They'll be humming more than O Canada! for Obama
President Barack Obama will make his first international trip this week, visiting our neighbors to the north in Canada. On Feb. 19, 2009, he'll board Air Force One for the 75-minute flight from Washington, D.C. to Ottawa, Ontario. First Lady Michelle Obama is not expected to accompany him during the brief working trip. But a custom car will transport the president during his visit. The Toronto Star reports that a specially made bulletproof limousine developed by GM in Detroit has been airlifted in for the event.
I'm assuming that President Obama will receive a much warmer welcome than President George Bush did during his 2004 Canadian capital debut, where large numbers of protesters awaited the POTUS. Canadians seem to be fond of our country's new CEO, and their national media is all over his upcoming visit. I recently spent six days on a music cruise in the Caribbean featuring mostly Canadian musicians (Barenaked Ladies, Sarah McLachlan, Great Big Sea). With the prospect of warm weather and homegrown music, it was no surprise about one-third of the cruisers on board were also Canadians. But I was a little surprised at the overwhelming thumbs-up I received when asking their thoughts about our new president. The Canadians I spoke with were downright giddy about the new leader in the White House, and laughed when I told them I could finally remove the maple leaf stickers that have adorned my luggage for the past eight years.
Before the inauguration of Barack H. Obama as 44th president of the United States, Canada's CBC Radio 2 invited its listeners to nominate and vote for their favorite "49 Songs From North of The Parallel" to welcome President Barack Obama. From Jan. 5-16, 2009, Canadians helped select the top 49 Canadian songs that would "best define our country to the incoming President Barack Obama." More than 130,000 votes were cast for the final list of songs, which includes a variety of genres and lyrics in both English and French. They nominated, they voted and here are the winners.
Comments:
Posted Tue, Feb 17, 2 p.m. inappropriate
I'm happy to see the Barenaked Ladies' "If I Had $1,000,000" there, but am wondering about the Neil Young choices. First, is "Hopeless" supposed to be "Helpless"? If so, that's cool, but "Rockin' in the Free World"? No thanks. I can come up with a double album of Neil Young songs that are better than "Rockin' in the Free World" (I'm thinkin' Decade.)
Also, where are the Band, the New Pornographers, Jane Siberry, Cowboy Junkies, Ron Sexsmith, Men Without Hats, and Celine Dion? (OK, kidding about the last one. Not sure if I'm kidding about "The Safety Dance.")
OK, though, I see these are supposed to be songs that define Canada, not necessarily the best songs to come out of Canada? That puts a bit of a different spin on things. Did they include "American Woman" because of these lyrics? "I don't need your war machines /
I don't need your ghetto scenes."
Would love to see a similar list for songs that define the U.S.
Posted Tue, Feb 17, 3:52 p.m. inappropriate
Sue -- If this is about "defining" Canada, where's The Black Fly Song? And where's the Celtic music of Cape Breton. Yes, the Rankin Family's on the list but their song, the lovely Rise Again, isn't traditional. Something by Buddy MacMaster would be a welcome addition. Maybe Farewell to the Glen.
Posted Tue, Feb 17, 7:06 p.m. inappropriate
Ben: Yes, BNL sang their $1,000,00 song (and many other of their tunes) on the Caribbean cruise. They're talented AND very funny. Oops. I think "Hopeless" is a typo on my part -- it should be "Helpless" by Neil Young. I hope that's not some subliminal statement on my part! Wow, you know your CDN groups, I'm impressed. The person I think should have been included is Sarah McLachlan. I don't miss Avril Lavigne not being in the mix, though.
Eugene: I'm not familiar with The Black Fly Song ... details, please! But I agree that Celtic music of Cape Breton should be included.
Posted Wed, Feb 18, 7:13 a.m. inappropriate
We've gone from Hopeless to Helpless, thank you Ben.