[mcwslc]

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.

Very good answer to #7. I agree. To take it a step further, I think the way the Hip are spoke of as HUGE IN CANADA might turn off Americans and Europeans also. A fan doesn't want to be hit over the head with how huge a band is. It's almost an insult to their intelligence or something. I gotta be honest in saying that hearing about how the Arcade Fire is the best band in the world really turns me off even more to the band. Same with Coldplay. Too much hype tends to wear thin after a while, IMO. If I lived in North Dakota or Colorado, I wouldn't be that interested in being hit over the head with talk of this great band from Canada who is so great and just huge in their homeland, but people outside of their homeland are too dumb to catch on to their greatness.

I concur. I posted a similar observation yesterday but I just read this reply today.

I find the Canadian references in the lyrics quite intriguing actually. I’ve lost count of how many things I’ve researched and learned about Canada thanks to Gord…Tom Thompson, Bill Barilko, David Milgard, Bobby Orr, what happened in Sault Ste. Marie, what “drop a Caribou” means, what a road apple is, where Bobcaygeon is located, what a “deke” is in hockey, etc. I’ve only spent 72 hours in Canada in my 35 years but I fell in love with Vancouver and it remains one of my favorite cities in the world still to this day.

Bottom line is this; it’s not the lyrics or the country of Canada that alienates the typical US fan. It’s the one or two Labatt’s beer drinking, Maple Leafs jersey wearing, O Canada singing, Canadian flag waving “fan” who chants HIP HIP HIP HIP HIP HIP when the lights go out, even though it’s the opening band taking the stage.

[skippy the wonder dog]

To what extent do the lyrics actually have strong Canadian content, overall, and to what extent is that part of the band's mythology?

I think if you were to look song-by-song, you'd find that the majority of the songs don't contain Canadian references. That being the case, you'd be better off asking if the nationalist mythology around the band alienates non-Canadians.

I think this is the first time in a long time I whole-heartedly agree with you, Skip :lol:

It had to happen sooner or later.

[Inch An Hour]

1) Dave
2) 19, Kingston ON
3) All of them
4) Ahead By A Century
5) Daily
6) What pulled me in immediately were the rich lyrics, unique style, and raw energy they're music possesses.

[Douglas]

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.

Very good answer to #7. I agree. To take it a step further, I think the way the Hip are spoke of as HUGE IN CANADA might turn off Americans and Europeans also. A fan doesn't want to be hit over the head with how huge a band is. It's almost an insult to their intelligence or something. I gotta be honest in saying that hearing about how the Arcade Fire is the best band in the world really turns me off even more to the band. Same with Coldplay. Too much hype tends to wear thin after a while, IMO. If I lived in North Dakota or Colorado, I wouldn't be that interested in being hit over the head with talk of this great band from Canada who is so great and just huge in their homeland, but people outside of their homeland are too dumb to catch on to their greatness.

I concur. I posted a similar observation yesterday but I just read this reply today.

I find the Canadian references in the lyrics quite intriguing actually. I’ve lost count of how many things I’ve researched and learned about Canada thanks to Gord…Tom Thompson, Bill Barilko, David Milgard, Bobby Orr, what happened in Sault Ste. Marie, what “drop a Caribou” means, what a road apple is, where Bobcaygeon is located, what a “deke” is in hockey, etc. I’ve only spent 72 hours in Canada in my 35 years but I fell in love with Vancouver and it remains one of my favorite cities in the world still to this day.

Bottom line is this; it’s not the lyrics or the country of Canada that alienates the typical US fan. It’s the one or two Labatt’s beer drinking, Maple Leafs jersey wearing, O Canada singing, Canadian flag waving “fan” who chants HIP HIP HIP HIP HIP HIP when the lights go out, even though it’s the opening band taking the stage.

What does "drop a caribou" mean?

[worldpeace]

Spend a quarter, on a phone call in this case.

I dunno what happened in the Soo that the Hip wrote about though.

[laliber]

I dunno what happened in the Soo that the Hip wrote about though.

For more information check out
A Museum After Dark <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.hipmuseum.com/born.html">http://www.hipmuseum.com/born.html</a><!-- m -->
or <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Sault_Ste._Marie,_Ontario">http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Sa ... e,_Ontario</a><!-- m -->

[Hard Canadian]

1) Name
David DiTomasso

2) Age and Location
22 - Hamilton, Ontario

3) Do you own any hip albums, if so how many?
All of them

4) What is your favourite Hip Song?
If i was forced to choose one, Nautical Disaster

5) Do you listen to the Tragically Hip, if so how often.
Depends, almost daily as of late but at least once a week.

6) What immediately attracted you to hip OR What did you first dislike about the band?
Their distinct sound first got me into them and from there i got to know the band, their music and lyrics and since then they've grown on me and are now one of my top three favourite bands.

5) If you are not from Canada, do you feel that the strong canadian content of the Hip's lyrics alienates the listeners?
N/A[/b]

[BulletRiddled]

1) Rob
2) 23, Calgary
3) All of them
4) Ultra Mundane
5) Changes all the time. Sometimes I'll go a few weeks without listening to them, sometimes I'll listen to their entire discography in a few days.
6) One day it just kinda clicked with me. I heard "Twist My Arm" on the radio and couldn't get it out of my head, even though I'd heard it dozens of times before. I bought Road Apples that day, got hooked, then bought the rest of their albums (up to IVL, which had just come out) within a month.