Canadian Music March Madness Part 2
In the second of five columns we continue our quest to crown the best Canadian song of all time.
We are off to the next region on our quest to determine the greatest Canadian song of all-time. Another 16 great Canadian songs are going head-to-head. Keep reading to see which one comes out on top. As a reminder, you can listen to all the songs in this column by clicking on the Spotify Playlist below. You can also subscribe for free for additional playlists and columns. Let’s see how this shakes out.
The Tommy Douglas Region
1. Summer of 69 – Bryan Adams vs. 16. Home for a Rest – Spirit of the West
About time we had some Bryan “effin” Adams in this column. The Kingston-born Adams lived all over before settling in Vancouver. “Summer of 69” is an absolute anthem and is widely regarded as one of the greatest Canadian songs of all time. “Home for a Rest” has a special spot for university students who loved the west coast Spirit of the West, unfortunately, Bryan.
Verdict: “Summer of 69”
8. Paralyzer – Finger Eleven vs. 9. Hotline Bling – Drake
It’s the suburbs vs. the city as Burlington’s Finger Eleven takes on the Bridal Path Campagnepapi. TBH, I had completely forgotten about “Paralyzer”, I kinda remember hating it, but after a listen I remember it being significantly worse. “Paralyzer” was a top 5 song in both Canada and the US and it’s a bit of a heater. “Hotline Bling” was released at the height of the autotune rap craze. Maybe it’s the Kendrick Lamar spanking, but the polish has faded from Drake.
Walle – this matchup is TROUBLE (so apparently, is Drake, generally speaking. But “Hotline Bling” is a neat song and barely inches by Finger Eleven.
Max – Can I vote for neither?
Verdict: “Hotline Bling” in an incredibly tough battle that needed Dutch to break the tie.
5. Heart of Gold – Neil Young vs. 12. I’m Like a Bird – Nelly Furtado
“Heart of Gold” does not get the praise it should. The former US and Canadian number 1 single is 185 seconds of heartbreak. If you haven’t felt what Neil is singing, you are a very lucky person. Both James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt sang backup on it. “I’m Like a Bird” is no slouch either, it’s a hit single that won a Grammy. TBH, this is the hardest first round contest in this Region.
Alex – This was tough, but as an ageing 33-year-old white guy, I guess I just relate to Neil more. Also, those opening chords...
Verdict: “Heart of Gold”
4. Man! I Feel Like a Woman – Shania Twain vs. 13. Hideaway – Kiesza
“Man! I Feel Like a Woman” is an anthem. The Windsor-born Twain went on to win a Grammy for this song. It truly is the song that launched a thousand bachelorette parties. Kiesza is from Calgary, and if I’m being honest, I do NOT know this song. Which makes sense because it came out when I had two little kids running around the house and going to a dance club wasn’t a priority. But the song did very well in Canada and Europe, not much has happened since for Kiesza.
Alex – Tough to beat that drop in “Hideaway”.
Verdict: “Man! I Feel Like a Woman”
3. Life is a Highway – Tom Cochrane vs. 14. Both Sides Now – Joni Mitchell
Tom Cochrane’s “Life is a Highway” was everywhere in 1991. The northern-Manitoba native ended up with a number 1 song in Canada and a top 10 in the US. My issue is that the original is probably less remembered than the Rascal Flatts version that was used in the movie Cars and Tom is up against a ridiculously under-seeded Joni Mitchell. There are two different songs in the bracket, there are hits and then there are songs that became legendary without the chart success. That’s “Both Sides Now”, it’s just one of the best songs ever written.
Walle – I loved "Life is A Highway" even before we had the Cars DVD on repeat. Tom Cochrane's version is better, IMHO, but he's probably doing a Rick James/MC Hammer thing with the dividend checks. Joni wins this matchup and is about to go on a run.
Verdict: “Both Sides Now” in an incredibly amazing early round showdown.
6. American Woman – The Guess Who vs. 11. Scars to Your Beautiful – Alessia Cara
There is a lot of music out of Manitoba, and the most famous is The Guess Who. “American Woman” was a huge protest song. The crazy thing is I have never heard the song “Scars to Your Beautiful”. I see why it was a hit. The video is very compelling as it puts multiple faces to beauty. These eyes see the beauty in everyone.
Walle – The Guess Who are the most underrated 1970s Canadian band. [that sounds like an American.]
Alex – “Scars” is the song the world needs now.
Verdict: “American Woman” in a 3-1 split with Alex unfortunately on the outside looking in.
7. Coax Me – Sloan vs. 10. New Girl Now – Honeymoon Suite
Halifax’s Sloan hit it out of the park with their second album, Twice Removed. Anchored by “Coax Me” the album is on many best Canadian albums of all time lists and it’s one of my favourites. Let’s see how it does against a band that played my high school in 1985. Niagara Falls band Honeymoon Suite had success in Canada throughout the 80s, but they are in tough versus Canadian indie music royalty.
Verdict: No coaxing required to determine the better song.
2. The Hockey Song – Stompin’ Tom Connors vs. 15. Four Strong Winds – Ian & Sylvia
Folk singer Stompin’ Tom Connors probably didn’t know the song he wrote about hockey in 1973 would become so beloved that it would be played 50 years later in almost every NHL arena for every game. But so is the story for the New Brunswick native. Ten years before “The Hockey Song” was released, Ian & Sylvia released the folk classic “Four Strong Winds”. The song would continuously be included near the top of best Canadian songs of all time lists.
Walle – Ian & Sylvia: all they need to do is show up and hit one chord on the guitar. “The Hockey Song” is likely to show up and fail to hit any outside shots, turn the ball over 36 times, and set a record for first-round futility.
Verdict: “Four Strong Winds”
Second Round
1. Summer of 69 – Bryan Adams vs. 9. Hotline Bling – Drake
The biggest Canadian male artist <2000 vs. the biggest Canadian male artist >2000. I want to vote for Drake, I want to be the good Toronto boy, but it’s a bit of a “yikes” moment right now for the Raptor lover. So, despite its 2 billion YouTube views, it’s all Bryan all the time for me. “Summer of 69” is an anthem. This is the only blowout this round.
Alex – Imagine my surprise when I found out this song isn’t about 69.
Me – I’m pretty sure it’s about 69.
Walle – I’ll go with “Hotline Bling” because Drake needs a win right about now.
Max – Given a Bieber or a Weeknd, this matchup is between the two biggest male artists in Canadian history. On one end, the epitome of 80s and 90s radio rock - and on the other, the king of streaming. “Hotline Bling” was the bigger hit, and the bigger meme - but “Summer of 69” is the better song, and the one that will endure. Would you believe that “Summer” is nearly as popular as “Bling” on Spotify - it also has over a billion streams?
Verdict: “Summer of 69”
4. Man! I Feel Like a Woman – Shania Twain vs. 5. Heart of Gold – Neil Young
The opening note of “Man! Feel Like a Woman” is an immediate floor-filler at any Canadian wedding. It’s perfect for karaoke, it’s perfect for happy hour, it’s just great. And then I play “Heart of Gold” and it is everything “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” isn’t. Two songs couldn’t be more different. This is the hardest choice for me so far and I’ll go with “Heart of Gold”.
Walle – I’m a huge fan of Shania's longevity and the only Neil Young song she'd lose to is Cinnamon Girl.
Max – A modern classic versus an all-time classic. This one goes to Neil Young, but it’s closer than you might think. This one feels a little bit like a legendary artist is getting rewarded for their body of work, versus what might be the better or more popular song. But give “Heart of Gold” a listen: it’s timeless and pure and worthy in its own right.
Verdict: In a split decision, it’s Neil Young.
6. American Woman – The Guess Who vs. 14. Both Sides Now – Joni Mitchell
One of the great Vietnam War protest songs against a song about heartbreak. There is so much anger in “American Woman” it just spews from Burton Cummings lips. It is a series of haymakers to the face. “Both Sides Now” just walks right up to you, smiles, inserts its hand into your chest and pulls out your heart.
Walle – Joni Mitchell squeaks past The Guess Who in a very close one.
Max – Guess who's winning this one? It's Joni Mitchell. Watching her at Newport a couple of years ago really reinforced what we all should have known already: there is perhaps no greater artist, no greater depth of feeling, and no greater influence on the rest of music in Canada than Joni Mitchell. All that being said, “Both Sides Now” is a simple and straightforward and beautiful evocation of aging and longing as has ever been put to song.
Verdict: This wasn’t very close as all of us voted for Joni.
7. Coax Me – Sloan vs. 15. Four Strong Winds – Ian & Sylvia
Canada indie rock royalty against Canada folk heroes. I’m incredibly biased towards “Coax Me”. For me it’s a top 10 Canadian song of all time. In a year of incredible music (1994) it is truly one of the standouts. The production of the song is just amazing. This round has been ridiculous. I love “Coax Me” and its matchup against “Four Strong Winds” is a toss-up.
Alex – You know, nothing makes you realize you are slowly becoming your parents like doing a Canadian music bracket. “Four Strong Winds”.
Walle – I’ll pick “Coax Me”, barely, as both songs are walk-ons who only would see action in blowouts.
Max – I want to say “Coax Me”, I really do. I … prefer it. But no “Four Strong Winds” means no “Both Sides Now”; means no “Heart of Gold”. And no “Heart of Gold” means “No Summer of 69”, TBH, “Coax Me” will come up on more of my playlists, but Canada’s “This Land is Your Land” wins out over Canada’s “Say It Ain’t So."
Verdict: The Cinderella story continues for “Four Strong Winds”.
Round of 16
Alex – Wow, this round is one hell of a Sophie’s Choice, yikes.
1. Summer of 69 – Bryan Adams vs. 5. Heart of Gold – Neil Young
I think it’s time for Captain Canada to knock off the godfather of grunge. What hasn’t already been said about these two great songs, but let’s get it on.
Walle – Remember when Syracuse and UConn played in the Big East Tournament and it went to 6 overtimes?
Me – Of course not, that’s a ridiculous thing to ask.
Walle – Whatever, that's the dilemma with "Summer of '69" vs. "Heart of Gold." I'll go with "Heart of Gold," actually, in a squeaker.
Alex – This is tough, but I’m gonna go with “Heart of Gold”.
Max – I want to say Heart of Gold. I really do. Neil Young’s career is long, weird, uncompromising, and excellent. But Summer of '69 is so perfectly Canadian. Bryan Adams, the unlikeliest rock stars – except in Canada, where he makes perfect sense. Canadian Springsteen. ’69 is the best kind of rock and roll fabrication, where there’s just enough truth to make the whole fiction seem plausible, attainable, aspirational. There was a Five and Dime, but it was an imitation Les Paul; there isn’t really a Jimmy or Jody (as much as the names come from Adams’ circle); and in the summer of ’69 Adams was nine years old and at least a year away from getting his first guitar. (There isn’t really a Wendy, either, but I can tell you the love is real.)
Verdict: “Summer of 69” needed another tiebreaker to move on - this region/bracket is crazy competitive.
13. Both Sides Now – Joni Mitchell vs. 15. Four Strong Winds – Ian & Sylvia
Two songs from the 60s. When people ask, what’s the best decade for Canadian music, no one ever says the 1960s. Maybe we should think about that question a little bit more.
Alex – Another really tough choice. “Both Sides” is a masterwork of intricacy and subtlety. “Winds” is a simple, heartfelt song that hits all the right notes. “Winds” is a song I don’t mind whistling, and I believe it’s a much more iconic Canadian song, not because of the artist, but because Canadianism is embedded in the words. If it were a human being, it’d be that guy canoeing down the Mackenzie and offering you a fresh trout. I’m going with “Four Strong Winds”.
Walle – “Both Sides Now" wins easily, though, like UCLA in the 60s.
Max – Sometimes, what’s past is only a prologue. There’s no denying the quality of “Four Strong Winds”, just as there’s no denying the impact it had on a generation of Canadian musicians, Joni being one of them. But “Both Sides Now” transcends everything that came before it and much of what came after it, too. It is the ultimate lament, the heavy wistfulness of the lyrics carried along by a wonderfully light melody. Does it matter that Judy Collins’ version might be better? If you think it does, you really don’t know life at all.
Verdict: “Both Sides Now” on to the Elite Eight
Elite Eight
1. Summer of 69 – Bryan Adams vs. 13. Both Sides Now – Joni Mitchell
When you need a mid-80s rock song, it doesn’t get much better than “Summer of 69”, it ticks so many boxes – nostalgic, sing-a-long lyrics, the ability to look into someone’s eyes and just know. “Think about you, wonder what went wrong” – those are words everyone has felt. The crazy thing is the exact same thing can be said about “Both Sides Now”. Clicks all the boxes – nostalgic, sing-a-long lyrics and the ability to look into someone’s eyes and just know. “I really don’t know life at all” – those are words everyone has felt. Two of the most beautiful songs ever written by a Canadian. And I have to go back to a memory to make my decision. I never knew why my parents would sit in the living room and just listen to Joni Mitchell albums, it seemed ridiculous, I do know now.
Alex – Well, fuck me, I guess, “Summer of 69”. Though, if you think about it, both songs could technically be about 69.
Max – It was always going to be Joni. “Both Sides Now” is so true. And because it’s true, it always works. It worked on Clouds, her 1969 album - sung by a woman in her mid-20s who was just beginning to appreciate all that she didn't know. And it worked on Both Sides Now, the 2000 album, reimagined with a full orchestra. This time sung by a woman in her-mid fifties whose voice was deepened by so many more years, staring down the back half of the life she still didn't really know. And it worked in 2022, at the Newport Folk Festival. This time a seated Joni (now almost 80 and performing for the first time in nine years) sang it in a way that made everyone say, “I love you,” right out loud. “Both Sides Now” is the truest of songs, and the truest songs are the ones that last forever. Joni Mitchell never lied.
Walle – I find “Summer of 69” to be the upbeat nostalgia we need in these times.
Verdict: We needed a tiebreaker and went to Dutch who is on vacation, here’s his response – “Summer” is the bigger song, hugely popular all over the world and I never need to hear it again. “Both Sides Now” is the better song – I was late to Joni’s music and absolutely love her. The genuine creativity and craft(wo)manship win out for me.
So there you have it, some truly Canadian Music March Madness as our second song from the 1960s makes it into the final four. Two more brackets coming next week, check back then.