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[DredFetus]

And no ones mentions how great justin beiber and drake are.

 

[ZenG]

I see the list mentions Robin Black....I know he was in a Canadian band but I've never seen or heard him play.....at some point he got into martial arts/MMA and is now a host/interviewer on "Fight News" on the Fight Channel.

 

[Baird6869]

Its hard to say rush is the biggest. They have there fans but i would say tragically hip is a better canadian band.

Rush is definately "bigger" than the Hip in the US and in Canada.

The Hip sells next to zero music south of the border and can only sell tickets to US venues that are near the Canadian border. They have had absolutely no luck breaking into the U.S. market. Even Dan Akroyd forcing SNL to have them as musical performer on a show didn't help. Barenaked Ladies outsell the Hip in the US by a absolutely huge margin.

 

[Feral Feline]

Thrust Meatnozi What!!?!! You didn't like "King of Kensington", "Littlest Hobo" "Snow Job" or "Seeing Things"? What about ... "The BEACHCOMBERS"!!!

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

Burn Down the Malls...

No, Martha & The Muffins,



who later went by M+M





+ more mish-mash of pop, punk, new wave, rockabilly, blues, rock etc...

Nervous Fellas
Strange Advance
Blue Peter (band)
Hank Snow
Rymes with Orange
Don Thompson amazing jazz bass, vibes and piano player
Ed Bickert
Since Alain Caron was mentioned, Uzeb, the band from whence he came should be mentioned.
Ed Bickert - jazz guitar genius
Parachute Club
Platinum Blonde
Chalk Circle
DOA
No Means No / The Hanson Brothers (2 Punk bands with more or less the same line up)
The Pursuit of Happiness aka TPOH aka Moe Berg (formerly from Edmonton's Facecrime
Skinny Puppy
SNFU
Wongs (Chi Pig's band after SNFU broke up)
Bob's Your Uncle
KD Lang & the Reclines (back when KD was touting herself as a reincarnated Patsy Cline and on the same bill as punk bands because nobody in Edmonton's Country & Western bars would touch her) before she hit it big south of the border.
Rational Youth
Moev
Images In Vogue
Gandharvas
Teenage Head
Downchild Blues Band
Amos Garrett (born in US, holds dual Citizenship, Alberta was home for him last I checked)
Rock & Hyde
Dalbello
Ben Mink
Sweeney Todd (glam rock)
The Romaniacs
Corey Hart
King Biscuit Boy
Doug & The Slugs
Showdown
Loverboy (I don't know if they were big outside Canada or not)
Nylons
Guardsmen (hit : "Snoopy Vs Red Baron")
Jane Siberry
Young Canadians (& Art Bergmann)
Kings ( hit :: "Switchin' To Glide")
Frontline Assembly
Tear Garden
Pukka Orchestra
Boys Brigade
Zappacosta
Luba
Gruesomes
Trans-X
Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet
Deja Voodoo
Saga (Seemed very popular in Europe! Well, Holland, at least)
Alannah Myles ("Black Velvet")
Kittie
MonkeyJunk
Simple Plan
Sum41
Roxanne Potvin
William Shatner
Powder Blues (as Loel already mentioned)
Johnny V
David GoGo
Paul Pigat
Cousin Harley (Paul Pigat's band)
Elwood Blues
...

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?

With your user name, then you surely must know Canadian artist Aldo Nova?

The Tea Party not on the list? Like Zepplin and The Doors in a blender. First two albums are top notch.

View attachment 710650

YaWN! Precisely why I can't stand Tepid Purty – too derivative! But I suppose if a person digs Zep and the Doors then Tea Party is right up that alley. Yes, they belong on the list. When they were briefly popular, I thought they were an Australian act, had no idea they were Canadian until after the band imploded.

*******************************
For those bemoaning Rush not being listed or Joni Mitchell or Bryan Adams, Guess Who etc...
Read the OP again, there's a reason they weren't mentioned... Get over it.

 

[Baird6869]

And no ones mentions how great justin beiber and drake are.

Or Michael Buble or Robin Thicke.

 

[Matthew_84]

Can con is responsible for some seriously awful 'artists' being rammed down the throats of the Kanuckistani people. Looking at you, 54-40. It also extends to film & television, the awfulness of which cannot be overstated.

Yeah, there's way too many Canadian reality TV shows, and there has been some bad music made, that will continue to be made.

One thing about Videofact, which helps independant Canadian bands get music videos, is that for the last 10-odd years, they'd rather give the money to Sum41 than the new no-name band that needs it.

 

[ZenG]

"Trooper" had a couple of hits......

"Parachute Club' did too....

 

[Baird6869]

Strangely enough, I own the bass played in this video. In fact, the 1974 P I own was the only bass I ever saw the Muffin's bassist play.

Martha & The Muffins,

 

[Polk Salad]

No Celine Dion on the list? I like Celine Dion.

QUOTE="DiabolusInMusic, post: 17900423, member: 182063"]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?[/QUOTE]

 

[Bodeanly]

Our Lady Peace!

 

[nshuman]

I was going to add some to the list, but so many have been named so far. Now I'll have to read the whole thread to make sure I don't put forth any duplicates

 

[DirtDog]

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.

I bought my last set of guitar strings from John Ricci (EXCITER). Super nice guy.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

Everybody, I know you have heard of Rush, Nickelback, and Celine Dion. We are all well aware who are total superstars. That was not the point of this list but thanks for mentioning them.

There are quite a few good mentions in here I am surprised I missed, like Billy Talent and the Cowboy Junkies. I thought about including lots of lesser known artists but I tried to focus on Canadian "stars."

I also realized I forgot Andy Kim - Rock Me Gently

Keep them coming folks, this is great. I have been surprised several times already. For example, I always wondered why OLP never had any success south of the border, they were perfect for the 90s. It turns out they did! I also had suspected The Hip broke in the northern states (as with Billy Talent) but I have never really been able to confirm it.

 

[Thrust Meatnozl]

Music should succeed on its own merit not because of government intervention. Acts like Rush, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell et al would have succeeded with or without can con. Moxie Fruvous? Not so much.

@Feral Feline - I'm of an age where Sunday afternoon in the winters meant Front Page Challenge, Beachcombers and all that CBC dross because there was only 1 channel! I have a theory that that is why hockey is so big on Canada - an entire generation was basically forced to watch it every Saturday like a quasi religion.

 

[Feral Feline]

That's for sure Thrust. My mom was a huge hockey fan when raising my older brother and shortly after I was born – 'cause...


THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE ON TV to watch while ironing diapers or whatever she was doing...

I was going to add some to the list, but so many have been named so far. Now I'll have to read the whole thread to make sure I don't put forth any duplicates

You'll surely come up with some zingers, and I'll be facepalming myself "Augggh! How could I forget [insert artist here]?"
Yeah, you always do.

Like "VoiVod" or something...

 

[Kmonk]

I am part Canadian and have heard of some of the bands mentioned. Glass Tiger, Gino Vannelli, Honeymoon Suite and Triumph are all well known and had success outside of Canada.

"Don't Forget Me When I'm Gone" by Glass Tiger reached number 2 in the U.S. still gets regular airplay on classic rock stations and on Sirius XM.

"I Just Wanna Stop" by Gino Vannelli made it to number 4 in the U.S.

"New Girl Now" by Honeymoon Suite spent 7 weeks on the charts in the U.S.

Triumph has had several hits in the U.S.

 

[DirtDog]

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%.

From wikipedia:

For music, the requirements are referred to as the "MAPL system". Following an extensive public hearing process organised by the CRTC, the MAPL system, created by Stan Klees (co-creator of the Juno Award), was adopted in 1971 to define and identify Canadian content in pieces of music for the purposes of increasing exposure of Canadian music on Canadian radio through content regulations governing a percentage (25%) of airplay to be devoted to Canadian music.[7] The percentage was increased to 30% in the 1980s, and to 35% effective January 3, 1999. However, most new commercial radio stations licensed since 1999 have been licensed at 40%.[7]

Additional reference: Link Removed

 

[Feral Feline]

Thank you DirtDog!




Yeah. Canadian Game shows vs US game shows...

US GAME SHOW: YOU'VE WON A NEW CAR AND A TRIP FOR TWO TO THE CARIBBEAN!

Canadian Game Show: You've won a brand new sewing machine. Woo.

 

[FrenchBassQC]

Alanis Morissette, Alannah Myles and Tears for Fears should be mentioned also.

Edit: Tears for Fears are not from Canada but from the UK, my bad...

 

[Feral Feline]

Dabnabbit, forgot Pat Travers