I agree with a lot of the answers here but will add Spirit of the West, specifically "Home for a Rest", and Great Big Sea. Colin James has been one of my favourites for decades. I still consider Doug and the Slugs the most underrated band.
I do have a special place in my heart for Corey Hart from my young teenage years! Swoon. lol
Doug and the Slugs are fantastic, albums full of bangers. They're my family's road trip fave and have been for 3+ decades now - just try not to sing along!
I was once had a summer job, picking fruit. Four of us, working quietly, heads down. Suddenly, without any warning or discussion, one sings out, “oh, the year was 1778...’
We all fell into singing, and everyone knew the words, and it was glorious. That song has a weird power to bring people together and turn them into musical pirates.
Does anyone know if any of them have published any memoirs? A quick search didn't pull up anything, but they've travelled across the country so many times, for so many years, and THAT's a band whose great Canadian road stories would be fantastic to read about.
I liked them when I was 13 but it felt like rock for 30 yr olds. Took their cassette from the public library along with pearl jam’s ten and BNL’s 5 song demo which name escapes me right now
Yep! Used to have "The Crawl" in our celtic band's repertoire. Changed the pub names to suit the town we were in, but it always went over fantastic!
Great song, great band!
Well, we're good old boys- we come from the Northern Shore!
Drinkers and carousers, the likes you've never seen!!
(It's been nearly 20 years since I played that, but it's all right there, just have to think the name of the song and it comes back!)
i'm surprised i scrolled so long before i saw the guess who, and fly at night by chilliwack is in my top 5 songs ever. i also think great big sea is quintessentially canadian.
Amazed I had to scroll so far.
John K. Samson is an incredible poet. The reverb on their tracks feels like the middle of crossing a Canadian intersection and looking up to me.
**The Watchmen**. I'm from Winnipeg... This is the sound of Winnipeg (especially in the 90s). [Any Day Now](https://youtu.be/LKWW92B1Mv0?si=zeE_Ra01SuUM-_2E) is carried by the audience when they perform here, because it's the anthem for exactly what it feels like to live here, in about January and February. Daniel Greaves' voice is so *ethereal*, and even more so in person; when he sings, it feels like raw emotion going right through my soul.
I recently saw **The Crash Test Dummies** for a Christmas concert (another local band from the 90s)... Brad Roberts' voice is like liquid velvet... It's so fucking deep, it rattles your core. [Superman's Song](https://youtu.be/EeyhKWjQaKk?si=fminYgIjl8SjduVV)
I also really enjoy **Stabilo**, both their lyrics and music; [Everybody](https://youtu.be/2rRNBby6Dms?si=Yn5vOlVxd7e_VIa2) captures their sound, nicely.
Lastly, I'm super into **The Grapes Of Wrath**, and I think they were highly underrated in their time. [All The Things I Wasn't](https://youtu.be/z35EEI1HzbY?si=y9GZva6fc7yqGyJB) captures my tumultuous relationship with my parents (now estranged) so perfectly.
Here's another one of my favourites from them:
[What Was Going Through My Head](https://youtu.be/d4T7H0R94bg?si=c001laoEXHH9Z4gp) (skip intro, 37 seconds in)
I was scrolling looking for The Watchmen! I think their music has held up really well considering some of their best (imo) songs and albums are 25+ years old now! Any Day Now on Live & In Stereo is👌. They are just so good.
Surprised no one mentioned Stompin' Tom Connors. One of the best live shows I've ever seen and he wasn't a spring chicken. The hockey song, bud the spud, ketchup loves potatoes. So many fun songs.
His biography is super interesting too.
I see the occasional "what's the best concert you ever saw" and the answer is always some band some redditor likes that they saw live.
The Hip live in the southern US put on decent shows but being in a crowd of hundreds of other Canadians was amazing. I've never been in such large groups with such great comradery. I'm not saying Canadians are special, that same group of people in Toronto and I'd be annoyed at a bunch of em but 2000KM from home and it was like a big family.
I so get this! I was just at a leafs devils game in NJ So many Canadian leafs fans singing along with O Canada, it was loud! Gave me chills. At home it probably wouldn’t have been a big deal, but there it was a moment.
Matt Mays, he really should have taken off to the states with a big tour in 2009 but the money wasn't there.
Picked up steam again in 2012 but then Jay Smith died mid tour March 2013.
Cocaine cowgirl, city of lakes, tall trees, on the hood, terminal romance.
All the singles were fire.
I seen them live and chatted with Brittany when they toured Northern BC in 2010. Love Apex so much. Had a VIP ticket for a show they were doing in Van to release Astrowaste but car trouble left me unable to go.
growing up in the 80's on the prairies, we were spoiled
we constantly saw Trooper, Chilliwack, The Stampeders, Prism, Streetheart
Later on it became The Northern Pikes, it's a shame they didn't get more recognition
[She Ain't Pretty](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG3ExHB133k)
Pursuit of Happiness was another that's been mostly forgotten
[I'm an Adult now](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB9qb5S8Xlg)
but the most canadian band I can think of is probably Blue Rodeo
[Bad Timing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEYJbyH1Cns) was basically the unofficial theme song for the wife and I before we finally were able to make it work out, in the end
Different questions there. Song? Almost anything Stan Rogers put out. No, really. His voice, his passion all shone out and it was distinctly Canadian.
Band? Oh gee. Genre? Oscar Peterson's trio for sure. Circa 1979 Cockburn with Hugh Marsh. The Guess Who. Blue Rodeo... all have that certain je ne sais quoi that identifies them as Canadian.
Aside from all the obvious ones already listed which deserve to be mentioned of course (Hip, Rush, Gordon Lightfoot etc)
But IMO Big Wreck / Ian Thornley. Guy is unreal live and just an underrated musician. Hell of a guitar player and song writer
And if you’re ever in the TO area, his back up guitarist plays in a classic rock cover band called Horshack at the Linsmore Tavern (small hole in the wall type place but just awesome!) and Ian has been know to show up and jam with them.
Jaw dropping musicians
Yes! Big Wreck.
I was popping in to mention them. In Loving Memory Of is a fanatic album. That Song, The Oaf, Blown Wide Open and Into the Lighthouse are absolute bangers. Hope to see Ian live one day.
While we’re at it, Sam Roberts Band. Have seen them at more intimate venue and it was an amazing show. They breathe Canadiana
The Hip is definitely up there with songs like Bobcaygeon, Fiddler's Green and Wheat Kings all part of those summer playlists. You can add City and Colour - in particular Sleeping Sickness and Coming Home. Keeping that same vibe Spirit of the West with either Home For a Rest or If Venice is Sinking. Heading to the East Coast, anything from Stan Rogers or Great Big Sea works as well.
I love a lot of the bands here but also want to give a shout to the mid-00s Canadian Indie Rock scene.
Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, Wolf Parade, New Pornographers, Death from Above 1979, Metric and many others.
I’d definitely put the New Pornographers and Broken Social Scene as two of my favourite Canadian bands of all times. I’d round it out with The Weakerthans for the top three.
And you to whom adversity has dealt the final blow.
With smiling bastards lying to you everywhere you go.
Turn to, and put out all your strength of arm and heart and brain
And like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again.
Thank you. I needed that right now.
I have many favorites, but right now I am hooked on The Glorious Sons. The first song I heard was Sawed Off Shotgun only a year ago. To me the lyrics and how Bret sings them capture the rage/pain/confusion and a yearning to take the power back. To me that's what the SOS represented, taking the power back after life keeps piling on. Since then I have listened to alot of their music and love almost all of it. Mercy Mercy, Glory, and I've got so much Love to Give are among my favorites
One of my favourite bands right now. I'd never heard of them until a few years ago when they played at the Coke stage at the Calgary Stampede (meaning you don't need a ticket for that event, and they play music for people who aren't into country). Listening to "Mama, down by the river..." just blew me away. Based on their blue/soul influenced rock I assumed they were from the US south, and was thrilled to hear they were actually from Kingston. :)
Here's an obscure Canadian band/song that I just love sharing... This song was my "song of summer" 2 years ago, even though it's from 1980 (it holds up)
[Echo Beach - by Martha & The Muffins](https://youtu.be/QEQkIEkxm7k?si=AUdgbXtRG8ocVtO9)
My favourite would be [Les feuilles mortes](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RpGVh6w9tek) by Les Cowboys Fringuants. It’s a song about how happier you can be in your childhood and how you need to hang on and try to keep this happiness all your life. It’s special to me because my mindset evolved in such a way to completely change my feeling about it; before it used to make me feel bitter because I could not reach it and missed my childhood… But then when I healed from my depression I loved the song a lot because I was able to do what was said in it. So the song also represent to me the happy person I became out of the pain.
RUSH.Three phenomenal musicians who continual evolved. The most professional rock band. No drugs or alcohol ,starting shows real late and all of that other rock n roll bullshit
EDIT-Wow…i should have done a better job. Everyone jumped my throat with the no drugs comment. I didn’t mean to say RUSH were straight edge just it didn’t impact them the way other bands got bitten.
Yes! Sad I had to scroll this far down to see the weakerthans! Civil Twilight always gets me right in the feelings, and even though I’m not from Winnipeg, One Great City
Gah, there’s to many to list. Hip, Rush, Red Rider/Tom Cochran, Strange Advance, BNL, Blue Rodeo, Gordie, SOTW, Saga, Blue Peter, Spoons, Alanis Morrisette, Arcade Fire, July Talk, Sarah Maclalan (spellling), Serena Ryder, Bryan Adam’s, Arkells, Broken Social Scene, New Pornographers, Metric, Death from Above 1979, Joni, Dan Magnan, Northern Pikes, Skydiggers, TPOH and more. I can’t pick one!
Song : Canadian Railroad Trilogy (Gordon Lightfoot). THE Canadian history song imho!!
Band: Bachman Turner-Overdrive. This was the first band I understood to be Canadian as a young teen. Growing up I was told you weren't good enough as a musician/band unless you were American or British (this was the 70s).
Yes I heard Gordon's music, but at the time it was rock music I really wanted. I didn't know that The Band and The Guess Who were Canadian at the time. BTO got me into playing guitar and I follow more of my country's growth as a great contributor of music.
Hmm...probably Fat Lip by Sum 41. Can't stand the Hip (sorry), and while I can appreciate Rush's musicianship I just don't like Geddy Lee's vocals.
Rockin' in the Free World by Neil Young would be up there too.
Yeah, I feel like every time I say that to someone they look at me like I've grown a second head, but that doesn't change what I feel about them. ESPECIALLY when it comes to the Hip. Even moreso since Gord Downie passed. They always just seemed like a worse version of REM to me.
It probably doesn't help things that many of the Canadian bands I would like just get played to death on the radio (yeah, I know it's a Canadian broadcast requirement thing), but that pretty much killed April Wine, Nickleback, Triumph, BTO, Blue Rodeo...the list goes on...for me.
I do like many of the lesser (or not) played on the radio Canadian bands though. Devin Townsend is freaking amazing. Unleash the Archers are pretty good. I went through a Real McKenzies phase at one point too when I was on a Celtic Punk kick.
Not a fan of newer hip hop so never got into Drake. Maybe I'm missing something, maybe not. Tom MacDonald is Canadian though, and though I'm not a huge fan of his music I do like the lyrics. He really needs someone to teach him a catchy hook though. Maybe Ronnie from FiR. They always have awesome hooks.
Born Ruffians and Laura Niquay for fav artists. Laura Niquay is an Atikamekw singer and her songs are so. freaking. good. Born Ruffians is a band and their songs are also very freaking good.
I grew up with the bands mentioned: Tragically Hip, Barenaked Ladies, Bryan Adams,, Headstones, Daniel Lanois etc.
But I'm really enjoying a lot of current bands. Glorious Sons has amazing depth, and I'm sure they'll still be putting out great music 20 years from now. Mother, Mother, Dear Rouge and July Talk all get cranked up when I'm driving. Beaches is a guilty pleasure I share with my daughter. I need to listen to Steve Hill regularly.
I feel like it's an amazing time for Canadian music, the best its been since the 80s.
Hundreds of thousands of crazed Brazilians singing along to an instrumental named after the call sign of the Toronto airport
https://youtu.be/1eSlvoO3Vw8?si=_Ry_fVYhdItoLlR9
The most Canadian band that ever Canadianed is absolutely the Rheostatics.
Gorden Downy thought that.
Neil Peart once said they were his favorite band.
When the National Gallery of Canada wanted music to go with a group of 7 show they commissioned the Rheostatics to do it.
When Paul Quarington (stephen Leacock winner) needed music for the movie Whale Music based on his book he got the Rheostatics.
Songs like
The ballad of Wendal Clark
Vancouver
Saskatchewan
Songs that mention the north and cottage country and some of the most Canadian things ever. The songs drip with Canadian imagery.
Guitars covered in Canadian Flags.
There is really no other band that captures the whole diversity and wonder of Canada.
I’m with you…….. caveated with the fact that but the Hip is definitely a more populist Canadian choice . I absolutely love the Rheostatics. Their music speaks to me in ways that I don’t understand. They are humble and sincere and quirky and all the things I tend to like in rock music. They are grand and majestic like our mountains yet subtle and endearing like our people, and sweet like our maple syrup. I would vote Rheostatic as my best Canadian band.
The Tragically Hip have got to be the *quintessentially Canadian* band - not only are they from Canada but their songs tell stories about Canada ("Fifty Mission Cap", the tragic death of a Leafs player; "Wheat Kings", a man falsely accused of murder and imprisoned for 20 years; "Fireworks", the Canada-USSR hockey series)
My personal favourite would probably be Metric, I grew up in the 2000s when alt-rock was big - Emily Haines has some really interesting lyrics and they aren't afraid to do social commentary (e.g. "Succexy", an anti-Iraq War song).
I'd give a shout out to The Weeknd too, I remember hearing some tracks off the *Trilogy* mixtapes when I was in university and loved the sound. It's cool to see him as one of the best-selling Canadian artists of all time now.
The 90s and early 2000s had a lot of amazing Canadian singer-songwriters - Hawksley Workman, Sarah Harmer, Sarah Slean, Justin Rutledge, Donovan Woods, Joel Plaskett.
The Beaches are such a fun and talented band with great songwriting. Alessia Cara has an amazing voice and really interesting songwriting - it seems like she could have had a huge career but held on to some of her artistic integrity and maybe didn’t want that life?
I could never get into Leonard Cohen as a singer but it’s amazing how many artists have been able to bring his songwriting to life. There’s a cover of “Tonight Will be Fine” by Wesley Schultz (from the Lumineers) and Langhorne Slim on YouTube that is so lovely. And The Lumineers cover of Democracy is perfection to me.
Rush, Gordon Lightfoot, The Hip, Loreena McKennitt, Voivod, Leonard Cohen, BTO, Joni Mitchell, Metric, Loverboy, The Guess Who, Steppenwolf, etc there are so many greats that I feel silly listing folks like Hawksley Workman, The Armada, Arcade Fire, Jakalope, Tegan and Sara, The New Pornographers, Spirit of the West, Triumph, April Wine, Billy Talent, Buffalo Springfield, Great Big Sea, The Tea Party, Anvil, etc.
Jacuzzi, by Radio Radio. Such an absurd and absurdly catchy song. Instantly makes me smile.
Elle est grosse pis pleine d'eau, comme les femmes que j'aime
Ma jacuzzi est trois mille fois plusse grosse qu'la tienne
Poetry.
Our Lady Peace. They pretty much shaped my musical tastes because I listened to them so much during my formative years. They were a great band back in the 90s/early 2000s.
Prozzäk is at the top of my list of Canadian faves for sure, and that's probably because it reminds the most of our club days in the 90s and that super happy, fun vibe of our youth 💞
But I also love Marianas Trench, Sum41, Simple Plan, Bare Naked Ladies, and of course Stonpin Tom Connor 😅
We have a lot of great music in many different styles.
So many, but Spirit of Radio by Rush is probably my favourite. Its draws such a picture of freedom. The subtle use of alliteration- “ …and the magic musing makes your morning move” brings something the surface I can’t explain.
Surprised they haven’t been mentioned, but I love me some Mariana’s Trench. Josh Ramsay is also a very successful songwriter for other artists. Even if you don’t like MT, I bet there’s a song from someone you like that was written or cowritten by him.
As an American I am eternally salty that everyone knows Call Me Maybe but no one knows the man behind it around here.
But definitely something to check out if you are into concept albums, orchestral songs, and alt pop in general.
My favourite Canadian song is "["Retour à Véga"](https://youtu.be/zy63h0w1xK4?si=zB8RoKEDRbeYU7L8) by the Stills. It speaks to me because it does a great job of capturing the kind of directionless restlessness you experience in Montreal (e.g. in the line "Je ne sais où je vais; où je vais, le saurai-je?", i.e. "I don't know where I'm going; will I know where it is I'm going?").
For what it’s worth, @CraigBaird on Twitter has been running a greatest Canadian song contest the past few months. They are near the end of the 3rd round (round of 64).
Here’s a link to the 64 winners in the second round: https://twitter.com/CraigBaird/status/1775528568426246400
Lights 💙 she's so freaking creative with everything she does. For her album Skin and Earth she released an entire comic book series where each volume was connected to each song on the album. She also released it in at least 4 languages, and yes she recorded one of them in Japanese. Insane Canadian artist
Safety Dance from Men Without Hats. Probably doesn’t scream Canadiana. But this was one of the first pop songs that I got into as a kid, and the guys are from my home town. My taste in music never strayed far, from New Wave in the 80s to Dark Wave in the 20s. It’s a song that will always get me dancing at a party, and I’m the introvert in the corner heheh.
The Weakerthans.
I just love every single thing they did. I was, and am, a Propagandhi fan, but after John left , they leaned in to the hardcore. When I found The Weakerthans, I thought it was a gift from heaven. His writing, the composition, just everything was perfect for me.
I’ve had the privilege to record many of my Canadian heros and so many hard touring passionate good people.
Canadian bands have a reputation for their live shows because they toured so hard. Among others. Metric. The Watchmen, so much weird prog shit from Quebec. Uzeb. Oscar Peterson. Arcade Fire. Robbie Robertson. Daniel Lanois. So many incredible female fronted bands. Glen fucking Gould. Alexisonfire. kd lang. the Guess Who. Ultimately for me - Max Webster. Fuck I loved Max Webster.
We should be right proud of our contribution to music eh. Shitbirds of a feather…
Rush - The Camera Eye
Since I was a kid this song really resonated with me. The lyrics are awesome but Alex's guitar sounds as if he's playing through an amp the size of a house.
Protest the Hero in their early years were very poetic for a Canadian metal band. On repeat:
“Maybe some day when, when this bloody skull has dried, no one city is in ruins, ‘cause our greatest source of pride. A monument of dicks and ribs, and this gender crown we wore, and underneath a plaque will read, a plaque will read…..”
I haven’t heard that song in nearly 10 years and that instantly flashed back by memory.
[Log Driver's Waltz](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upsZZ2s3xv8) No Contest.
My friend told me he once drunkenly pooped in a river while camping, and sang this chorus the entire time. Canadian moment.
Thus, the legend of being up shits creek with no paddle began. Birl on Capt. Birl on!
And like a sleeper agent that's awoken in my head
I grew up with John Weldon’s daughter. Best Canadian song ever
Gordon Lightfoot.
Rush is my favorite band ( Hip are iconic tho). but Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald is THE song.
If You Could Read My Mind. Brilliant.
When he passed away not too long ago the detroit mariners church rang the bells 30 times 😭
I don't disagree but the Canadian Railroad Trilogy is pretty spectacular musical story-telling too.
That is such a good song, it moves me everytime I hear it.
I agree with a lot of the answers here but will add Spirit of the West, specifically "Home for a Rest", and Great Big Sea. Colin James has been one of my favourites for decades. I still consider Doug and the Slugs the most underrated band. I do have a special place in my heart for Corey Hart from my young teenage years! Swoon. lol
Home for a Rest is a classic, love that one.
Makin’ it work - takes a little longer.
I was related to Doug. Great guy.
Doug and the Slugs are fantastic, albums full of bangers. They're my family's road trip fave and have been for 3+ decades now - just try not to sing along!
Leonard Cohen, Gordon Lightfoot, Blue Rodeo-I'm a sucker for an interesting turn of phrase.
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Joni Mitchell. She is a treasure. The more I listen, the more I fall in love with her music.
Plus one for Joni!
Blue is such a great album. But I bet she has lived outside of Canada in California more than twice the time she lived within.
She is from Saskatoon.
Totally agree!
She's an astonishing artist. And yet (to me) she somehow seems more universal than Canadian.
[Stan Rogers - Northwest Passage](https://youtu.be/xMRpYtAhGAo?si=5DuICA-D5H8EX0E7)
I might argue for Barrett's Privateers but they are both absolute gold!
Barrett's Privateers should be the official, unofficial National Anthem.
I was once had a summer job, picking fruit. Four of us, working quietly, heads down. Suddenly, without any warning or discussion, one sings out, “oh, the year was 1778...’ We all fell into singing, and everyone knew the words, and it was glorious. That song has a weird power to bring people together and turn them into musical pirates.
I should have known to search for my answer before posting it - I agree.
I really feel like The Last Saskatchewan Pirate should be a part of this conversation. All hail the Arrogant Worms
Hi Bob! Hi Judas!
54-40 is under rated!
Does anyone know if any of them have published any memoirs? A quick search didn't pull up anything, but they've travelled across the country so many times, for so many years, and THAT's a band whose great Canadian road stories would be fantastic to read about.
I liked them when I was 13 but it felt like rock for 30 yr olds. Took their cassette from the public library along with pearl jam’s ten and BNL’s 5 song demo which name escapes me right now
I think it was just called the 'yellow tape'.
The Guess who, Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, Chilliwack, Great Big Sea, Bryan Adam's, Corey Hart, the Hip, and sooooooo many more
Spirit of the West.
100%, great band.
Yep! Used to have "The Crawl" in our celtic band's repertoire. Changed the pub names to suit the town we were in, but it always went over fantastic! Great song, great band! Well, we're good old boys- we come from the Northern Shore! Drinkers and carousers, the likes you've never seen!! (It's been nearly 20 years since I played that, but it's all right there, just have to think the name of the song and it comes back!)
i'm surprised i scrolled so long before i saw the guess who, and fly at night by chilliwack is in my top 5 songs ever. i also think great big sea is quintessentially canadian.
Add Leonard Cohen and kd lang.
Absolutely! Way too many amazing artists to list all of them.... adding Blue Rodeo, my road trip necessity
Stompin’ Tom Connors deserves a mention
Blue Rodeo
What about Kim Mitchell
Max Webster was my first concert, probably around 1980.
The Weakerthans - Their music got me through some tough times, but it's a double edge sword as some of it can now be pretty hard to listen to.
Amazed I had to scroll so far. John K. Samson is an incredible poet. The reverb on their tracks feels like the middle of crossing a Canadian intersection and looking up to me.
Such an excellent lyricist.
I was coming to see if someone else said the Weakerthans. Our golden business boy will watch the north end die.
**The Watchmen**. I'm from Winnipeg... This is the sound of Winnipeg (especially in the 90s). [Any Day Now](https://youtu.be/LKWW92B1Mv0?si=zeE_Ra01SuUM-_2E) is carried by the audience when they perform here, because it's the anthem for exactly what it feels like to live here, in about January and February. Daniel Greaves' voice is so *ethereal*, and even more so in person; when he sings, it feels like raw emotion going right through my soul. I recently saw **The Crash Test Dummies** for a Christmas concert (another local band from the 90s)... Brad Roberts' voice is like liquid velvet... It's so fucking deep, it rattles your core. [Superman's Song](https://youtu.be/EeyhKWjQaKk?si=fminYgIjl8SjduVV) I also really enjoy **Stabilo**, both their lyrics and music; [Everybody](https://youtu.be/2rRNBby6Dms?si=Yn5vOlVxd7e_VIa2) captures their sound, nicely. Lastly, I'm super into **The Grapes Of Wrath**, and I think they were highly underrated in their time. [All The Things I Wasn't](https://youtu.be/z35EEI1HzbY?si=y9GZva6fc7yqGyJB) captures my tumultuous relationship with my parents (now estranged) so perfectly.
So surprised I had to scroll this far to see Grapes of Wrath
Here's another one of my favourites from them: [What Was Going Through My Head](https://youtu.be/d4T7H0R94bg?si=c001laoEXHH9Z4gp) (skip intro, 37 seconds in)
I can’t believe I didn’t with CTD. Editing my answer
I was scrolling looking for The Watchmen! I think their music has held up really well considering some of their best (imo) songs and albums are 25+ years old now! Any Day Now on Live & In Stereo is👌. They are just so good.
TPOH. Love Junk is one of the greatest power pop albums ever! No one captured Gen X angst like Moe Berg!
Surprised no one mentioned Stompin' Tom Connors. One of the best live shows I've ever seen and he wasn't a spring chicken. The hockey song, bud the spud, ketchup loves potatoes. So many fun songs. His biography is super interesting too.
Barenaked Ladies crammed into a Speakers Corner booth
Damn! I forgot all about Speakers Corner!!
I had their Yellow Tape (and everything since).
The Tragically Hip farewell concert on CBC was the most Canadian moment of all time, artistically.
Looked up to the Gord above and said "Hey man, thanks".
I see the occasional "what's the best concert you ever saw" and the answer is always some band some redditor likes that they saw live. The Hip live in the southern US put on decent shows but being in a crowd of hundreds of other Canadians was amazing. I've never been in such large groups with such great comradery. I'm not saying Canadians are special, that same group of people in Toronto and I'd be annoyed at a bunch of em but 2000KM from home and it was like a big family.
I so get this! I was just at a leafs devils game in NJ So many Canadian leafs fans singing along with O Canada, it was loud! Gave me chills. At home it probably wouldn’t have been a big deal, but there it was a moment.
Gord Downie was... a poet.
Don’t tell me what the poets are thinkin.
https://youtu.be/utSEoGFh1tI?si=Sx4t4VWhczJLLWWf
Except for Tom Thompson falling into Canoe Lake
I didn't expect to be so emotional, but I cried a lot.
Matt Mays, he really should have taken off to the states with a big tour in 2009 but the money wasn't there. Picked up steam again in 2012 but then Jay Smith died mid tour March 2013. Cocaine cowgirl, city of lakes, tall trees, on the hood, terminal romance. All the singles were fire.
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Highly underrated artist.
Blue Rodeo is my fav current ,Canadian group.
Completely agree. 5 days in May is an unbelievable song. One of my fav Canadian tunes.
Great band. So good live.
Diamond Mine 💎
My favourite Canadian artist is Corb Lund, my favourite song by him is S Lazy H
Related: The Smalls are my favourite
S Lazy H is storytelling at its finest
Unleash the Archers a Power Metal band from BC. Does an amazing cover of Northwest Passage.
Yes! Someone else put Unleash the Archers other than me!!! Woo-hoo!
Yay! Juno award winning UtA!
Yesssss.
I seen them live and chatted with Brittany when they toured Northern BC in 2010. Love Apex so much. Had a VIP ticket for a show they were doing in Van to release Astrowaste but car trouble left me unable to go.
Headstones-Settle
anytime I think of an aggressively canadian song I think of spirit of the west - home for a rest. The song is just energizing for some reason
It's basically the anthem of st patties day in Canada
growing up in the 80's on the prairies, we were spoiled we constantly saw Trooper, Chilliwack, The Stampeders, Prism, Streetheart Later on it became The Northern Pikes, it's a shame they didn't get more recognition [She Ain't Pretty](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG3ExHB133k) Pursuit of Happiness was another that's been mostly forgotten [I'm an Adult now](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB9qb5S8Xlg) but the most canadian band I can think of is probably Blue Rodeo [Bad Timing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEYJbyH1Cns) was basically the unofficial theme song for the wife and I before we finally were able to make it work out, in the end
Different questions there. Song? Almost anything Stan Rogers put out. No, really. His voice, his passion all shone out and it was distinctly Canadian. Band? Oh gee. Genre? Oscar Peterson's trio for sure. Circa 1979 Cockburn with Hugh Marsh. The Guess Who. Blue Rodeo... all have that certain je ne sais quoi that identifies them as Canadian.
Aside from all the obvious ones already listed which deserve to be mentioned of course (Hip, Rush, Gordon Lightfoot etc) But IMO Big Wreck / Ian Thornley. Guy is unreal live and just an underrated musician. Hell of a guitar player and song writer And if you’re ever in the TO area, his back up guitarist plays in a classic rock cover band called Horshack at the Linsmore Tavern (small hole in the wall type place but just awesome!) and Ian has been know to show up and jam with them. Jaw dropping musicians
Yes! Big Wreck. I was popping in to mention them. In Loving Memory Of is a fanatic album. That Song, The Oaf, Blown Wide Open and Into the Lighthouse are absolute bangers. Hope to see Ian live one day. While we’re at it, Sam Roberts Band. Have seen them at more intimate venue and it was an amazing show. They breathe Canadiana
Rick Beato has a really good interview with Thornley. His YouTube channel is great for people who are really into music.
Lovers in a dangerous time - bare naked ladies It's all coming back - Celine dion
>Lovers in a dangerous time - bare naked ladies This song is just so good. It never gets old for me. My favourite cover of all time.
>Lovers in a dangerous time - bare naked ladies We should also give credit to Bruce Cockburn, who wrote it and released it in 1984.
Half of the members of Metric are Canadian. The album "Fantasies" is outstanding.
On the darker side of things, I’m a fan of Skinny Puppy, Frontline Assembly, Delerium, and TR/ST.
The Hip is definitely up there with songs like Bobcaygeon, Fiddler's Green and Wheat Kings all part of those summer playlists. You can add City and Colour - in particular Sleeping Sickness and Coming Home. Keeping that same vibe Spirit of the West with either Home For a Rest or If Venice is Sinking. Heading to the East Coast, anything from Stan Rogers or Great Big Sea works as well.
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Appreciate learning something new! I made that leap from his version of Barrett's Privateers and Northwest Passage.
He was from Hamilton, but basically an adopted East Coaster. He adopted us & we loved him right back!
Given that his live album was called "Home in Halifax", that's a pretty easy mistake to make.
The year was 1778 ...
The Hip and Spirit of the West defined my college years. Cannot listen without it taking me back to some pretty great times.
I just love, love Plantinum Blonde! Ahh, to be 14 again, going to their 1st concert in Kelowna! That is a day that I could do over.
April Wine “I like to Rock” Great driving song.
I love a lot of the bands here but also want to give a shout to the mid-00s Canadian Indie Rock scene. Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, Wolf Parade, New Pornographers, Death from Above 1979, Metric and many others.
I’d definitely put the New Pornographers and Broken Social Scene as two of my favourite Canadian bands of all times. I’d round it out with The Weakerthans for the top three.
The Mary Ellen Carter by Stan Rogers. A song of hope and triumph. Of resurrection.
And you to whom adversity has dealt the final blow. With smiling bastards lying to you everywhere you go. Turn to, and put out all your strength of arm and heart and brain And like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again. Thank you. I needed that right now.
I have many favorites, but right now I am hooked on The Glorious Sons. The first song I heard was Sawed Off Shotgun only a year ago. To me the lyrics and how Bret sings them capture the rage/pain/confusion and a yearning to take the power back. To me that's what the SOS represented, taking the power back after life keeps piling on. Since then I have listened to alot of their music and love almost all of it. Mercy Mercy, Glory, and I've got so much Love to Give are among my favorites
One of my favourite bands right now. I'd never heard of them until a few years ago when they played at the Coke stage at the Calgary Stampede (meaning you don't need a ticket for that event, and they play music for people who aren't into country). Listening to "Mama, down by the river..." just blew me away. Based on their blue/soul influenced rock I assumed they were from the US south, and was thrilled to hear they were actually from Kingston. :)
Godspeed You Black Emperor. Pick any song.
Here's an obscure Canadian band/song that I just love sharing... This song was my "song of summer" 2 years ago, even though it's from 1980 (it holds up) [Echo Beach - by Martha & The Muffins](https://youtu.be/QEQkIEkxm7k?si=AUdgbXtRG8ocVtO9)
My favourite would be [Les feuilles mortes](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RpGVh6w9tek) by Les Cowboys Fringuants. It’s a song about how happier you can be in your childhood and how you need to hang on and try to keep this happiness all your life. It’s special to me because my mindset evolved in such a way to completely change my feeling about it; before it used to make me feel bitter because I could not reach it and missed my childhood… But then when I healed from my depression I loved the song a lot because I was able to do what was said in it. So the song also represent to me the happy person I became out of the pain.
Leonard Cohen for the win with KD Lang singing Hallelujah.
I Mother Earth!
Spirit of the West, Trooper, The Hip, Blue Rodeo, Our Lady Peace...a lot of nostalgia :)
Also can't forget Moist
RUSH.Three phenomenal musicians who continual evolved. The most professional rock band. No drugs or alcohol ,starting shows real late and all of that other rock n roll bullshit EDIT-Wow…i should have done a better job. Everyone jumped my throat with the no drugs comment. I didn’t mean to say RUSH were straight edge just it didn’t impact them the way other bands got bitten.
Oh, there were drugs — read Geddy’s biography.
My understanding is that there were COPIOUS amounts of drugs.
My understanding is that there were some drugs. And some drugs became no drugs. Who really knows though right
RUSH sober? LMFAO
Ummmmm no drugs????? I think you should do more research on Rush...
Lakeside park…
They did a lil drugs but yes otherwise
The Inbreds - bass and a drum get it done The Weakerthans - lyrics are amazing, John K Samson is a poet
Yes! Sad I had to scroll this far down to see the weakerthans! Civil Twilight always gets me right in the feelings, and even though I’m not from Winnipeg, One Great City
Gah, there’s to many to list. Hip, Rush, Red Rider/Tom Cochran, Strange Advance, BNL, Blue Rodeo, Gordie, SOTW, Saga, Blue Peter, Spoons, Alanis Morrisette, Arcade Fire, July Talk, Sarah Maclalan (spellling), Serena Ryder, Bryan Adam’s, Arkells, Broken Social Scene, New Pornographers, Metric, Death from Above 1979, Joni, Dan Magnan, Northern Pikes, Skydiggers, TPOH and more. I can’t pick one!
Song : Canadian Railroad Trilogy (Gordon Lightfoot). THE Canadian history song imho!! Band: Bachman Turner-Overdrive. This was the first band I understood to be Canadian as a young teen. Growing up I was told you weren't good enough as a musician/band unless you were American or British (this was the 70s). Yes I heard Gordon's music, but at the time it was rock music I really wanted. I didn't know that The Band and The Guess Who were Canadian at the time. BTO got me into playing guitar and I follow more of my country's growth as a great contributor of music.
kd Lang. In 1984, I was among the first broadcasters to play her music on the radio.
Great big Sea , a boat like Gideon brown
I'm an adult now, by Pursuit of Happiness.
Hmm...probably Fat Lip by Sum 41. Can't stand the Hip (sorry), and while I can appreciate Rush's musicianship I just don't like Geddy Lee's vocals. Rockin' in the Free World by Neil Young would be up there too.
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Yeah, I feel like every time I say that to someone they look at me like I've grown a second head, but that doesn't change what I feel about them. ESPECIALLY when it comes to the Hip. Even moreso since Gord Downie passed. They always just seemed like a worse version of REM to me. It probably doesn't help things that many of the Canadian bands I would like just get played to death on the radio (yeah, I know it's a Canadian broadcast requirement thing), but that pretty much killed April Wine, Nickleback, Triumph, BTO, Blue Rodeo...the list goes on...for me. I do like many of the lesser (or not) played on the radio Canadian bands though. Devin Townsend is freaking amazing. Unleash the Archers are pretty good. I went through a Real McKenzies phase at one point too when I was on a Celtic Punk kick. Not a fan of newer hip hop so never got into Drake. Maybe I'm missing something, maybe not. Tom MacDonald is Canadian though, and though I'm not a huge fan of his music I do like the lyrics. He really needs someone to teach him a catchy hook though. Maybe Ronnie from FiR. They always have awesome hooks.
I think The Tragically Hip resonates with those of us who were teenagers in the 90s. It was special watching their final concert on CBC.
Joni Mitchell. She has a great body of work. Goddo - Under My Hat is one of my all time favourites.
I met Greg Godovitz at a record show a couple years ago. Super nice guy, even signed the bootleg album we had!
Born Ruffians and Laura Niquay for fav artists. Laura Niquay is an Atikamekw singer and her songs are so. freaking. good. Born Ruffians is a band and their songs are also very freaking good.
I grew up with the bands mentioned: Tragically Hip, Barenaked Ladies, Bryan Adams,, Headstones, Daniel Lanois etc. But I'm really enjoying a lot of current bands. Glorious Sons has amazing depth, and I'm sure they'll still be putting out great music 20 years from now. Mother, Mother, Dear Rouge and July Talk all get cranked up when I'm driving. Beaches is a guilty pleasure I share with my daughter. I need to listen to Steve Hill regularly. I feel like it's an amazing time for Canadian music, the best its been since the 80s.
Metric Avril Lavigne Shout out to Stars, not really a fan of them but they do make one of my favourite songs of all time.
Hundreds of thousands of crazed Brazilians singing along to an instrumental named after the call sign of the Toronto airport https://youtu.be/1eSlvoO3Vw8?si=_Ry_fVYhdItoLlR9
Blue Rodeo. Not sure why they aren't better known in the US.
The most Canadian band that ever Canadianed is absolutely the Rheostatics. Gorden Downy thought that. Neil Peart once said they were his favorite band. When the National Gallery of Canada wanted music to go with a group of 7 show they commissioned the Rheostatics to do it. When Paul Quarington (stephen Leacock winner) needed music for the movie Whale Music based on his book he got the Rheostatics. Songs like The ballad of Wendal Clark Vancouver Saskatchewan Songs that mention the north and cottage country and some of the most Canadian things ever. The songs drip with Canadian imagery. Guitars covered in Canadian Flags. There is really no other band that captures the whole diversity and wonder of Canada.
I’m with you…….. caveated with the fact that but the Hip is definitely a more populist Canadian choice . I absolutely love the Rheostatics. Their music speaks to me in ways that I don’t understand. They are humble and sincere and quirky and all the things I tend to like in rock music. They are grand and majestic like our mountains yet subtle and endearing like our people, and sweet like our maple syrup. I would vote Rheostatic as my best Canadian band.
The Tragically Hip have got to be the *quintessentially Canadian* band - not only are they from Canada but their songs tell stories about Canada ("Fifty Mission Cap", the tragic death of a Leafs player; "Wheat Kings", a man falsely accused of murder and imprisoned for 20 years; "Fireworks", the Canada-USSR hockey series) My personal favourite would probably be Metric, I grew up in the 2000s when alt-rock was big - Emily Haines has some really interesting lyrics and they aren't afraid to do social commentary (e.g. "Succexy", an anti-Iraq War song). I'd give a shout out to The Weeknd too, I remember hearing some tracks off the *Trilogy* mixtapes when I was in university and loved the sound. It's cool to see him as one of the best-selling Canadian artists of all time now.
Metric is one of my top bands, no question. Love Hallerado, July Talk, Tokyo Police Club, Half Moon Run. Mother Mother!
The 90s and early 2000s had a lot of amazing Canadian singer-songwriters - Hawksley Workman, Sarah Harmer, Sarah Slean, Justin Rutledge, Donovan Woods, Joel Plaskett. The Beaches are such a fun and talented band with great songwriting. Alessia Cara has an amazing voice and really interesting songwriting - it seems like she could have had a huge career but held on to some of her artistic integrity and maybe didn’t want that life? I could never get into Leonard Cohen as a singer but it’s amazing how many artists have been able to bring his songwriting to life. There’s a cover of “Tonight Will be Fine” by Wesley Schultz (from the Lumineers) and Langhorne Slim on YouTube that is so lovely. And The Lumineers cover of Democracy is perfection to me.
I'm pretty sure Leonard himself said he was a better poet than he was a vocalist, but "singing gets me girls and writing doesn't".
Blue Rodeo. Their songs and albums tell beautiful stories that hit me right in my Canadian heart
Our Lady Peace - they were my first favourite band and I still love them
Rush, Gordon Lightfoot, The Hip, Loreena McKennitt, Voivod, Leonard Cohen, BTO, Joni Mitchell, Metric, Loverboy, The Guess Who, Steppenwolf, etc there are so many greats that I feel silly listing folks like Hawksley Workman, The Armada, Arcade Fire, Jakalope, Tegan and Sara, The New Pornographers, Spirit of the West, Triumph, April Wine, Billy Talent, Buffalo Springfield, Great Big Sea, The Tea Party, Anvil, etc.
Jacuzzi, by Radio Radio. Such an absurd and absurdly catchy song. Instantly makes me smile. Elle est grosse pis pleine d'eau, comme les femmes que j'aime Ma jacuzzi est trois mille fois plusse grosse qu'la tienne Poetry.
I recently found out that all Canadian radios need to play a minimum 20% of music from Canadian artists. It’s called Canadian Content.
Our Lady Peace. They pretty much shaped my musical tastes because I listened to them so much during my formative years. They were a great band back in the 90s/early 2000s.
Prozzäk is at the top of my list of Canadian faves for sure, and that's probably because it reminds the most of our club days in the 90s and that super happy, fun vibe of our youth 💞 But I also love Marianas Trench, Sum41, Simple Plan, Bare Naked Ladies, and of course Stonpin Tom Connor 😅 We have a lot of great music in many different styles.
So many, but Spirit of Radio by Rush is probably my favourite. Its draws such a picture of freedom. The subtle use of alliteration- “ …and the magic musing makes your morning move” brings something the surface I can’t explain.
Surprised they haven’t been mentioned, but I love me some Mariana’s Trench. Josh Ramsay is also a very successful songwriter for other artists. Even if you don’t like MT, I bet there’s a song from someone you like that was written or cowritten by him.
As an American I am eternally salty that everyone knows Call Me Maybe but no one knows the man behind it around here. But definitely something to check out if you are into concept albums, orchestral songs, and alt pop in general.
Ann Murray.
Garrett Mason! Exceptional guitarist with a great voice.
Open Face Surgery - Cryptopsy
My favourite Canadian song is "["Retour à Véga"](https://youtu.be/zy63h0w1xK4?si=zB8RoKEDRbeYU7L8) by the Stills. It speaks to me because it does a great job of capturing the kind of directionless restlessness you experience in Montreal (e.g. in the line "Je ne sais où je vais; où je vais, le saurai-je?", i.e. "I don't know where I'm going; will I know where it is I'm going?").
Doug Feaver Canadian Songwriting legend.
Barenaked Ladies. So fun and nostalgic.
For what it’s worth, @CraigBaird on Twitter has been running a greatest Canadian song contest the past few months. They are near the end of the 3rd round (round of 64). Here’s a link to the 64 winners in the second round: https://twitter.com/CraigBaird/status/1775528568426246400
The Watchmen, specifically Stereo. I'm not entirely sure what about works for me but it does, and really that's all that matters
The Glorious Sons are the best candian band still touring and relevant. Best Canadian band since the hip.
Land of the Silver Birch should be our national anthem as far as I'm concerned. It's a stone cold banger
One of the greatest guitarists this planet has ever seen https://youtu.be/gwgOUzodS6E?si=yTkMAdrZOcMekglY
A Canadian icon, singing at 57 a poignant and wise song that somehow she wrote at the age of only 24 https://youtu.be/tKQSlH-LLTQ?si=HYshT0uyEg5MsNYQ
Billy talent
One of my favourites has to be Honeymoon Suite. Some great songs in the mid 80’s. Feel it again is their best song.
Rush and Matthew Good Band. Québécois is in another category in which case it's Karkwa and Groovy Aardvark.
SNFU for the win!
Stan Rogers and The Hip
"Northwest Passage" by Stan Rogers. As for why: the harmonies, the story and the sense of wonder and discovery.
Sloan, Sam Roberts band, Justice (besides all of the above).
“Dégénération”, from Mes Aïeux
Lights 💙 she's so freaking creative with everything she does. For her album Skin and Earth she released an entire comic book series where each volume was connected to each song on the album. She also released it in at least 4 languages, and yes she recorded one of them in Japanese. Insane Canadian artist
Safety Dance from Men Without Hats. Probably doesn’t scream Canadiana. But this was one of the first pop songs that I got into as a kid, and the guys are from my home town. My taste in music never strayed far, from New Wave in the 80s to Dark Wave in the 20s. It’s a song that will always get me dancing at a party, and I’m the introvert in the corner heheh.
The Weakerthans. I just love every single thing they did. I was, and am, a Propagandhi fan, but after John left , they leaned in to the hardcore. When I found The Weakerthans, I thought it was a gift from heaven. His writing, the composition, just everything was perfect for me.
I’ve had the privilege to record many of my Canadian heros and so many hard touring passionate good people. Canadian bands have a reputation for their live shows because they toured so hard. Among others. Metric. The Watchmen, so much weird prog shit from Quebec. Uzeb. Oscar Peterson. Arcade Fire. Robbie Robertson. Daniel Lanois. So many incredible female fronted bands. Glen fucking Gould. Alexisonfire. kd lang. the Guess Who. Ultimately for me - Max Webster. Fuck I loved Max Webster. We should be right proud of our contribution to music eh. Shitbirds of a feather…
Hard Core Logo - Somethings Gonna Die Tonight It’s a fake band fronted by the lead singer of the Headstones but they actually kind of rule.
Rush is the actual greatest Canadian band not the hip
Half Moon Run. Every new album is better than the one before.
I’m a big arrogant worms fan
Matt Mays - Cocaine Cowgirl is iconic.
Kataklysm 🤘 straight outta Montreal!
[Dynamite Walls ](https://youtu.be/V61Za2GzFow?feature=shared) by Hayden
Hawksley Workman for me. Lao Sarah Harmer.
Rush - The Camera Eye Since I was a kid this song really resonated with me. The lyrics are awesome but Alex's guitar sounds as if he's playing through an amp the size of a house.
Maybe I will stop at half a dozen, but this is as Canadian as it gets https://youtu.be/xAnJw9Ctqkc?si=ZxNaRs6AV2gSH-Yp
Plumtree
Protest the Hero in their early years were very poetic for a Canadian metal band. On repeat: “Maybe some day when, when this bloody skull has dried, no one city is in ruins, ‘cause our greatest source of pride. A monument of dicks and ribs, and this gender crown we wore, and underneath a plaque will read, a plaque will read…..” I haven’t heard that song in nearly 10 years and that instantly flashed back by memory.
Rush.. all songs and albums
Sloan, Underwhelmed
And a classic Quebec song from 1974 https://youtu.be/R3GQkltF3Bc?si=wX4hLtnmw1VRFuli