Alternative Press is celebrating 25 years of Simple Plan with a huge special collector’s issue — plus new, limited-edition vinyl and merch. Head to the AP Shop to grab yours.
Forming from the ashes of their ’90s band Reset in Quebec, Canada, Simple Plan have grown into pop-punk elders over the past two decades. Armed with resiliency, juvenile humor, and the ability to perfect an exceptional hook, the group made their debut during pop punk’s mainstream explosion in the early 2000s, going on to experience the rise, decline, and resurgence of the genre. They’ve also been able to keep us on our toes throughout the years, sharing a few surprising collaborations along the way — from Sean Paul to Natasha Bedingfield. Naturally, we turned to our readers and asked them to name the best Simple Plan songs of all time. Their answers made us nostalgic, drawing from their early days to newer tracks. These are the top picks, ranked accordingly below.
Read more: 10 most criminally underrated Simple Plan songs
5. “Addicted”
No Pads, No Helmets…Just Balls changed everything for Simple Plan. Produced by Arnold Lanni, their 2002 debut album was stacked with buoyant, unforgettable songs that our readers still listen to. “Addicted” is one of its many standouts, centering around a failed relationship and the desire to move on but ultimately being unable to. Of course, the band couldn’t complete the broken-hearted anthem without playing on the song’s title and cracking dick jokes throughout the verses.
4. “I’m Just a Kid”
Also coming from No Pads, Simple Plan’s “I’m Just a Kid” is a stirring anthem of adolescent dread. In a rather unexpected turn, though, the song peeled away their teenage humor and showed off their vulnerable side proudly, demonstrating what the band were capable of — which later paved the way for equally tender songs like “Save You” and “Your Love Is a Lie.” Considering that “I’m Just a Kid” was their debut single, it was a complete win — and even got a second life when it inspired a hugely popular TikTok challenge, moving people to recreate their childhood photos as adults and post them.
3. “I’d Do Anything”
Back in the early 2000s, pop punk was experiencing mainstream domination — led by giants like Green Day, New Found Glory, and blink-182. That meant getting Mark Hoppus to appear on “I’d Do Anything” was a huge sign of respect — and proof of their promise as a band. The collaboration was a lighthearted plea toward an ex, fueled by a need to make things right and get them back. Simple Plan certainly earned some blink comparisons with their debut, but “I’d Do Anything” both pointed to their influences and their own way forward.
2. “Welcome to My Life”
Simple Plan make music for people who feel like outsiders. Leading off the band’s second album, Still Not Getting Any…, “Welcome to My Life” is a tremendous embodiment of that approach. It’s defiant and purposeful from start to end, heightened by a soaring chorus that highlights feeling hurt, lost, and “left out in the dark.” Furthermore, it demonstrated that the band were using the overwhelming success of their debut to make a positive impact — to allow others to feel less alone.
1. “Perfect”
It’s safe to say that No Pads is the gold standard for our readers. Despite all the teenage angst and bathroom humor that filled that album, though, there were moments of vulnerable sincerity beyond the aforementioned “I’m Just a Kid.” “Perfect” is one of those, culminating in a heartbreaking sing-along that sees the band apologizing for not living up to parental expectations. There’s a reason the band often end their set with it, as the song embodies everything Simple Plan are great at — a hard-hitting message, a sticky chorus, and an emotional resonance.