Febuary 11, 2010. OH Canada, OH MY!

Have you ever noticed what a terrible song "Oh, Canada" really is? How it's stilted and awkward and obvious beyond any acceptable excuse? I remember it clearly as the bane of my existence in high school: its nasally-congested notes squeaking their way through the PA system every morning as I raced down the halls, trying to make it to class on time. I usually slammed to a halt just outside my homeroom door to saunter in calmly on that final, squawking ping of "gaaarrrd foooorrr theeeee".

At least back then on the few occasions we were actually required to sing it we only expected to stumble through in one language or the other, but now it's a humiliating tumult of BOTH.

Oh, travesty.

Still, as Canadians we are innately resourceful (c'mon, we made this frozen wasteland not only livable but awesome, see "friendly wildlife"). As such, we have not let our awful anthem stand in our way, nor have we let it define us musically. Instead we have seen its challenge and risen to the occasion magnificently with our own set of honest, beautiful, clever and brutal songs, each reflecting this country from a new perspective.

So, this week on My Frozen Headphones it's songs by Canadians, for Canadians, about Canada. It's the Canadinan Indie answer to the anthem featuring music from Portico, and Said The Whale, Martha Wainwright and more... What's your favourite supplement for the Canadian anthem? What song reminds you most of Canada? And what do you think of the anthem we've got? Drop by the Facebook page and let me know!

I once created a whole Podcast that tracked the Greyhound bus route from Ottawa to Toronto via the music that came from along or near that path (The Greyhound Diaries podcast). My Dad drove across the 100th meridian while listening to the Tragically Hip song "100th Meridian". That's about as Canadian as it gets.

Listen live to My Frozen Headphones on Thursdays from 3-4 pm on SPIRITlive.net

UPDATE: Episode cancelled, see March 11, 2010