Photo: PeterJ1977, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Establishing oneself in the music industry demands much effort and quality. And if that is not enough, you can also take the Barenaked Ladies’ approach and have your brand’s name draw some attention for you. Our top 10 Barenaked Ladies introduces us to a Canadian rock band formed in Scarborough back in 1988. As funny as their name might seem, Barenaked Ladies developed a genuine following thanks to the music they released. One of their most significant achievement is having their self-titled 1991 cassette become the first independent release to be certified gold in their nation.
The rock band achieved mainstream success in Canada following the release of their 1992 debut album, Gordon, which featured a diverse catalog of ballads. Having conquered the battle to entertain the masses in Canada, Barenaked Ladies were destined for more, having their brand’s fame spread to the United States. Here are the top 10 songs by the Barenaked Ladies rock band.
# 10 – The Old Apartment
Introducing us to the top 10 Barenaked Ladies songs is their song “The Old Apartment,” which was the band’s first international trending ballad. All credit to this song that the band gained quite a following among many Americans. What followed later was the band’s first entry on the Mainstream Top 40 and Billboard Hot 100 music charts. According to Steven Page, the lead artist and electric guitarist in the song “The Old Apartment,” was partly inspired by The Smiths’ “Back to the Old House.” With Barenaked Ladies accepted warmly by the American market, the band was destined for even greater success.
# 9 – Be My Yoko Ono
Written by Steven Page and Ed Robertson, the song “Be My Yoko Ono” was released by the band on their 1989 first demo tape, Buck Naked. A second version of the song would later follow in their 1990 demo, Barenaked Lunch. Their second version featured Jim Creegan and Andy Creegan on the bass and congas, respectively. The narrator in this jam explains that he would be willing to give up everything to be with the person he treasures and loves. He goes forward to compare the love between Yoko Ono and John Lennon. Probably not a bad way to express your love for somebody for those who always seek to know how deep your love for them is.
# 8 – Lovers in a Dangerous Time
Very few covers can perform as well as “Lovers in a Dangerous Time” by Barenaked Ladies did. Originally written and recorded by Bruce Cockburn, a Canadian singer and songwriter, the Barenaked Ladies rock band covered the song on their 1991 album Kick at the Darkness for Cockburn’s tribute. The Barenaked Ladies made quite a record with the song, as it was their first proper music video. And there was no better place to shoot the music video than back in their hometown, Scarborough. The song would later surpass the original version, becoming a hit on the music charts. Bruce Cockburn and Barenaked Ladies would later perform the song together many times on stage.
# 7 – It’s All Been Done
Released on their 1998 album Stunt, “It’s All Been Done” became one of the most successful songs by the Barenaked Ladies, reaching its peak at number one on the RPM Top Singles Chart. The song also became the band’s highest-charting ballad in Canada despite not having a great reception on the international level. With the song’s theme being love, “It’s All Been Done” reviews the story of a couple who met before the fall of Rome. Sadly, it wasn’t meant to be, with them having a date that went wrong, not having the lady get bored. Despite making love, they split up, leaving the man to wonder if he would ever meet the lady again.
# 6 – Brian Wilson
Tributes and covers never get better than with the Barenaked Ladies rock band. Featured in their 1992 album, Gordon is the song “Brian Wilson,” a tribute to The Beach Boys’ cofounder, Brian Wilson. Lead artist Steven Page wrote the music due to his admiration of Brian Wilson as a visionary and songwriter, with The Beach Boys being a significant inspiration in his musical journey. Bruce Wilson actually loved the song, having him visit the band in the studio and surprise them with his version, which they were amazed by.
# 5 – Big Bang Theory
Once you hear the starting line of the song, you always know that an episode of “The Big Bang Theory” is coming next. Owing to their success, Barenaked Ladies were tasked with creating and recording the song specifically for the show. And there was nothing better than having the band called again to the megahit series to compose an acoustic version of the song for the final episode of the show. Quite a fat cheque for the band and a pat back for their excellent composing skills, we can all agree.
# 4 – Odds Are
Proving to be resilient in the face of the dynamic and ever-evolving world of music, Barenaked Ladies have endured strong decades since their debut, releasing hit song after hit song. The best way to explain this is by their song “Odds Are” from their 2013 album Grinning Streak. Released as a promotional single, “Odds Are” serves as the theme song for the TV show Working the Engels. Thanks to the lyrical prowess of songwriters and band members Ed Robertson and Kevin Griffin. The final touch of award-winning producer Gavin Brown could not have been better than in this song, which rose high in the Adult Contemporary charts.
# 3 – Pinch Me
Coming in at number three is “Pinch Me,” a song from Barenaked Ladies’ 2000 album Maroon. Written by Steven Page and Ed Robertson, the song was one of the band’s most notable hits, having made significant strides in the music charts. The song was written following the international success of their album Stunt, but with a low reception in their homeland. You ought to love Ed Robertson as the lead artist in this song, having him unlock the great potential that the band had in store for us. Steven Page’s fans can smoke out the sweet backing vocals he throws in the song “Pinch Me.”
# 2 – If I Had a $1000000
What would you do with a million dollars? This may not be enough for all your fantasy needs. However, if you practically have no idea, you can turn to Barenaked Ladies for some. Composed by Steven Page and Ed Robertson, the song is one of the most popular ballads coming from their album Gordon. The song hints at romantic intentions, with its lyrics offering some peculiar ideas on how one would spend a million dollars. You ought to love the turn-taking that happens in between the band members in the call-and-response song that received one of the best receptions ever for the Barenaked Ladies.
# 1 – One Week
Coming in at number one is Barenaked Ladies’ most popular song, “One Week,” from their 1998 album Stunt. Written by Ed Robertson, the song is nothing but the best of what the Barenaked Ladies have offered the world. Statistics show it best, with the song reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and remaining in the top spot for a week. The song was written with the concept of a fight between a man and a woman, where the central character, the man, knows he is wrong but tries to save face.
Updated November 10, 2025
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