Simple Plan
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- For the 1993 novel and 1998 film, see A Simple Plan
Simple Plan is an punk pop band that formed in 1999 in Montreal, Canada (all five members were born in and grew up in the province). The band has released two original albums: No Pads, No Helmets... Just Balls (2002), Still Not Getting Any (2004), as well as two live CDs Live in Japan (2002) and MTV Hard Rock Live (2005)
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History
Simple Plan came about in stages that began with the founding of the band Reset in 1995, a Canadian punk band, by high-school friends Pierre Bouvier, Charles-Andre (Chuck) Comeau and Adrien White. Reset toured around Canada with bands such as MxPx, Ten Foot Pole, and Face to Face, but only managed to gain modest popularity. The debut album was released in 1997. Comeau soon left to go to college, but two years later he hooked up with Jean-Francois (Jeff) Stinco and Sébastien Lefebvre, and again started making music. It was coincidence that brought Comeau and Bouvier back together at a Sugar Ray concert in late 1999, and Bouvier soon left Reset and joined his old friends. David Desrosiers replaced Bouvier in Reset, but when asked to join the foursome, he too left the band and joined the four friends.
The origin of the band's name is obscure. Band members have given various responses on this point, including a liking for the movie A Simple Plan; that the band was their simple plan to avoid getting a "real" job; and that the name was only intended to be temporary, but they never thought of anything better.
The band tours intensively, and in the period March 2005-March 2006, covered all six inhabited continents, plus Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines and New Zealand. It has announced plans for a third original CD, to be released most likely in the fall of 2006.
Mark Hoppus of blink-182 and Joel Madden of Good Charlotte each can be heard singing briefly on No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls.
Criticisms
Although Simple Plan maintains a devoted following and has produced two multiplatinum records with numerous hit singles, it remains one of the most criticized rock groups of recent times. Some followers of the punk movement, as well as some fans of "true" pop punk, are especially hostile towards the band as they see them as co-opting their culture. Moreover, the juvenile subject matter of their work prompts further accusations due to the fact that its members are in their mid-twenties. Some identify Simple Plan as evidence of the shameless corporatization of rock and roll music in the relentless efforts of record companies to exploit every possible commercial demographic. Nevertheless, the members of Simple Plan have stated quite clearly that they enjoy the backlash of critics, as they believe in the old adage, "all publicity is good publicity," and they will never stop doing what they love.[1] In addition, the group continues to enjoy considerable mainstream success, as evidence by the aforementioned record sales.
Patrick's appearances
Patrick (Pat) Langlois (Cunningham), the band's webmaster, videographer, merch guy, and best friend, has appeared in every Simple Plan video to date except that for "Crazy." His appearances are often painful: He was kicked in the crotch in "I'd Do Anything", had a bowling ball dropped on him and his apartment destroyed in "Addicted", and was knocked down by the band in "Don't Wanna Think About You." He is also seen giving a thumbs up in "Perfect", as a valet in "Shut Up", in the crowd in the gym in "I'm Just a Kid", getting out of a car in "Welcome To My Life", and as an emergency services worker in "Untitled (How Could This Happen To Me?)" - (In the video for "Untitled" David, Chuck, Seb & Jeff also play emergency service workers, and only Pierre appears to be in the video unless you are familiar with the band members' faces.)
Discography
Studio albums
- No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls (2002) #35 US [2x Platinum], #29 AUS, #8 CAN [4x Platinum], #1 JP (2x Platinum)
- Still Not Getting Any... (2004) #3 US [Platinum], #6 AUS [2x Platinum], #1 CAN [3x Platinum], #6 JP [Platinum], France #12
Live albums
- Live in Japan 2002 (EP) (Japanese Import) (2002)
- MTV: Hard Rock Live (CD/DVD) (2005)
Singles
From No Pads, No Helmets... Just Balls.
- "I'm Just a Kid" (2001)
- "I'd Do Anything" (2002) #51 US
- "Addicted" (2003) #45 US, #63 UK, #10 AUS (2004 release)
- "Perfect" (2004) #24 US, #6 AUS (2004 release)
From Still Not Getting Any...
- "Welcome To My Life" (2004) #40 US,#7 AUS,#1 CAN, #1 SP, #12 France
- "Shut Up!" (2004) #99 US,#14 AUS, #12 CAN, #14 SP
- " Untitled (How Could This Happen to Me)" (2005) #49 US,#9 AUS,#3 CAN, #2 SP
- "Crazy" (2005) #32 AUS,#4 CAN
- "Perfect World" (2006) (iTunes Single, but not released as a CD single)
Soundtracks
- Maybe It's Me — "I'd Do Anything" (2002)
- Scooby-Doo — "Grow Up" (2002)
- What's New Scooby-Doo? — Scooby-Doo theme song (2002)
- Clockstoppers — "The Worst Day Ever" (2002)
- Cheaper by the Dozen — "I'm Just a Kid" (2003)
- The Hot Chick — "I'd Do Anything" (2002)
- Grind— "I'm Just a Kid" (2003)
- Daddy Day Care — "Surrender" (2003)
- The Real Cancun — "Grow Up" (2003)
- The New Guy — "I'm Just a Kid" (acoustic version) (2004)
- Freaky Friday — "Happy Together" (2003)
- Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed — "Don't Wanna Think About You" (2004)
- New York Minute — "Vacation" (2004)
- Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen — "Perfect" (acoustic version) (2004)
- Fantastic Four — "Surrender" (2005)
- Bad News Bears — "Promise" (2005)
Other releases
- A Big Package for You (DVD) (2003)
- MTV Hard Rock Live (DVD) (2005)
Trivia
- Simple Plan has had their videos "Addicted" and "Untitled" retired on TRL.
- Simple Plan have contributed 3 notable songs to the recent Scooby Doo revival - Grow Up is featured on the soundtrack to the first film, Don't Wanna Think About You was written exclusively for the second film, and they perform the theme song to What's New Scooby-Doo?. They also appeared in an episode of the show, entitled Simple Plan And The Invisible Mad Man
- Simple Plan's song "The Worst Day Ever" can be vaguely heard in an episode of the television show, King of the Hill.
- One of simple plan's songs was also briefly heard in an episode of desperate housewives
- Simple Plan's "Grow Up" was the original choice for the theme song for popular show The Suite Life Of Zack and Cody.
See also
External links
- Official website
- Simple Plan's MySpace
- Simple Plan @ the SoundtrackINFO project
- Interview with Sebastien Lefebvre
- Simple Plan lyrics
- SimplePlanOnline.com
- SimplePlanLA.com
- SimplePlan.It
- SimplePlanRox.com
- Charts in france
- Simple Plan at the Internet Movie Database
- Simple Plan live
- Simple Plan VO
Related Video
- Pierre Bouvier chats with George Stroumboulopoulos, CBC News: The Hour, December 8, 2005. Retrieved December 28, 2005.ca:Simple Plan
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