Reader here! Of course, World Cup Fever has gripped the planet, with, for the first time, an expanded field48 nations vying to be the best in the world, when it comes to men’s soccer.
But something interesting that I did not know until recently, is that each team, including host nation Canada, submitted a list of songs to FIFA, to play in the stadiums, before, during and after games!
Try as I might, I haven’t been able to find the official list of Canadian tunes that have been playing around the pitch, so I though I’d fire together a list of 20 of my personal favourite Canadian tunes that would help to get our fans (and team) fired up!
So, without further ado, here’s my list!
1) “We’re All In This Together” – Sam Roberts Band
I’m a huge Sam Roberts fan, and have been since seeing him on his first big tour after “We Were Born in a Flame” came out many years ago. But I love this track, off the “Lo-Fantasy” album. It’s all in the title!
2) “Feelin’ Good” – The Sheepdogs
These guys put on a great show at the Anne Portnuff Theatre a couple of months ago, and it you get the chance to see them, don’t miss it!
3) “Little Bones” – The Tragically Hip
Just a straight-up rockin’ tune from one of Canada’s greatest bands.
4) “Forca” – Nelly Furtado
With lyrics in both English and Portuguese, this Nelly track was the official song of UEFA Euro 2004, which was hosted by Portugal.
5) “Wavin’ Flag” – K’Naan
This one became one of the anthems of the 2010 World Cup, hosted by South Africa.
6) “If It Feels Good Do It” – Sloan
One of my favourite Canadian rock bands, I could’ve picked one of any number of tunes, but this one feels like a good philosophy for life!
7) “The Weight” – The Band
A great feel good tune, great for a crowd singalong.
8) “The Music” – David Usher
One of my favourites from Moist frontman David Usher’s solo work.
9) “Crucial” – k-os
Off the “Joyful Rebellion” album, which also features “Crabbuckit” and “Man I Used to Be,” I love “Crucial.” A great “strollin’ down the street” kind of tune!
10) “No Time” – The Guess Who
One of the Guess Who’s most hard-driving, urgent songs.
11) “Hard To Laugh” – The Pursuit of Happiness
One of the best from a very underrated band!
12) “Raise a Little Hell” – Trooper
Did you think I’d leave this one off the list? Besides “O Canada” and the “Hockey Night in Canada” theme, this Trooper hit is almost a Canadian anthem in its own right!
13) “Years in the Making” – Arkells
This one applies to the rise of Canada’s national men’s soccer team, as it wasn’t an overnight success.
14) “Hearts on Fire” – Bryan Adams
One of Bryan’s most underrated tunes, which comes from what I think is an underrated album, “Into the Fire,” which didn’t get a ton of love, as it had the misfortune to be the follow-up to his massive hit, “Reckless.”
15) “Oh…Canada” – Classified
Just a fun hip-hop run through Canadian life, history and pop culture, telling off the naysayers who don’t take us seriously.
16) “You Could Have Been a Lady” – April Wine
You’ve got to have a little April Wine in there to rock things up!
17) “Northern Touch” – Rascalz, Kardinal Offishall, Choclair, Checkmate, Thrust
A superstar summit from 1998, involving some of the best in Canadian hip-hop, celebrating the resilience of our country’s hip-hop scene, and how strong it was becoming.
18) “You Oughta Know” – Alanis Morissette
It just wouldn’t be right to leave Alanis off the list!
19) “Hello Time Bomb” – Matthew Good Band
Wouldn’t this one make a great goal song?
20) “Let Your Backbone Slide” – Maestro Fresh Wes
And finally, the first big Canadian hip-hop hit, by one of the genre’s pioneers.
What would make your all-Canadian World Cup playlist?
Comments