A musical identity....

Over the years and through the ages, music has been a constant. From the caveman's drums to the Beatles singing I wanna hold your hand to Jimi at Woodstock to Bob Dylan going electric in 1965 at the New Port Folk fest, music has helped define a generation, a people and has stood as a bench mark for memories and experience for many people, this thought isn't new by any means and has been talked about before here.

But with all of the Olympic coverage lately I have been thinking about the national identity of this great country of ours, and more specifically...Our identiy through music. I know what you thinking I always find some way to bring music back into the conversation but bear with me here, and besides this is my corner of cyber space so fuck ya...


See here's the thing. If you look at the US they have a guy by the name of Bruce Springsteen. Now admittedly I am not the biggest fan of the "Boss", but Americans love him, He exemplifies the blue collar hero to the US. He comes across as this average Joe, who gone and done right. He stands up for the little man and stands up to "The Man". He is as American as Apple pie(how did our neighbor's to the south corner the market on apple pie anyway...Oh well). If you look at the past Britain had two of the most important bands EVER The beadles and The Stones. To this day England still loves their Sir Paul and Sir Mick and they have latched onto more modern bands like goldfield and Radiohead. Very pretentious bands(in my humble opinion) to match the prentiousness of England it's self. So what am I getting at?

We as a nation..Who is our musical identity?..(The first person to put in the comments any of the following I will hunt you down and smack you I swear: Celine Dion, Shania Twain, Nickelback, Brian adams Avril Lavigne or the Bare Naked Ladies) or better yet what makes the quintessential Canadian Artist.


I think a Canadian artist, a true Canadian artist, has a different feel to their lyrics, a vivid imagery in the stories or thoughts that they are trying to get across in their music. With this in mind I submit my top Five:

1. Neil young- This guy is a musical genius. That's it...I know some of you out there are going to have something to say about this choice...Right Mr. Sidekick?

2.The Tragically Hip- Just as Canadian as beer maple Syrup and Hockey on a Sat night. I heard that groan from here by the way...Yeah you know who I am talking to...

3.Sam Roberts- Ok he's a newer guy with only one real album but he to me has that great nack for great lyrics. Almost like a Neil with the Hip rock edge...

4. Stompin Tom Connors- A list of Canadian artists is not complete with out this guy..

5. Gordon Lightfoot- Ahh surprised you with this one didn't I?..Gordon lightfoot is like the softer more friendly ying to the yang of Neil Young. He has the same fanatsic talent for imagery, and Canadian imagery at that, that Neil conveys through his lyrics..

It's hard to express excatly what I mean by Canadian artist..I think it is easier to tell you what isn't(see list above)..I think it is important to keep things like this close and defiantly Canadian. It might not seem like a big deal, but it is part of our National identity. Do you really wanna become the 51st state...

But then again amybe I just think too much about this stuff...gotta get me into that 12 step program...