The essential Canadian songs of the 1990's

Jian Gomeshi was at the Rivoli on Thursday, not as a part of the happenin' fundraiser, but just chillin in the front with a lady friend. I happened to be outside when he left and proposed my essential Canadian tracks of the 1990's. He must get stopped by listeners like me all the time but he was graceful and polite enough to nod his head. This week, he and Sounds like Canada host, Shelagh Rogers debate the 1990's in Canadian music on 50 Tracks. Starting tomorrow, we will hear from panelists Liisa Ladoucer, Jemeni and the columnist we love to hate, Leah McLaren. I've been listening to 50 Tracks somewhat participating in the great discussion, but since it was only in the 90's that I started paying attention to music, it's only now that I feel passionate enough to join the debate.

While I'm obviously biased towards this decade, I really do think the 1990's was an important time for Canadian music that set the stage for an even stronger lineup of Canadian talent in the 2000's. Chart's Top 50 Canadian Albums is out on newsstands now and it's interesting to point out that of the 50, 32 albums were released int he 1990's or later. Is it just a reflection of the people surveyed or are we really creating better music? I think it's the latter.

Please join the discussion, we can't leave it up to Chart (aka Sloan's unofficial fan 'zine) and the Moxy Fruvous guy. So here we go, my top songs of the 1990's, in no particular order...

"Wheat Kings" from Fully Completely by The Tragically Hip (1993): By the time The Hip's Phantom Power came out in 1998, it was estimated that every Canadian household had at least one Tragically Hip album. Fully Completely kick-started the band's popularity in the 1990's. That is their decade and although they released six albums and numerous singles in that time period, the song that stands out for me, is "Wheat Kings." Singing along to it at Woodstock '99 with Maple Leafs flying throughout was one of my proudest Canadian moments because really, The Hip singing about the praries? It doesn't get more Canadian than that.

"Coax Me" from Twice Removed by Sloan (1994): I don't particularly love Sloan, but it's hard to argue the band's success and influence on Canadian music. Smeared never made an impression on me but with Twice Removed we hear the pop-rock and signature Sloan harmonies. I much prefer "I Can Feel It" but "Coax Me" was the hit and all of a sudden, the kids were singing "It's not the band I hate, it's the fans" somewhat ironically and with the impartial tone that defines a generation. Suddenly, Halifax was "the new Seattle" and on the musical map.

"Possession" from Fumbling Towards Ecstasy by Sarah McLachlan (1993): It's very hard for me to choose one McLachlan song as THE McLachlan song of the 1990's. Surfacing is the most commerically successful album of hers, but that was largely due to the attention McLachlan received for Lilith Fair. I love that album, but like most McLachlan fans, I think Fumbling Towards Ecstasy is her strongest work to date and "Possession," is the song that begins her reign as the singer-songwriter queen of Canada. Yes, picking "Possession" as the McLachlan song is in a way, an easy cop out, but the fact is, this song captures all the things that make a good McLachlan song: earthly qualities and lyrical beauty, andn that voice! Forget "Angel," "Ice Cream" and "Building a Mystery" — this is McLachlan at her finest.

"You Oughta Know" from Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette (1995): Forget that her latest albums barely make a mark on the charts and on her fans now. With the release of this track, Morissette changed the face and sex of Canadian music. Finally, an angsty angry woman singing pop-rock. It seems like a cliched character in music these days but before Avril and before Fefe, there was Alanis and this is the song, with lyrics like "would she go down on you in a theatre?" that set the stage for young female artists.

Comments

[nico]

If I really had to only make one vote in regards to the 50tracks, I would probably ask that Liisa take over for that 'mammal-host' Jian. We get it already! You are a mammal, we all are. Don't carry over the joke from that show of yours that was canned.
But since this is not specifically about the ex-Moxy Fruvous-er, and is 'essentially' about the music, I digress.
I think of all the Sloan songs that could be potential nominees, Coax Me best describes the generation; the sounds Sloan were trying to create, and those that they influenced.
While I agree with your Alanis and Sarah picks as well, I don't think Wheat Kings is essential as a Canadian track. Yes, it doesn't get much more Canadian than singing about the Prairies, and yes, it is a great Hip song. Fifty Mission Cap, also quintessentially Canadian, and Courage, which to me, is quintessentially Hip, need also be recognised. I think I am trying to look at the songs that not only essentially define Canada, but helped in shaping the Canadian music scene, which is why my pick would be for Courage.
The 90s, it seems, in comparison to other decades, is when genres really started popping up. Music in general almost seems to daunting of a task to make a best of list, because we tend to stick with what we like.
I don't think we can properly select songs from the 90s without thinking about new country and can-rock. Sure can-rock these days is Nickelback, Default and Finger11, but this style of music and the fans it is geared towards would be nothing without Our Lady Peace. So I would also vote for Naveed. It is angsty, apathetic and sang to a generation, and spawned many others in its wake.
I would also vote for I'm Outta Here by Shania Twain. I personally do not sit around blaring the Shania, but there are countless Canadians that do. She has Canadian pride written all over her and her hockey jersey dresses. Not only did she encourage this new wave of country music in Canada and across the border - without Shania, we might not have Avril.

[Chris]

Well, I participated in the Chart thingee though somehow I doubt my picks were a consensus! In no order:

Blue Rodeo "Hasn't Hit Me Yet" - the single best example of the band's passion, musicianship and songwriting. Though it's a "Greg song", when Jim joins in on the call-and-response at the end (Same snow is falling/On the deep, silent water) it is the quintessential B.R. moment.

Lowest of the Low "Bleed A Little While Tonight" if you were of a certain demographic Shakespeare My Butt defined Toronto circa '91-'93. Many Canadian songwriters had celebrated the country's natural landscape, but like Springsteen in the US and Paul Kelly in Australia, Ron Hawkins was the first to make a habit (Bruce Cockburn had done it a bit) of namechecking and evoking an urban Canadian setting (from the song I chose - "You nearly kissed me blind on Bathurst Street, it's true").

k.d. lang "Constant Craving" - the song/album that made her a household name in the States and more importantly, just one of the great vocal performances of any hit ever.

Skydiggers "I Will Give You Everything" - Just a perfect pop song that I think neatly bridges the gap from Canada's mainly folky past to the thriving industry of bands at the turn of the decade.

Rheostatics "Record Body Count" - Tempted to go with Claire, but the most unique Canadian band ever probably deserves a choice that better reflects their eclecticism.

Perhaps it's my age but as you can see my picks reflect the fact i don't think last half of the decade rivalled the first half - for me it was when Can. rock got established and corporate with bands like OLP, Moist, Matt Good, while "indie" became an automatic badge of integrity regardless of quality.

[Chris]

when i re-read, yes, kd is the only one of the 5 where I didn't refer to its importance as a Canadian song. I guess I'd compare it to Joni Mitchell - if you were picking 5 from the 70's you'd probably want to have Joni in there because she was such a seminal artist. Now, by that time she was living in LA - would one pick "A Case of You" over other songs from that era simply because she sings "Oh Canada" in it? Would that disqualify Big Yellow Taxi or another song from being "as Canadian".

So I guess I'm saying (and I think Ghomeshi touched upon it in his case for Summer of '69)that global popularity shouldn't disqualify a song as being Canadian, if it's a Canadian artist's defining song (in the way that i'd have no prob with someone picking Heart of Gold even though it namechecks US places).

But getting back to kd, I think you could make a strong case, like you could with Sarah McL, that she was the unlikeliest of our superstar exports and also the one (at least to that point) who compromised the least in achieving that status.

[brian]

i'm not sure about nico's OLP pick. i'm still convinced eddie vedder--or more specifically, eddie vedder's baritoned spawn--is responsible for the downfall of alt radio.

i like many of these picks, and i also give props to the rascalz's "northern touch."

and this is not a "great" song, nor is it an influential or important Canadian song, but i love it:

pluto's "the goodbye girl" (pop goes the girl remix)...it's pre-postal service emo-tronica!

[Andrea Chiu]

I'm not so sure about K.D. I agree that "Constant Craving" is a great vocal perforamnce but your other reason "made her a household name in the States" doesn't convince me it's an essential CANADIAN song. It's the debate: is it good b/c it's good or is it good b/c other parts of the world think it's good?

I like the Blue Rodeo pick though, I would have said "Lost Together" mainly b/c it was my grad song back in 1999.

If we're just going to pick songs we like, I'd like to nominate Treble Charger's "Red." This of course was before the band sucked. Oh 90's.

[spitzer]

No, you would pick 'A Case Of You' because it is the most divinely, hopelessly, brilliantly Canadian love song ever written! what could be more Canadian than 2-4 as metaphor??

to wit:

Just before our love got lost you said
"I am as constant as a northern star"
And I said, "Constantly in the darkness
Where's that at?
If you want me I'll be in the bar"

On the back of a cartoon coaster
In the blue TV screen light
I drew a map of Canada
Oh Canada
And I sketched your face on it twice

Oh you are in my blood like holy wine
Oh and you taste so bitter but so sweet
Oh I could drink a case of you
Still I'd be on my feet
I'd still be on my feet