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[DiabolusInMusic]

Good day Talkbass,

For those that do not know in the Great White North we have a program referred to as "Canadian Content" or "CanCon" for short. This ensures Canadian media is made by Canadian people to a certain extent. The program affects all media in Canada but this thread is specifically about the music. To my understanding, Radio stations actually vary in the amount of content they are required but the average is around 35%. My friend is a local rock DJ and this was how she relayed it, she may be wrong but she is the only insider I know. Anyways... this program has made it possible for a lot of Canadian talent to get to the national stage and then, hopefully, on to the international (i.e. American) market. It also creates a whole slew of "Canadian stars."

This thread is dedicated to all the artists I know as Canadian stars. To my knowledge, these artists have never had any real success outside of our borders. I am posting them here to see who people have actually heard of, if any, at all. Where, or how high, somebody may have charted isn't really a good example of who might know them. I am just curious to gauge some success among the average Joe. I realize this is a massive list so I will just assume you don't really know the people you do not mention. I also figure this will expose everybody to some great new artists.

Some of these names are household names within Canada, so expect a few surprises. I know many of my friends have been shocked by some of these names. I am sure I will be shocked on some artists success (or lack of.) I have avoided all international Canadian stars, I know you guys have heard of Nickelback and Rush. Many Canadians have no idea CanCon exists and that these artists have no success outside of Canada. I know when I was child I remember thinking "how did they get Glass freakin' Tiger" to come my local town? I thought they were total superstars based on how much the radio played them.

I focused on artists that have had national success. There were lots of successful indie bands I was going to include but I tried to focus more on household radio names/songs, bands your mom would have heard of. Think "bands that were on Much Music." These artists cover all genres and go as far back as the 60s. I tried to choose the most successful songs for artists but I am going off my memory of the radio, not actually charts. Please feel to correct me where I may be wrong. I tried to include the genre but some folks are hard to pigeonhole. I also included outside links otherwise this thread would be offensive to load and view.

Here they are, in no particular order:
(Decade Genre) Artist - Song

(60s Rock) Crowbar - Oh, What a Feeling
(00s Pop) Bran Van 3000 - Drinkin' in L.A.
(80s Rock) Invalid Link Removed
(00s Pop) Sky - Love Song
(00s Pop) Soul Decision - Faded
(90s Pop) McMaster & James - Thank You
(00s Rock) Hawksley Workman - Jealous of Your Cigarette
(00s Rock) Robin Black and the International Rockstars - Some of You Boys
(00s Nu-Metal) Kazzer - Pedal to the Metal
(80s Rock) Lee Aaron - Whatcha do to my Body
(90s Rock) Wide Mouth Mason - My Old Self
(90s Rock) Headstones - Smile and Wave
(80s Rock) Invalid Link Removed
(90s Rock) 54-40 - Ocean Pearl
(90s Rock) Northern Pikes - She Ain't Pretty
(80s Rock) Headpins - Don't It Make You Feel
(80s Pop) Toronto - Your Daddy Don't Know
(70s Country) Stompin' Tom Connors - Good Old Hockey Game
(90s Pop) The Moffats - I'll Be There For You
(00s Rap) Swollen Members - Fuel Injected
(80s Rock) Max Webster - Paradise Skies
(90s Pop) Invalid Link Removed
(90s Rock) Age of Electric - Remote Control
(90s Rock) Serial Joe - Mistake
(90s Pop) Invalid Link Removed
(00s Pop) Wave - California
(90s Pop) Invalid Link Removed
(80s Rock) Payolas - Eyes of a Stranger
(80s Pop) Gowan - A Criminal Mind
(90s Rock) Bif Naked - I Love Myself Today
(80s Rock) Rough Trade - High School Confidential
(80s Rock) Honeymoon Suite - Burning In Love
(80s Pop) Eight Seconds - Kiss You When It's Dangerous
(80s Rock) Streetheart - Look In Your Eyes
(90s Rock) Tragically Hip - New Orleans Is Sinking
(90s Rock) Invalid Link Removed
(90s Rock) I Mother Earth - One More Astronaut
(10s Pop) Mariana's Trench - Pop Music 101
(70s Pop) Gino Vanelli - I Just Want to Stop
(00s Rock) Thornley - Come Again
(90s Rock) Invalid Link Removed
(90s Rock) Big Sugar - Diggin' A Hole
(00s Rock) Invalid Link Removed
(90s Rock) Invalid Link Removed
(80s Rock) Invalid Link Removed
(80s Rock) Prism - Spaceship Superstar
(80s Rock) Helix - Rock You
(80s Pop) Glass Tiger - Someday
(90s Pop) Philosopher King's - Hurts To Love You
(90s Pop) Prozzak - Strange Disease
(90s Pop) Invalid Link Removed
(80s Rock) Triumph - Lay It On The Line
(00s Rap) Jelleestone - Money Can't Buy Me Happiness
(90s Rock) Moist - Push
(90s Pop) Invalid Link Removed
(90s Rock) Invalid Link Removed
(90s Rock) Matthew Good Band - Load Me Up
(90s Rock) Invalid Link Removed
(90s Rock) Treble Charger - American Psycho
(80s Rock) Kick Axe - On the Road to Rock
(90s Pop) Jann Arden - Insensitive
(90s Pop) Amanda Marshall - Beautiful Goodbye
(80s Rock) Doucette - Mama Let Him Play
(80s Pop) Bruce Cockburn - Wondering Where the Lions Are
(90s Pop) B-4-4 - Get Down
(80s Rock) David Wilcox - Layin' Pipe
(90s Rap) Organized Rhyme - Check The O.R.
(90s Rap) Dream Warriors - My Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style
(90s Rock) Invalid Link Removed
(90s Folk) Rita MacNeil - Working Man
(90s Folk) Ashley Macisaac - The Devil in the Kitchen
(00s Rock) Sam Roberts - Brother Down
(80s Country) Blue Rodeo - Try
(10s Pop) Invalid Link Removed
(90s Pop) Love Inc - You're a Superstar
(90s Rock) Invalid Link Removed
(90s Folk) Grapes of Wrath - All the Things I Wasn't
(10s Rock) Arkells - Oh, The Boss Is Coming!

So... who do you know?

 

[old spice]

I worked for decades in record stores and distributors; I have heard of crowbar, sky, max webster, headpins, gino vanelli, triumph and bruce cockburn.
Probably would only recognize the last artist, however.

 

[Mattster]

Tragically Hip are the only ones I've ever heard of. Oh, and Triumph.

 

[Loel]

Nice list: Here are a few others you may have overlooked
April Wine/Roller
Mashmakan/As Years Go By
BTO/Takin'Care of Business
Guess Who/These Eyes
5 Man Electrical Band/Your Absolutely Right
Cooper Brothers/Rock & Roll Cowboys
Powder Blues Band/Thirsty Ears

 

[Feral Feline]

Subscribed

CanCon — I disagree; I don't know of any Canadians who are not aware of CanCon – I was aware of CanCon by at least my pre-teens.

As for acts unknown outside of Canada vs Canadian artists famous outside TGWN, that's a tough line to draw in the snow...
Canadian Bands/Singers of the 50s and 60s
Link Removed
Canadian rock - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

+
Chilliwack
Nash the Slash
FM
Spoons
The Box
Men Without Hats
Stampeders
Sloan
13 Engines
Martha & the Muffins
Pointed Stix
Jerry Jerry & the Sons Of Rhythm Orchestra
The Bourbon Tabernacle Choir
Ronnie Hayward (aka Ronnie Artur, Rootsy Upright Bassist and beat poet extraordinaire)

Many more come to mind, but I have a family dinner to get to ...

Great thread idea!

Cheers!
FF

 

[wateroftyne]

I just clicked on 'Spaceship Superstar' at random, and LOL'd.

Go Canada!

 

[elgecko]

Gino Vanelli was fairly big south of the border and I vaguely remember the Tragically Hip and Triumph...Glass Tiger rings a bell. I'm not familiar with anyone else on that list.

On a related note, I've recently discovered now defunct Canadian country band Prairie Oyster. Good stuff that never hit big down here.

 

[AaronVonRock]

Danko Jones from Toronto. Kick ass rock band.

 

[WaldoNova]

I've heard of Triumph, Helix, Thornley, Big Wreck and Our Lady Peace. I'll be definitely checking out some of these artists when I am at a computer and not on my phone.
I often wondered what the deal was with Our Lady Peace. To me they had (have?) a very interesting sound that I thought might propel them to superstardom. Are they still together?

 

[The BurgerMeister]

Bran Van 3000, Len, Max Webster, Moxy Fruvous, Tragically Hip, Bif Naked, Our Lady Peace, Danko Jones, Moist, Econoline Crush, Ashley MacIsaac... but to be fair, i was born in Canada, moved to the states at 8, and went to college in Montreal. i heard most of these bands on MuchMusic and MusiquePlus during holiday visits to the family growing up and then in college.

ones i've heard of on American soil: Len, Max Webster, Moxy Fruvous, Danko Jones.

never knew about CanCon... thanks for the information!

 

[Nic.]

Haven't heard of a single one but I'm all the way in south east Asia, so no surprise there.

 

[Venom of God]

You're missing the almighty RAZER, EXCITER, BLASPHEMY, SLAUGHTER (not the wimpy one).. the list goes on. Canada has a great metal scene with heaps of international recognition.

 

[pmatz2]

Blue rodeo , tragicaly hip and Bruce cockburn

 

[JoeWPgh]

The Philosopher Kings were a great band

 

[two fingers]

Same as most. Tragically Hip, Triumph, Our Lady Peace.

Honestly, I think that program is awesome. It's very patriotic. Down here in the states we tend to hate our own country for some strange reason. If we were ever to implement a similar program, it would be the opposite. The government would force radio stations to document that they are playing at least a third of material from other countries. Because, of course, we suck.

 

[sprag]

In OZ len and Tal Bachman did pretty well but only with the 1 hit each. none of the others ring a bell. We have similar content laws here regarding tv radio and live music i.e. international acts must have a local act supporting them

 

[ChefKen]

Subscribed

CanCon — I disagree; I don't know of any Canadians who are not aware of CanCon – I was aware of CanCon by at least my pre-teens.

As for acts unknown outside of Canada vs Canadian artists famous outside TGWN, that's a tough line to draw in the snow...
Canadian Bands/Singers of the 50s and 60s
Link Removed
Canadian rock - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

+
Chilliwack
Nash the Slash
FM
Spoons
The Box
Men Without Hats
Stampeders
Sloan
13 Engines
Martha & the Muffins
Pointed Stix
Jerry Jerry & the Sons Of Rhythm Orchestra
The Bourbon Tabernacle Choir
Ronnie Hayward (aka Ronnie Artur, Rootsy Upright Bassist and beat poet extraordinaire)

Many more come to mind, but I have a family dinner to get to ...

Great thread idea!

Cheers!
FF

"Martha and the Muffins"!! Must be Mojo fans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
stuffin marthas muffin - Yahoo Search Results

 

[mikeyjm2]

Interesting thread. So from my American perspective ones I have heard of:

- Gino Vanelli (he got a fair amount of radio play here back in the day)

- Helix (Trailer Park Boys was a guilty pleasure of mine - but I had heard of them before Ricky mentioned them in the episode where he kidnaps Alex Lifeson)

- Triumph (saw them years ago here in Houston - great show!)

- Matthew Good Band (can't remember how I have heard of them but I have)

So out of your huge list only 4. Sheesh! Y'all share please!

 

[cnltb]

I've heard of bruce cockburn, gino vanelli and sky.
I don't have CDs by any of them(well...I may have an old Cockburn thing but am unsure).

 

[brotondo]

I live in Michigan by Sarnia Ontario, I grew up on Canadian/Detroit radio, it has definitely impacted my music taste.
I love the Trews and Danko Jones!
They are in the area all the time, Toronto is an hour away, too bad border crossing makes it not worth the hassle since , but oh the days back in early nineties! Campbell street, and Riverport ! Sigh..