10 most criminally underrated Simple Plan songs
Simple Plan may be one of the ultimate pop-punk bands. As well as racking up collabs with members of blink-182, Sum 41 and Weezer, the Canadian group have played on several Warped Tours, while iconic tracks like “I’m Just A Kid” and “Welcome To My Life” are essentials of the genre.
Read more: Every Simple Plan album ranked: From worst to best
There’s more to the group than angsty lyrics and buoyant guitars, though. See, Simple Plan have never been afraid of taking risks. Not many groups would team up with rappers Nelly or Sean Paul, while “Jet Leg” sees them comfortably share the mic with pop star Natasha Bedingfield. Add in their work for animated series What’s New, Scooby Doo? and their cameo appearance in the Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen-starring teen comedy New York Minute and you’ve got a band with one hell of an interesting history. We dove deep into their back catalog to find 10 underappreciated gems that you need to hear.
“The Worst Day Ever”
It’s a hard life being a track on a record that gave the world “I’m Just A Kid” and “Perfect.” While “The Worst Day Ever” may not be as immediately infectious or beloved as other songs on Simple Plan’s 2002 debut album, No Pads, No Helmets…Just Balls, there’s a resilient optimism across the snotty track that’s impossible to resist. While a majority of Simple Plan’s tracks pull influence from the American heavy-hitters of the scene, “The Worst Day Ever” channels British groups like Busted and McFly.
“Everytime”
A reflective, emo number that wouldn’t sound out of place on Good Charlotte’s fiery The Young And The Hopeless, “Everytime” has Simple Plan digging deep and getting vulnerable. Nestled toward the end of 2004’s Still Not Getting Any… between the more urgent “Promise” and the snooty “Jump,” “Everytime” is a moment of relative calm from a band who all too often charge ahead.
“Don’t Wanna Think About You”
2004 was a big year for Simple Plan and Scooby Doo. As well as appearing as themselves in an episode of the animated What’s New, Scooby Doo? series, Simple Plan also recorded “Don’t Wanna Think About You” for the second live-action Scooby Doo movie. The soundtrack also featured anthems from Fatboy Slim, the B-52’s and New Radicals, but Simple Plan delivered a glorious slice of pop-punk wizardry that captures everything that was brilliant about the blossoming genre.
“I Can Wait Forever”
Swapping out guitar-driven riffs and all the usual teenage angst for this piano-led number, “I Can Wait Forever” gives Simple Plan the opportunity to indulge in a little theatricality. Surprisingly confident considering the change of pace, the track helped give Simple Plan’s 2008 self-titled record a sense of maturity and breadth that the band had avoided in the past. A big, emo banger, even if it does occasionally sound like 3 Doors Down’s “Be Like That.”
“Never Should Have Let You Go”
Given away as a bonus track on Simple Plan’s fourth album, Get Your Heart On!, “Never Should Have Let You Go” doesn’t have the urgent polish of the rest of the record, but there’s a grit to those hammering drums and snarling guitars that makes Pierre Bouvier’s sugary vocals really stand out. Full of regret and slow-burning self-destruction, “Never Should Have Let You Go” features Simple Plan proudly wearing their heart on their sleeve.
“The Rest Of Us”
Taken from B-side collection Get Your Heart On – The Second Coming!, Simple Plan’s “The Rest Of Us” is a posi-loser anthem. Finding strength, joy and community in the mosh pit, “The Rest Of Us” is a buoyant slab of feel-good music. If you’re into the empowering messages of YUNGBLUD or Lizzo, this is the Simple Plan song for you.
“Lucky One”
Another B-side from the Get Your Heart On! era, “Lucky One” stars Pierre Bouvier alone with an acoustic guitar, but the stripped-back feel only makes the downtrodden optimism that much more powerful. A beautiful song about never giving in, “Lucky One” twinkles where most Simple Plan tracks rage.
“Saturday”
A standalone single released ahead of 2016’s Taking One For The Team, “Saturday” is a no-frills explosion of joy. With sugary gang vocals and the simple desire to rip some karaoke on the weekend, “Saturday” is a giddy return to Simple Plan’s roots before they really started ripping up the rulebook.
“Nostalgic”
Starting with a burst of Rage Against The Machine-inspired fury, this fast and ferocious song simply doesn’t let up. Featuring on Simple Plan’s eclectic Taking One For The Team, “Nostalgic” was proof that the band could still kick ass like the good old days while poking fun at the fans who wanted them to recreate their greatest hits rather than try something new.
“Where I Belong”
Before the current pop-punk resurgence took effect, Simple Plan teamed up with State Champs for this defiant celebration of the genre. Also featuring We The Kings, this jubilant anthem of belonging is a ferocious love letter to all things punk. Despite clocking in at just over three minutes, all the bands are allowed a moment to shine, but ego never enters the playing field. There’s just something really warm and inviting about this bubblegum punk track.
