Another Postcard

Album: Everything To Everyone (2003)
Charted: 82
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Barenaked Ladies marked their return from a two-year hiatus with this quirky reggae-rap tune about an onslaught of chimpanzee-themed postcards from a mysterious sender. In reality, there was only one postcard, and BNL singer Steven Page (who wrote the song with Ed Robertson) knew who it was from. He told the story in a 2013 Reddit AMA:

    "My kids had once received a postcard from Amsterdam from our former neighbors and it had a photo of two chimps on the front. I was dumbfounded as to what chimps had to do with Holland, and Ed and I started joking that perhaps it was a way to terrorize people - that perhaps there were chimp postcards from every destination in the world and they were being sent anonymously by some evil genius. We started fooling around with the song idea as a goof, and Kevin [Hearn, keyboardist] said we should turn it into a real song. So it's Kevin's fault."
  • This was the lead single from the band's sixth studio album, Everything To Everyone. Aside from reaching #82 on the Hot 100, it peaked at #14 on the Adult Alternative Airplay chart and #9 on the Adult Top 40.
  • This was used in the 2008 animated movie Space Chimps.
  • In the B-movie-style music video, directed by Phil Harder, Toronto is under attack by a giant chimpanzee that tears the city apart as the band quakes in fear on the streets below. The clip uses footage from the 1974 disaster film, Earthquake.

    Harder also directed the videos for "Get In Line," "Pinch Me," and "Too Little, Too Late," among others.

Comments: 3

  • Marissa from Akron, OhIs this really based on a true story? That's kind of awesome.
  • Zac from Grawn, MiI would have to agree, this song is so random it's funny. I also think Pinch Me is a good song by them, but it's not on here yet.
  • No_id_please from Hippy Town, Cohahahahha i love this song it makes me happy becuse its so funny and kinda clever and out of the box!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Steve Morse of Deep Purple

Steve Morse of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple's guitarist since 1994, Steve talks about writing songs with the band and how he puts his own spin on "Smoke On The Water."

Angelo Moore of Fishbone

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real Group

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real GroupSong Writing

The leader of the Modern A Cappella movement talks about the genre.

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music Scene

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music SceneSong Writing

With $50 and a glue stick, Bruce Pavitt created Sub Pop, a fanzine-turned-label that gave the world Nirvana and grunge. He explains how motivated individuals can shift culture.

Songs Discussed in Movies

Songs Discussed in MoviesSong Writing

Bridesmaids, Reservoir Dogs, Willy Wonka - just a few of the flicks where characters discuss specific songs, sometimes as a prelude to murder.

Christmas Songs

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.