highwaymen performances of BNL songs and compare them to any BNL performance of the same song, you really begin to feel the loss of charm without Ty or Jim. This is especially true for songs that are usually very energetic and bass heavy like Brian Wilson, It's All Been Done, Alcohol, etc.
@@TheEmpiricalGuyyeah he is. Many BNL songs wouldn't feel the same without him.
Oh my GOD is the bassist ever amazing
I would but the best BNL songs up against the best songs from blues traveler or counting crows.
Their "Lovers in a Dangerous Time" cover is fantastic
Oh, hell yes.
Just discovered it today, it's incredible. I didn't even know of the original. I've been listening to BNL all day, I grew up listening to Stunt and I have such a newfound appreciation for them.
I only watched this to make sure “When I Fall” was mentioned. Such a well-written song that stops me in my tracks every time I hear it. I studied the band a lot when writing, my earliest songs, and that one in particular stuck with me.
As a huge BNL fan, I truly appreciate you making this video. I’ve turned so many people onto them in my time. Too many songs to name, but something like “What a Good Boy” is my go-to recommendation for people who ask me what they should check out.
Same! What a Good Boy is beautiful and one of my favourites. Listening to it loud is the only way I listen to it. I look back to when I saw them at Kingswood Music Theatre at Canada'a Wonderland and people were still throwing open boxes of KD at them during $1million. Great band and totally underrated. I still have all of their CDs.
@@lilmagsiemae8they've been my favorite band since I was 12 or 13. My first time seeing them was when I was 15 and I've seen them I think 3 more times over the years. It's been over 20 years. 😊
Truly talented song writers. Their arrangements are mastery. Conventioneers is one of my favorites but War on Drugs is a piece of art.
Those of us in Detroit and other US metro areas that border Canada were fortunate enough to know about BNL long before the rest of United States, thanks to free over-the-air signals making Canadian radio and TV stations part of our normal media environment, as well as the "Canadian Content" rules for programmers at Canadian TV and radio stations making sure they filled a certain percentage of the broadcast day with material made by Canadian artists.
Their first three albums in particular were absolutely phenomenal, and they could always be counted on for entertaining and tightly rehearsed live shows that displayed their technical skills as well as their comedic sensibilities.
Page and Robertson are also both underrated as songwriters, and together they were even better than the sum of their parts. I still think of those two as a Canadian version of Lennon and McCartney, or at least the Gen X version of Cummings and Bachman.
It was sad that when they finally had a big hit here across the entire USA , it was from an album that wasn't quite as good overall as their previous work. Because most casual listeners back in those days - before TH-cam existed, and the earliest streaming services were just getting started and still of questionable legality - would not bother seeking out the earlier discography.
And then, right when BNL were about to add another genre that was part of their destiny and completely up their alley - music for children that is also just as entertaining for the grown-ups - Page closed that doorway for the entire band with that cocaine bust. Yes, the rest of them continued on and had a satisfying career, but some of that magic was lost forever.
89X Windsor/Detriot's only new rock alternative!
In terms of their first big American hit being from a weaker album, I feel the same about finger eleven.
Its bizarre to me, that there is a whole country that thinks of finger eleven as "the one thing" / "paralyzer" band.
@@17R3W -- I'm currently upset that July Talk hasn't become hugely successful here in the states. Peter Dreimanis is a fantastic songwriter. Now that we do have the Internet available, I don't understand why more people outside of legacy media broadcast distance from Canada have not at least come across some of their songs randomly on TH-cam.
@@17R3W -- Oh, and I almost forgot about another Canadian who will unfortunately probably not make it big in the States anytime soon, and might even be denied bigger success in Canada, even though she was right on the edge of making it big: Nehmasis. It sounds like things were headed in the right direction for her before everything fell apart in the Middle East a year ago, locking her out based on her ethnic and religious background.
Hearing Upside Down like 12 years ago on Pandora is what got me seriously into this band.
I'm in the uk and I'm going to see BNL for the first time this Thursday after being a fan for 25 years. Can't wait!
LOVE THIS! Traveled to Vancouver BC for the Xmas concert.... was in the front rows, and security told me to sit down. Ed told them... "This is a Rock and Roll Concert." I stood back up and danced my ass off!!!
You captured every element that makes them so special and organized it in an efficient, captivating story. Great band and great job!
Barenaked Ladies are my favourite band ever, this video helped me actually realized why I loved them. Also glad you mentioned that part of conventioneers, it’s so amazing. Also Maroon is my favourite album ever, absolute banger
Standing ovation. This was a view of my feelings on BNL. Thank you.
I've been waiting forever for someone to make this video. I have an intense love/hate relationship with BNL, always frustrated with weird choices in mixing (oh my God their second album...), sequencing, and marketing (their not being taken seriously could've been avoided at least in part with some different promotion choices). Seriously, even though they're pretty beloved in Canada, I feel like even there they're not taken particularly seriously, they're more like the beloved silly songsters who -- lol! -- talk about Kraft Dinner in that one song you love singing along to in the car!!!
You hit on pretty much all the stuff I love about this band: the harmonies, the deeper more "serious" songs ("When I Fall" and "Wrap Your Arms Around Me" are personal favs), the perfect mix of silly/serious that can genuinely catch anyone by surprise, their understated musicality (especially Jim's award-winning bass playing) and the clever lines that enhance almost every song (imo these are much more of a product of Ed's songwriting, as he's said his approach is much more influenced by rap writing than stuff like folk or pop, so when you keep that in mind you start seeing his verses more like bars. It can get corny but I'd say he pulled it off more often than not). I'd also add that they were surprisingly politically outspoken, with tracks like "Helicopters", "Take It Back", and "Fun and Games" being pretty openly anti-war back when the topic was pretty touchy, and "I Know" with its surreal, tongue-in-cheek, and considered look at white supremacy.
I could go on about so much more, like how integral Michael Phillip Wojewoda was as producer for some of their albums, how incredibly GENEROUS of a band they are for their fans (you showed a couple clips here but I highly encourage people to watch the "bathroom sessions" -- a ridiculous number of acoustic versions of their songs Ed uploaded to youtube over a decade before other artists would do the same at a much lesser extent during quarantine), or how they have some terrific unofficial tracks people should try and dig up like Moonstone or Lilac Girl (only rough recordings exist like from a live album or an early demo tape, but still really worth listening to imo), but this comment is already way longer than I planned it to be. So I'll just say that despite being a longtime fan, I'd kinda fallen off BNL for a while, but finding this video on your channel after the algorithm fed me your Japanese music one has rekindled that old scorched love. That's pretty cool, thank you
You should listen to “Detour de Force” there latest album it’s going to have you fall in love with them again! I have been a huge fan for a long time and feel this one they are having fun enjoying playing together and the album reflects that IMO. I love all but one of their songs. LOL 😊
They have a new album coming out in September. They are on tour right now and playing a very mixed set list expanding over BNL time. I am so excited thinking I will see them July 19th!
@@frankhildebrand6131 Detour de Force is a solid album and In Flight is a great follow up. My only thing is I probably would have gone with "One Night" as the leadoff single and then follow up with "Lovin' Life" or "Too Old"
love so many of the unofficial tracks
their version of McDonalds Girl is the only version of that song I can stand (and because it's bnl I love it)
and Ed did a song called Satellite in the bathroom sessions which the original is unlistenable in comparison for me (like going back to Dylan after you've heard Hendrix's version of a Dylan song)
I grew up with BNL on in my house here in the states, so much so when I was 5, 6, and 7 we went to three of their cruises, named Ships & Dip. The third cruise included Steven Page's final show with the band (before 2018).
Not Canadian, but I grew up with them. Still one of my favorites
HELL YEAH
I had everything for everyone in my car as the only cd for years , always got people in a fun mood
Agreed with starting a new fan off with Rock Spectacle. Then it’s like a choose your own adventure, if they want more serious songs then I’ll recommend Maybe You Should Drive - if they want a solid pop/rock sound I’ll say Stunt, and once they’re full on fans they’ll LOVE Maroon.
Brian Wilson is such a fun song to play - at the end with the pick up speed
@9:30 that was the song the wrote with Stephen Duffy "Jane"
"Jane" wasn't the only song Stephen Duffy contributed to...but is a great example of the Page/Duffy songwriting partnership from the BNL days.
The Rock Spectacle version of Brian Wilson get's me going everytime
I have seen BNL live 3 times now and they always Blow Me Away With how clean and impressive there live performances are, will always be my favorite band.
I'm glad someone has an appreciation for BNL as much as I do. My favorite album is Gordon.
Dammit I thought I was the only with this idea. In all seriousness, amazing vid! Amazing how you touched perfectly on Brian Wilson and Steven’s writing, it’s my favorite BNL song of all time and not many people talk about it’s lyrics.
As a gigantic barenaked ladies fan, you hit the nail on the head. But the two things that I think you got the *most right* are Rock Spectacle being a good starting album - that was my first album of theirs, and yeah. Look where that’s gotten me, I’m working on a video ranking all their songs. And secondly, using Straw Hat and Dirty Old Hank as the demonstration of why the album stands on its own, despite being a live album, and Steven’s range. I constantly go back and forth fighting between whether I like the studio version of the song better - I prefer the violins to the accordion - or the live version, because Steve’s vocals there make the narrative of the song even more frightening.
And ending with that bit from Tonight Is The Night I Fell Asleep at the Wheel? Well played man, I can tell that you care a lot about this band, which is always just. So refreshing in our One Week, Pinch Me, and Another Postcard dominated climate 😭
Great band. I remember them from the beginning on speaker's corner from Toronto in the '80s.
When I was a child, my mom had the CD of Stunt in the car, which I listened to constantly and loved. When I was 10, my first concert was the Barenaked Ladies. As I got older, I kind of moved on. Now I'm about to turn 30 and I've been trying to rediscover the things I love in the past as it gets harder and harder to enjoy anything anymore. I've always felt this band was massively underrated, and I still think Stunt is underrated among their fans. Your excellent analysis highlights the very adult themes of depression and social issues they address that perhaps went over my head as a child. Your videos have the quality of a much bigger channel, which I can only conclude means that you will soon be much bigger! Thanks for the work you put into making this video, because of you I'm re-listening to Rock Spectacle this morning and tearing up a bit, honestly. I also love your video on Japanese music and I hope you'll continue to find success and make more videos like these.
It’s great to hear someone praise the band on all their talent. Excellent work!
Steve and Ed are my idols. I’ve said this for a few years now. My 3rd favourite band behind Van Halen and The Beatles all for reasons you point out. BUT you put perspective on some lyrics that in literal decades I’ve never been able to decipher. I love that and thank you!
This video was made for me and I am happy you made. You encapsulated why people should of listen to them at the height of the popularity and why they are/were so great.
I think I was 11 or 12 when I first heard 'One Week' on TV. Stunt was one of the first albums I ever bought and boy did that CD get played on loop. Remember 'anti-skip' cd players? What a time. Love the videos btw. Easy Intro to Japanese Music was dope.
Wonderful video! Thank you. They're definitely an underappreciated band.
They're just Lovin' Life
11:58 yes! me too. I always go back to this live album's version of What a Good Boy as my favorite recording of the track
I heard them from a college friend in 1996, and I was hooked. I bought all their albums up to that point and found a treasure trove of such great songs! Plus, so many instruments, great harmonies, and an upright bass! They were fearless in the pop/rock genre in their writing and arranging.
I'm with you, that there are gems in every single album, but no album without fat that could've been cut. A single playlist with their best stuff would really show how formidable they are though.
this video is incredible, if i were to have the skill of making one, it would likely be 1:1 with this. conventioneers is one of my all time favorite songs and BNL are a fantastic band!
I love BNL. I think Maybe You Should Drive is my favourite album, but I have must listen to songs from all their albums.
I was in Grade 9 when I first heard Gordon. It would be played in Art class for us, among other cds and bands.
Ink that particular song was written for my age when it came out. I literally had many of the items described in the song when I was in grade nine.
Awesome video, although I definitely disagree when you say they don't have one perfect album. Gordon is flawless through and through lmao
I haven't tried Gordon yet, but Stunt is perfect in my opinion!
Gordon IS a perfect album and hearing them live in a small club during their first US tour confirmed that for me.
Gordon is one of my favorite albums of all time
you got me at digimon the movie, damn i love this movie and it shaped my taste in music
Wow. Your videos are really high-quality. You deserve way more views and likes.
thankyou for this. i grew up on the Barenaked Ladies as a Canadian teen in the 90s. they were very big here, even way up in the north of BC. their music is fun and the vocals are so unique
So, I'm an old guy. 67 at the time of this writing. Back then, I was a bit too old to be a groupie, but that's kinda where my heart was. They brought out the boy in me. I was listening to BNL from the days when they were hanging around CFNY and busking around town, appearing occasionally on City-TV and I was working in a photo finishing store back when that was a thing. That was when you could call the radio station and hang out with the DJs. This is a great review and a nice introduction for anyone who might have missed them, or as you say, mistook them for a joke which is actually quite easy to do. But I knew how great they were from the first time I heard them. It wasn't a question in my mind if they were destined for success, but when they would hit and become household names. Despite my premonitions, I don't think it really worked out quite that way. I showed up at the Scarborough Town Centre the day the band first got signed. There was a big release party open to the public. I had already escaped the Big Smoke by that time and headed for the wilds of Eastern Ontario, but it was worth the trip back into town to cheer them on and show my appreciation. That's when it hit me. I got 20+ years on their average fan. Made me feel old beyond my years. Grandpa Fan. So I sighed, and went home. But I waited with great anticipation for the first studio album. When it finally came, it was quite a disappointment in my mind. Gone was the raw energy that made the band so unique. It just fell flat for me. With each "hit" that made its way to my exiled existence in the country, I felt much the same. Good, competent, charming even, but not great. Not as good as they could be. Not as good as they actually were. Mostly I found they were just wildly overproduced. If you really want to hear the genius of the band, there is a perfect studio album, but it comes from before they signed to a record label. It's known as The Yellow Tape. Check it out. th-cam.com/video/ZOpgd3Jj-bo/w-d-xo.html
There's not many albums I can listen to front to back without skipping at least one track. Bare Naked Ladies All Their Greatest Hits: Disc One 1991-2001 is amazing front to back. Sure it's a compilation album, but still.
Hey I just wanted to say I really like this kind of stuff! I've always been fascinated by music and music history but I'd need to go to college to learn anything about it :(
Just don't have the money, so thanks for filling me in on music culture!
Love the vid!! Found you through your anime music video, I knew you had good taste. Highly recommend Steven’s recent solo stuff. Heal thyself part 1 has I think some of his best songwriting and is an excellently crafted album. Bit biased myself hahaha
Thanks, I agree. His recent 2 haven't stuck with me as much but Heal Thyself Pt: 1 is great and I like Page One a lot too
Never agreed so much with one video in my life 😂 one of the greatest bands of all time…super talented, super versatile, amazing chemistry…and the most important factor to any legendary act…UNIQUE ❤️
Great video. Been binging them prior to this, just solidified the decision. Love to see them collab one more time.
Great video, ❤
Re: the farmer mentioned at 06:12, the song "Straw Hat and Old Dirty Hank" is about a real-life stalker that Canadian singer Anne Murray had to deal with in the 1970s and early 1980s. He was a wheat farmer from Saskatchewan.
I just wrote about how much the album Gordon became a part of my soul 32 years ago when no one else was sure why I was listening to them at all to now when I somehow love them even more.
Rock Spectacle is a good starting point for introducing someone to the five-piece BNL days. Good representation of the band live. Or hunt down any number of the live concert recordings from the "Everything To Everyone" tour. But for studio...Disc One: All Their Greatest Hits is a good "gateway" to old-school BNL. (Which will give you non-album faves like "Lovers In A Dangerous Time", "Get In Line" (from "King Of The Hill"), the unreleased Ed-lead "Thanks, That Was Fun", and a witty tongue-in-cheek unreleased tune, "It's Only Me (The Wizard Of Magicland)"...(which I believe might have been one of the aforementioned "naked" tracks...) I will also second another comment here about the Steven Page "Live From Home" Zoom concerts. Those shows are a great mix of the old BNL days and what Steven has gone on to do since his departure. Tons of fun at every show.
We have a band like this here in Brasil. Its called Ultraje a Rigor.
Went to the Juno's during their HOF induction just to hear them play together again. Love them
Barenaked Ladies truly are one of the bands of all time.
My favourite album was always The Yellow Tape. I felt it captured the raw energy from the concerts in the early 90's.
Of course they are! The first time I heard One Week I loved it so much
I agree, they're all just outstanding artist. Now, can we get them all back together to the betterment of everyone?
My submission for the best of all time. Of anything maybe.
I was 18-19 years old when “Gordon” released in 1992 and that record was everything to me at the time. I’ve been a massive fan ever since. As you pointed out, they are SO MUCH more than “One Week”. Also, for what it’s worth, let’s not forget that, not long before Steven Page’s unfortunate departure from the band, Paul McCartney, when asked what current bands he liked, was quoted as saying, “The Barenaked Ladies have to be my favorite. Their harmonies are right on. They could outsing us any day of the week. I don't think John and myself ever had the sort'of range they do." McCartney added he wouldn't mind cutting an album with the band. That’s pretty high praise.
One lyrical thing I love is in Jane. The first verse has “Was dazzled by her smile while I shopped there” while the final verse has “Still dazzled by her smile while I shoplift there”.
"Pinch Me", "Testing 1, 2, 3", "Some Fantastic", "Call and Answer", "Matter of Time", "Falling for the first Time", "New Disaster"
BNL are the masters of songs that are catchy and poppy, but have this undercurrent of melancholy with a performatively cavalier attitude toward ones own sadness that no other band can replicate. Like any band that has as many albums as the do there are a lot of ups and downs in their discography, but their ups are enduring and I'll never get tired of them. And to this day each album they drop has at least 1 song that I really love and really touches me in a way no other band does.
Their live live show is excellent.
They ARE , not "were" great. Not EVERYONE thought they were a joke either- I was impressed from the first listen. Only gripe is the song live- I saw them and they played a cover by Queen and some nonsense fill in about the event but almost none of my top 20 songs by them,
I got the album Gordon when I was 11. The singles from that album hit when I graduated high school. Perfect example of cream rising.
I've come to love BNL. I thought they were just a comedic band with nothing worthwhile bc of the memes. But after actually hearing their stuff, they have so much banger music I don't get sick of hearing them. Definitely one of my favorite bands ever.
They are the best. I had an obscure cassette in '89ish with alternate lyrics to $1M. I wish I still had it, it was completely different lyrics to the treehouse verse.
Listening to BNL for 10 minutes: haha chickey china
Listening to BNL for 20 minutes: damn this is a lot of songs about suicide
Love them, What a good boy is my favorite
I always say you cant judge barenaked ladies till youve heard canada dry
Gordon is a crazy strong debut for a bunch of kids in their early 20s. It’s goofy and wise beyond their years at the same time. Born On A Pirate Ship is a close second.
Great overview. You defined some things about them I struggled to put into words. I was and still am a huge fan of their Page era. I saw them literally countless times on every tour from Stunt to E2E. I tried so hard to like them since Page left and I just... don't. :-\ I'm off to listen to Rock Spectac now.
The Love We're In was our first dance wedding song.
Barenaked Ladies have some of the best concerts. Their first album their concert was like 3 hours long because they spent half the concert doing improv, covers, making up stuff, it was great.
would you be down to make a video about latinoamerican rock?
What I've said to others is that I currently don't know enough about it for a thorough full video on multiple artists. But for now, some sort of video about Seru Giran is on the shortlist for the next 7-ish probable videos.
@@ShoesInTheDryer dude i love your vids. this type of semi long format type of videos (30-40 mins or so) are exaclty my vibe. Suggestions on latinoamerican rock artist, well it all comes down to argentinian rock for most of the part, spinetta (and all the bands he was in), charly garcia (and all the bands he was in again lol), fito paez, soda estereo andres calamaro. Of course theres stuff outside of argentina ,in mexico the artist that stands out the most id say is cafe tacvba, but theres also caifanes, el tri, molotov. Peru has this band called los saicos, which has been labeled as the first punk band ever. The only band in uruguay that really stands out to me is el cuarteto de nos. Chile has some really big names as well like los prisoneros, Los bunkers and los tres. Thtas all i that i remember, but let me tell ya its much more than only these names, latinoamreican music in general is a whole new world of music that takes time to investigate, so just take your time getting in to this music world and if you do a video about it might be cool. I love the way you make your videos and a video with your style about this would be amazing
@@joakobm60 Thanks I'll check some out
I had (well, still have) the original Yellow Tape, here in Western New York.
Always wished "McDonald's Girl" was on one of their albums.
I'm glad I'm not the only one out here saying this.
Not only one if best Canadian bands of all time but one of the best bands of all time
Great video!
Of course they are good. Any adult with ears can attest to that. As a child, I thought they were weirdos and their name made me blush, but as an adult I listen to and enjoy a lot of their songs. They have great hamornies, fun lyrics, and great accoustic guitar playing.
“snack time” is a fantastic children’s music album
King of Bedside Manor is my favourite from Gordon. Love BNL!
Great vid!! Thanks
Great video essay! Barenaked Ladies may not be the greatest band of all time, but they sure are the most interesting to listen to.
damn i want a vid like this about semisonic.
They were fantastic yes, even in 'One Week': "I have a tendency to wear my heart on my sleeve/I have a history of losing my shirt" I.E he loses his mind, later they change the back line to "take off his shirt" He's willingly causing the domestic arguments. It's probably the happiest sounding song about a toxic relationship ever written. "I'm the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral/Can't understand what I mean... Well you soon will."
They weren't the first band to do this sort of thing, obviously, but they were mine. I will always love their "happy songs about depression" as Page once described them.
I have always loved their songs. So many 'favorites'. War on Drugs blew me away the first time I heard it. Old Apartment and It's All Been Done probably my top 2. With all due respect to the current band members, I continue to pray that somehow, someday Steve returns and rejoins the band. 🙏🏼
American man discovers Canada (colourized)
F anyone who says they arent great, listen to any song on the albums and tell me any track isn't at least worth a listen ot two, my favorite is still grade 9, it still makes me chuckel with the RUSH and Led Zep references. It's like they were observing me in grade 9.
BNL are amazing live!
Barenaked Ladies are tied with Led Zeppelin for my favorite band. I don't know why people are surprised that their songs are awesome. Hell, even without Page, they're still going, and still making great music, though my favorites will always be I Know, Old Apartment, Be My Yoko Ono, Shoebox, actually there are too many to list.
love
This video as a candian raised on BNLmade no sense i was like "yeah they are a good band everyone thinks that" but I had no idea about how they were perceived outside of the great white north
what was that audio clip at the end of steven sustaining that note?
End of "Tonight is the Night I Fell Asleep at the Wheel"
I actually think Gordon is their best album full stop. Hit after hit after hit after hit. Hello City, If I Had $1000000, Be My Yoko Ono, Brian Wilson, Enid. All fantastic songs, but also the lesser played tracks on the album are solid. King of Bedside Manor is this eclectic fast paced comedy number that they all absolutely go nuts on, Box Set is this snazzy sort of love story that shows off not only Steve's song writing talents but the bands individual talents that unify into a great composition, and Crazy is the best showcase of Ed's ability as a performer and also has some of the best micro songwriting on the album, with lines like "I climb the walls of my mind just like climbing on a jungle gym" or "I don't need a rubber room but that might be nice"
It's just an all around solid time. Long, yes, but worth it.
I also need to gush about how good Enid is. That horn section. the drum skin rub sound that keeps coming up in the song. The lyrics. Especially that bit you mentioned at the end where Steve is singing the chorus, the Creeggans are doing harmonies about the things that they could do for Enid, and then Ed is just off to the races showing off his improv and rap abilities making up random shit he could do for Enid. It's just so well crafted and put together.
People just gravitate to the hits with this band, and that really make me sad.
Bands that are multi-talented often have a hard-time staying generally popular. People like stuff they're familiar with.
dude what, Stunt is 10/10
Hi, recently got into your content but I just want to say you sound exactly like another TH-camr I follow named Trey the Explainer except with a better mic. It's seriously uncanny.
Huh, I never looked up the lyrics. I always thought the line was, "The very fear that makes you want to dive" not "The very fear that makes you want to die." It doesn't change the meaning in context since the method of suicide in the song is jumping off a viaduct, but still.
BNL are legends they have so many great and poignant songs.
I also think them doing the big bang intro took away from their perception of being a great band. Their drummer alone is way more talented than he ever gets recognition for
That's wrong! They are still great!!!