"Call and Answer" is a song by Canadian group Barenaked Ladies, released as the third single from their 1998 album Stunt. The radio mix version, featuring a subtle EQ remix, skips certain sections and was included on the EdTV soundtrack. Written by Steven Page and Stephen Duffy, all vocals are performed by Page, highlighting his range through overlapping harmonies and a call-and-response chorus. Live performances feature backing vocals by Ed Robertson and Jim Creeggan. The song, about reconciling a difficult relationship, was also performed on CBC Radio as a tribute to Peter Gzowski and as a duet with Alanis Morissette in 2004.
Music video
The video for the song utilized the shorter, radio mix version, and involved the band living in a world of duplicates. All the houses look the same, all the cars are white Volkswagen New Beetles, and there are several "copies" of each band member. Notably, there are multiple Stevens that sing the multiple vocal lines he sings on the song. Steve is the main band member seen in the video, and the other band members are only in a few shots. Steve is paired with a female character in the video. It was shot in the Valencia section of Santa Clarita, California. A second version of the video includes scenes from the film EdTV. The video was an Easter egg on the install disc for Mac OS 9-9.2, along with the video for Static X's "Push It".
Personnel
- Steven Page – lead vocals
- Ed Robertson – acoustic and electric guitars, backing vocals
- Jim Creeggan – double bass, backing vocals
- Kevin Hearn – piano, synthesizer, backing vocals
- Tyler Stewart – drums, percussion
- Gay-Yee Westerhoff – cello
Charts
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
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References
"Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 8369." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 15, 2023. https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.8369&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.8369.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.8369 ↩
"Top RPM Singles: Issue 8373." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 15, 2023. https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.8373&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.8373.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.8373 ↩
"Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 15, 2023. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/19990724/41/ ↩
"Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 15, 2023. https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19990724/7501/ ↩
"Barenaked Ladies Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2023. https://www.billboard.com/artist/Barenaked-Ladies/chart-history/HBU ↩
"Barenaked Ladies Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2023. https://www.billboard.com/artist/Barenaked-Ladies/chart-history/ATF ↩
"RPM 1999 Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. December 13, 1999. Retrieved December 15, 2023 – via Library and Archives Canada. https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9952&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9952.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9952 ↩
"RPM 1999 Top 100 Adult Contemporary". RPM. December 13, 1999. Retrieved December 15, 2023 – via Library and Archives Canada. https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9964&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9964.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9964 ↩
"Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 1999". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. December 24, 1999. p. 47. ↩