Saturday, April 18, 2009

Name Your Tune

Here's the deal. Name your favourite (or, if you can't decide, one of your very favourite) Canadian songs. Since I opened this thread, I get first dibs. Mine is The Mary Ellen Carter by the late Stan Rogers. What I like most about it is that it's a song that speaks to struggle, perseverence, fierce loyalty, collective dedication and redemption. There's nothing sophisticated about it and it doesn't ascend any grand musical heights but it does enshrine what I like to believe are core, Canadian values. If you're not familiar with it, just click on this:



So what's your favourite Canadian song and why?

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

k-os: Man I Used To BeA simple song, it's about a man's search for self. I like the break dancing in the music video.

The Mound of Sound said...

Hey Troy. Thanks for that. I'm not fond of rap (the whole 3-chords thing) but this was more than decent. But, is this Canadian? Just curious.

Cheers

Mos

Balbulican said...

I hate to do this to you, but I can only second your nomination.

You know what I like most about "The Mary Ellen Carter"? The narration is being told the night BEFORE they try to raise the boat. We never find out whether or not the ship does, in fact, rise again.It's not a story of heroic success or the triumph of man against nature: what's important is the trying.

LeDaro said...

Many over the years. But given the current situation i Canada. Brian Adam's "Cuts like a Knife" lyrics like:

This wouldnt be the first time
Things have gone astray
Now youve thrown it all away

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m36qRP7zPEk

Anonymous said...

Really hard choices...
I'd have to go with Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read my Mind".... but that could easily change depending on the day....

As for a link, here's a rap version of "Sundown" by Elwood...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUO4y5_P-Bg

Big Winnie said...

I've got a couple:

"Wild Eyes" and "Then Came the White Man" by the Stampeders.

There are too many good songs by Canadan artists: Triumph's "Lay it on the Line", "Follow Your Heart" etc; The Santers "Mistreatin' Heart"; Troopers "We're Here for a Good Time" (acutally most songs off their Hot Shots album)

PS Who can forget about Stompin' Tom Connors?

Christian said...

Hey Mound, well I'm going with We Run, by Strange Advance, for sentimental reasons. Someone I looked up to loved this song. He died much too young, and every time I hear it, it reminds me of him.

Okay, I'd like to add one more. This one for the overall message. Here are some of the lyrics.

"all that i cherish, what i hold
precious to me is not gold
treasures of the heart
cannot be bought, cannot be sold"

Pauper In Paradise, by Frozen Ghost

Christian said...

P.S, as Big Winnie points out, there are so many great songs by Canadian artists, these are the ones that came to mind.

LeDaro said...

Cherniak_WTF, Gordon Lightfoot is a favourit of mine too. He is an icon in music and art industry.

sassy said...

Count me in on the Gordon Lightfoot thumbs up.

Also a long time fan of Leonard Cohen (Bird on a Wire) and, a few years ago discovered Angel Forrest out of Quebec.

The Mound of Sound said...

Thanks all, some interesting picks. I wasn't into the 80's music but it doesn't sound too bad. Leonard Cohen (Sassy), there's an obvious choice. And Gordy Lightfoot to boot. No one mentioned his great "Canadian Railroad Trilogy."

Anonymous said...

"No one mentioned his great "Canadian Railroad Trilogy."Almost did, but went for something more universal in appeal.

Anonymous said...

k-os is one of Toronto's.

Beijing York said...

So much to chose from.

Gilles Vigneault's Mon PaysJoni Mitchell's
RiverHonestly, there are so many fantastic songs to chose from past and present. At some point I wish Joel Plaskett of Love This Town fame should do a mournful cover of the iconic Snowbird. I love the song and the lyrics are actually very dark. I'm just not a fan of Anne Murray's voice or arrangement.

I'm also a huge fan of Issa/Jane Siberry. This song always cheers me up immensely:

One More Colour

The Mound of Sound said...

Great picks, BY. I can't remember when I last listened to Mon Pays. Thanks for that.

By the way, would it be rude to ask about the Beijing reference?

Beijing York said...

Hey Mound, Beijing York is a nom de plume that I created for myself decades ago. It's fanciful but my parents did nick name me China and it stuck all through my childhood.

penlan said...

Lightfoots "Canadian Railroad Trilogy"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNwtB3akea8&feature=related

penlan said...

Oops! Just saw you mentioned the Trilogy in comments, MoS. I'll look for something else.