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Posted by The Ear on Jan-27-2010 06:05:

What artists define Canadian music today?

As a preamble, I am constantly seeking music in all its forms. My typical domain has always been to strive to find the hidden gems originating from elsewhere on this planet, and have done so always safe in the knowledge that I knew what was the defining charasteristic and/or artist of the Canadian music scene as it pertained to genres.

Take rock music for example. For years, no matter who I talked to, the answer would always be the Tragically Hip. For a brief time some would answer Matthew Good, or Our Lady Peace (shudder). Often, elsewhere in the world people will still answer with Rush. But now there seems, for good or bad, to be a void in the tapestry as to what sound, or sentiment, or style, tends to typify the "Canadian" sound.

Now naturally there will always be an element of regionalism. For instance, out East there's always been the influence of Celtic music (predominantly via the fiddle) with the likes of Great Big Sea, et. al., and no one can deny that there is a distinctly unique French music scene in Quebec. But throughout the 1990's especially there was, for the most part, an undeniable affiliation with "The 'Hip" that I found regardless of what province I was in.

As we have recently crossed the threshold into a new decade (and while watching the history of the US cattle industry documentary if you must know) this question has crossed my mind. Given that the dominant binding element on this board (hopefully) is music, and that I cannot arrive at any resounding answer myself, I pose the question to TOTA:

What band or artist defines Canadian music for you?


Posted by Shaya007 on Jan-27-2010 06:07:

Re: What artists define Canadian music today?

quote:
Originally posted by The Ear


the Tragically Hip.


Posted by Owen M on Jan-27-2010 06:34:





edit: I want to fall asleep between Shania's legs.


Posted by Mach X on Jan-27-2010 06:39:



Posted by LKD on Jan-27-2010 06:44:

i almost thought this was a _ _ _ _ _ thread.


Posted by Owen M on Jan-27-2010 07:01:


Posted by Spam on Jan-27-2010 12:15:

Deadmau5


Posted by ChemEnhanced on Jan-27-2010 13:33:

Nick T


Posted by CAKE on Jan-27-2010 13:48:

I don't like them but isint Nickelback pretty huge


Posted by magikb on Jan-27-2010 13:56:

unfortunately Nickelback has been representing Canadian music a lot *BARF*

Michael Buble has done an amazing job here and all over the world. As well as Bryan Adams.

For me, I think The Tragically Hip will always be the best. I haven't followed there stuff as much as I used to though and I know their popularity back then never really went too far beyond the Canadian borders either, but they were always at the top of their game.


Posted by The Ear on Jan-27-2010 14:37:

Ugh, well at least the Nickelback shit is out of the way now.

But as a corollary to my initial question, I guess one must ask: Outside of regional sounds, is there even a Canadian identity in music anymore? Or did Nickelback rape the shit out of that too with their formulaic garbage?


Posted by AnitA on Jan-27-2010 15:15:

Plenty of sick Canadian metal bands out there /m\

Devin Townsend (Strappying Young Lad) is killing it

Sebastian Bach (grew up in Ontario) is still rocking it too


Posted by Jayx1 on Jan-27-2010 15:24:

the artist defining canadian music right now (unfortunately) is Justin Bieber. full stop


Posted by CAKE on Jan-27-2010 15:29:

I really like Alexisonfire but I don't think they define music in anyway


Posted by ~C~ on Jan-27-2010 16:23:

Def. The Hip and 2nd would probably be Shania Twain. She made me appreciate (somewhat) country music w/ a pop twist.

And honestly, I can't think of anyone or any band that stands out to me right NOW...TODAY as defining 'Canadian' music.


Posted by LKD on Jan-27-2010 16:46:

well here's a question. do the artists defining music have to be current and canadians based out of canada still?


Posted by Geoffb3 on Jan-27-2010 17:01:

Rheostatics

quote:
Originally posted by ~C~
And honestly, I can't think of anyone or any band that stands out to me right NOW...TODAY as defining 'Canadian' music.


Posted by ~C~ on Jan-27-2010 17:12:

what ever happened to Feist? She was pretty huge for a while... I'm so out of the loop. LOL

K-Os is decent as well....if I had to pick someone fairly recent.


Posted by The Ear on Jan-27-2010 17:23:

quote:
Originally posted by LKD
well here's a question. do the artists defining music have to be current and canadians based out of canada still?


I'd hazard to say that to be considered to be "defining" Canadian music you could go one of two routes: 1)Inside the borders � so a band or artist that Canadians uniquely identify as homegrown talent that represents what it is to be Canadian through their work (subject matter, tone, musicianship); or 2)Outside our borders � by being clearly identifiable as Canadian and is contributing to shaping the international music landscape without cowing to the latest trends in music as a maxim so as to sell more albums.

Like I said, I have no answer to any of this, but it's a loaded question for sure. In fact, it's a consistently developing thought which I hope to be able to keep refining throughout this discussion.

But to relate back to The 'Hip for a moment, at their peak most people around the world if asked to identify a distinctly Canadian band or sound (if they knew any artists of that ilk at all) would likely point to the Tragically Hip as the vanguards of what it meant to be a Canadian musician as opposed to just a popular musician in general.

So I guess to further refine it would be to posit: if you were to try to describe/play "Canadian" music for someone from another country when they asked you to play some for them, would you still turn to The Tragically Hip and say "that's Canadian right there" or is there another artist out there that would now take up that primacy of place?

To answer your question of whether or not they need to be current, I'd say no. But if it goes too far back & their contributions no longer resonate with Canadians themselves, then it would be safe to say they really don't define anything & are now resigned to history.


Posted by LKD on Jan-27-2010 17:55:

Only going to mention artists that actually write their own music here and it's going to be a mix of world influence and huge only within canada.


Leonard Cohen
Bif Naked
Sum 41
Blue Rodeo (are they still around?)
Hawksley Workman
Barenaked Ladies
Neil Young
Big Sugar
Thornley
Arcade Fire (fuck I can't stand em but they're huge)
Bachman�Turner Overdrive
Delerium
USS (Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker)
Sarah Mclachlan
Stabilo



more to list when i remember

Edit:
Hot Hot Heat
Danko Jones
Melissa Auf der Maur
Front Line Assembly
K'Naan
Gob
Sam Roberts
Social Code
Three Days Grace
David Usher/Moist
MSTRKRFT/Death From Above 1979
Prozzak/The Philosopher Kings


Posted by Schadenfreude on Jan-27-2010 18:09:

arcade fire is huge with the indie hipster douchebags across the globe. I hate the crowd, but the band is win.


Posted by LKD on Jan-27-2010 18:09:

quote:
Originally posted by Schadenfreude
arcade fire is huge with the indie hipster douchebags across the globe. I hate the crowd, but the band is win.


i hate their music cos it's so sticky and they always seem to be crying.


Posted by LKD on Jan-27-2010 18:21:

oh let's not forget good ol Bryan Adams


Posted by Adamo on Jan-27-2010 18:34:

Nelly Furtado da best.


Posted by The Ear on Jan-27-2010 18:40:

quote:
Originally posted by Schadenfreude
arcade fire is huge with the indie hipster douchebags across the globe. I hate the crowd, but the band is win.


Likewise. Has anyone heard anything regarding new material from them?


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