DaveLovesDee

Maybe this week's England manager should start picking players in their 20's......

dbd33

I too was impressed at the comprehensive reach of the BBC. It seems they're everywhere.

Shard

Can't say I ever listened to the Hip, although had a passing awareness of their existence. Can anyone recommend a decent song? Heard a bit of their music on the news story and it sounded fairly bland.

BristolUK

Last night on CBC radio they were doing some sort of tribute and they played his favourite band song. Something with Vienna in the title.

I must admit I didn't feel it even reached bland. It must have had some other meaning for him.

Partially discharged

I agree with you. To me they are the Canadian Status Quo or AC/DC...every song sounds the same to me. I must admit I haven't delved into the lyrics much as the sound just doesn't move me. The Ottawa 'modern rock' station has been playing the Hip non stop since his death was announced and the 'classic rock' station has threatened to play them non stop until Monday. Well at least it is a break from wall to wall Supertramp, Eagles,AC/DC, Guess Who, Rush.

I refer to them as the Tragically Tragic. They benefitted a lot from CanCon regulations.

In 1995 my younger brother got married in the UK to a lady from the UK. At that point he had lived in Canada for about 14 years so was a hybrid of Canadian/British. He brought a collection of songs for the wedding DJ to play at the pub where the reception was. Amongst them were some Tragically Hip songs (including the song with the chorus of 'two fifty for a hot dog and a buck and a half for a beer') which were cheered loudly by the Canadian contingent and the british contingent headed for the bar or just sat down.

Pulp, Oasis, Blur songs were quickly re-introduced by the DJ.

dbd33

But this is just a difference in where one grew up. Canadians would be similarly baffled by the British affection for Noddy Holder.

magnumpi

Exactly this, Hip music would be a Canadians life sound track, many songs mentioned parts of Canada, these songs were played at the,Cottage, on the beach, back yard BBQ, college dorms, similar to Floyd or Elton John even

Personally I have been a fan since the first time I heard ahead by a century 8 years ago, and felt very sad yesterday, to Canadians this is their Lady Diana and the death of their Canadian poet Laureate

Partially discharged

Well put. Add Pan's People, The Wombles, The Wurzels, The Shadows, to that list.

dbd33

I note that you have correctly discerned my level of appreciation for the music of the Tragically Hip. Good name though, you have to give them that.

Atlantic Xpat

Is that like a Ford Lariat?

I'm a bit bemused about the the national outpouring of grief over Mr Downey but I've never been a fan of the hip. The tunes are OK but his voice grated on me something rotten.

magnumpi

Oops auto correct strikes again

He did struggle to sing well the last year or so but before that I liked his tone and distinctive song voice, plus lots of the songs are easy open chords and great to play at home on guitar.

Paul_Shepherd

I think this is exactly it, to most Canadians the hip is their life soundtrack...and because the lyrics are so interwoven in Canadian culture, there is sense of pride and a strong patriotic fevour which shouts I am Canadian and this is my country I grew up in and passionately love.

I think its the lyrics of the tragically hip songs that do it, not so much the music,I do think the music is bland, nothing stands out, but again to your average Canadian hip fan....this isnt important....because its about the lyrics.

For me personally its the music that always grabs my attention, good lyrics are a bonus.

Novocastrian

I will admit to agreeing with the last bit. It has been the grounds for my almost life long appreciation of Dylan. But, quite frankly, Tragically Hip were,,, well just tragic, exactly because their lyrics were designed to appeal to Canadians.

If I was forced to chose a Canadian, it would be Leonard Cohen.

Paul_Shepherd

Exactly... tragically hip...more so the lyrics were purely for Canadians. The music is a sort of nothingness...almost as though it was something knocked up to accompany the lyrics, not being disrespectful to the dead, just the way I feel.

I think my favourite classic Canadian artist is Gordon Lightfoot.....I think he is also very much a Canadian musical icon. and in my opinion his music way better, its easy listening, but meaningful.

Music is subjective though, comparing those two artists is like comparing apples and oranges I suppose.

JamesM

The Tragically Hip are the love child of CRTC.

If Canada's airwaves were wild and free then these people would never have been so poisoned by such dross.

Gord did do some stuff for the inuit aboriginals though- unlike most of these cradles.