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{{short description|1992 single by Barenaked Ladies}}
{{Infobox Single <!-- See Misplaced Pages:WikiProject_Songs -->
| Name = If I Had $1000000 {{about|the Barenaked Ladies song|the film|If I Had a Million}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}
| Cover = If I Had 1000000.jpg
{{Infobox song
| Artist = ]
| from Album = ] | name = If I Had $1000000
| Released = ], ] | cover = If I Had 1000000 - BNL.jpg
| alt =
| Format = ], ], ], ]
| Recorded = 1992 | type = single
| Genre = ] | artist = ]
| Length = 4:27 | album = ]
| Label = ] | released = December 1992
| recorded = 1992
| Producer = ],<br />]
| studio =
| Chart position = <nowiki></nowiki>
| venue =
| Last single = "]"<br />(1992)
| genre = ]
| This single = "'''If I Had $1000000'''"<br />(1992)
| length = 4:27
| Next single = "]"<br />(1994)
| label = ]
| Misc = {{Extra chronology 2
| Last single = "]"<br />(1995) | writer = {{hlist|]|]}}
| producer = {{hlist|]|]}}
| This single = "'''If I Had $1000000'''"<br />(1996)
| prev_title = ]
| Next single = "]"<br />(1998)
| prev_year = 1992
}}
| next_title = ]
|}}
| next_year = 1994
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist =
| type =
| prev_title = ]
| prev_year = 1995
| title = If I Had $1000000
| year = 1996
| next_title = ]
| next_year = 1997
}}{{Extra album cover
| header = Alternative cover
| type = Single
| cover = If I Had 1000000.jpg
| border =
| alt =
| caption = 1996 cover
}}
}}


"'''If I Had $1000000'''" is a song by the ] musical group ]. It was written by ] and ]. It has become one of the band's best-known songs, and is a live show staple, despite never having been a true single and having no music video. In the band's '']'', Page recalls a ]-era interview in which band member ] cited this as his favourite song of theirs, which sparked a realization in Page that the song means so much to so many people, and has become a part of people's memories of a certain time in their lives. "'''If I Had $1000000'''" is a song by the ] musical group ] from their album '']''. Composed by founding members ] and ], the sing-along track has become one of the band's best-known songs, and is a live show staple, despite never having been a true single and without an accompanying music video. The song reached No. 13 in Canada and eventually charted in the United Kingdom and the United States, peaking also at No. 13 on the ] in 1996, as well as No. 37 on the US '']'' ] in 2000.

While hinting at romantic intentions, the lyrics offer very oddball ideas about eccentric purchases one would make with a million dollars, and the music and singing styles are a ] of many elements of the ] genre.

It has been parodied by the ] as "If I Had a Million Ducats," replacing the objects and banter with more medieval and renaissance references.


==History== ==History==
The song first appeared on the Barenaked Ladies first independently released tape titled '']''. The song subsequently appeared on their second and third tapes, '']'', and '']'', as well as their ] ] '']'', and their debut CD, '']'', which would go on to sell over a million copies in Canada, where the song remains very popular and well known. An edited version of the ''Gordon'' recording of the song later appeared as a bonus track on the ] edition of '']'' (this version was later released as a single), and a live version of it was featured on '']''. The ''Gordon'' version was then included on '']'', bringing the total album count for the song to 8. The song first appeared on one of the later versions of the band's first independent release, '']''. The song subsequently appeared on their second and third tapes, '']'', and '']'', as well as their 1991 ] '']''. In 1991, the song began getting lots of airplay on ] radio station ]. The song was then released on the band's debut album, '']'', which would go on to sell over a million copies in Canada. The song has remained very popular and well known since then. An edited version of the ''Gordon'' recording of the song later appeared as a bonus track on the UK edition of '']'' (this version was later released as a single), and a live version of it was featured on '']''. The ''Gordon'' version was then included on '']'', bringing the total album count for the song to eight.


The song gained popularity over the course of the band's early tours, before the release of Gordon. It became highly requested on radio stations in Canada following the release of Gordon. This prompted the band's label to release a one-track radio single of the song in 1992. In 1993, the song would be officially released as a commercial single in the UK. A second commercial single was released there in 1996. Another radio single containing the Gordon and Rock Spectacle versions of the song was released in North America later. Despite these releases, the song is often not considered a single, since it gained popularity before the release of a radio single, and it never had a music video (although stations such has ] and ] have occasionally aired a 1992 performance from ] as a video). "If I Had $1000000" gained popularity over the course of the band's early tours, before the release of their first album (''Gordon'') and became highly requested on radio stations in Canada following the release of ''Gordon''. This prompted the band's label to release a one-track radio single of the song in December 1992. In 1993, the song would be officially released as a commercial single in the UK; a second commercial single was released there in 1996. Another radio single containing the ''Gordon'' and ''Rock Spectacle'' versions of the song was released in North America later. Despite these releases, the song is often not considered a true single, since it gained popularity before the release of a radio single, and it never had a music video (although stations such has ] and ] have occasionally aired a 1992 performance from '']'' as a video).


The song is one of, if not ''the'' oldest written Barenaked Ladies song. In its earliest form, it was written while Page and Robertson were counsellors at a summer music camp as a simple improvised song. On the way home from camp, Robertson played the tune for the campers, randomly listing amusing things he would buy with a million dollars. Upon returning to camp, he brought the idea to Page, and the two fleshed out the song.<ref name="Distinguished Artists">{{cite video "If I Had $1000000" is one of the earliest-composed Barenaked Ladies songs. It was first conceived as a simple improvised song while Page and Robertson were counsellors at a summer music camp. On the way home from camp, Robertson played the tune for the campers, randomly listing amusing things he would buy with a million dollars. Upon returning to camp, he brought the idea to Page, and the two fleshed out the song.<ref name="Distinguished Artists">{{cite video| people = ] & ] (Interviewer/Host)| title = Distinguished Artists| medium = TV-series| publisher = Humber College School of Media Studies| location = Toronto, Canada| date = 2005 }}</ref> The song has become an icon of Canadian culture, reflecting sentiments on Canadians who wish to win a large ] prize. In 2005, the song's popularity to people of all ages caused it to be placed at {{thinspace|No.|2}} in the list of ], aired on ].
| people = ] & ] (Interviewer/Host)
| title = ]
| medium = TV-series
| publisher = Humber College School of Media Studies
| location = Toronto, Canada
| date = 2005 }}
</ref> The song has become an icon of Canadian culture, reflecting sentiments on Canadians who wish to win a large ] prize. In 2005, the song's popularity to people of all ages caused it to be placed at # 2 in the list of ], aired on ]. The song's title is sometimes written (unofficially) as "If I Had A Million Dollars," or "If I Had $1,000,000".


===Métis concert protest===
In the song, the protagonist suggests all the things he would buy for his sweetheart, were he a millionaire. Ed Robertson and Steven Page share the vocals: In the verses, it's a call-and-response vocal with Page responding to the lines Robertson starts; in the choruses, Robertson repeats the harmonized title line while Page responds to the line with further spending ideas (or just repeating the title line in the last chorus).
In 1993, it was reported that a group of ] planned to boycott and picket the Barenaked Ladies' concert in ] due to their objection to the "I would buy you a ], but not a real fur coat that's cruel" line in "If I Had $1000000". The group objected to the line because many northern Métis earned a living from ] and felt that the line painted them in an unfair light. In response, the band released a statement on the issue:


:''"We believe that everybody should be able to make their own ethical decision on how they feel about fur. Although the line in question was originally intended as a satire of knee-jerk reactions to such broad debates, we are aware of the complexities of the fur issue. We understand that fur has played a major role in our country's heritage and that it is still a vital facet of many people's livelihoods and traditions. All members of our band do eat meat and wear leather, however our personal choice is to draw the line at fur, especially as a statement of wealth."''<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Fur trapping controversy spurred by Ladies song|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RPM-IDX/IDX/90s/RPM-1993-01-23-OCR-Page-0010.pdf|magazine=]|date=January 23, 1993|access-date=February 1, 2024}}</ref>
After each of the first two choruses of the song, the vocals segue into free-form dialogues between Page and Robertson. Recognizing that spontaneity in these banters would be vital to the song, the band recorded a different take of this song each day during the recording of Gordon, and the best one was chosen for the album. In live performances, it is traditional for them to improvise entirely new dialogue at these points. Initially the subject tended to flow from the subject of the previous sung lyric, while with time this grew less common, and it now is more usual for one of the two to tell an amusing anecdote of some kind.


==Structure==
Some of the expenses listed in the song ironically mock the lavish and eccentric spending of pop star ] during the 1980s (exotic animals, the remains of the ] and a pet monkey).
While hinting at romantic intentions, the lyrics offer eccentric ideas about purchases one would make with a million dollars. The protagonist suggests all the things he would buy for his sweetheart were he a millionaire. Ed Robertson and Steven Page share the vocals: in the verses, it is a call-and-response vocal with Page responding to the lines Robertson starts; in the choruses, Robertson and the rest of the band repeat the harmonized title line while Page responds to the line with further spending ideas.


A trademark of the song developed early on: After each of the first two choruses of the song, the vocals break down into a free-form banter. On each of the song's first three indie cassette appearances (''Buck Naked'', the ''Pink Tape'' and the ''Yellow Tape''), the banter between Page and Robertson lasts only in the remainder of the bar after the last line of the chorus. On ''Buck Naked'', the second banter is followed by an instrumental interlude.
A line in the song inspired fans to begin throwing ] at the band during concerts. It initially began as a single box at a 1991 show at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto<ref name="Distinguished Artists"/>. It quickly grew by word-of-mouth, and the number of boxes being thrown rapidly increased. It became so bad that eventually hundreds of boxes were often thrown at shows, and many were not tossed lightly; and the band and their instruments were often the target of boxes thrown very hard. Especially unpleasant were open cheese packages, and even cooked pasta. The band began asking fans not to bring Kraft Dinner to shows, and set up bins in the lobbies of their shows to collect it for local ]s<ref name="Distinguished Artists"/>. Security at shows are still sometimes asked to check incoming concert-goers for boxes, though the practice has almost entirely subsided. The campaign spawned the fan slogan, "those in the know don't throw".


The dialogues became improvisational for Page and Robertson at live shows. When it came time to record ''Gordon'', recognizing that spontaneity in these banters would be vital to the song, the band chose to record a different take of this song each day, with the best one chosen for the album. In live performances, it became traditional for Page and Robertson to improvise entirely new dialogue at these points. Initially the subject tended to flow from the previous sung lyric (a fridge in a treefort after the first chorus, and Kraft Dinner after the second chorus); with time this grew less common, and evolved into one of the two lead singers telling an unrelated anecdote. Since Page's departure from the band in February 2009, keyboardist ] has filled his singing role in concert and all of the remaining band members have picked up some of the bantering with Robertson.
In the early 2000s, the song was used in television and radio advertising for a state ]. In 2002, it was featured in the episode "]" of '']''. The song was also featured in the end credits of ]'s 2006 film '']''. It was also featured on the soundtrack of the 2003 film '']''.


Some of the purchases are humorous references to the lavish spending of pop star ] during the 1980s, specifically exotic animals, (an attempt to purchase) the remains of the ] and a pet monkey. For an awards ceremony, Jackson bought ], his friend, a sparkling emerald green dress ('not real emeralds').
==List of potential purchases==
The following is a list of things the protagonist would buy for his sweetheart if he had $1000000 (from the ''Gordon'' version):
<!--NOTE: THIS IS NOT A LIST OF LYRICS, so please don't add things like "that's cruel", or "a nice Reliant automobile" -->
*A house
*Furniture for the house (such as a ] or an ])
*A ]
*A ]
*A little tiny ] to put in the tree fort, (containing pre-wrapped ]s in the ''Gordon'' version)
*A ] coat (because a real fur coat would be cruel)
*An exotic pet (such as a ] or ])
*The remains of ] (the "Elephant Man")
*A ] to drive to the store
*A lot more ] (and fancy ] - '']'' ketchup - to go with it, in the ''Gordon'' version)
*A fake green dress (because a real green dress would be cruel - this line is a direct reference to the line about the fur coat)
*Some art (a ] or a ])
*A ]
*"Your love"


The line "but not a real green dress that's cruel" was originally written as "with a tastefully rounded neck". Page incorrectly sang the "cruel" lyric in the studio as a joke, which Robertson found so funny that the rest of the band decided to leave it in the finished song.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1flpnm/we_are_the_band_barenaked_ladies_and_were_excited/cabgujs/ |title=Reddit: Barenaked Ladies AMA |website=Reddit |date=June 3, 2013 |access-date=November 28, 2017 |archive-date=March 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326234622/https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1flpnm/we_are_the_band_barenaked_ladies_and_were_excited/cabgujs/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Live changes==
Several live changes have been common in performances (besides various one-time ad libs). The above-mentioned banters, which change every performance, are usually far more lengthy than on the album. Due to the extensive banter, the song often ends up being the longest song in a concert.


===Kraft Dinner===
The reference to buying John Merrick's remains has varied for periods of time to include ] or ]. The latter can be heard on the Rock Spectacle album version, while the former is available on ''Live from the River Music Hall Vol. One'' (1998), an album featuring multiple artists recording songs live at ] radio in Haverhill, Massachusetts. This version of the song begins with a parody of Kenny Rogers's "The Gambler."
A line in the song inspired fans to begin throwing packages of ] at the band during concerts. The tradition began with a single box thrown onstage during a 1991 show at the ] in Toronto.<ref name="Distinguished Artists"/> It quickly grew by word-of-mouth, and the number of boxes being thrown rapidly increased. Eventually, hundreds of boxes would be thrown at a typical show, often targeting the band and their instruments. The packets of cheese powder included in the boxes sometimes burst open, resulting in a putrid odor when they were exposed to the heat of the stage lights, and some fans even threw cooked pasta. The band ultimately requested that their audiences end the tradition and instead donate the boxes to their local ]s, using bins set up in the venue lobby for this purpose.<ref name="Distinguished Artists"/>


==Legacy==
The third verse of the song has, since the early nineties, featured a different groove than the rest of the song, and since the mid-nineties, has become a sing-along, with the audience calling back the title line instead of Page. Both of these changes can also be heard of Rock Spectacle, and have been consistent since their inception.


The song became an ice cream flavour in May 2009 when the band partnered with American ice cream company ] to create "If I Had 1,000,000 Flavours". The confection consists of vanilla and chocolate ice cream, peanut butter cups, chocolate-coated toffee chunks, white chocolate chunks and chocolate-coated almonds. The band became the first Canadian band to receive their own ice cream flavour, following in the footsteps of other band-themed Ben & Jerry's flavours such as Cherry Garcia (]), One Sweet Whirled (]) and Phish Food (]). All royalties from the sale of "If I Had 1,000,000 Flavours" are donated to the ABC Canada Literacy Foundation, a Toronto-based organization that promotes reading to children at home.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2009/12/c2115.html|title=Big scoop: Barenaked Ladies join Ben & Jerry's to serve up its first-ever Canadian flavour |publisher=newswire.ca|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519045851/https://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2009/12/c2115.html|archivedate=May 19, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chartattack.com/news/69662/ice-cream-heals-bnl-wounds|title=Ice Cream Heals BNL Wounds|publisher=chartattack.com|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601190859/http://www.chartattack.com/news/69662/ice-cream-heals-bnl-wounds|archivedate=June 1, 2009}}</ref>
The intro to the song (before the first lyrics) has also occasionally (more-so in its early days) also been used for banter. It, in addition to the other banters, are often used in part to sing covers or parodies of songs (both their own and other artists') as well as ad libbed songs. They would also often talk about the intro's "hot guitar lick". An example of their banter which was comprised of singing other songs was the version of "$1000000" on Rock Spectacle, on which they sung an excerpt of their song "Grade 9."

At the end of the song, the band often extends the musical outro and allows Page to demonstrate his vocal ability by belting out an excerpt of a song (both their own songs and covers). In the past, this tended to lead into a medley of cover songs, but that has been retired since 2002. On the band's tour to support the album '']'', the song frequently ended on the lyric "If I had $1000000, some son-of-a-bitch would die", a parody of the ] song '']''.


==Track listings== ==Track listings==
Tracks for the two commercial UK singles: Tracks for the two commercial UK singles:
:'''1993'''
{| class="wikitable"
#"If I Had $1000000" – 4:27
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
#"Grade 9" (Live) – 3:07
! width="250" rowspan="1"| 1993
#"Crazy" – 4:06
! width="250" rowspan="1"| 1996

|-
:'''1996'''
|align="left"|
#"If I Had $1000000" - 4:27 #"If I Had $1000000" (UK edit) – 4:15
#"Grade 9" (Live) - 3:07 #"Trust Me" – 2:48
#"Shoe Box" (Radio Remix) – 3:09
#"Crazy" - 4:06

|align="left"|
==Personnel==
#"If I Had $1000000" (UK edit) - 4:15
* ] – co-lead vocal, acoustic guitar
#"Trust Me" - 2:48
* ] – co-lead vocal
#"Shoe Box" (Radio Remix) - 3:09
* ] – double bass, backing vocals
|-
* ] – piano, backing vocals
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
* ] – drums, choir
|}
* ] – ], choir
* Dave Allen – fiddle, choir
* Lewis Melville – ], choir
* The Suburban Tabernacle Choir:
** Arlene Bishop
** Blair Packham
** ]
** Dave Clark
** David Matheson
** Earl Stokes
** Erica Buss
** ]
** Gregor Beresford
** Janet Morassutti
** ]
** ]
** ]
** Jo-Anne Page
** ]
** Keith Nakonechny
** Martin Tielli
** Matthew DeMatteo
** Matthew Page
** ]
** Mike Barber
** ]
** ]
** ]
** Naida Creeggan
** Natalie Harbert
** Sally Lee
** Shelley Hines
** Steven Pitkin
** Tannis Slimmon
** Tim Vesely
** Veteran Warhorse


==Charts== ==Charts==
{| class="wikitable sortable" {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!align="center"|Chart (1992) !Chart (1992–2000)
!align="center"|Peak<br>position !Peak<br>position
|- |-
{{singlechart|Canadatopsingles|13|chartid=1825|rowheader=true|access-date=August 27, 2019}}
|]
|align="center"| 13
|- |-
{{singlechart|UKrock|13|date=19960727|rowheader=true|access-date=August 27, 2019}}
|-
{{singlechart|Billboardadultpopsongs|37|artist=Barenaked Ladies|rowheader=true|access-date=August 27, 2019}}
|} |}


==References== ==References==
{{reflist}} {{reflist}}



{{Barenaked Ladies}} {{Barenaked Ladies}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:If I Had 1000000}}
] ]
]
] ]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 01:09, 29 May 2024

1992 single by Barenaked Ladies This article is about the Barenaked Ladies song. For the film, see If I Had a Million.

"If I Had $1000000"
Single by Barenaked Ladies
from the album Gordon
ReleasedDecember 1992
Recorded1992
GenreFolk rock
Length4:27
LabelReprise
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Barenaked Ladies singles chronology
"Brian Wilson"
(1992) 		"If I Had $1000000"
(1992) 		"Jane"
(1994)
Shoe Box
(1995)
If I Had $1000000
(1996)
The Old Apartment
(1997)
Alternative cover
1996 cover

"If I Had $1000000" is a song by the Canadian musical group Barenaked Ladies from their album Gordon. Composed by founding members Steven Page and Ed Robertson, the sing-along track has become one of the band's best-known songs, and is a live show staple, despite never having been a true single and without an accompanying music video. The song reached No. 13 in Canada and eventually charted in the United Kingdom and the United States, peaking also at No. 13 on the UK Rock Chart in 1996, as well as No. 37 on the US Billboard Adult Top 40 in 2000.

History

The song first appeared on one of the later versions of the band's first independent release, Buck Naked. The song subsequently appeared on their second and third tapes, Barenaked Lunch, and The Yellow Tape, as well as their 1991 EP Variety Recordings. In 1991, the song began getting lots of airplay on Toronto radio station CFNY-FM. The song was then released on the band's debut album, Gordon, which would go on to sell over a million copies in Canada. The song has remained very popular and well known since then. An edited version of the Gordon recording of the song later appeared as a bonus track on the UK edition of Born on a Pirate Ship (this version was later released as a single), and a live version of it was featured on Rock Spectacle. The Gordon version was then included on Disc One: All Their Greatest Hits, bringing the total album count for the song to eight.

"If I Had $1000000" gained popularity over the course of the band's early tours, before the release of their first album (Gordon) and became highly requested on radio stations in Canada following the release of Gordon. This prompted the band's label to release a one-track radio single of the song in December 1992. In 1993, the song would be officially released as a commercial single in the UK; a second commercial single was released there in 1996. Another radio single containing the Gordon and Rock Spectacle versions of the song was released in North America later. Despite these releases, the song is often not considered a true single, since it gained popularity before the release of a radio single, and it never had a music video (although stations such has MuchMoreMusic and MuchMoreRetro have occasionally aired a 1992 performance from Intimate and Interactive as a video).

"If I Had $1000000" is one of the earliest-composed Barenaked Ladies songs. It was first conceived as a simple improvised song while Page and Robertson were counsellors at a summer music camp. On the way home from camp, Robertson played the tune for the campers, randomly listing amusing things he would buy with a million dollars. Upon returning to camp, he brought the idea to Page, and the two fleshed out the song. The song has become an icon of Canadian culture, reflecting sentiments on Canadians who wish to win a large lottery prize. In 2005, the song's popularity to people of all ages caused it to be placed at No. 2 in the list of Top 50 Essential Canadian Tracks, aired on CBC Radio.

Métis concert protest

In 1993, it was reported that a group of Métis planned to boycott and picket the Barenaked Ladies' concert in Yellowknife due to their objection to the "I would buy you a fur coat, but not a real fur coat that's cruel" line in "If I Had $1000000". The group objected to the line because many northern Métis earned a living from fur trapping and felt that the line painted them in an unfair light. In response, the band released a statement on the issue:

"We believe that everybody should be able to make their own ethical decision on how they feel about fur. Although the line in question was originally intended as a satire of knee-jerk reactions to such broad debates, we are aware of the complexities of the fur issue. We understand that fur has played a major role in our country's heritage and that it is still a vital facet of many people's livelihoods and traditions. All members of our band do eat meat and wear leather, however our personal choice is to draw the line at fur, especially as a statement of wealth."

Structure

While hinting at romantic intentions, the lyrics offer eccentric ideas about purchases one would make with a million dollars. The protagonist suggests all the things he would buy for his sweetheart were he a millionaire. Ed Robertson and Steven Page share the vocals: in the verses, it is a call-and-response vocal with Page responding to the lines Robertson starts; in the choruses, Robertson and the rest of the band repeat the harmonized title line while Page responds to the line with further spending ideas.

A trademark of the song developed early on: After each of the first two choruses of the song, the vocals break down into a free-form banter. On each of the song's first three indie cassette appearances (Buck Naked, the Pink Tape and the Yellow Tape), the banter between Page and Robertson lasts only in the remainder of the bar after the last line of the chorus. On Buck Naked, the second banter is followed by an instrumental interlude.

The dialogues became improvisational for Page and Robertson at live shows. When it came time to record Gordon, recognizing that spontaneity in these banters would be vital to the song, the band chose to record a different take of this song each day, with the best one chosen for the album. In live performances, it became traditional for Page and Robertson to improvise entirely new dialogue at these points. Initially the subject tended to flow from the previous sung lyric (a fridge in a treefort after the first chorus, and Kraft Dinner after the second chorus); with time this grew less common, and evolved into one of the two lead singers telling an unrelated anecdote. Since Page's departure from the band in February 2009, keyboardist Kevin Hearn has filled his singing role in concert and all of the remaining band members have picked up some of the bantering with Robertson.

Some of the purchases are humorous references to the lavish spending of pop star Michael Jackson during the 1980s, specifically exotic animals, (an attempt to purchase) the remains of the "Elephant Man" and a pet monkey. For an awards ceremony, Jackson bought Elizabeth Taylor, his friend, a sparkling emerald green dress ('not real emeralds').

The line "but not a real green dress that's cruel" was originally written as "with a tastefully rounded neck". Page incorrectly sang the "cruel" lyric in the studio as a joke, which Robertson found so funny that the rest of the band decided to leave it in the finished song.

Kraft Dinner

A line in the song inspired fans to begin throwing packages of Kraft Dinner at the band during concerts. The tradition began with a single box thrown onstage during a 1991 show at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto. It quickly grew by word-of-mouth, and the number of boxes being thrown rapidly increased. Eventually, hundreds of boxes would be thrown at a typical show, often targeting the band and their instruments. The packets of cheese powder included in the boxes sometimes burst open, resulting in a putrid odor when they were exposed to the heat of the stage lights, and some fans even threw cooked pasta. The band ultimately requested that their audiences end the tradition and instead donate the boxes to their local food banks, using bins set up in the venue lobby for this purpose.

Legacy

The song became an ice cream flavour in May 2009 when the band partnered with American ice cream company Ben & Jerry's to create "If I Had 1,000,000 Flavours". The confection consists of vanilla and chocolate ice cream, peanut butter cups, chocolate-coated toffee chunks, white chocolate chunks and chocolate-coated almonds. The band became the first Canadian band to receive their own ice cream flavour, following in the footsteps of other band-themed Ben & Jerry's flavours such as Cherry Garcia (Jerry Garcia), One Sweet Whirled (Dave Matthews Band) and Phish Food (Phish). All royalties from the sale of "If I Had 1,000,000 Flavours" are donated to the ABC Canada Literacy Foundation, a Toronto-based organization that promotes reading to children at home.

Track listings

Tracks for the two commercial UK singles:

1993
  1. "If I Had $1000000" – 4:27
  2. "Grade 9" (Live) – 3:07
  3. "Crazy" – 4:06
1996
  1. "If I Had $1000000" (UK edit) – 4:15
  2. "Trust Me" – 2:48
  3. "Shoe Box" (Radio Remix) – 3:09

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1992–2000) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM) 13
UK Rock & Metal (OCC) 13
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard) 37

References

  1. ^ Robertson, Ed & Frohman, Lorne (Interviewer/Host) (2005). Distinguished Artists (TV-series). Toronto, Canada: Humber College School of Media Studies.
  2. "Fur trapping controversy spurred by Ladies song" (PDF). RPM. January 23, 1993. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  3. "Reddit: Barenaked Ladies AMA". Reddit. June 3, 2013. Archived from the original on March 26, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  4. "Big scoop: Barenaked Ladies join Ben & Jerry's to serve up its first-ever Canadian flavour". newswire.ca. Archived from the original on May 19, 2009.
  5. "Ice Cream Heals BNL Wounds". chartattack.com. Archived from the original on June 1, 2009.
  6. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1825." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  7. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  8. "Barenaked Ladies Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
Barenaked Ladies
Studio albums
Live albums
EPs
Compilation albums
DVDs
Singles
Concert tours
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