For the past few months Craig Baird of the award-winning Canadian History Ehx podcast has been running a bracket on Twitter titled #CanadasGreatestSong. I’ve been following along and adding my votes every day and enjoying the exercise in nostalgia…and that’s what it has been…nostalgic. There isn’t a song from the last decade left in the bracket, which should give you a bit of an idea of the demographic of the voter (ie: old, like me).
In the beginning we had songs like Skinnamarink , Log Driver’s Waltz, and even The Theme From Littlest Hobo had a go and won a round or two. But now we’re down to the final 32 and feelings are getting hurt. I’ve been particularly enjoying watching the Americans on our TPS Discord community trying to wrap their heads around some band called The Tragically Hip beating RUSH in voting, or The Band not having an easier go.
So now that we’re down to the nitty-gritty of this bracket and I’ve seen how the voting has gone in the previous rounds, I thought it might be fun to handicap the rest of the bracket. Nothing like putting a prediction out there that nobody asked for right?
Judging by the past voting I’d give The Tragically Hip a 50% chance that one of their many survivng songs wins it—likely Bobcaygeon, but I’ll leave the door open to the possibility that all those campfire nights singing Wheat Kings will put that song over, or memories of that last Tour has Ahead By A Century still fresh in people’s minds, or the classic ubiquitous rocker New Orleans Is Sinking, which gave birth to so many other classic Hip songs through their live shows with Downie’s ramblings in the breakdowns.
If there was someone who might beat the Hip, I think It’s Neil Young. I’d give Rockin’ In The Free World a 25% chance to win it all.
Of course, I can’t discount the late great Gordon Lightfoot. He’s had a great showing in this bracket and he’s got 2 songs left, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald and If You Could Read My Mind. Of the two songs, I prefer the second, but it will come down to match-ups and who they’re up against. I’d give him a 10% chance to win it all with one of those songs.
I would also give an outside underdog’s chance to Leonard Cohen‘s Hallelujah…maybe 5%. This will depend on the demographic of the voters…but I believe it’s THE most covered song in history. One of the most notable covers is, of course, Jeff Buckley’s version, but Gord Downie also took a crack at it for the Saint Ralph soundtrack. Plus if there is anyone revered more than Gord Downie as a lyricist in this country, it’s Leonard Cohen.
Super Underdogs
Given the resurgence of the popularity of 80s music, I can see Summer of ’69 with an outside-outside chance to win it. There was no Canadian artist bigger than Bryan Adams in his heyday.
From what I’ve been seeing, if more Americans jump in on the voting and start voting for songs they are familiar with, I can see Tom Cochrane’s Life Is A Highway getting a bunch of votes. Before you start in on me, don’t discount the Pixar effect. The kids who grew up watching Cars and listening to the Rascal Flatts version of Life is a Highway are now young adults and could have a say in a match-up.
This is by no means an endorsement of any of the bands mentioned, nor is it an indictment. The fact of the matter is, this is a Twitter poll, there is nothing scientific about it. On any given day the results could be different. It’s just a fun, nostalgic conversation starter, so getting upset over results is silly. I know I’m screaming into the internet void with that take.
Just enjoy it for what it is and go celebrate and listen to some fine old Canadian music…maybe find some new Canadian artists and keep it going.
What are you thinking?