For Obama: 49 Songs from North of the 49th Parallel
January 14th, 2009 by Ivan Pena in Bombardier Manifesto
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is compiling a list of 49 Canadian-made songs to demonstrate to our new President-elect what Canada is all about. That’s pretty neat. Here’s a re-post of what they aim to accomplish:
“Beginning Monday, January 5, CBC Radio 2 invites Canadians to help select the top ‘49 songs from north of the 49th parallel’ that would best define our country to the incoming U.S. President Barack Obama. His playlist could definitely benefit from some Canadian content, especially given the depth of our musical offerings – spanning a wide variety of genres and representing our culture from coast to coast.”
On the list, you can see selections from Arcade Fire, The Band, The Guess Who, k.d. lang, The Weakerthans, Crash Test Dummies and more. Rush makes an appearance with “Closer to the Heart” although I would’ve gone with “Spirit of the Radio” or “Subdivisions”. I am disappointed that Bryan Adams didn’t show on the list. Have we forgotten all the good times back in the Summer of ‘69?
Canadians are quite nationalistic when it comes to their radio. Under the Commercial Radio Policy, 35 per cent of all music aired each week on all AM and FM stations must be Canadian. To qualify as “Canadian content,” music must generally fulfill at least two of the following conditions (the MAPL system):
- M (music) – the music is composed entirely by a Canadian.
- A (artist) – the music and/or the lyrics are performed principally by a Canadian.
- P (production) – the musical selection consists of a live performance that is recorded wholly in Canada, or performed wholly in Canada and broadcast live in Canada.
- L (lyrics) – the lyrics are written entirely by a Canadian.
Voting ends Friday, January 16 at 11 p.m. ET. So, what do you think are the most definitive 49 songs from North of the 49th parallel?
http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/obamasplaylist/
I <3 Canada,
Ivan
About Ivan
Ivan Pena has an Advertising degree from UF, 8+ years in corporate and consumer marketing, 10+ years in graphic design and promotions. Ivan is also the leader of the group Soulfound and runs his own independent record label, Mohawk Bomb. In 2008, Ivan was named one of the Top 30 Under 30 by the Tampa Bay Business Journal. Check Ivan out on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ivanpena
January 15th, 2009 at 11:42 am
I hate picking favorites but many of my favorite musicians/songs are Canadian — Anne Murray, Nickleback, Barenaked Ladies, Arrogant Worms, Crash Test Dummies…I wrote a page at http://www.squidoo.com/obamas-canadian-playlist about Obama’s Canadian Playlist and would be thrilled if you would visit and vote for your favorite Canadian song!
Brenda
January 15th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
I think the list should also include Mike Myers’ crooning on “So I Married and Ax Murderer”.
January 15th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
I like that they hit some indie-leaning bands like Arcade Fire and The Weakerthans. But by and large that list has zero balls.
And no metal? Canada has a pretty impressive metal tradition. Cryptopsy, Kataklysm, Gorguts. They even picked a wimpy Rush song! “Closer to the Heart” instead of “2112/Overture” or even something completely obvious like “Tom Sawyer:? Come on, CBC! Man up!
January 15th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
I couldn’t even think up one song until I checked out their list for ideas. And it is pretty uninspired. Maybe we should make our own damn list!
January 15th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Canadian music sucks. What a sad and pathetic list of utterly insipid tripe and totally forgettable pap. And people wonder why we ignore Canada.
January 15th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
the tower by nomeansno is a good and poignant canadian song.