Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies ( short BNL ) is a Canadian rock group from Toronto.
Which was founded in 1988 BNL were known except by their purely musical ability by their witty, ironic lyrics that are presented in part sprechgesang like. Especially in Canada and the U.S., they are very popular, the major breakthrough in Europe failed to materialize. Their most successful singles are Enid, Jane, If I Had $ 1000000, One Week, It's All Been Done and Pinch Me, the latter three, and in particular derived from them title track Big Bang Theory Theme of U.S. sitcom The Big Bang Theory made them also known in German-speaking countries. A significant part of their success owe the BNL their live performances, which are a mix of music and slapstick.
Band History
Foundation
The band was founded in 1988 by Ed Robertson (vocals, guitar) and Steven Page (vocals, guitar). Robertson was originally involved with his band Three Guys From Barrie for a band competition in his hometown of Toronto. Before this appearance, however, it came to a break of the band, and was called as Robertson, to confirm the presence, he said the band had in Barenaked Ladies (German splinter Naked Ladies ) renamed. Then he asked his friend Steven Page, whom he already knew from school if he wanted to attend with him this gig, Page agreed and the presentation was a success. Rumour has it that Robertson and Page should have come up with several names for a possible joint tape on a Bob Dylan concert, including Barenaked Ladies.
Together took Robertson and Page 1989 demo tape Buck Naked on. In the same year they met with the brothers Andy ( percussion, keyboards) and Jim Creeggan (bass, most bass), with whom she initially wanted to do only the appearance. In 1990, this quartet recorded another demo entitled Barenaked Lunch (also known as the Pink Tape) on. During a prolonged absence Andy Creeggans the BNL lacked a percussionist for some live performances. This role was filled by Tyler Stewart, the band met at a gig.
Published in 1991 BNL with the yellow tape the first independent album, the gold in Canada (more than 50,000 copies sold ) and later even platinum (over 100,000 sold ) received. Sales of the cassette went into the air after the BNL came into the media, as the former Mayor of Toronto June Rowlands considered the band's name for misogynistic and had forbidden an appearance.
By Bruce Cockburn title Lovers in a Dangerous Time, BNL landed in the same year her first Top 40 hit in Canada. The title was released on the Cockburn tribute album Kick at the Darkness.
Entry into the professional music business
The first professionally produced album the band released in 1992 on Reprise Records under the title of Gordon. It reached # 1 on the charts in Canada. The album contained the title of Brian Wilson, who is dedicated to the Beach Boy Brian Wilson, who coverte this title for a live album later. The success of the album was supported by the fact that a large proportion of the constituents it was already included on the three demo tapes of the band.
Following the release of their second album Maybe You Should Drive (1994 ), which was only a moderate success, the BNL went to the U.S. on tour. Except for an appearance in Conan O'Brien's late-night show, however, this was not successful for the band. 1995 Andy Creeggan left the band to pursue their own interests.
The album Born On A Pirate Ship was recorded by the remaining four members of the band and released in 1996. If this album BNL also not to break through in the U.S., but managed attention. On the one hand by the title Shoe Box, which was released on the soundtrack to the television series Friends, on the other hand by the title The Old Apartment, in his video Jason Priestley ( star of the television series Beverly Hills, 90210 ) directed.
In 1996, came Kevin Hearn ( keyboard, guitar ) to the initially supported the band only in live performance, so during the recording of the live album rock Spectacle. The album was the first success for the BNL in the U.S., it went gold and the single Brian Wilson was played by the U.S. radio stations.
International breakthrough
Final BNL were known in 1998 with the album Stunt or Single One Week in the USA. One Week debuted at number 1 on the Billboard charts. Although stunt was also released in Europe, but the success ( 20 in the UK charts ) is not comparable to that in the U.S. and Canada, this is due to the fact that the humor of the texts of BNL for Europeans is difficult or impossible is to be understood. One Week After the singles It's All Been Done and Call and Answer were to success in North America.
The 2000 released album Maroon, created in collaboration with the hit producer Don Was, who has already successfully with the Rolling Stones, the B -52's and Iggy Pop worked, achieved similar chart placements as stunt.
The album Everything to Everyone BNL was published in 2003 in the limited edition in combination with a DVD of the band playing live parts of the CD. It was the last release with Reprise Records, BNL have their contract not be renewed on its own in order to work more freely again can.
Was published in 2004 with Barenaked for the Holidays album with Christmas songs. The album was recorded in his own studio and Steven Pages published on the band's own label, Desperation Records. Efforts to publish the music of other artists on this label, there is not currently.
February 24, 2009 Steven Page announced that he is leaving the band to pursue solo projects. The rest of the band, however, further operate under the name Barenaked Ladies.
Publications (selection) and charts positions
The Barenaked Ladies are mainly successful in North America, in the German speaking countries ( Germany, Austria, Switzerland ) they have been able to place an album on the charts, only the title It's All Been Done managed in 1999 to number 77 in the German charts.
In addition to the recordings listed here, there are a variety of other, most of which are available only through the Internet.
Trivia and Curiosities
- In live performances of the BNL macaroni were thrown on stage regularly. The reason given for this "joke" with a line from the title If I Had $ 1000000, referred to in the so-called Kraft Dinner, also known as Macaroni and Cheese, to be sung. Meanwhile, it is forbidden to take with noodles to BNL concerts.
- In the song, Jane (written by Steven Page and Stephen Duffy ) from the album Maybe You Should Drive, BNL sing a Jane St. Clair. At Jane St. Clair, however, is not a woman, but a street intersection in Toronto, at the meeting the Jane Street and St. Clair Avenue. A glance at the map of Toronto Duffy should have the name so much that he chose it for this song.
- End of the nineties were, inter alia, Videos for the band included on the installation CD of Apple's Mac OS. 1997 ( MacOS 8 ) " The Old Apartment", 1998 ( MacOS 8.5 ) " One Week " 1999 ( Mac OS 9 ) " Call And Answer".
- The BNL have contributed 2006 for the mini- expansion pack of the game Family Fun Stuff The Sims 2 three of their songs (Easy, What A Letdown, and Wind It Up ) in the spoken language in the game ( " Simlish ").
- In the computer game NHL 2002, the members of the band are unlockable as a bonus player.