Blog Archives
Saturday Music Memories – Our National Treasures The “Hip”
There are certain things that citizens hold near and dear to their hearts in their home countries.
In Canada we have hockey, The Tim Horton’s coffee shop chain, and for music we have The Tragically Hip.
They burst on to the scene in the late 80’s and have made quality music that has united a nation for close to 30 years now (wow I must be getting old).
In the spring of 1991 I graduated from high school, and our class embarked on a bus trip from Winnipeg, Manitoba across the border to Minneapolis, Minnesota. We were off to a fun-filled place called Apple River. It was an awesome time, and with 10+ hours on a bus each way, the music flowed (among other things) for a bunch of 17 and 18-year-old rowdies.
At that time, I had no interest in the Tragically Hip, but it seemed to be on constant repeat for the entire trip! Before you knew it, I was hooked, and this album did it to me. Their first real statement on Canadian airwaves called “Road Apples”.
Here is the biggest hit of that album – “Little Bones“.
Enjoy and have a FANTASTIC weekend.
Saturday Music Memories – Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving to all the Canadians in my online community (and Happy Weekend to everyone else)!
Enjoy the long weekend and the time you get to spend with family and friends.
Way down the list of things I am thankful for is the fantastic music that has come out of Canada over the years. Bryan Adams is close to the top of my list!
Here is an old classic “Run To You” from 1983!
Have a great weekend…
Saturday Music Memories – Comin’ Home!
Dallas Green is a fantastic Canadian artist who used to front the hard rock band Alexisonfire. He did some solo work before and continues to tour under the name City and Colour.
I continue to be amazed at the diversity of his music and voice to perform with these incredibly different acts.
Enjoy this acoustic live version of one of his biggest hits, “Comin’ Home”
Oh yeah in case you did not notice..
Dallas is a city
Green is a colour!
Pretty cool hey?
Have a fantastic weekend!
Saturday Music Memories – If Everyone Cared
There does not seem to be any grey area with respect to Nickelback. Either you love them, or you well… don’t love them. They grew up within 3 hours of where I live in Edmonton and are very popular around here. Their live shows are incredible. I am a simple guy from the Prairies in Canada – If the music rocks and a few fireworks are set off, that is a good night out for me.
Sometimes it appears like Chad Kroeger is just trying to pump out hit singles. But if you can, why the heck wouldn’t you?
If you got all the haters under oath, I suspect that they would trade places with him at a moment’s notice, if they could live their dreams and be on stage for even one night!
They are Canadian, we love them, and this song has a great social message. Many people don’t know that they can “slow things down” from time to time, and this is one of my favourite songs.
Happy Saturday everyone…
Saturday Music Memories – A “Canadian Reinvention”
Dallas Smith is the lead singer for one of my favourite Canadian bands of the last decade – Default. I have had the pleasure of meeting him on at least three occasions, because a good friend of mine worked for the band throughout the years.
Last year, Dallas decided to change it up, and release a country/rock cd. Well he did not miss a beat as he stepped in to a new genre of music! His latest single, “Jumped Right In”, just hit #4 on the Canadian Country charts.
An incredible accomplishment to say the least!
Here is the link to his website as well:
http://www.dallassmithmusic.com/
Have a listen and enjoy your weekend!
Wanna See Some Leaders? Meet Craig and Marc Kielburger!
I was at a regional Toastmasters conference over the weekend, and guest speaker Françoise Morissette had a fantastic video that I have been thinking about a lot.
Craig and Marc Kielburger have been making Canada proud since they were 12 years old as they change children’s lives one by one.
Check out this fantastic video that Francoise played during her presentation!
As well, their website is:
Have a great week!
Saturday Music Memories – Wheat Kings And Pretty Things
It is Thanksgiving in Canada, and I am moving a little slower than normal this weekend! The Tragically Hip are Canadian Icons, and one of my favourite bands EVER! Almost 20 years ago they wrote a fabulous song dedicated to David Milgaard who spent more than 23 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit.
Have a listen. Details of his remarkable story are below if you would like to have a read.
Saturday Music Memories – Are You “Out Of Touch?”
Hop in the time machine with me today and enjoy this classic track!
My family was travelling through eastern Canada, specifically Ontario in the summer of 1985, and this track was on “constant rotation” on my Sony Walkman! I remember the beauty of the Canadian Shield, incredible lakes, and awesome camping in our tent trailer.
I was really looking forward to catching up with my Aunt and Uncle in the capital of Canada – Ottawa, Ontario.
Take a few minutes to sit back, relax and enjoy “Out of Touch” by one of my favourite 80’s rock/pop bands – Hall & Oates!
My First “Saturday Music Memories” Post
I love music!
I have loved it since I received my first cassette tape when I was 10 years old one Christmas. Many of my best memories growing up were at Arena concerts with my friends, or outdoor music festivals. To this day, music is still a huge part of my life! I love my iPod, and I love making “digital mixed tapes” of great new songs, and “old school” favourites.
I have wanted to include content about music on my blog for quite some time, but was not sure how. I started thinking this week how I have had the ability for many years to connect certain songs to memories from my past. So as often as I can, I am going to share stories about my memories of a particular song, and include a music video on Saturdays.
WARNING – my musical taste is quite diverse! Some would say it is all over the map.
Today’s song for the inaugural “Saturday Music Memories” is an early 80’s Canadian Classic by Loverboy called “Working for the Weekend”.
I was 8 or 9 years old, and my dad was working for the summer at a cadet camp in the resort town of Gimli, Manitoba, Canada on the picturesque Lake Winnipeg. Every two weeks, the cadets would go home, and another group would be brought in for sailing training. On the last night before they left, there would be a farewell dance at the camp. I first heard this song at one of those dances.
I originally thought this song was by Australia Legends “Men at Work”. But as I got a little older, I realized that this band was from Canada, and they were the toast of the town for many years in the early 1980’s. They still do some touring from time to time to this day.
Enjoy my first video, and have a great Saturday!
Sell, Lead, Succeed! 