[brian1175]

For me it was.. Got a page for OT at the MMC. (marine midlad arena, Buffalo NY. Worked as a medic). Decided to work it for some easy cash not knowing who the hip were....Heard ABAC and a couple others I had heard on the radio but didn't know who it was....then it was scared...Kicked my ass...I went home and told my GF, who is now my wife. A friend of mine let me borrow the day for night cd and Nautical Disaster blew us both away....."And the screaming filled my head all day"...we just thought that was awesome....after that my favorite hip song changed by the week..(everytime I listened to something I had never heard)...and 25-30 shows later...here I am.....

[Foxfires]

That is so awesome.

Nautical Disaster really knocked me off my feet too. The lyrics were just so incredible...every time I listen to it, I see a whole 'Gord movie' in my mind.

In fact, the introduction of the Hip into my life was like an upgrade from mental 'basic cable' to full fledge sattelite hookup. LOL

[fitz]

Foxfires:
In that short story, sweetly and incitefully told I might add, you summed up everything there is to being a Hip fan. They truly are more than just music coming out of a couple of speakers. Thanx for the anecdote, oh, and by the way, your husband, he's a very smart guy.....let's give him a little credit to eh?
And if we're on the subject of Hip epiphanys.....I remember way back in the "old days", 19 something, something......I was sitting on the couch watching Much Music when they suddenly announced that up next was the "world premiere" of a video from a new band out of Kingston called the "Tragically Hip" and their song "New Orleans Is Sinking" Instead of leaving the tube and getting another beer, I sat and watched, utterly mesmerized as some guy eventually drank down his pet goldfish, and listened, for the first time, to what would become a true Canadian classic. I don't know what is was about it, Gord's voice?, the lyrics?, the hooky guitar?, their name?, but, I was reeled in for life from that moment on and to this day I often wonder if I would have discovered the magic of The Hip if I hadn't turned on the TV at that moment, on that day, at that time. Later, in the afternoon, I made my way down to the nearest music store, bought a little CD entitled "Up To Here" and haven't looked back since. The Hip's music, The Hip's words, their intangible mystique, is a big part of my life and will be so until the day I die, I'm sure. Like Foxfires says....."That band ROCKS!" In many more ways than one, I might add.

[Ponch]

A great story.

The Hip are also the soundtrack to my life, if not the entire score.

I hope they realize the difference they have made to so many people.

[Stephen Dame]

Great story.

And as was said above, this band really does mean a great deal to a great many.

Since everyone's in the mood to share:

On NYE 99/00, the girlfriend and I went to the very tip of Rattlesnake Point on the edge of the Niagara Escarpment overlooking Southern Ontario. On a clear day you can see across the GTA, past Hamilton and Burlington, and catch the Toronto skyline in the distance.

On this night, we had the edge to ourselves. As midnight struck, and the 20th turned into the 21st, you could see the fireworks displays all over that part of the province.

We had it cued up, but it was still magical to hear those first strains of Ahead By A Century flow through the air during the first minutes of the Century itself. Fireworks blazing, Hip playing, romance on a rock...

Ya gotta love the Hip and the moments we share with them.

And now the shameless plug: There's been some discussion about putting a fan book of stories like the one's we've all been sharing. If we mix it in with some photos, some song descriptions (the stories behind the music) it could really work well. So if you'd like to contribute, lemme know.

Anyway, back to the thread. Nice work Foxfires.

[Foxfires]

I think capturing people's experiences (like the excellent one you just shared!) with the Hip's music like you suggested is a great idea. I would love to participate in that!!

[Stephen Dame]

I think capturing people's experiences (like the excellent one you just shared!) with the Hip's music like you suggested is a great idea. I would love to participate in that!!

There wasn't much support for this when I first proposed it on the NG a few years ago, and I'd need people's permission of course to use their photos, stories etc. So major involvement is a must... thanks Foxfires! I've got some connections at the University that I hope are going to pay off soon... problem is (And sadly this is the truth) to go beyond a University Press run, a Nickleback fan book would be easier to sell nowadays!

[The Horrible Esthete]

As I sat there...despite all my efforts, the music got into my brain. Gord's vocals strolled right past my irritation, and gave a little pat to my Temporal Lobe. It was as if he was right there saying, "sort this, honey... sort it out!"

The band... they sounded so powerful. The energy was lurking beneath the surface, and was churning up the water in dark, brooding ways. And there was Gord, leading the whole freight train right through my conciousness.

hock:

The content of your "Hipecdote" is wonderfully enhanced by your superb writing skills. Beautiful. I think I.....got....something in my...eye....*sniff*....

So - Do you, like, have a sister? :mrgreen:

Just kidding....sort of. Seriously, though - I really enjoyed that; it may just be the most impressive post I've read on here :wink:

[Foxfires]

To quote the gracious Gord... "Thank you, thank you... bless your hearts...thank you."

I had been thinking about posting here for a long time, and now I am really glad that I did. It is really inspiring to read other people's thoughts about the Hip...

It's like I was lost in the desert, and finally found the Oasis of Hip! lol :thumb: