5 Canadian Songs You Need in Your Life

5 Canadian Songs You Need in Your Life

29 June, 2011
by: Domzig

Don't worry, it's not wall-to-wall Nickleback...

So as you probably twigged by now, it’s Canada Day on July 1st, and we’re happy to play along with all the drinking and rough housing, we suddenly realised the other day that being self-obsessed English people we knew next to nothing about Canadian Music at all.

Luckily while we were researching the article we did on London Field Radio, we discovered that lady called Mar worked there who did a Canadian Radio show.  Anyway, turns out that she used to be in The Duloks and knows almost everyone in Canada, so who better to give us a quick tour of the Great White North’s finer cultural high points?

Lisa Lougheed - Run With Us
Run Records 1987

“I had to pick this as it's a song every Canadian child grows up with, that is if you watch CBC Television. The Raccoons was on from 1985 - 1992 and this is the end theme credit song. I think it's pretty much
known worldwide.

It's so Canadian though and reminds me of being a kid and watching Canadian TV. I’ve always wanted to cover it. Lisa Lougheed was a contemporary of Alanis Morrisette in the 80s. The music video is so '80s and even has a few clips from the cartoon”

The Guess Who - It's My Pride
King Records 1966



"Most people remember the Guess Who for having big rock hits like "American Woman" and "These Eyes" but they started out as a garage rock band and this song is probably one of the best 60s garage rock songs ever.

I’m a big fan of Canadian 60s psych and garage and there are quite a few good comps you can get, such as 'Nightmares from the Underworld'."

The Pointed Sticks - The Real Thing
Quintessence 1979



“Hands down my favourite Vancouver band of all time. They were the first and possibly only Canadian band to sign to Stiff Records in England. They put out a handful of 7-inches and 1 album before they broke up in 1981.

I discovered them in my teens as I was hanging around with people like Nardwuar the Human Serviette and other older friends who had a wealth of knowledge of Canadian punk history. Tony, the Pointed Sticks’ bass player, taught me how to play bass and my first band covered their song "Somebody's Mom" - he never taught me ‘The Real Thing’ as he said it would be too hard, doh! They reformed in 2006 and tour Japan and Canada on a regular basis.”

Sloan - Coax Me
Geffen 1994



“One of the biggest bands in Canada but unfortunately virtually unknown to the rest of the world (especially Europe). Sloan has indie cred, for some reason they seem to be the only "big" Canadian band that's "OK" for Canadian indie kids to like – even though their music has been sold to beer commercials and is played at EVERY hockey game.

They just celebrated their 20th anniversary this year with new album The XX (Doublecross). I first saw Sloan when I was 13 years old performing an in store at the HMV in downtown Vancouver. They were probably one of the first bands I ever saw live. 'Coax Me' was the single at the time, off their second album, 'Twice Removed'. I still have the CD somewhere with all their autographs on it.”


Thor – Keep the Dogs Away
RCA 1977



“Canadian metal’s answer to Arnold Schwarzenegger. Thor started out in 1973 as a concept band by Jon Mikl Thor, a body building lead singer. He was the first Canadian to win both the Mr. USA and Mr. Canada championships. I first discovered him after he appeared with The Evaporators on stage as they covered his songs.

Thor has two amazing stage tricks, one: he can blow up a hot water bottle with his lungs and make it burst like a balloon and two: he can bend a steel bar in two. He’s been doing these tricks since the 70s and still performs them on stage!”

You can check out Mar's Canadian Invasion Radio Show over on London Fields Radio. Here's Volume 1 if you're interested.

Domzig