I was looking at the stats for Cover Freak and I noticed that I have more readers in Holland than I do in Canada. I wondered why, and eventually I figured out that it must be because I haven’t been posting enough Canadian content. Jamie over at Fong Songs is from Edmonton and he tells me that can-con just means that they play way too much Loverboy on the radio. But to be fair it also gave the world Bob and Doug MacKenzie.
So in order to help Cover Freak dominate the English-speaking world, here are some covers from the Great White North.
Emma Zunz “She’s A Lady” (Tom Jones)
I didn’t know that Paul Anka was born in Canada. I thought he sprang fully-formed from the sand outside Las Vegas. I also didn’t know that he wrote “She’s A Lady.” Wikipedia is a wonderful thing, ain’t it?
I’ve always loved this song, mainly for the line about he can leave her alone and know that “there’s no messing.” What kind of skeezy ho-bag does Mr. Anka usually date? To me that doesn’t mean that a woman is necessarily a lady, it just means that she’s less likely to give you the clap.
Cowboy Junkies “Walking After Midnight” (Patsy Cline)
Cowboy Junkies is a band that has grown on me over the years. They’re a great cover band, largely because they choose songs to cover that match their style very well. This is a great bluesy version of a song that seemed too cheerful for its lyrics when Patsy Cline did it. And I’m sure that I don’t need to mention that the Cowboy Junkies hail from Canada.
The Knitters “Born To Be Wild” (Steppenwolf)
This song was written by Mars Bonfire. I’ve always thought that was a pretty cool stage name, second only to Lux Interior. Now I learn that his real name is Dennis Edmonton. That’s a great stage name all by itself, especially since he’s from Ontario. Wait, Edmonton’s in Alberta. He should change his name to Dennis Toronto. If I ever become a famous musician I’m going to call myself Joe Chicago.
Screaming Jets “My Heart Will Go On” (Celine Dion)
Whenever I hear that Celine Dion will be on television I try to watch. Not because I like her music (I don’t) but because she makes me laugh whenever she speaks. There’s just something about a scrawny woman who talks like a hockey player that I find endlessly amusing.
The Bobs “Bird On A Wire” (Leonard Cohen)
Leonard Cohen is a truly great songwriter and poet and a tribute to Canada. It’s cool that he’s touring again even if the unfortunate reason is that he needs the cash. But most of his songs are kind of depressing. So are most of the covers of his songs. This is a rare upbeat Leonard Cohen cover.
I saw the Bobs perform a few years ago and they sang this tune. After the show I asked Richard Bob if Mr. Cohen knew what they had done to his song. He said that they had sent him a copy of the CD and hadn’t heard back from him, but that mutual acquaintances had assured him that Mr. Cohen does have a sense of humor.
“My Heart Will Go On” is not nearly as dreadful a song as I thought it was . . . when it’s done like this. Geez, I hate Celine Dion’s “music”.
Hi Steve
I have to tell you that here in New Zealand, we have beaten you by years when it comes to Canadian Music. We have a programme called Matinee Idle which frequently pokes the borax at Canadians, their songs and artists, the weather, and the poor buggars listen on podcasts, love it and email in thanking us for recognising them!!
Examples are that brilliant group, The Arrogant Worms “Canada is Really Big”, lots of Bob and Doug McKenzie and “Blame Canada” by South Park were highlight of our Canada theme day.
Oh and the Canadian weather chart!!! Priceless.
I don’t know Laughin’ Len (as he’s known in some parts) but Mr Cohen must have a sense of humour. Listened to in the right frame of mind large sections of I’m Your Man are hilarious.
Probably the worst thing Jeff Buckley ever did was turn Hallalujah in to some kind of solemn hymn for the depressed when it’s best (I feel) read as a warped, funny look at faith.
Paul, I haven’t listened to I’m Your Man in some time, I’ll have to check it out. I’ll also give a fresh listen to Hallelujah, thanks.
I highly commend your CanCon contributions!
I did a cover of a song by The Tragically Hip on my new recording “I Take Requests”. Now there’s a band that is as Canadian as maple syrup! The song is “Ahead by a Century” and it’s available at timtamashiro@bandcamp.com.
BTW, the Captcha code on your contact page is not working.
Make that….timtamashiro.bandcamp.com
I’ve just recommended The Bobs version on Bird On A Wire to someone and sent them here and then found out I’d been replied to (not that didn’t expect that, more like I forgot I posted here).
I’m Your Man has all sorts of lines like “I was born with the gift of a golden voice”, “Guys like me are mad for turtle meat” & “if you want another kind of lover I’ll wear a mask for you” (this last one can be funny or poetic or pathetic or some combination of all three) that suggest a very active humour.
In interviews he has a very dry wit (his story about him, Bob Dylan and how long it takes to write songs — 2 years for Len and 15 minutes for Bob is a classic as is the one about Len, Phil Spector and a gun) and the timing of a veteran entertainer.
Hallelujah is a serious as you want it to be, I just find it hard not to smile at the rhyme of “out drew you” with “Hallelujah”. I believe it’s meant to be like that…