Barenaked Ladies - Greatest Hits according to me Aug 24 '02    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet The Bottom Line These are the greatest singers...in da world! I am quite enthralled by the Barenaked Ladies. No one around me can understand it, but I say they just don't get it. The Barenaked Ladies are a group of fellows from Canada who are not only quite intelligent, they are humorous to boot! They don't take themselves too seriously, and that's a hard-to-find quality in a band in the year 2002. If I had to choose my favorite component of the Barenaked Ladies music, it would have to be the quirky lyrics. If you listen hard, you will absolutely realize that these guys are very well-versed, and not just silly. Matt (TheUnknown285) approached a few epinionators with the task of making our own "Greatest Hits" album from our favorite artist. We could only have between 10-25 songs on this, and the artist had to have put out at least two LP's. The hardest part of this task was whittling my favorites down to a respectable number! I will divide the songs by album, otherwise in no particular order. The Songs from Maybe You Should Drive Jane One of the band's very first hits, it is a sentimental favorite of all "old school" BNL fans. This song is a simple song of infatuation that showcases Steven Page's voice. It's simple, yet poignant. I made that last part up, it's just good. My favorite lyrics: I wrote a letter she should have got it yesterday That life could be better by being together is what I cannot explain to Jane The Songs from Gordon This album is a bit sentimental to me, as it is the first one I heard of the Barenaked Ladies. I think of it as their "true" sound, before they made it big in America with One Week. Brian Wilson You know this fellow, don't you? He's the dude from the Beach Boys (dad to Carnie and Wendy of Wilson Phillips) who supposedly got so depressed he spent a year in bed. This has become one of the cult hits of the Barenaked Ladies, and for good reason. Steven Page's voice is clear and strong here and the acoustics are just right, not overpowering. My Favorite Lyrics: And if you want to find me I'll be out in the sandbox, wondering where the hell all the love has gone. Playing my guitar and building castles in the sun, and singing "Fun, Fun, Fun." Be My Yoko Ono Upon first listen, it seems as though the Barenaked Ladies are making fun of poor Yoko. And perhaps they are, just a little. But, it is also a tribute, albeit tongue-in-cheek, to the devotion she and John Lennon had to one another. The lyrics in this song are what make it onto my greatest hits album. The beat is funky and makes you want to turn it up when the CD gets to this track, but nothing can compare to these lyrics! My Favorite Lyrics: I know that when I say this, I may be stepping on pins and needles; But I don't like all these people slagging her for breaking up the Beatles. (don't blame it on Yokey) If I Had a $1,000,000 This song got me hooked. I love Eminem and Ludacris, but this is a song I can listen to with my five-year-old in the car! One interesting fact: if you've ever been to a Barenaked Ladies concert, you will know that you are supposed to bring a box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese to throw up at the stage during this song. This song almost sounds like a folk song. I can picture people sitting around a campfire, strumming on the guitar singing this song together. Another cult favorite of true Barenaked Ladies fans. My Favorite Lyrics: If I had $1000000 We wouldn't have to walk to the store If I had $1000000 We'd take a limousine 'cause it costs more. If I had $1000000 We wouldn't have to eat Kraft Dinner But we would it Kraft Dinner, we'd just eat more... What a Good Boy This song is all about the expectations most of us face the minute we are born and which we spend the rest of our lives trying to live up to. It is slow and thoughtful, Steven Page's voice clear and strong. The accompanying acoustics are not overpowering on this song, and this is a perfect example of instrumental harmony. My Favorite Lyrics: This name is the hairshirt I wear and this hairshirt is woven from your brown hair. This song is the cross that I bear, bear it with me, bear it with me, be with me tonight. The Songs from Stunt This album represents the USA's "acceptance" of the Barenaked Ladies into mainstream music. The whole album appeals to me, with the exception of a few singles, but here are my favorites: One Week I know, I know...this one got overplayed. Heck, it's even on the new Nissan commercial. I can't help that, this song made Barenaked Ladies the phenom they are...or were last year. This song is quick jumpy, and I know every single word. And you know what? I can't ever keep up, not ever! So, I'm kind of wondering if perhaps Ed Williamson didn't have a little help speeding that sucker up in the studio. Anyway, the song is quirky and makes you want to get up and dance. I like it. My Favorite Lyrics: Watchin X-Files with no lights on, We’re dans la maison I hope the Smoking Man’s in this one Like Harrison Ford I’m getting Frantic Like Sting I’m Tantric Like Snickers, guaranteed to satisfy Call and Answer Steven Page's voice gives me shivers on this song. It doesn't help that I have a crush on him, but mainly it is because he is able to go so low and sexy and then so high again. His range is really incredible. The accompanying music is also perfect. I could fall asleep to this song; and I mean that in a good way. My Favorite Lyrics: I'm warning you, don't ever do those crazy messed up things you do. If you ever do, I promise you I'll be the first to crucify you it's time to prove that you came back here to rebuild I'll Be That Girl This song is about the most ultimate devotion of a man to a woman. I can't say that I completely understand it, as I've never been this doted on by Mr. Mom2Ty! The lyrics are clever and whimsical, but do have a dark undertone to them. Sounds like I'm contradicting myself? Listen to the song. My Favorite Lyrics: When you're done with being beautiful and young When that course is run, then come to me In the Car The prude in me was a little shocked the first time I heard this song. But then I thought about it and it's really just about his first sexual experience as a teen, and really, that's not so shocking, is it? The first chord you hear reminds me of Pulp Fiction for some reason. At any rate, the lyrics are good and the music works with it. My Favorite Lyrics: In the Car It was mostly mutual masturbation And though we spoke of penetration I'd have to wait for someone else to try it out The Songs from Maroon Pinch Me Ever been bored with life? Ever felt like you wanted to break free from monotony? Then you will love this song. It represents a new sound for the Ladies. It is a little more mellow, and they don't feel they have to do all of that jumping around to entertain us. The lyrics, still snappy, sound more grown up than some of their earlier works. My Favorite Lyrics: I could hide out under there I just made you say "underwear" I could leave but I'll just stay All my stuff's here anyway Go Home My reason for including this song is because it is one of Ty's favorites. And I'm always a little sentimental when men extoll the virtues of their women. This song is peppy and easy for a five-year old to learn so sing-alongs in the car are encouraged! My favorite lyrics: If you think of her as Joan of Arc She's burning for you, get your car out of park If you think of her as Catherine the Great Then you should be the horse to help her meet her fate If you need her, you should be there, Go Home Tonight is the Night I Fell Asleep at the Wheel Now, I'll admit this song is a little gruesome. OK, maybe a lot gruesome. But my kid loves it. Hey, maybe he's demented, I don't know. Could be the fact that we plan to include Stephen King in his next Good Night Story Line Up. I digress; this song starts out a bit sappy, sounding like a circus has come to town. But wait; it's sung from the point of view of the dead guy. Can't say that everyday. And my kindergartner knows what the word posthumous means. So there. My Favorite Lyrics: In all the confusion there's something serene I'm just a posthumous part of the scene Now I'm floating above looking in As the radio blares and wheels spin I can see my face slumped with a grin And you ... you're the last thing on my mind I know, I'm one sick puppy. Honestly, it was so difficult to narrow this down to just a few of my favorite songs. I tried to pick the grouping that I think epitomizes the Barenaked Ladies evolving sound, but with every word I write, I find one more that belongs here. This is one heck of a group, and if asked to be the producer, this is the greatest hits album I'd put together. Here are the rest of the participants, please stop by and see their Greatest Hits, too Cletta1201 Clum Copernicus Cripper Deaser26 Dedemw DrFaustus Donnie013 DXBari Ekidd911 Helga17 Jeff_wilder78 Jenb123 JennJoy Jeremy1456 KCFoxy Kristinafh Kuuleimomi Lambchops LatteChick Laura10801 Madtheory MattA75 Mefreakboy Mom2TyZick Monssfisch Netnut746 Paulyoungotti Pt-Paratroopa Shilmafone Speeddemon531 Tbthorn The_fly TheUnknown285 Vince006 Whitty Yogore

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