"Call and Answer" | ||||||||
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Single by Barenaked Ladies | ||||||||
from the album Stunt | ||||||||
Released | July 13, 1999 | |||||||
Format | CD | |||||||
Recorded | 1998 | |||||||
Genre | Alternative rock | |||||||
Length | 5:48 (Album) 4:09 (Radio Mix) |
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Label | Reprise | |||||||
Writer(s) | Steven Page, Stephen Duffy | |||||||
Producer(s) |
Barenaked Ladies, David Leonard, Susan Rogers |
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Barenaked Ladies singles chronology | ||||||||
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"Call and Answer" is a song by the Canadian group Barenaked Ladies. It was the third single from their highly successful 1998 album Stunt (the song "Alcohol" had been previously released to radio stations, but was not sold commercially as a single). When released as a single, the song was both remixed and edited into a radio mix which cut from the second verse to the third chorus, skipping a chorus, an instrumental break and the third verse. The remix was a slight adjustment of EQ and levels, and not a comprehensive remix involving adding or replacing musical elements. The song was also included on the soundtrack for the film, EdTV.
The song was written by Steven Page and his longtime collaborator, Stephen Duffy. All of the vocals in the song are performed by Page; this includes overlapping vocals, harmonies and octaves, and a call-and-response chorus. This, in addition to a long ad-lib outro makes the song a showcase of Page's vocal abilities. In live performances, the backing vocals were performed by bandmates Ed Robertson and Jim Creeggan. The song seems to be about the reconciliation of a tumultuous relationship.
The song was performed on CBC Radio as a tribute to Peter Gzowski on his death in 2002. It was also performed as a duet with Alanis Morissette in 2004 during the co-headlining Au Naturale Tour.
"Call and Answer" was the last song Page performed as a member of Barenaked Ladies, on February 5, 2009. He announced his departure from the band two weeks later.
The video for the song used the 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 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.
The video was shot in the Valencia section of Santa Clarita, California. A second version of the video includes scene from the television show EdTV.