Why Canada

Subject: Why Canada
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 28 Jul 15 - 12:39 PM

I have been going through my music lately and putting a lot on computer. As I went through hundreds of cds and albums, it came to my notice how many of the great artists, singers and songwriters in many Genres were Canadian. In fact, Rolling Stone tells us that The three best selling femal artists of the last 20 years are all Canadian; Celine Dion, Shania Twain and Alanis Morisette " Then there is Neil Yong, Joni Mitchell. Leonard Cohen, Bruce Cockburn, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, k d lang, Sarah MacLaughlin, Diana Krall, Loreena McKennitt, Oscar Peterson,Jan Arden...well the list goes on. But Canada is a huge place with a population of less that 40 million people, so why SO much talent..the weather, the culture, Winter, Just thinking about this, any thoughts ?

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 28 Jul 15 - 02:11 PM

Good question. One could also mention Salli Terri, whose name has come up on another thread recently re the Wedlock [When Adam Was Created] song, but whose Wikipedia entry show her to have performed in several different genres.

≈M≈

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 28 Jul 15 - 02:38 PM

Could it be because kids are still educated in writing rhyming poetry in school? I talked to Stan Rogers once, also Canadian but not mentioned above, about admiring his writing. He said he was careful to make sure his lines scanned and he tried for perfect rhymes, not approximate.

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: PHJim
Date: 28 Jul 15 - 03:10 PM

A few names that should not be left out are Ian Tyson, Sylvia Tyson, Rufus Wainright, Jackie Washington, Ken Whitely, Chris Whitely, Mose Scarlett, Hank Snow, Stompin' Tom Connors, Willie P. Bennett, Natalie McMaster, Jeff Healy, The Leahy Family from Lakefield, Don Thompson, J.P. Cormier. . .
There are many more, just as talented who haven't gained international notoriety.

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: PHJim
Date: 28 Jul 15 - 03:12 PM

Gordon Lightfoot

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: GUEST,Manitoba
Date: 28 Jul 15 - 03:27 PM

The Band.

the winter's long

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: GUEST,Sol
Date: 28 Jul 15 - 05:14 PM

Nothing else to do but practise if your snowed in all winter
(Apologies, that was a poor attempt at a joke - eh).

Seriously, 40 million people is a lot of bods. I'm not knocking the fantastic talent that comes out of Canada. I am suggesting that the numbers are in accordance with the population (with regards to the western anglophile pop culture).

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jul 15 - 05:43 PM

Karmic mulligans for Justin Bieber, Pamela Anderson, Cojo, Keanu Reeves, William Shatner et al. It all evens out in the end... hopefully.

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: Ed T
Date: 28 Jul 15 - 05:50 PM

Up until recent years, the government of Canada invested significantly into culture, music being one major area. Early in their careers, Canadian songs and songwriters benefitted from Canadian content requirement in radio played. I suspect this had a significant benefit.

A visit to many areas of Canada, especially small towns and rural areas, demonstrates the genuine interest in music. This interest, and the encouragement it brings, likely plays some part in this success-with performers well known, and others lesser know beyond Canadas borders.

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jul 15 - 05:53 PM

Sol the population of Canada is 35 million. If you're talking anglophone culture you can subtract the population of Quebec from that which is 8 million. That leaves 27 million. Just the same.

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: Ed T
Date: 28 Jul 15 - 06:06 PM

Some others, from a variety of music types:Anne Murray, the Guess Who, Wilf Carter, Brian Adams, Daniel Lanois, Walter Ostanek, Nickelback, Hedley, Rita MacNeil, Gene MacMillan, Tragically Hip, Steppenwolf, Glass Tiger.

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: Ed T
Date: 28 Jul 15 - 06:08 PM

Pamela Anderson a singer? Possibly. But, definately not an acordian player.

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: GUEST,Frogprince on iPhone
Date: 28 Jul 15 - 07:20 PM

Pamela is Canadian? must be from the northern mountain regions...

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: gnu
Date: 28 Jul 15 - 07:31 PM

I think it's got to do with the fact that many are (less than) two or three generations away from the farm and had to make their own entertainment and music was part of it. I do believe "snow" had some play. As Ed pointed out, CBC had a hand but I suspect the talent would have risen anyway.

Now, rural people have to be self-reliant and that provides lots of lore and fodder for songs. Look at Appalachia... rich music and lore and story telling. Same deal in the Great White Frozen.

But, I agree that when one tallies up the talent, Canucks do seem to have an inordinate amount of entertainers per capita OVERALL. And most in this forum don't even know what comes out of Acadie, La Belle and our First Nations. So it's got to be some combination of all the above in the various posts.

Jus'sayin eh?

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: GUEST,Hi lp
Date: 28 Jul 15 - 07:53 PM

Michael buble, Jane Siberry , Lenny bureau , drake, Mary jame lam mind, nelly furtado . Just seems like a lot for a small country , population wise. Oh and The Cowboy Junkies, great band. Maybe it's the reliance on neighbours in winter and many kitchen
Parties, at least in Atlantic Canada .

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 28 Jul 15 - 07:56 PM

No one mentioned James Keelaghan? David Francey? Eileen McGann?

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: pdq
Date: 28 Jul 15 - 08:03 PM

Bob Nolan (aka Robert Nobles) from Nova Scoita, the lead baritone voice for the Sons of the Pioneers.

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: Ed T
Date: 28 Jul 15 - 08:11 PM

Murray McLaughlan, a fine singer/songwriter who possibly few outside of Canada know, or remember.

Murray McLaughlan 

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Jul 15 - 08:58 PM

Denny Doherty, Mamas and Papas.

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: Elmore
Date: 28 Jul 15 - 11:03 PM

Finest Kind, Garnet Rogers, Nathan Rogers, Ian and Sylvia, Roy Johnstone. Lynn Miles, Friends of Fiddler's Green, Le Vent Du Norde, La Bottine Souriante, Ken Whitely, The Barra- MacNeils, and many, many more, some passed on. Is Margaret Christl out of the business?

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: PHJim
Date: 28 Jul 15 - 11:38 PM

My wife and I have spent some time traveling in Newfoundland and Cape Breton. Often we would go into a restaurant or shop and hear some fine fiddle or accordion music on the sound system. When I asked the shop keeper who we were listening to, (s)he'd often say something like, "Oh that's Roy. He runs the garage down at the corner."

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 29 Jul 15 - 02:41 AM

Ii is an outstanding list, and includes some of the best songwriters of the last 50 years. I just wonder "why Canada"? Is it the culture, the geography... So many outstanding musicians.

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jul 15 - 06:46 AM

Maybe it's that word that strikes so much fear into the hearts of Americans SOCIALISM. It could be that Canada's generous social safety nets and socialized medical system provide it's citizens with a peace of mind that enables creativity.

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 29 Jul 15 - 08:03 AM

Has anyone mentioned O J Abbott? Edith Fowke?

≈M≈

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jul 15 - 09:23 AM

Burton Cummings, Randy Bachman, Sylvia Tyson, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Robbie Robertson, Mathew Good, Bare Naked Ladies, Carol MacKinnion, Terri Dan Hill, Cory Hart, Blue Rodeo, and 54-40, the Rankin Family, Ashley McIsaac, Natalie MacMaster, and Ronnie Hawkins. (Far to many others to mention in Cape Breton and Newfoundland)

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jul 15 - 09:32 AM

Paul Anka, Lesser known-Terri Clark, George Fox, Michelle Wright, George Canyon, Jason McCoy, Johnny Reid, Colin James, Paul Brandt, Tommy Hunter, Raffi, Nelly Fertado,

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jul 15 - 09:35 AM

What folkie can forget this song, by a Canadian

Valdy 

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: PHJim
Date: 05 Aug 15 - 07:45 AM

"We Canadians are a bit more nosegay, more Old-Fashioned Bouquet than Americans," said Joni Mitchell. "We're poets because we're such reminiscent kind of people. I love Leonard (Cohen)'s sentiments, so I've been strongly influenced by him."

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: meself
Date: 05 Aug 15 - 09:37 AM

I'm sure it's true, but - no idea what it means. More 'nosegay'??

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: pdq
Date: 05 Aug 15 - 11:39 AM

Ronnie Hawkins has lived in Canada for years but he is from Arkansas.

Other Canadian musicians include Bruce Palmer (Buffalo Springfield), Skip Spence (Jefferson Airplane) and guitarist Pat Travers.

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: GUEST, Sol
Date: 05 Aug 15 - 12:08 PM

Bruce Coburn, Colin James, Jeff Healy, Margot Kidder (actress), Jane Siberry, Sarak McLachlan, Diana Krall

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: Charmion
Date: 06 Aug 15 - 10:00 AM

Hey, meself -- a nosegay is a wee bunch of flowers. I think Joni was commenting on the decorative imagery that frequently crops up in the lyrics of some Canadian popular music -- such as her own, for example.

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: meself
Date: 06 Aug 15 - 10:27 AM

I kinda knew what a nosegay is - but didn't get the implication. And I wouldn't have guessed at your interpretation, but you could well be right - for all I know -

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: David C. Carter
Date: 07 Aug 15 - 06:06 AM

Bruce Murdoch

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: GUEST,Charmion's brother Andrew
Date: 10 Aug 15 - 12:33 PM

By and large missing from this discussion are the acts who work in French. Since Charmion and I live on the tattered edge of French Canada, we occasionally get to hear acts like "La Bottine Souriante" (The Smiling Bootie) and "Mes Aiëux" (My Ancestors). A lot of Canada's talent hardly penetrates the Anglosphere.

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: PHJim
Date: 10 Aug 15 - 05:29 PM

Barde

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 10 Aug 15 - 06:55 PM

Figgy Duff, Rufus Grinshard, John Allan Cameron.

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 11 Aug 15 - 01:53 PM

Can't believe you got this far without mentioning SPIRIT OF THE WEST!

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Aug 15 - 06:49 PM

A biography of Ronnie Hawkins, while not born in Canada, he is surely a Canadian, contributing to Canadian music throughout much of his life, and is recognized in Canada for his role.


Ronnie Hawkins 

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Aug 15 - 09:04 AM

Andy Kim, Train, Shooter, Susan Jacks, Terry Jacks, the Bells, Gary and Dave, Edward Bear, Ken Tobias, Dr. Music,Michael Puglario, Gino Vanelli, Charity Brown,

Poppy Family 

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: GUEST,Charmion's brother Andrew
Date: 13 Aug 15 - 09:39 AM

Speaking of Ronnie Hawkins, Canadian or not, he's an Honorary Officer of the Order of Canada .

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: Will Fly
Date: 13 Aug 15 - 10:22 AM

I wonder... If you were to compile a list of comparable musicians, etc., in the US, and then compare it to the population - and then do the same with, say, the UK - would the ratio of talent to population be wildly different?

I'm not making any assumptions here - or questioning HiLo's original idea - just curious... But please don't ask me to start listing!

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Aug 15 - 11:14 AM

Unless you are prepared to do the research yourself, it may not fly?

Subject: RE: Why Canada
From: gnu
Date: 14 Aug 15 - 08:14 AM

For those who know what day tomorrow is... 1755 will headline.