Hello everyone,
I am doing a reasearch paper on The Tragically Hip for a class I am taking on Issues in Popular Music at the University of Guelph. They are one of the biggest if not biggest Canadian bands ever. The band has toured the States and a frew European countries (Belgium, Sweden, etc). But they haven't really caught on in other countries, and nor do I get the impression that they want to.
I'm looking to do a small field study on why people do or do not listen to the hip.
It would be great if you could help me out, I would need the following questions answered?
1) Name
2) Age and Location
3) Do you own any hip albums, if so how many?
4) What is your favourite Hip Song?
5) Do you listen to the Tragically Hip, if so how often.
6) What immediately attracted you to hip OR What did you first dislike about the band
5) If you are not from Canada, do you feel that the strong canadian content of the Hip's lyrics alienates the listeners?
thanks.
I will watch for responses on here or you can e-mail them to me at dmonich@uoguelph.ca
welcome to the hipbase.
I e-mailed you my answers
1) x
2) 25, Edmonton, Alberta
3) All of them.
4) If pressed, Nautical Disaster I guess.
5) At least on a weekly basis lately, but it goes up and down.
6) The first album I bought was TATH, so I assume ABAC reeled me in with its catchy guitars. I didn't care for the older, bluesier material at first, and though I've since warmed to it, it's still far from my favourite stuff.
I wish I could do a project like that!
Emailing you my answers, shortly.
1. Christopher Shaffer
2. 30, Silver Creek, NY
3. I own all of the albums
4. Emperor Penguin, at the moment
5.I listen to a couple random songs at least 3 times a week.
6. Recommended by a friend and Rush fan, went out and bought LBU; the dynamic feel and lyrical power of the songs in a live setting immediately hooked me.
7. I don't think the Canadian content of the lyrics alienates potential listeners, I think the fact they are hard to pigeonhole with a musical label makes it difficult for them to gain acceptance from radio stations, which makes it harder to garner listeners attention. Sad to say, most people, in my opinion, listen to music for background noise or to specific songs and bands they hear on the radio that make them feel happy.
1) Name - Jenna (I'm assuming you don't need a surname?)
2) Age and Location - 23, Cincinnati OH
3) Do you own any hip albums, if so how many? - Yes, 14.
4) What is your favourite Hip Song? - This changes day to day. I think my vote would have to be (for now) "Escape Is at Hand for the Travellin' Man".
5) Do you listen to the Tragically Hip, if so how often. - I'll listen to them daily, even if its only a song or two.
6) What immediately attracted you to hip OR What did you first dislike about the band - Gord's voice, coupled with his energy, was the first thing that caught my attention.
7) If you are not from Canada, do you feel that the strong canadian content of the Hip's lyrics alienates the listeners? - I think that this actually enhances my listening experience. If the song address a topic which is viewed as uniquely "Canadian", I not only get to learn something, but have the chance to listen to a song which isn't bogged down with the conventions of American pop.
-Jenna
1) Lance
2) 27, Halifax, Canada
3) Yes, All
4) Nautical Disaster
5) Every other day
6) Not sure, but after my first live show I was hooked.
Dude, which Pop Music class are you in? I'm taking the one on Tuesday evening...All we've got are two multiple choice midterms...I think you lucked out with Profs...
1) Steve
2) 26 Beach Point, PEI
3) Yes, 12.
4) About 40 are tied for 1st. I'll say 'Tiger The Lion'.
5) Yes, every day.
6) My brother recommended them to me and 'Courage' and 'Meridian' grabbed my attention; both musically and because of Gord's voice.
7) I'm from Canada so I can't speak for people outside of this country, but I will try to anyway.
I don't think it's the Canadian content that turns off listeners outside of Canada. Honestly, if they were managed a little differently along the way I'm fairly confident that they could easily have been big in the US. A good manager/marketer can make almost anybody popular. I think that most listeners listen to music for the melodies and music more than lyrics anyway.
NotTheOcean Wrote:I will watch for responses on here or you can e-mail them to me at dmonich@uoguelph.ca
Just sent them off now. Let me know if you need any more info.
1. Sarah
2. 30, Toronto Ontario
3. All 13 albums, which includes Live Between Us and Yer Favourites, plus about 4 singles.
4. Another Midnight
5. Several times a day - at the gym on my mp3 player, in the car on the drive home from work.
6. I was attracted to their sound first, and to the lyrics secondly. Now I am attracted to how the sound and lyrics complement each other to make some amazing and memorable songs, that no matter how many times I listen to them, I never get tired of.
1) Kyle
2) 25, Toronto
3) Yes, all of them
4) Nautical Disaster
5) Daily
6) I really don't know...they just sort of grew on me gradually. The first time I saw them live is what put it over the top though.
1) Name
2) Age and Location
3) Do you own any hip albums, if so how many?
4) What is your favourite Hip Song?
5) Do you listen to the Tragically Hip, if so how often.
6) What immediately attracted you to hip OR What did you first dislike about the band
5) If you are not from Canada, do you feel that the strong Canadian content of the Hip's lyrics alienates the listeners?
1) Tim
2) 37 Olympia, Washington
3) 12
4) Nautical Disaster
5) Yes. I listen to the Hip almost every day.
6) The immediate attraction to the Hip for me was a perceived reflection of myself. The band and the music spoke about themes and issues I could relate with in a style that moved me.
7) I do not think the music or the band alienates non-Canadian listeners. I don't what to upset anyone but I think the most damage to the band outside of Canada has been from its fans. I think it is cool that Canadians are so passionate about the Hip but the amount of nationalism the fans bring to shows definitely alienates non-Canadian fans. It is not that people dislike Canadians, to the contrary, Canadians are liked and admired abroad. The problem is when people go to shows outside of Canada and wrap themselves in the Canadian flag and chant the national anthem, non Canadians often feel unwelcome as if the music is not intended for them.
1) Corby
2) 20, Mara BC
3) All of them(some twice)
4) The Dire Wolf
5) Daily, or every couple of days
6) The initial attraction was to the unique lyrics and wit