Barenaked Ladies (band)
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
Barenaked Ladies: Not What You Think
"NEVER BEFORE HAS AN UNKNOWN BAND BEEN SO POPULAR (NOR A SUCCESSFUL BAND SO INVISABLE)."
This was the slogan for a film called Barenaked in America. The film - a rockumentary by genre - follwed a Canadian quintet for two weeks as they get used to the idea of having hits south of the boarder and as they go through the unexpected trial that came with the sudden success. This slogan fit the group perfectly because, at the time of the film's making (1998), you knew the song ("One Week" or, to some people, "the Chinese Chicken Song"), but I bet you didn't know who Barenaked Ladies were...
The Basics
Barenaked Ladies, in contrast to their name, are a group of five males (who are, generally, fully-clothed) hailing from suberbian Toronto. The group consists of: Steven Page1 (b: 6/22/70, Scarborough, Ontario. Co-lead vocal/guitar), Ed Robertson (b: 10/25/70, Scarborough, Ontario. Co-lead vocal/guitar), Tyler Stewart (b: 2/21/67, Newmarket, Ontario. Drums), Jim Creeggan (b: 2/12/70, Scarborough, Ontario. Bass), Andrew Creeggan (b: 7/4/71, Scarborough, Ontario. Keyboards2, Kevin Hearn (b: 7/3/69, Grimsby, Ontario. Keyboards/guitar)3
The History
The history of the group starts in 1988 when Page and Robertson formed a duo called Barenaked Ladies.4 Soon after, they were joined by the Brothers Creeggan5
and later, after seeing them perform at the annual Busker's Festival in Waterloo, Ontario, Stewart joined. Their first venture into the spotlight6 came in 1991. They were schedualed to play at a New Year's Eve concert in Toronto's Nathan Phillip's Square when the mayor at the time cancelled their performance because she said it was a family show and she found their name "degrating to women". Word got out across the country. At about the same time, Canada started to track indipendant releases. All across the country, people wanted to know who these guys were, so their five-track demo tape started to sell and soon, it became the first Indie to crack the charts in Canada. Soon after - stratically at Scarborough City Hall7 - they signed their first record deal.
In 1992, the Ladies released their first album Gordon. It showcased not only their ironic sence of humour8 but the powerful songwriting talents of Page and Robertson9. The album toped the Canadian charts and took home the top honours at the 1993 Juno Awards10. The Ladies also took home the award for best group that year.
The Ladies' popularity sored in their homeland that year, but soon it began to waine. Their 1994 release of Maybe You Should Drive saw the release of such fan favourites as Life, in a Nutshell and Alternative Girlfriend and also the debute of the songwriting duo of Page/Duffy11 on Jane, but the sales of the album didn't even come close to that of Gordon. In fact, in comparison, it was a flop.
When the Ladies released their third effort, Born on a Pirate Ship in 1996, the response was generally the same as for MYSD, except for one little thing. BOAPS saw the release of Old Apartment, the first Barenaked Ladies single to crack the US top 40.
From then on in, the group's progress in the charts in the US looked bright. 1996's live release, Rock Spectical did a satisfactory run on Billboard and soon after, thanks to pal Jason Prestly12, made their US television debute on Beverly Hills 90210.
Success finally came in 1998. Stunt, album number five, peeked at #3 and the single "One Week" topped Billboard. Stunt also brought them back to the top of the Canadian charts. The success of Stunt not only brought them back to the Juno podium, but also gained them a Grammy nomination. But much like any other success the Barenaked Ladies have incountered in their carrier, it came with a price. This time, it almost cost them their keyboardist, Hearn, who was diginosed with lukemia early that year. Because of this, he had to take a two-year hiatus from touring with the group. This period in the Ladies' life is documented in Barenaked in America.
The brings us up to the present day. Barenaked Ladies released their sixth album, Maroon, in late 2000. It peeked at #5 on Billboard and topped the Canadian charts. And for the first time in five years, the Ladies did a Canadian tour. As for Hearn, he made a full recovery and is now touring witht the group.
What Makes the Ladies So Darn Good
Barenaked Ladies, in my opinion, are one of the greatest talents to come out of Canada since the Guess Who. For one, their music is a sound that is a great alternative to the pop-y stuff coming out of boy and girl groups, the harsh hate preachings of the rappers and the hard metal coming everybody else. In reality, their sound is combination of pop/rock and alternative with a little bit of a folk thrown in for flavour. At times, it can be very relaxing. Second, their very tame image. Unlike what their name suggest, they aren't pornographic maniacs. On the other hand, looking at a picture of them from way back in 1992, four words come to mind: Revenge of the Nerds.
Two other very important aspects that make the Ladies so different is their very Canadian sence of humour and the way they use it in their wonderful stage show. It's evedient in songs like "If I Had $1,000,000" and "Be My Yoko Ono", but it's nothing compaired to what they do on stage! Whether it's Page singing opera or Creeggan playing nursery rhymes on his stand-up bass, they make the audience feel welcome and at home with them. Traditions at a live Ladies' show include a meadly of other people's hits13, one or improvised raps from Robertson14 and the ever-popular kiss between Page and Robertson15. Other than these few elements, the Ladies' stage show is unpredictable. If you ever get the chance to see these guys in concert16, don't turn it down!
In Conclusion
I expect that the world will be hearing much more from Barenaked Ladies in the future. They aren't finished yet...
For more information on this wonderful band, please visit these great sites!
www.bnlhome.com ~ The offical page
www.barenaked.net,www.barenakedbliss.com ~ two really great fan pages. Up-to-date news, bulletin boards and more.
NeverBefore... ~ the author's very own BNL shrine
www.brotherscreeggan.com ~ offical site of Andy and Jim Creeggan's little band
