I’m not a huge fan of vulgar displays of nationalism, but I’ll certainly enjoy a party and a day off, so let Canada Day roll!
Bryan Adams is the quintessential Canadian rock star, and for Canadians of a certain generation, Summer of ’69 is a second (and probably better) national anthem. But Run to You is probably a better song:
Another quintessentially Canadian song is BTO’s Takin’ Care of Business. So I present you with the godfathers of Canadian punk, DOA:
Many of you might know Sarah McLachlan best for Lillith Fair. I’ve never been to Lillith Fair, and I’ve never been a huge fan of Sara McLachlan, but Possession kicked a bit of ass:
“Coming of age” in the ’90s, the biggest band in Canada was easily The Tragically Hip. Though 50 Mission Cap* and Bobcaygeon have more of an aura of Canadiana, Naughtical Disaster is far superior.
(Sadly the clip of them on Saturday Night Live has been pulled. When they were invited, it was a major coup in Canada… though the two songs they played weren’t among their best known, thus it was a bit of a disappointment for many.)
The band that may have (if only in their heads) taken over from The Hip as the biggest Canadian band is Sloan. They broke with Underwhelmed which probably remained their best single (among many great singles), but another song from the Smeared album, I am the Cancer, is my favourite (and bonus points for having a member of Jale on the track):
A few years ago, I got into a bit of a thing with OG Scott Payne. He was reviewing some hippy event and disparaged Stars while praising Library Voices. I could see the latter, but the former was unacceptable.
Neil Young is pretty much the prodigal godfather of Canadian pop music. We love him, but almost his entire career was made up of trying to make people think he was American. Oh well. He still put out some good stuff.
And a bonus:
Finally, as a tribute to the special relationship between Canada, the U.S. and Britain, here’s Rufus Wainwright and Ben Folds covering WHAM!
I’m not posting any Rush.
*Gord Downie introduces the song as “Flag on your knapsack”. “50 Mission Cap” is an American Military thing, and he decided that such an American name wasn’t really appropriate. When Canadian kids travel – especially through Europe – they put the Maple Leaf on their backpack so the locals will know… well… that they’re not Americans. Sure, you may not like that, but the conventional wisdom is that they’ll get treated better.
Rush? Never heard of them, they must be some odd niche band.. But what about Triumph?!?!?!? Now there was a power rock trio with meaningful lyrics.
What about Bare Naked Ladies?Report
What about the Guess Who?
American woman, I said, get away
American woman, listen what I say
Don’t come hanging ’round my door
Don’t want to see your face no more
I don’t need your war machines
I don’t need your ghetto scenes
Report
Canada is its own country now?
When did that happen?
Did the Queen decide you weren’t worth owning anymore?
🙂Report
Well, I almost posted “Take Off To The Great White North” by Bob & Doug since there can BE no other Canadian anthem, but since it does feature Geddy Lee I don’t want to break your “no “Rush” rule inadvertently.
Instead, here’s a scene from their all-time Canadian film classic The Mutants of 2051 AD.Report
Now I so want GY!BE to sample Moranis in this clip for their next apocalyptic track. “I was the only one left on the planet after the holocaust, eh.” (Cue ominous strings).Report
Just take one of their existing tracks and do a mashup. It’s what all the cool kids are doing these days.Report
To celebrate, I watched Intelligence and Continuum on Netflix this weekend.Report
It’s still “Dominion Day” in *OUR* household.Report
I assume this means that Canada is revoking its official apology for Mr. Adams? This is nothing less than a declaration of war.Report
Y’know, Bryan Adams only started sucking after he began writing songs for American movies. Pretty sure you guys owe us an apology.Report
The first time I heard of Bryan Adams he was opening for of all people Adam Ant.Report
The first time I heard of Joan Jett, she was opening for Iggy Pop.
Things change.Report
My disappointment that you didn’t include No Means No is offset by my relief that you didn’t include Anne Murray. (I’d have written “that bitch Anne Murray, but each time I do there are complaints–apparently not everyone gets the South Park reference.)
I’ll throw a shout out to The Be Good Tanyas, too.Report
Hey, I only gave you the hard time once, now I get it and in my defense it was personal to me 🙂Report
Heh, I’d forgotten who had objected, and I certainly bear no grudge at all. And I absolutely get why the word is personal–that, of course, is why the South Park guys used it. (And for all I know, Anne Murray is the world’s nicest Canadian.)Report
you couldn’t be Canadian.
If you were, Murray MacLauchlan would be posted.Report
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAvdGs4E-y4
there you go.Report
Ah Neil Young. The man hasn’t finished a song until it is good and truly shredded. For even more broken strings watch here.
Happy Canada day to you Jonathan. Had a merry time meself there a few years back and got some of the locals to sing “Oh Canada” for us. Being Westies, they gave up on the French lyrics, just singing “frog, frog frog” for all the lines they didn’t remember from their youth. I’d post the hockey anthem here but have already exceeded my embedded links quota.Report
Ah crap, messed up my second link anyway above. Here’s the money shot.
Ok the real Canadian anthemReport