[mastodonfarm]

Before I was a fanboy, my first exposure to the boys was "Fireworks". I didn't really get the references, other than Bobby Orr. That is, until my Canadian transplant friend explained to me all bout the summit series: how it was today's equivilent of the Canada cup, and the closest thing unknowing Yanks could relate it to was our Olympic gold againts the Soviets.

But I loved the song and dug the line about not giving a fuck about hockey. I bought PP days later, and now am hooked like a crackhead. There really wasn't any effort in understanding the references, other than nationalistic pride. Just an appreciation for some realyl good tunes.

Keep in mind, at least in America, the general population's taste in music sucks. Hell, in most media it does. If the boys are successfull and financially comfortable, I'm kind of happy the haven't blown up down here...

[Lizard King]

Simply put, Canadians have better taste.

Canadian Top 40 Chart.

wow, that is one brutal list.

[Lizard King]

I'm with you, Bookhead. My thing though is why they haven't made it big in AUSTRALIA.

Ive always wondered that myself also, I have a good friend who's an Aussie and he bemoans that fact regularly. Hell The Tea Party and Jeff Martin are just as/if not more popular in Australia than in Canada, so why not the Hip?

[Graham]

Simply put, Canadians have better taste.

Canadian Top 40 Chart.

....Ouch.

[Escape@Hand]

"Is it that Gord's lyrics are too distinctly Canadian in theme and subject matter"
That is my #1 guess.

Bachman saying they havent had a number one hit is bull I think. Courage, Three Pistols, Ahead, those would all be easy top radio hits in the states if they wanted.

I think Randy is right; I don't think the Hip's music is very radio friendly. Remember, songs like NOIS and Little Bones did get some some decent airplay in the States when they came out, but I think it's pretty safe to say that the Hip have never really made any tune that is super pop or catchy enough for mainstream radio (In View may be the exception to the rule, but too little too late perhaps). Radio conglamorates will play what sells airtime, so if they thought the Hip's music would do so they would play it.

I think the biggest reason they are big in Canada is because of Cancon. If radio stations weren't forced to play Canadian content so much, our charts would be the same as the Americans; I mean just look at that top 40 list.

[mojo_mattv]

Very very cool!!!! Yep I am an Aussie, been living in the states for almost 5 years. I think that is why I love The Hip so much...... they remind me a lot of Australian bands. There's a certain warmth to them, which I am yet to feel in any American band. Seeing The Hip makes me feel like I'm home in a strange sense

Lol, that's pretty cool, I've always wondered why the hip never tour Oz, anybody know if they've ever hit it up?

[direwolf74]

Very very cool!!!! Yep I am an Aussie, been living in the states for almost 5 years. I think that is why I love The Hip so much...... they remind me a lot of Australian bands. There's a certain warmth to them, which I am yet to feel in any American band. Seeing The Hip makes me feel like I'm home in a strange sense

Lol, that's pretty cool, I've always wondered why the hip never tour Oz, anybody know if they've ever hit it up?

From what I can remember, they toured Australia a couple of times back in '91 and '92 during the RA and FC tours. This video of "Locked" was performed via satellite from Sydney on the '92 Junos broadcast:

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S2NAZ6otps">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S2NAZ6otps</a><!-- m -->

Strangely they haven't been back there since. Not sure why. That looks like a packed house they're playing to in that clip, so they obviously had some drawing power over there. Granted, half of that crowd are probably Canadian.

[briansmccabe]

The average consumer of entertainment not only wants, but needs things packaged neatly and presented in a satisfying, easily digestible format.

So shouldn't they also be unsuccessful in Canada?

The Canadiana in the lyrics have gone a long way toward garnering the rabid following in Canada. Is there really any question about this? Like I said, I don't think it's a factor that works AGAINST the band outside of their homeland, but it definitely works in their favor IN Canada.

[briansmccabe]

Simply put, Canadians have better taste.

That's laughable. EVERY time in the last 10+ years someone comes along and makes this hilariously sweeping generalization, a comparison to the current Canadian vs. American top 10 or 20 albums is posted, and they're always almost identical. If not album-for-album, certainly the lists come from the same musical vein.

Nope, that's not it. Try again.

[daysleeperchuk]

<!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://hipbase.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2283#p20845">viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2283#p20845</a><!-- l --> here's half the reason why right here- daysleeperchuk, the other half is that corporate radio in North America is a fuct situation--- 100's of bands available only a handful get played---35 or so genres of music only 8 kinds of radio station,, most artists they do play have over 10 albums worth of material to chose from but we only get to hear their established hits,,,name any artist from the 70's or 80's and it's the same story---james taylor--jimi hendrix--van morrison---aretha franklin---elvis---james brown--jimmy buffet---micheal jackson---the police---bob dylan--and on and on and on --jimmy buffet alone has like 25 albums, you get to hear 3 songs tops--margaritavile,fins, cheeseburger in paradise---van morrison---25 albums or more--countless live cuts available---you get to hear 3 songs tops---brown-eyed girl-moondance--caravan if you're lucky----some radio stations claim "we play everything!"----no you don't---the rolling stones---you might get to hear 10 or so various songs on a classic rock station-- but 10 out of 150? --why can't I like the stones and stan getz equally---depeche mode and otis redding----wilco and mos def----paul westerberg and miles davis----------The vast majority of people in America are in terms of musical taste,,,; illiterate- -IGNORE-ant- -and just plain stupid.,,, or too lazy to seek out new music, I know I talk to them everyday.

[chris]

http://hipbase.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f...283#p20845 here's half the reason why right here- daysleeperchuk, the other half is that corporate radio in North America is a fuct situation--- 100's of bands available only a handful get played---35 or so genres of music only 8 kinds of radio station,, most artists they do play have over 10 albums worth of material to chose from but we only get to hear their established hits,,,name any artist from the 70's or 80's and it's the same story---james taylor--jimi hendrix--van morrison---aretha franklin---elvis---james brown--jimmy buffet---micheal jackson---the police---bob dylan--and on and on and on --jimmy buffet alone has like 25 albums, you get to hear 3 songs tops--margaritavile,fins, cheeseburger in paradise---van morrison---25 albums or more--countless live cuts available---you get to hear 3 songs tops---brown-eyed girl-moondance--caravan if you're lucky----some radio stations claim "we play everything!"----no you don't---the rolling stones---you might get to hear 10 or so various songs on a classic rock station-- but 10 out of 150? --why can't I like the stones and stan getz equally---depeche mode and otis redding----wilco and mos def----paul westerberg and miles davis----------The vast majority of people in America are in terms of musical taste,,,; illiterate- -IGNORE-ant- -and just plain stupid.,,, or too lazy to seek out new music, I know I talk to them everyday.

Wow. This post might win the award for hardest to read.

[NegPhil]

It's not about The Tragically Hip. It's about America. American business, FCC regulations, monopoly ownership of public airwaves and an American public that is willing to consume whatever moderately talented band of the moment (eg. Kings Of Leon) the corporate media decides to sell. It's not that the Kings are bad. It's that the Kings are average. Just like the hundreds of other average bands that have come and gone from the American cultural landscape over the years while the Hip rock on. The Tragically Hip had a chance to sell themselves out to cooperate America. Did they fail? Did they tell those hack corporate radio programmers and coked up A&R pricks to go F' themselves?

I have come to terms with their lack of recognition in The United States. After seeing the Hip play from the ass end of 50 thousand people at Pemberton, I decided I prefer being the only guy in town to love The Hip. More room for me to dance.

[VioletLite]

I have come to terms with their lack of recognition in The United States. After seeing the Hip play from the ass end of 50 thousand people at Pemberton, I decided I prefer being the only guy in town to love The Hip. More room for me to dance.

Me too!!! There's room for both of us for that reason!! haha. And you don't have to worry about General Admission selling out in 10 seconds. I love that our neighbours come down for the treak to Seattle though, I must admit. Haven't seen them in Portland before, can't wait.

[sherpa]

http://hipbase.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f...283#p20845 here's half the reason why right here- daysleeperchuk, the other half is that corporate radio in North America is a fuct situation--- 100's of bands available only a handful get played---35 or so genres of music only 8 kinds of radio station,, most artists they do play have over 10 albums worth of material to chose from but we only get to hear their established hits,,,name any artist from the 70's or 80's and it's the same story---james taylor--jimi hendrix--van morrison---aretha franklin---elvis---james brown--jimmy buffet---micheal jackson---the police---bob dylan--and on and on and on --jimmy buffet alone has like 25 albums, you get to hear 3 songs tops--margaritavile,fins, cheeseburger in paradise---van morrison---25 albums or more--countless live cuts available---you get to hear 3 songs tops---brown-eyed girl-moondance--caravan if you're lucky----some radio stations claim "we play everything!"----no you don't---the rolling stones---you might get to hear 10 or so various songs on a classic rock station-- but 10 out of 150? --why can't I like the stones and stan getz equally---depeche mode and otis redding----wilco and mos def----paul westerberg and miles davis----------The vast majority of people in America are in terms of musical taste,,,; illiterate- -IGNORE-ant- -and just plain stupid.,,, or too lazy to seek out new music, I know I talk to them everyday.

Wow. This post might win the award for hardest to read.

No this does

<!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="http://hipbase.com/forum/viewtopic.php">viewtopic.php</a><!-- l -->? f1=&t=2283#p20845 hér helmingur the ástæða hvers vegna réttur hér - daysleeperchuk the annar helmingur er þessi sameiginlegur útvarp í Norður Ameríka er a fuct ástand - 100's af hljómsveitarmaður laus eini a handfylli fá uppgefinn - 35 eða svo tegund af tónlist eini 8 góður af útvarp stöð , listamaður þeir gera leika hafa yfir 10 albúm virði af efni til fjárverðmæti frá en við eini fá til heyra þeirra fastur hits,,,name allir listamaður frá the 70's eða 80's og it's the sami saga - mannsnafn taylor - jimi hendrix - sendiferðabíll morrison - aretha sjálfseignarbóndi - elvis- mannsnafn brúnn - kúbein hnefahögg - micheal tjakkur - the lögregla - hnykkur dylan - og á og á og á kúbein hnefahögg einn hefur eins og 25 albúm , þú fá til heyra 3 söngmaður albestur - margaritavile,fins , ostborgari í paradís - sendiferðabíll morrison - 25 albúm eða fleiri - óteljandi lifandi cuts laus - þú fá til heyra 3 söngmaður albestur - brúnn - -eygur stúlka moondance - ferðamannalest ef you're heppinn - sumir útvarp stöð krafa " við leika allt! "- neitun þú don't - the veltingur steinn - þú might fá til heyra 10 eða svo ýmsir söngmaður á a klassískt verk klettur stöð - en 10 út af 150? hvers vegna can't ÉG eins og the steinn og staða getz jafn - ráðast af háttur og otis rauðleitur - wilco og mos def - paul westerberg og mílusteinn bátsugla - The gríðarstór meirihluti af fólk í Ameríka ert í skilmálar af söngleikur finna bragð af ; ólæs og óskrifandi - IGNORE-ant- og réttlátur látlaus heimskur , eða of latur til leita að út nýr tónlist , ÉG vita ÉG tala til þá daglegur.

[Chris Tanz]

^ marginally harder.