Toronto John
Fans' Favourite
Melancholy day for many Canadians with the passing of Gordon Lightfoot at 84.
He is quite possibly the most iconic of Canadian musical artists. His stories in song were Canadiana, about small towns, tragedies and great accomplishments. Or just about love.
He was a private guy who hated the public eye, and had a stormy relationship with media, the music companies, other musicians and even the fans. "Ornery" would be a good word. But his songs were mythical and heart-rendering.
I say melancholy, because many fans have expected this for years. Very much like David Crosby earlier this year, we often wondered how he made it this far. He had health scares and in 2010 he was erroneously announced as dead. We won't be so lucky this time.
I first saw him at our University Winter Carnival. Can't remember if it was my junior or senior year. He was already a big star, and to get him for Carnival was a huge coup. I have lasting memories of that evening.
I have posted Lightfoot songs on here before, and I could fill an NEJ on his material alone. He is probably best known over there for the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, which still gets radio play every November 10. I will provide 3:
The first is one of my favourite Christmas songs, although technically it is more about winter.
The second is an epic history lesson and an ode to the men and women who built the railway to the east and west - still cited as one of the main contributions to the national fabric of Canada.
The third is a simple love song.
RIP Gordon Lightfoot.
He is quite possibly the most iconic of Canadian musical artists. His stories in song were Canadiana, about small towns, tragedies and great accomplishments. Or just about love.
He was a private guy who hated the public eye, and had a stormy relationship with media, the music companies, other musicians and even the fans. "Ornery" would be a good word. But his songs were mythical and heart-rendering.
I say melancholy, because many fans have expected this for years. Very much like David Crosby earlier this year, we often wondered how he made it this far. He had health scares and in 2010 he was erroneously announced as dead. We won't be so lucky this time.
I first saw him at our University Winter Carnival. Can't remember if it was my junior or senior year. He was already a big star, and to get him for Carnival was a huge coup. I have lasting memories of that evening.
I have posted Lightfoot songs on here before, and I could fill an NEJ on his material alone. He is probably best known over there for the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, which still gets radio play every November 10. I will provide 3:
The first is one of my favourite Christmas songs, although technically it is more about winter.
The second is an epic history lesson and an ode to the men and women who built the railway to the east and west - still cited as one of the main contributions to the national fabric of Canada.
The third is a simple love song.
RIP Gordon Lightfoot.
