Wednesday, July 1, 2015

My 33 Favourite Canadian Songs

Before you read this, I hope you understand that I don't know every Canadian artist/group that ever lived. But from the music I do know, I have a profound connection with it.
Here's an unedited list of my favourite Canadian artists who didn't make the songs list:

F***ed Up
Neko Case
The Tragically Hip
And for the youngins, no, I don't feel any connection to Grimes or Drake.

Also, I'm looking for feedback, not criticism. What Canadian stuff am I missing here? LIST:

33 The Piano Drop Tim Hecker
This hardly counts as a "song," but I like this guy so much, I had to squeeze him in.
32 One Hand in My Pocket Alanis Morissette
This song is quoted in the prologue of Neil LaBute's "Reasons to be Pretty."
31 Misguided Angel Cowboy Junkies
Everything about Trinity Sessions is a great idea.
30 Hallelujah Leonard Cohen
This is MY list, not yours. (humph!) I like "Bird on a Wire" and "Tower of Song" better anyway...
29 Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) Arcade Fire
The first word of this song is "and," which is still cool to me.
28 Your Ex-Lover Is Dead Stars
I miss the 2000s.
27 I'll Believe Anything Wolf Parade
Fact: They broke up while I was in Canada.
26 Odessa Caribou
I like Swim better than Our Love. Don't
25 The Jungle Line Joni Mitchell
This is legitimately one of the weirdest songs I've ever heard.
24 Letter from an Occupant The New Pornographers
So I guess Neko Case is technically on the list.
23 Brian Wilson Barenaked Ladies
These guys were my favourite band growing up. I kid thee not.
22 1,2,3,4 Feist
AKA That one happy song that got mass U.S radio airplay for 2 weeks then disappeared.
21 Takin' Care of Business Bachman Turner Overdrive
I met some Canadian LDS people who knew Randy Bachman. I also saw him in concert once. But I'll still never know if he ever actually had a job.
20 Lover's Spit Broken Social Scene
"You know it's time that we grow old and do some shit."
19 River Joni Mitchell
I used to love the Sarah McLachlan version until I realized it had 0 personality.
18 Born to be Wild Steppenwolf
Classic rock forever!
17 Summer of '69 Bryan Adams
When you find out what he means by "69," you look at this in a whole new light...
16 If You Could Read My Mind Gordon Lightfoot
My favorite memory of this song: The Johnny Cash version came on our car radio and my mom tells my dad, "Oh gosh, Wes, it's that awful Gordon Lightfoot song! It's so freaking sad!"
15 American Woman The Guess Who
Classic riff, but really, how bad was America bugging Canada in the 60s?
14 Sleep Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Respectively, not everybody has time to listen to a Godspeed song.
13 Stars and Sons Broken Social Scene
On that note, I wish THIS song was 20 minutes long.
12 Spirit of the Radio Rush
Don't talk crap about Rush.
11 Suzanne Leonard Cohen
One of my directors/professors at the College of Southern Idaho Tony Mannen claimed Leonard Cohen was music for electrocuting yourself in the bathtub. This is evidence.
10 The House That Heaven Built Japandroids
Japandroids have died off on me over the years, but seeing them live was an incredible experience and this song is still a personal favorite.
9 The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down The Band
I used to be convinced this song was a traditional piece. But it's just that good.
8 Cortez the Killer Neil Young
I'll never forget hearing this song for the first time.
7 After the Gold Rush Neil Young
I'll also never hearing THIS song for the first time.
6 Crown of Love Arcade Fire
And here we have my ultimate "break-down-and-cry-then-run-away-in-a-fearful-tantrum" song.
5 Kaputt Destroyer
Don't judge me. This is the 2011 farewell to true indie. A heartbreaking lyrical mystery wrapped in lazy, hazy discotheque. Dan Bejar wrote a song for America. Who knew?
4 All I Want Joni Mitchell
And thus begins the unraveling of Joni Mitchell's soul. According to this song, she doesn't want much... she just has a lot to say about it. That's the beauty of Joni.
3 Ambulance Blues Neil Young
I like Neil Young a lot.
2 Last Year's Man Leonard Cohen
This song has stuck with me for a long time. It's about Jesus, it's about hookers, I'm not always sure what it's all about, but it's about him. It's like conquering your past via accumulating as much self-doubt as possible... then adding a children's choir. The perfect self-reflection song.
1 The Weight The Band
Well, duh.



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