Nickelback was formed in Hanna, Alberta, Canada, in 1995 by brothers Chad and Mike Kroeger. They started as a cover band called “Village Idiot.” But, they changed their name to “Nickelback” when they decided to start writing their own music. The name came from the phrase “Here’s your nickel back,” something that bassist Mike Kroeger would often say to customers when he was working at Starbucks.
After releasing an EP and a full-length album, Nickelback got signed to Roadrunner Records in 1999. In 2002, they rocketed to worldwide fame with the release of the multi-platinum album Silver Side Up. Their 2003 release, The Long Road, was even more successful, while 2005’s All The Right Reasons remains their best-selling record to date.
Nickelback has released ten studio albums which have sold over 50 million copies worldwide. They are considered one of the most successful Rock bands of the 21st century. So, here are my picks for the Top 50 Nickelback songs in no particular order or ranking.
Top 50 Nickelback Songs
1 Animals
Album: All The Right Reasons
Nickelback has always had a heavy side, and this early track is one of their best hard hitters. Mostly, it flies under the radar due to the popularity of other singles. But, for many hardcore fans, this remains one of Nickelback’s best songs.
The song is by no means as polished as later material. But, having that rawness in earlier material often adds a kind of aura to the recording. “Animals” is drenched in another ingredient that would characterize the band’s later material. A great sense of humor.
Another noteworthy aspect of this track is Chad’s vocal range and dynamics. He can go from cruising speed to coming apart at the seams in a second. Don’t believe me? Just listen to how he breaks into the chorus on “Animals.”
2 Too Bad
Album: Silver Side Up
This is another early track that often gets overshadowed by the most popular Nickelback songs. When you hear it for the first time in a long while, though, your mind immediately goes, “How could I have forgotten this one?”
“Too Bad” is a good showcase of Nickelback’s variety in terms of light and dark. Musically, the verses are laid-back and melancholic. However, the chorus is much faster and more aggressive sounding. Despite this contrast, the songwriters created seamless transitions that make the sections fit together like pieces of a puzzle.
This track deserves extra attention for songwriting and performance. Chad was already well into his stride by this time. But “Too Bad” marked a deepening in lyrical content and performance. Kroeger proved that he could write more emotional content. And that he could imbue the words with the emotion needed to convey them properly.
3 Photograph
Album: All The Right Reasons
Internet memes aside, there are many reasons why “Photograph” became an enduring signature Nickelback song. For my money, the largest contributor to its popularity and timelessness is the universality of the theme. The song contains the perfect mixture of joyful reminiscence and bittersweet longing we’ve all felt at one time or another.
The lyrics may be autobiographical, and no doubt, lots of listeners will have little in common with Chad. But, when you hear him singing about his youth, it makes you conjure up images of yours. An interesting side-fact is that Kroeger broke into his school’s safe eleven times, not “half dozen,” as stated in the lyrics.
“Photograph” was the first of three consecutive Top 10 hits from the album All The Right Reasons. It’s a double-platinum masterpiece that will not only be remembered as one of the best Nickelback songs ever but also as one of the definitive ballads of the 2000s.
4 Rockstar
Album: All The Right Reasons
The fifth single from Nickelback’s fifth album has a middle-of-the-road reputation in how it was received by fans and critics. Some listeners criticized the more commercial sound along with the seemingly “shallow” subject matter of this laid-back Country Rock ballad. Others commended the group’s willingness to experiment and interpreted Chad’s lyrics as intellectual, social commentary.
“Rockstar” is a fun song. As mentioned before, humor features a lot in Nickelback’s music. And the video for this one is nothing if not funny. There is hidden depth in the cliche-drenched lyrics when viewed as satire. This might explain why the track has stood the test of time so well. The studio recording features background vocals by Billy Gibbons from ZZ-Top.
Like it or not, this quadruple-platinum anthem is forever ingrained in the Nickelback story. So, don’t act like you haven’t sung along to it during closing time at the bar.
5 Gotta Be Somebody
Album: Dark Horse
The Dark Horse album is a masterpiece of production and songwriting. There is a maturity to the material that only comes from a group that has developed its sound over the years. And this epic track showcases how good Nickelback has gotten at being Nickelback.
Chad’s confident delivery gives the impression of someone romantic but far from hopeless. As far as uplifting tracks go, this is one of Nickelback’s best.
6 Someday
Album: The Long Road
A seminal track from a seminal album. No list of the Top 50 Nickelback songs would be complete without it. It’s a hard-hitting, epic Rock ballad that ticks all the right boxes.
The vocal performance sits at the heart of this track. Kroeger’s voice seems to be on the edge of breaking apart from the first to last syllable. There is a desperation to this recording that makes the speaker’s urge for redemption come alive within the heart of the listener.
Musically, the song is a sonic roller coaster of the best kind. The crisp acoustic guitar during the verses suddenly gives way to giant-sounding electrics during the chorus. The cherry on top comes in the form of an epic guitar solo. What’s not to like?
7 If Today Was Your Last Day
Album: Dark Horse
“Against the grain is a way of life – What’s worth the prize is always worth the fight.” In those two lines, Chad manages to convey the kind of beauty and truth that all writers dream of. If he wasn’t a singer in a Rock band, he’d probably have been a poet or a philosopher.
Much of the material on the Dark Horse album has positive energy behind it. So, if inspiration is what you’re after, then look no further. Never before has good advice been so catchy and uplifting.
8 Side of a Bullet
Album: All The Right Reasons
It is no secret that Nickelback has been subjected to all kinds of criticism by fans. This is mostly due to their commercial success and the mainstream sound of their more popular singles. Despite this, hardcore fans will know that they have their roots in good old-fashioned balls-to-the-wall Rock n Roll. This riff-driven revenge song is the perfect testament to that influence.
“Side of a Bullet” was inspired by the death of Pantera and Damageplan guitarist Darrel “Dimebag” Abbot. Dimebag was widely considered one of the greatest shredders ever. Chad’s lyrics express his anger toward Dimebag’s murderer, a former US marine.
“Side of a Bullet” features recordings of Darrel that were provided by his brother and bandmate Vinnie. Needless to say, that makes this song’s pedigree unquestionable.
9 Burn It To The Ground
Album: Dark Horse
If you want Nickelback firing on all cylinders, then look no further. This arena anthem is all about taking no prisoners, whether it be at a party or during the fight afterward.
From the moment the killer riff kicks in until the last power chord fades out, this track doesn’t pull any punches. “Burn It To the Ground” won a Grammy for Best Hard Rock performance. It was also featured in the 2009 film Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
10 How You Remind Me
Album: Silver Side Up
More than two decades ago, 26-year-old Chad Kroeger argued with his girlfriend in his Vancouver apartment. The dispute ended with him storming off to his basement, which was also the band’s rehearsal space at the time.
He decided to start venting his emotions and thoughts into a song. Less than an hour later, he had a melody, some chords, and lyrics for what would become one of the greatest Rock songs of the 20th century.
What is there to say about one of the greatest Nickelback songs that hasn’t already been said? So, it would be best to just press play and let it speak for itself.
11This Means War
12Far Away
13Figured You Out
14Never Again
15Something in Your Mouth
16Feed the Machine
17After the Rain
18Just to Get High
19Because of You
20Follow You Home
21Must Be Nice
22Leader of Men
23See You at the Show
24Midnight Queen
25Million Miles an Hour
26Coin for the Ferryman
27Good Times Gone
28Not Leavin’ Yet
29Throw Yourself Away
30The Betrayal (Act III)
31Detangler
32Just For
33Cowboy Hat
34Believe It or Not
35Hangnail
36Where Do I Hide
37No Fixed Address
38What Are You Waiting For
39The Hammer’s Coming Down
40Dirty Laundry
41Edge of a Revolution
42The Betrayal (Act I)
43Because Of You (acoustic)
44Flat on the Floor
45Figured You Out (acoustic)
46Next Contestant
47Lullaby
48Hero
49Fly
50Silent Majority
Want More Rock Music?
If so, check out our thoughts on the Top 10 Audioslave Songs, the Top 10 Staind Songs of All Time, the Top 10 Bush Songs of All Time, the Top 10 Third Eye Blind Songs, the Best 90s Rock Songs, and the Saddest Rock Songs for more incredible song selections.
Top 50 Nickelback Songs – Final Thoughts
It is impossible to talk about Rock music from the early 2000s without mentioning Nickelback. They redefined and reinvigorated the genre with a sound that became the foundation for all the bands that would follow. They’ve been around for nearly three decades, and when I hear any of these songs, I close my eyes and hope that there are three more coming up next on the playlist.
Until next time, happy listening.
