(But don't mess with the lyrics.)
Happy Canada Day folks.
It's been pointed out to me, many a time that perhaps I am way too into this music thing. However, for Canada, I'd thought I'd offer you an East to West sampling of some of my favourites Canadian tunes. (I didn't embed the videos, just made it too long.)
From Vancouver, You Say Party, Downtown Mayors Goodnight is one of my favourite running songs. Formerly knows as You Say Party! We Say Die!, they recently changed their name after their drummer collasped and died prior to a show. The band is going on, with a few changes in line-up and has dropped the second half of their name.
From Alberta, alt country rocker Corb Lund gets the nod. Few and far between are the songs that the whole family can enjoy. (The Man has a propensity to enjoy, how to describe it, CRAP.) The entire Horse Soldier, Horse Soldier (not the best version) album is really wonderful -- also known for very funny songs like Hard on Equipment and Truck Got Stuck.
You gotta have a bit of Joni Mitchell from Saskatchewan.
From Manitoba, two choices because I couldn't decide which song I like more. From the Weakerthans, Left and Leaving. And Christine Fellows whose album Nevertheless is wonderful, Spinster's Almanac (not a great version), she reminds me of so many people I know.
Ontario, well just so many choices really. I've been listening to The Tragically Hips' Bob Caygeon a lot this week, I wonder if amid the cold hard riot cops there were a few whose minds were elsewhere, and who were thinking that maybe it was time to quit. Gord Downie has a style that his so terribly Canadian.
(Of course, you could do a bit of Neil Young, a touch of Fucked Up's rather excellent screamo, and for something completely different Great Lake Swimmers. )
Alright Quebec, well, wow. Can't go wrong with a bit of Arcade Fire, I'm looking forward to the new album. As you know, being French first I thought I'd give a few of my favourite francophone bands, I give you Karkwa (La Fuite is still one of my favourite tracks) and Coeur de Pirate Comme des enfants. (really how cute is she.)
Eastward with only four provinces to go.
From New Brunswick that end of the population that is French but not from Québec. I give you Marie Jo Thério's ode to my hometown. Called À Moncton, it's one of those get heck out of a small town kind of songs. (And it reminds me of my sister's wife.)
From Nova Scotia, Wintersleep. The Boy has been walking around for weeks singing Weighty Ghost. Although I have yet to download the new album, Welcome to the Night Sky is definitely worth a listen. Dead Letter and the Infinite Yes is one of my favourite songs, it just feels right. Love it when music is like that. And because the man would kill me for skipping him, Ashley MacIsaac -- as messed up as he is/was, the man kicks butt at the punk fiddle -- really go see .
I was going to skip PEI. For the same reason I am going to skip the North. But thank god for Wikipedia. It turns out Canadian icon Stompin' Tom Connor lived there. Good Old Hockey Game is a classic, and well it doesn't get much more PEI than Bud the Spud.
Last and certainly not least, Newfoundland has sent over any number of great acts -- Great Big Sea (which seems to be the default most of us go to, when thinking about The Rock.) My favourite of late, is Hey Rosetta good little indie band, with a dream quality, love Red Song.
I am going to plead ignorance here but I really don't no a lot of music from the territories. I could whip out Susan Aglukark (O Siem), while a wonderful song, I'm not sure it would make this list if it weren't for geography. Open to suggestions.
Hope everyone stayed out of jail, and that you all had a happy Canada Day. I have prepared a little photo scavenger hunt for The Boy. Will post the results tomorrow...
