What’s the Deal with Canadian Pop Music?
Contents
Why is it that Canadian pop music seems to be taking over the airwaves? Is it a lack of variety in the music industry, or is there something more to it?
Introduction
In recent years, Canadian pop music has been on the rise, with artists like Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes, and The Weeknd finding international success. But what’s the deal with Canadian pop music?
It’s hard to say exactly what makes Canadian pop music so special, but some believe it’s the mix of cultures and influences from both Canada and the United States. Whatever the case may be, there’s no doubt that Canadian pop music is making a mark on the world.
The Early Years
Terry Jacks
Jacks had a Number One hit in 1974 with his own composition, “Seasons in the Sun”, a song about death, which sold more than three million copies in the United States and more than seven million worldwide. It has been recorded by 2600 artists in over 30 different languages.
Bachman–Turner Overdrive
Bachman–Turner Overdrive is a Canadian rock band founded in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1973. The band enjoyed considerable success in the 1970s and 1980s, selling over 30 million albums worldwide and winning several Juno Awards. The band’s best-known songs include “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” and “Takin’ Care of Business”.
The band was formed in 1973 by Randy Bachman and Fred Turner, who had previously worked together in the 1960s band The Guess Who. After the Guess Who disbanded in 1975, Bachman–Turner Overdrive continued to record and tour with a rotating lineup of musicians. The band’s final studio album, You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet, was released in 1984. The band officially disbanded in 1988, but has reunited several times since then for reunion tours.
Today, Bachman–Turner Overdrive is considered to be one of the most successful Canadian rock bands of all time.
The ’80s
The ’80s were a decade of big hair, big earrings, and big tunes. From synth-pop to new wave to hair metal, the ’80s were a decade that produed some of the most iconic music in Canadian history. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular Canadian pop songs from the ’80s.
Corey Hart
Corey Hart (born May 31, 1962) is a Canadian singer, best known for his hit singles “Sunglasses at Night” and “Never Surrender”. He has sold over 16 million records worldwide and ranked as Canada’s 11th best-selling artist of all time. In 2002, Hart was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
Glass Tiger
Glass Tiger is a Canadian rock band that achieved success in the 1980s. The band was formed in Toronto in 1983 by Alan Frew and Wayne Parker. The group’s first album, The Thin Red Line, was a commercial success and included the hit singles “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)” and “Someday.” Glass Tiger’s second album, Diamond Sun, was also a success, producing the hit single “I Will Be There.” The band’s third album, Simple Mission, was less successful but still managed to produce the hit single “My Song.” Glass Tiger disbanded in 1993 but reunited in 2008.
The ’90s
By the 1990s, Canada was well on its way to becoming a musical force to be reckoned with. Thanks in large part to the Canadian government’s decision to invest in the country’s music industry, artists like Celine Dion, Alanis Morissette, and Shania Twain were making a name for themselves on the global stage. But it wasn’t just the superstars that were helping to put Canadian pop music on the map – the ’90s was also a golden age for Canadian independent music.
Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her powerful and emotive vocals, as well as her confessional lyrics. Morissette began her career in the early 1990s, releasing her debut album ‘Jagged Little Pill’ in 1995. The album was an instant success, selling over 33 million copies worldwide and becoming the best-selling female album of all time. It also earned Morissette seven Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. Since then, she has released eight more studio albums, all of which have been commercially successful. In addition to her music career, Morissette has also appeared in a number of films and television shows.
Celine Dion
Celine Dion is a Canadian singer and songwriter who rose to international stardom in the 1990s with her powerful, emotive voice. She has won five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, and her hit single “My Heart Will Go On” topped the charts worldwide after it was featured in the blockbuster film Titanic. Dion’s other popular songs include “The Power of Love,” “Because You Loved Me,” and “I Drove All Night.” She has sold more than 220 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling female artists of all time.
The 2000s
The early 2000s in Canadian pop music were defined by a wave of young artists making waves on a global scale. The likes of Avril Lavigne, Nelly Furtado, and Nickelback were some of the most popular artists in the world. This was a time when Canadian pop music was at its peak.
Avril Lavigne
An icon of the early 2000s, Avril Lavigne was born in 1984 in Belleville, Ontario. She released her debut album, Let Go, in 2002 when she was just 17 years old. The album quickly went platinum in several countries and made Lavigne a global sensation. With her punk-inspired fashion and catchy pop-rock tunes, Lavigne became one of the most popular artists of the early 2000s. Some of her best-known hits include “Complicated,” “Sk8er Boi,” and “Girlfriend.”
Nickelback
Nickelback is a Canadian rock band formed in Hanna, Alberta, in 1995. The band is composed of guitarist and lead vocalist Chad Kroeger, guitarist, keyboardist and backing vocalist Ryan Peake, bassist Mike Kroeger, and drummer Daniel Adair. The band went through several drummer changes between 1995 and 2005, achieving its current form when Adair replaced drummer Ryan Vikedal. Nickelback is one of the most commercially successful Canadian groups, having sold more than 50 million albums worldwide. In 2009 they were ranked No. 97 on the Billboard 200 chart.
The band’s original domestic signing was with EMI Canada in 1996. The following year they released their first album Curb. It was not until the release of their fourth album Silver Side Up in 2001 that they broke into the mainstream with songs like “How You Remind Me” which hit No. 1 on charts around the world including the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The band’s next album The Long Road was released in 2003 and produced five singles including “Someday” which peaked at No. 7 on the US Hot 100 chart; it remains their highest-charting single to date in the United States. In 2005 they released All the Right Reasons which became their best-selling album to date and was certified 8 times platinum by the RIAA; it produced three top 10 hits on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart including “Photograph”.
Conclusion
As you can see, Canadian pop music has come a long way in recent years. With artists like Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes, and The Weeknd leading the charge, Canadian pop music is finally getting the recognition it deserves. So if you’re looking for something new to listen to, be sure to check out some of the great Canadian pop artists out there. You might just be surprised by how good they are!
