Some bands, you remember. The Tragically Hip will haunt you. They can be wonderfully joyous, too, but songs like "Nautical Disaster" will crawl under your skin and never leave. And you won't want them to.
The title of the song, and the line "I'm not Cordelia, I will not be there" is a reference to the Shakespeare play King Lear. Cordelia is the youngest daughter of King Lear, and his favourite. When he asks his three daughters to make professions of love to him, two of his daughters shower him with praises to suck up to him, but Cordelia does not. She is honest, and just declares "Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave / My heart into my mouth. I love your majesty / According to my bond; no more nor less." As a result King Lear banishes her from the kingdom, and cuts her off from the throne. She goes on to marry the King of France. At the end of the play, King Lear is rejected by his two other daughters, and goes mad. Cordelia returns with the intention to help her father, King Lear by then is too mad to recognize her, but she forgives him for banishing her, stays by his side, and takes care of him. Then the story villain, Edmund, arrives, seizes the throne, send King Lear and Cordelia to prison, and she is ultimately hanged. "I'm not Cordelia, I will not be there" means he's not as ready to forgive and forget...
@@maluorno Here's another one: "Threading the boards, screaming out "MacBeth!" Just to see how much bad luck you really get" Is a reference to the fact that speaking the word "MacBeth" on stage in a theater is a grave omen of bad luck. The superstition began at the play's very first performance (circa 1606) when the actor scheduled to portray Lady Macbeth died suddenly and Shakespeare was forced to replace him. Then over the years other mishaps attributed to the curse happened, like real daggers being used instead of props, leading to deaths on stage. In 1849 in New York, two competing productions of MacBeth, with American actor Edwin Forrest and English actor William Charles Macready, caused the famous Astor Place Riot, and resulted in at least 20 deaths and over 100 injuries. Other productions also had a slew of bad luck incidents, including actors falling off the stage, mysterious deaths, and stage counterweights falling on actors.
@@HMan2828 One more bit I learned: the opening line "angst on the planks" may refer to Gord's time during high school when he was involved in the drama program. The direct line might refer to "showing angst" (acting) on the "planks" of the stage. I picked that up from an Alan Cross interview with Canadian punk rocker Hugh Dillon (The Headstones) who was in the same classes as Gord, and he references the line in the Headstone's song "Kingston" - their hometown.
Another vote for “Locked in the Trunk of a Car” … also “Goodnight Attawapiskat”, At the Hundreth Meridian”, “38 Years Old”, “The Darkest One”…so much good material to choose from
I was lucky enough to see The Hip multiple times at small dive bars in Tucson. Their live performances were fantastic! Try ‘Little Bones’, ‘Locked in the Trunk of a Car’, and ‘Poets’ to name a few!✌🏻
Saw them twice in Tucson, Wild Wild West for Day for night and The Outback for Trouble at the Henhouse. After I moved to NYC saw them 6 more times (Central Park, Irvin Plaza, Hammerstein Ballroom, Beacon Theater...) and it was at those shows that I found out how many Canadian Ex-Pats are really in NYC. Each time it was like a Canadian convention. My favorite band of all to watch live. RIP Gord!
@@irvinstafford7780 I was at both of those shows! They actually did back to backs at The Wild West and I met them and got autographs after the second one ✌🏻
The Hip (as they're known in Canada, where they're from) have been super popular since the 90's. They are one of my favorite bands! New Orleans is sinking is one of my favorites as well! If you haven't already, please check out "Blow at high dough". It's probably my favorite Hip song. Thanks for covering this one! They're a really great band. This album came out way back in 1991! I didn't know until now, that the lead singer, Gord Downy died of brain cancer in 2017, since I live in the US now and we get almost zero Canadian news. 😭 What a loss to the world!
@@seansaville5664 That's when they formed. They didn't become super well known until around '89. But they became the best selling Canadian band between '96-2016. That's neither here nor there tho. They are definitely one of Canada's most epic bands. Downy's passing is a huge loss to the music world, and the earth in general. My second daughter was born to the song "Blow at high dough" 🤣👌
@@MrsRealistic Correct, their first real album wasn't even until 1989 (they technically had an EP in 1987, but it didn't really chart). Up to Here was their first album and that came out in '89. Blow at High Dough is pretty much when people first heard them outside of playing bars in Kingston and that wasn't until April 1989. They hit number 9 with Up to Here, but their next album Road Apples was number 1 in 1991 (which is where Cordelia is from). So, they've been popular since at least 1989 and definitely since 1991. Day for Night was 6x Platinum selling and is probably their highest selling album and that was 1994.
@@tjl9458 When I was in labor with my second daughter, I had a yoga CD playing, that I forgot to put on repeat... And as I was delivering her, the CD changed to The Hip and out she came to the lyrics, "Get it out, get it on out, yeah stretch that thing," I'm not joking. 🤣 That was 20 years ago next week! It's my best birth memory probably from all 5 of my babies! I've listened to them since I was in my teens and have so many wonderful experiences in which their music has accompanied me!
You should check out the Hip's final performance before Gord's tragic and untimely death. The entire nation stood at attenton with tears streaming down our faces to see him one last time, and to witness some of his last words. And to say good bye in the only way we could. It was broadcast across Canada and was truly a national event.
Millions watched live. Not a dry eye for any True Canadian. Gord will be on one of our dollar bills eventually if there is any justice. As Canadian as Terry Fox, this is us.
The last show landed on the same night as our annual big backyard BBQ bash - so I had no choice but to buy a WiFi extender, bring the big screen and my sound system out on the deck and rock out the whole neighbourhood. When 'Ahead By A Century' ended and Gord had left the stage, it was like a mass group hug.
i was cooking, we had him playing in the bar upstairs and the cbc downstairs on the radio...... man oh man.... I am a worker, but i had to take alot of 45 second breaks to just watch because fire me idgaf
Googled this "Cordelia was the daughter of King Lear that stuck by his side when his other daughters tried to overthrow him. Gord is telling whoever that he's not as loyal as Cordelia, he won't be there."
So many great songs to pick from by The Hip but the one I love is Ahead By A Century. It was the last song they performed and it still hits me. RIP Gord you earned it ✌❤🇨🇦
I saw you check out “New Orleans is Sinking” with Lex’s mom , and I’ve been hoping you’d check out more Hip ever since. There Canada’s most beloved band. Gord Downie was a poetic lyricist. “Hundredth Meridan” is a person favourite.
Gord Downie was Canada’s great poet. Thank you for listening and sharing your thoughts; I really enjoyed it. I love that people can still find the Hip’s music for the first time.
Every Hip song is relatable, I think. Gord was a poet before he was anything else. My 90s Canadian Holy Trinity of rock was The Hip, Headstones, and Tea Party. We had a lot of fantastic rock bands back then.
Back in the late 80's, when I was posted in their hometown of Kingston, Ontario, I saw these guys quite often at local clubs. Another band from the same city that was coming up at the same time was Headstones, and they've got some interesting songs as well.
Thanks for checking out Canada's best. They're uniquely Canadian. Tons of Lyrics are Canadian. His lyrics are killer. Huge First Nations awareness. He was a National Treasure.
The Tragically Hip are under-rated masters of their craft, which was just about any damned thing they set their minds to. They were also hardcore activists from the get-go, helping to defend the Indigenous land and irreplaceable ancient rainforest of Clayoquot Sound in British Columbia from rapacious clearcutting, and doing so in the early '90s, when much of the Western world hadn't yet woken-up to the fast-approaching ecological disaster we're currently making self-fuelling (good luck, kids! We fucked you over hardcore! You're welcome!). The forest still stands today, and it is awe-inspiring. The Hip are who I wanna be. Edit: Loving the hat, Lex! Also want to note that Gord and the Hip loved to play with audiences at their gigs. They would go on wild impromptu tangents, explore new sounds in established tunes, etc. It was like a combo of rock and jazz, at times. The well of their creativity was bottomless. I'm not sure there's been a day in the decades since I first heard the Hip that their music hasn't gone through my head. They are the subtle knife that finds the bone. Kinda like having your skeleton scrimshawed while you're still using it.
I watch a lot of your reactions. Glad to see you're checking out the Tragically Hip. They were considered Canada's "bar band." (I asked someone in the music biz here why the Hip never really made it the US. He said, "they already have R.E.M. down there and there's no room for another one.") Really glad you checked out Cordelia. It's not one of the very well known songs they did but I think it's my favourite Hip song because of its twang, punch and Gord Downie's obscure lyrics. (I sing along in the car to this one.)
Such BS!! REM cant even hold a candle next to The Hip. Their biggest sin was promoting Canadiana. US missed out big time. Too bad for them. WE got to go along for the ride. They missed out
@@Bruvva_Wu Well if you are from Canada it would be 5 songs from every single album. I can only remember one or two from REM. And its because they played constantly on the radio. Everybody Hurts has to be the most annoying song I ever heard.
one of the reasons I never liked REM is this idiotic comparison to the hip. they both had bald lead singers, that's it, that's the extent of the comparison, neither musically or lyrically are they even close. REM can't hold the Hips jock, period.
I love REM, and The Tragically Hip, but those bands are NOT similar. (And, geez, if any country is guilty of creating and loving "clone" bands it's the US).
Road apples is a great album from start to finish. Few gems on this album. Little bones Twist my arm The luxury Three pistols And two emotional gems Long time running Fiddlers green Gord didn't like to preform fiddlers green often as it was written in memory of his nephew. Interesting fact..look up gords meaning of road apples..hahaha Gord was a great man, song writer, ambassador for Canada and a great artist.
I'm loving that you're loving the Tragically Hip. Imo, they should have had international attention and Gord Downie is one of the most charismatic lead singers of his generation. Theyre essentially Canada's little secret, but I'm glad people are getting to experience them. I'd love to see more on the channel. Maybe even some live performances.
In Shakespeare's play 'King Lear', Cordela was the daughter of King Lear that stuck by his side when his other daughters tried to overthrow him. In the song he's proclaiming he's not like her. I read this explanation of the song meaning written by someone named 'Blackstrip': "Thematically, this song seems to deal with taking unnecessary risks, just for the thrill or the gratification that comes from telling yourself you're pulling off something dangerous. Seeing how high up you are on the bridge, jumping from the train, shouting 'Macbeth' in a theatre (which superstition says will ruin the performance), the thief who has to stay in the house a minute too long just to get one more thing, etc. Gordie adds some clever twists in too. The bull trying to figure out if he hates the cape or the guy who's audacious enough to taunt him with it. And the chorus suggests all this behaviour is tied to a need to not owe anything to anyone else."
"Locked in the Trunk of a Car" and "38 Years Old" may be my personal favorites but I have a fondness as well for the dream like quality of "It's a Good Life if you don't weaken"
Got to see your Canadian music live stream glad this one ended up being a favorite of the night. The Hip were the sound track for many Canadians. It will be worth diving into more of their music. Amazing stories and unique sound. I'd recommend 50 Mission Cap or Ahead by a century.
Congratulations! You have discovered the often imitated, never duplicated, & highly underrated side of the Tragically Hip. Possibly one of the best bands to ever come out of Canada that never received global recognition. Border states get it... yet they could never quite penetrate mainstream USA. As a follow up, I would recommend "Grace Too" or "Three Pistols" next. Your reactions are so genuine. Much love from Ontario, Canada.
Cordelia was King Lear's youngest, and favourite, daughter. After asking his three daughters to profess their love for him in order for him to decide how to divvy up his land for their inheritance, while both Goneril and Regan spew lavish amounts of their dedication to him, Cordelia just says "Love, and be silent". This enrages Lear, and he banishes her. Years later, she returns and forgives him despite his betrayal. Due to madness brought on by the rejection he felt from being rejected by Goneril and Regan, Lear is unable to recognize Cordelia. Eventually, he does, but it's too late. They're both sent to prison by Edmund, and Cordelia is hanged.
You, my friends are discovering Canada's best kept secret .. the power of Gordy and The Hip... You nailed it... Original to the core. They stayed in their own lane their entire career and never left it. They never really cared about being considered mainstream or popular. Just pure goodness made them the pride of Canada.
I'd heard this song before but I remember the first time I ever really HEARD it. I'd just moved to the Yukon and pulled into my driveway one night and it hit just so hard and there were northern lights above and, yeah, it's just Canadian blues-rock. Iconic. They had a 20-some-year career. Gord Downey died way too young, man. One of the greatest front men I've ever seen live. FWIW, Cordelia is also a character in Margaret Atwood's book Cat's Eye. Atwood, like the Hip = iconic Canadians. Songs: Nautical Disaster -- Fire in the Hole -- Scared -- Grace Too -- 700 Ft Ceiling -- Don't Wake Daddy All great stuff. You love our girl Alanis, now dive into our boys the Hip. :)
The Tragically Hip - the pride of Kingston, Ontario and Canada's house band. So glad you dug them; I only wish you'd had the chance to see them live - they were so electric. Some other great songs of theirs to check out, include: Boots or Hearts, Another Midnight, Three Pistols, Long Time Running, Fiddler's Green, Courage, At The Hundredth Meridian, Grace Too, and Nautical Disaster.
Almost every album The Hip released in Canada charted #1 here. They are a national treasure. Gord's lyrics are poetic and thoughtful, political, introspective, fun. The band is rocking and artsy and their music is so deeply ingrained in Canadian culture. RIP Gord.
I've always thought that "Spittin' from a bridge" in this song is referring to tempting fate or feeling desperate (as many other lines in this song seem to allude to, like the line about Macbeth; it's considered bad luck to say Macbeth in a theatre, so screaming it is tempting fate)- the line before "spittin'" is "Angst on the planks", so the narrator is saying he feels anxious or distressed on the bridge and is thinking of jumping, and spits over to see how far down it really is.
i have seen The Hip live 5 times and n that last tour i had tears running down my face, they are a part of my life growing up and up untill now that it was like losing a family member. long live Gord.
If you think this is southern sounding for a Canadian band , you should check out another Canadian band , The Sheepdogs “I Don’t Know”. That song is “really” southern sounding.
I love that the Hip still get reactions on TH-cam. I remember reading somewhere, I can't remember if it was online or in a magazine, but The Tragically Hip was quoted as "Canada's greatest kept secret." Gord Downie was an amazing human being, and it'd be great if you guys check out Ahead by a Century Long Time Running Bobcaygeon There's so many great hits by these guys and they have their own unique sound. I know you guys gets countless requests, but I'm confident you two would enjoy those tunes.
The Hip almost caught on in the US. Closest might have been when they made it on SNL in the early 90’s - I think it was Dan Ackroyd who insisted they be the musical guest.
It's so awesome that you are doing Tragically Hip reactions! Keep it up and you will have some happy Canadians watching your videos! It is interesting that you chose this song out of all their songs lol they have far more popular songs but this album has always stood out to me as one of their best. Some other great songs off this album (Road Apples) are: Little Bones, Twist my Arm, Fiddlers Green and Long Time Running but the whole album is good lol Would love to see a reaction to the song 38 Years Old as it is a sad but cool story and one of the best story telling songs ever. MORE TRAGICALLY HIP REACTIONS!!!
Guys, It's clear you like The Hip, please listen to the bootleg recording of Highway Girl (double suicide rant). It's a perfect example of how amazing this band was like, and how Gord goes into a side story rant... That's a short example too, I saw them live around 15 times, and sometimes the improvised rants and stories would go on for half an hour in the middle of a song.
The more that time passes, the more I think "It's a Good Life if You Don't Weaken" is my favourite Hip song. But there are so many to choose from. Another one that's perhaps underrated: "Opiated."
Hello from Newfoundland!!! Thanks for reviewing this song. I love getting peoples reaction to it. I've never heard anybody describe the feeling they get from the spittin from a bridge part as relatable. I think you nailed it! Like you said, everybody has done it! I couldn't put my finger on it until you used that word. Thanks!
Nice hat Lex, looking forward to you guys exploring many more Canadian bands. Look at old school as well as new, we Canadians enjoy many genres of music.
Interesting song to start with but this is Canada's band. "Wheat Kings" is a favourite! Edit: I missed the first one you did. Extra video for me today I guess haha
I am the rare American who absolutely thinks the Hip are one of the greatest bands ever. I got into them in a horrible way. Netflix suggested the documentary about Gord Downely's last tour. I wish to God I would have found out about them early enough to see them live. As a lyricist, Gord is in the Bob Dylan class with...well no one else.
Omg. I thought I couldn’t like you guys more. The Hip are very very special. The lyrics are poetry the catalogue so I wide. I would love to see you guys watch Gords final song at the final concert before the universe stole him from us.
Amazing song. Thanks for reacting to it. A piece of Canadian treasure. All his songs are super deep and hard to get the meaning of in the first, second, third etc listen. Once it clicks you’ll understand his brilliance.
RIP GORDIE LOVE FROM NW ONTARIO! Thanks for the free show for ALL OF CANADA your last show before you passed...! We LOVE him.... really love him. Really.
One of the best bands ever. Holland, Eindhoven. Any wishes ? Hell yeah ; it's a long time running. Than a Long Time running it is, my friend He is so, so, so much missed. One of the best live bands ever.
The Tragically hip are awesome. Love Gord Downey, Gord Sinclair, Robby Baker, Robby Fay, and Paul Langlois. Love from Kingston Ontario the Birth place of the Tragically Hip
Thank you so much for doing this song. Loved your reaction and you nailed their uniqueness.... I like Todd's suggestions below... three great ones to try. Little Bones next tho please!
I am very pleased to see you discover the genius of Gord Downie. More Hip please, too many great songs for me to list or choose from. I am sure others will suggest many. Thank you Brad & Lex!
So This was great, the band was phenomenal and Gord was - a real artist. I got to see the farewell tour, grateful about that. So, the he is looking for logic (Logos) and she is feeling (Eros). Gord’s lyrics were not purposely vague, he wrote from the collective unconscious (ideas that rest in potential and not quite formed) and that accounts for having to figure them out. All the greats did this.
The Hip is one of those bands I honestly find it impossible to pick a favorite. Just when I start thinking of one, another one pops up, then another and so forth. So I stopped doing that lol.
treading the boards screaming out macbeth. an actor just tempting the fates saying the name of that play (black adder actually taught me something i could remember).
One of the best lyricists in all of music... RIP Gordon Edgar Downie. I love bands with a singer with a unique voice and his is definitely that. Check out their powerful song "Fiddler's Green".
Brad & Lex, I suggest checking out the Hip's official video for 'My Music at Work'. It's my favourite Hip song (although 'Bobcageon' is a close second).
Without a doubt…Gordie was one of the most brilliant lyricists in music history…ever! His brilliance was that he painted an incredible visceral image that was completely unique to each person. What was that song saying to you?! Different for every single person. That was his brilliance
'Grace, Too', 'Fiddler's Green', 'Nautical Disaster'. Three more different styles from the Hip, all fire.
In Gord We Trust.
RIP
Some bands, you remember. The Tragically Hip will haunt you. They can be wonderfully joyous, too, but songs like "Nautical Disaster" will crawl under your skin and never leave. And you won't want them to.
@@michaelccozens especially some live versions
Add Wheat Kings to that
Oh yes please Grace Too! And Ahead By a Century May be the prettiest song ever made.
In Gord We Trust. YES. Somebody get pumping out some t-shirts!!
Moved from Ireland to Canada 4 years ago with no knowledge of the hip. Now one of my top 5 bands.
They are iconic Canadiana. They’re ingrained in the culture of this country 🇨🇦
That's a beautiful thing. Thank you for sharing that ❤🇨🇦
Instant classics
The title of the song, and the line "I'm not Cordelia, I will not be there" is a reference to the Shakespeare play King Lear.
Cordelia is the youngest daughter of King Lear, and his favourite. When he asks his three daughters to make professions of love to him, two of his daughters shower him with praises to suck up to him, but Cordelia does not. She is honest, and just declares "Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave / My heart into my mouth. I love your majesty / According to my bond; no more nor less." As a result King Lear banishes her from the kingdom, and cuts her off from the throne. She goes on to marry the King of France.
At the end of the play, King Lear is rejected by his two other daughters, and goes mad. Cordelia returns with the intention to help her father, King Lear by then is too mad to recognize her, but she forgives him for banishing her, stays by his side, and takes care of him. Then the story villain, Edmund, arrives, seizes the throne, send King Lear and Cordelia to prison, and she is ultimately hanged.
"I'm not Cordelia, I will not be there" means he's not as ready to forgive and forget...
thanks! I always wondered the details of the reference
I'd even suggest that it's him drawing a line; "If you insist on self-destruction, even though I love you, I won't share your meaningless death".
Gordy was a modern day Shakespeare - thanks
@@maluorno Here's another one:
"Threading the boards, screaming out "MacBeth!"
Just to see how much bad luck you really get"
Is a reference to the fact that speaking the word "MacBeth" on stage in a theater is a grave omen of bad luck. The superstition began at the play's very first performance (circa 1606) when the actor scheduled to portray Lady Macbeth died suddenly and Shakespeare was forced to replace him. Then over the years other mishaps attributed to the curse happened, like real daggers being used instead of props, leading to deaths on stage. In 1849 in New York, two competing productions of MacBeth, with American actor Edwin Forrest and English actor William Charles Macready, caused the famous Astor Place Riot, and resulted in at least 20 deaths and over 100 injuries. Other productions also had a slew of bad luck incidents, including actors falling off the stage, mysterious deaths, and stage counterweights falling on actors.
@@HMan2828 One more bit I learned: the opening line "angst on the planks" may refer to Gord's time during high school when he was involved in the drama program. The direct line might refer to "showing angst" (acting) on the "planks" of the stage. I picked that up from an Alan Cross interview with Canadian punk rocker Hugh Dillon (The Headstones) who was in the same classes as Gord, and he references the line in the Headstone's song "Kingston" - their hometown.
Awesome to finally see The Hip on your channel! A Canadian treasure! Looking forward to seeing more Hip reactions.
Another vote for “Locked in the Trunk of a Car” … also “Goodnight Attawapiskat”, At the Hundreth Meridian”, “38 Years Old”, “The Darkest One”…so much good material to choose from
Yes, locked in the trunk of a car is my favorite from them, just straight in your face Canadian rock.
@westlod AGREED!!
Gus: The Polar Bear from Central Park...
Man i haven't listened to some of these in a while. '38 Years old' and 'At the hundredth Meridian' I have listened to hundreds of times.
Thank you for not just picking their 90's stuff, they were consistently great straight through their career and catalogue!
I can tell RIGHT AWAY Lex is going to DIG the The Tragically Hip. She gets it. Not everyone does.
I was lucky enough to see The Hip multiple times at small dive bars in Tucson. Their live performances were fantastic! Try ‘Little Bones’, ‘Locked in the Trunk of a Car’, and ‘Poets’ to name a few!✌🏻
I see them at Compton Terrace.
Wheat Kings
50-Mission Cap.... both incredible songs.
Incredible band.
So wish I would have seen them live.
@@markmahan2017 they were incredible!
Saw them twice in Tucson, Wild Wild West for Day for night and The Outback for Trouble at the Henhouse. After I moved to NYC saw them 6 more times (Central Park, Irvin Plaza, Hammerstein Ballroom, Beacon Theater...) and it was at those shows that I found out how many Canadian Ex-Pats are really in NYC. Each time it was like a Canadian convention. My favorite band of all to watch live. RIP Gord!
@@irvinstafford7780 I was at both of those shows! They actually did back to backs at The Wild West and I met them and got autographs after the second one ✌🏻
The Hip (as they're known in Canada, where they're from) have been super popular since the 90's. They are one of my favorite bands! New Orleans is sinking is one of my favorites as well! If you haven't already, please check out "Blow at high dough". It's probably my favorite Hip song. Thanks for covering this one! They're a really great band. This album came out way back in 1991! I didn't know until now, that the lead singer, Gord Downy died of brain cancer in 2017, since I live in the US now and we get almost zero Canadian news. 😭 What a loss to the world!
Correction. Popular since mid 80s
@@seansaville5664 That's when they formed. They didn't become super well known until around '89. But they became the best selling Canadian band between '96-2016. That's neither here nor there tho. They are definitely one of Canada's most epic bands. Downy's passing is a huge loss to the music world, and the earth in general. My second daughter was born to the song "Blow at high dough" 🤣👌
@@seansaville5664 no.
@@MrsRealistic Correct, their first real album wasn't even until 1989 (they technically had an EP in 1987, but it didn't really chart). Up to Here was their first album and that came out in '89. Blow at High Dough is pretty much when people first heard them outside of playing bars in Kingston and that wasn't until April 1989. They hit number 9 with Up to Here, but their next album Road Apples was number 1 in 1991 (which is where Cordelia is from). So, they've been popular since at least 1989 and definitely since 1991. Day for Night was 6x Platinum selling and is probably their highest selling album and that was 1994.
@@tjl9458 When I was in labor with my second daughter, I had a yoga CD playing, that I forgot to put on repeat... And as I was delivering her, the CD changed to The Hip and out she came to the lyrics, "Get it out, get it on out, yeah stretch that thing," I'm not joking. 🤣 That was 20 years ago next week! It's my best birth memory probably from all 5 of my babies! I've listened to them since I was in my teens and have so many wonderful experiences in which their music has accompanied me!
You should check out the Hip's final performance before Gord's tragic and untimely death. The entire nation stood at attenton with tears streaming down our faces to see him one last time, and to witness some of his last words. And to say good bye in the only way we could.
It was broadcast across Canada and was truly a national event.
Millions watched live. Not a dry eye for any True Canadian. Gord will be on one of our dollar bills eventually if there is any justice.
As Canadian as Terry Fox, this is us.
They interrupted the Olympics if I remember correctly. I wasn't mad.
The last show landed on the same night as our annual big backyard BBQ bash - so I had no choice but to buy a WiFi extender, bring the big screen and my sound system out on the deck and rock out the whole neighbourhood. When 'Ahead By A Century' ended and Gord had left the stage, it was like a mass group hug.
It was, it was the last really big gathering of Canadians. We all loved him.
i was cooking, we had him playing in the bar upstairs and the cbc downstairs on the radio...... man oh man.... I am a worker, but i had to take alot of 45 second breaks to just watch because fire me idgaf
Googled this "Cordelia was the daughter of King Lear that stuck by his side when his other daughters tried to overthrow him. Gord is telling whoever that he's not as loyal as Cordelia, he won't be there."
Thanks for giving Brad & Lex the Shakespeare reference. You beat me to it.😎
Yeah, but Lear didn't appreciate her until she was gone.
So many great songs to pick from by The Hip but the one I love is Ahead By A Century. It was the last song they performed and it still hits me.
RIP Gord you earned it ✌❤🇨🇦
I saw you check out “New Orleans is Sinking” with Lex’s mom , and I’ve been hoping you’d check out more Hip ever since. There Canada’s most beloved band. Gord Downie was a poetic lyricist. “Hundredth Meridan” is a person favourite.
He was great song writer !! We adopted them here lol I live near buffalo NY Hip played here woot awesome band
“I remember, I remember Buffalo
And I remember Hengelo
It would seem to me
I remember every single f**king thing I know” ... 😉👍🏼
Gord Downie was Canada’s great poet. Thank you for listening and sharing your thoughts; I really enjoyed it. I love that people can still find the Hip’s music for the first time.
Still get a lump in my throat when I hear Gordie singing. Please keep checking out the Hip!
Every Hip song is relatable, I think. Gord was a poet before he was anything else.
My 90s Canadian Holy Trinity of rock was The Hip, Headstones, and Tea Party. We had a lot of fantastic rock bands back then.
54-40 needs some love
Another Irish poet. Who would have guessed an Irishman being a poet?
Back in the late 80's, when I was posted in their hometown of Kingston, Ontario, I saw these guys quite often at local clubs. Another band from the same city that was coming up at the same time was Headstones, and they've got some interesting songs as well.
Glorious sons are also from Kingston
Thanks for checking out Canada's best. They're uniquely Canadian. Tons of Lyrics are Canadian. His lyrics are killer. Huge First Nations awareness. He was a National Treasure.
The Tragically Hip are under-rated masters of their craft, which was just about any damned thing they set their minds to. They were also hardcore activists from the get-go, helping to defend the Indigenous land and irreplaceable ancient rainforest of Clayoquot Sound in British Columbia from rapacious clearcutting, and doing so in the early '90s, when much of the Western world hadn't yet woken-up to the fast-approaching ecological disaster we're currently making self-fuelling (good luck, kids! We fucked you over hardcore! You're welcome!). The forest still stands today, and it is awe-inspiring.
The Hip are who I wanna be.
Edit: Loving the hat, Lex! Also want to note that Gord and the Hip loved to play with audiences at their gigs. They would go on wild impromptu tangents, explore new sounds in established tunes, etc. It was like a combo of rock and jazz, at times. The well of their creativity was bottomless.
I'm not sure there's been a day in the decades since I first heard the Hip that their music hasn't gone through my head. They are the subtle knife that finds the bone. Kinda like having your skeleton scrimshawed while you're still using it.
I watch a lot of your reactions. Glad to see you're checking out the Tragically Hip. They were considered Canada's "bar band." (I asked someone in the music biz here why the Hip never really made it the US. He said, "they already have R.E.M. down there and there's no room for another one.") Really glad you checked out Cordelia. It's not one of the very well known songs they did but I think it's my favourite Hip song because of its twang, punch and Gord Downie's obscure lyrics. (I sing along in the car to this one.)
Such BS!! REM cant even hold a candle next to The Hip. Their biggest sin was promoting Canadiana. US missed out big time. Too bad for them. WE got to go along for the ride. They missed out
@@peppymohawk8646 REM had maybe 3 songs I can remember, it's hard to really get your 5 favorite Hip songs...
@@Bruvva_Wu Well if you are from Canada it would be 5 songs from every single album. I can only remember one or two from REM. And its because they played constantly on the radio. Everybody Hurts has to be the most annoying song I ever heard.
one of the reasons I never liked REM is this idiotic comparison to the hip. they both had bald lead singers, that's it, that's the extent of the comparison, neither musically or lyrically are they even close. REM can't hold the Hips jock, period.
I love REM, and The Tragically Hip, but those bands are NOT similar. (And, geez, if any country is guilty of creating and loving "clone" bands it's the US).
I love The Tragically Hip....it would be a rabbit hole to go down. every song on their first 5 albums is great
This was great really love this band you should check out their song " Blow at high dough "
My first "real" girlfriend was named Cordelia. "Little Bones" is a rocker.
Loved these guys for decades. Still emotional to hear Gordies vocals sometimes. Such a great artist, and human
Road apples is a great album from start to finish. Few gems on this album.
Little bones
Twist my arm
The luxury
Three pistols
And two emotional gems
Long time running
Fiddlers green
Gord didn't like to preform fiddlers green often as it was written in memory of his nephew.
Interesting fact..look up gords meaning of road apples..hahaha
Gord was a great man, song writer, ambassador for Canada and a great artist.
It’s inarguably their best album
Love seeing people discovering the Hip . They were so under rated. Nautical disaster, boots and hearts, 38 yrs old are also musts
I'm loving that you're loving the Tragically Hip. Imo, they should have had international attention and Gord Downie is one of the most charismatic lead singers of his generation. Theyre essentially Canada's little secret, but I'm glad people are getting to experience them.
I'd love to see more on the channel. Maybe even some live performances.
So many Great Hip songs. I only wish you both could have experienced them here in Canada live. ill have you in the Muskokas!
In Shakespeare's play 'King Lear', Cordela was the daughter of King Lear that stuck by his side when his other daughters tried to overthrow him. In the song he's proclaiming he's not like her.
I read this explanation of the song meaning written by someone named 'Blackstrip': "Thematically, this song seems to deal with taking unnecessary risks, just for the thrill or the gratification that comes from telling yourself you're pulling off something dangerous. Seeing how high up you are on the bridge, jumping from the train, shouting 'Macbeth' in a theatre (which superstition says will ruin the performance), the thief who has to stay in the house a minute too long just to get one more thing, etc. Gordie adds some clever twists in too. The bull trying to figure out if he hates the cape or the guy who's audacious enough to taunt him with it. And the chorus suggests all this behaviour is tied to a need to not owe anything to anyone else."
"Locked in the Trunk of a Car" and "38 Years Old" may be my personal favorites but I have a fondness as well for the dream like quality of "It's a Good Life if you don't weaken"
Lex: "like this was the epitome of music."
So, so true.
Got to see your Canadian music live stream glad this one ended up being a favorite of the night. The Hip were the sound track for many Canadians. It will be worth diving into more of their music. Amazing stories and unique sound. I'd recommend 50 Mission Cap or Ahead by a century.
Thank you both for touching on the Hip!!!!
LITTLE BONES
is another fav!!
RIP -GORD we miss you✌️🇨🇦
Congratulations! You have discovered the often imitated, never duplicated, & highly underrated side of the Tragically Hip. Possibly one of the best bands to ever come out of Canada that never received global recognition. Border states get it... yet they could never quite penetrate mainstream USA. As a follow up, I would recommend "Grace Too" or "Three Pistols" next. Your reactions are so genuine. Much love from Ontario, Canada.
Cordelia was King Lear's youngest, and favourite, daughter.
After asking his three daughters to profess their love for him in order for him to decide how to divvy up his land for their inheritance, while both Goneril and Regan spew lavish amounts of their dedication to him, Cordelia just says "Love, and be silent". This enrages Lear, and he banishes her.
Years later, she returns and forgives him despite his betrayal. Due to madness brought on by the rejection he felt from being rejected by Goneril and Regan, Lear is unable to recognize Cordelia. Eventually, he does, but it's too late. They're both sent to prison by Edmund, and Cordelia is hanged.
You, my friends are discovering Canada's best kept secret .. the power of Gordy and The Hip... You nailed it... Original to the core. They stayed in their own lane their entire career and never left it. They never really cared about being considered mainstream or popular. Just pure goodness made them the pride of Canada.
I am not familiar with this band,i know they are big in Canada. I hear why. Great song. RIP Gord
I'd heard this song before but I remember the first time I ever really HEARD it. I'd just moved to the Yukon and pulled into my driveway one night and it hit just so hard and there were northern lights above and, yeah, it's just Canadian blues-rock. Iconic. They had a 20-some-year career. Gord Downey died way too young, man. One of the greatest front men I've ever seen live.
FWIW, Cordelia is also a character in Margaret Atwood's book Cat's Eye. Atwood, like the Hip = iconic Canadians.
Songs:
Nautical Disaster -- Fire in the Hole -- Scared -- Grace Too -- 700 Ft Ceiling -- Don't Wake Daddy
All great stuff. You love our girl Alanis, now dive into our boys the Hip. :)
The Tragically Hip - the pride of Kingston, Ontario and Canada's house band. So glad you dug them; I only wish you'd had the chance to see them live - they were so electric. Some other great songs of theirs to check out, include: Boots or Hearts, Another Midnight, Three Pistols, Long Time Running, Fiddler's Green, Courage, At The Hundredth Meridian, Grace Too, and Nautical Disaster.
You are officially honorary "Canadians" now. Awesome!!!
Almost every album The Hip released in Canada charted #1 here. They are a national treasure. Gord's lyrics are poetic and thoughtful, political, introspective, fun. The band is rocking and artsy and their music is so deeply ingrained in Canadian culture. RIP Gord.
I've always thought that "Spittin' from a bridge" in this song is referring to tempting fate or feeling desperate (as many other lines in this song seem to allude to, like the line about Macbeth; it's considered bad luck to say Macbeth in a theatre, so screaming it is tempting fate)- the line before "spittin'" is "Angst on the planks", so the narrator is saying he feels anxious or distressed on the bridge and is thinking of jumping, and spits over to see how far down it really is.
Wow, what a gem. Didn't expect this.
Hmmm... I've heard of this band, but never heard their music. Pretty good stuff.
From the same album try Little Bones and Long Time Running
My favorite Hip album by far !!!!! Road Apples! Melted so many amps and subs listening to this album on 11!
i have seen The Hip live 5 times and n that last tour i had tears running down my face, they are a part of my life growing up and up untill now that it was like losing a family member. long live Gord.
Cool. Sounds very southern rock for a Canadian band.
If you think this is southern sounding for a Canadian band , you should check out another Canadian band , The Sheepdogs “I Don’t Know”. That song is “really” southern sounding.
@@onepieceofgumleft Cool, ok! Thanks.
interesting song to choose from them! Actually a good representation of their sound though.
I love that the Hip still get reactions on TH-cam. I remember reading somewhere, I can't remember if it was online or in a magazine, but The Tragically Hip was quoted as "Canada's greatest kept secret."
Gord Downie was an amazing human being, and it'd be great if you guys check out
Ahead by a Century
Long Time Running
Bobcaygeon
There's so many great hits by these guys and they have their own unique sound. I know you guys gets countless requests, but I'm confident you two would enjoy those tunes.
Rolling Stone Magazine Cover Tag Line the week of Gord's death - "Best band you never heard of"
The Hip almost caught on in the US. Closest might have been when they made it on SNL in the early 90’s - I think it was Dan Ackroyd who insisted they be the musical guest.
This song shows you how hard the hip can be as far as lyrics and how people interpret them. The lyrics are just so deep.
It's so awesome that you are doing Tragically Hip reactions! Keep it up and you will have some happy Canadians watching your videos! It is interesting that you chose this song out of all their songs lol they have far more popular songs but this album has always stood out to me as one of their best. Some other great songs off this album (Road Apples) are: Little Bones, Twist my Arm, Fiddlers Green and Long Time Running but the whole album is good lol Would love to see a reaction to the song 38 Years Old as it is a sad but cool story and one of the best story telling songs ever. MORE TRAGICALLY HIP REACTIONS!!!
Best band of all time hands down. No competition at all
Guys, It's clear you like The Hip, please listen to the bootleg recording of Highway Girl (double suicide rant). It's a perfect example of how amazing this band was like, and how Gord goes into a side story rant... That's a short example too, I saw them live around 15 times, and sometimes the improvised rants and stories would go on for half an hour in the middle of a song.
The more that time passes, the more I think "It's a Good Life if You Don't Weaken" is my favourite Hip song. But there are so many to choose from. Another one that's perhaps underrated: "Opiated."
The Hip are Canada!
the masters of the up and down
Nautical Disaster or Fifty-Mission Cap are the absolute best of the Hip, highly suggest you do those two.
This is something I was unfamiliar with, but I love this song. I'll be adding it to a playlist
LEX..rocking that Canada hat...awesome..... and listening to The Hip.... your an honorary Canadian now EH???..way to go girl...
Hello from Newfoundland!!! Thanks for reviewing this song. I love getting peoples reaction to it. I've never heard anybody describe the feeling they get from the spittin from a bridge part as relatable. I think you nailed it! Like you said, everybody has done it! I couldn't put my finger on it until you used that word. Thanks!
Nice hat Lex, looking forward to you guys exploring many more Canadian bands.
Look at old school as well as new, we Canadians enjoy many genres of music.
watch their Woodstock performance too see what they are all about. Great live band. Fire in the Hole is their best tune.
Maestro Fresh Wes - Let Your Backbone Slide
Excellent rock n roll band. “Nautical Disaster” is brilliant.
Brad and Lex, I love both of your reactions. But Lex, the way you're smiling as you experienced it is really bringing me a lot of joy ❤
Interesting song to start with but this is Canada's band. "Wheat Kings" is a favourite!
Edit: I missed the first one you did. Extra video for me today I guess haha
I like the Hip, but RUSH is Canada’s band.
@@lerxstdirkst6181 I dig Rush but come on. Lol.
@@kyleg334 really? You’re gonna argue the point? The Hip are great, but they’re not RUSH. Sorry.
I love that she loves and GETS their music, it hits her where it counts! That's what REAL music does.
Check out 38 years old by the Hip. It’s a true story about their “hometown Shame”. Beautifully emotional. R.I.P Gord
A true Canadian Legend! R.I.P Gord. Best show I have ever been to in my life!
Great band. Gord was the voice of Canada.
The Hip is Canadain pride. Rest in Peace Gord Downey
I am the rare American who absolutely thinks the Hip are one of the greatest bands ever. I got into them in a horrible way. Netflix suggested the documentary about Gord Downely's last tour. I wish to God I would have found out about them early enough to see them live. As a lyricist, Gord is in the Bob Dylan class with...well no one else.
Nice job y'all, Wheat Kings, Fiddler's Green and 38 Years Old are very good also
words that sound good together
Omg. I thought I couldn’t like you guys more. The Hip are very very special. The lyrics are poetry the catalogue so I wide. I would love to see you guys watch Gords final song at the final concert before the universe stole him from us.
Amazing song. Thanks for reacting to it. A piece of Canadian treasure. All his songs are super deep and hard to get the meaning of in the first, second, third etc listen. Once it clicks you’ll understand his brilliance.
RIP GORDIE LOVE FROM NW ONTARIO! Thanks for the free show for ALL OF CANADA your last show before you passed...! We LOVE him.... really love him. Really.
One of the best bands ever.
Holland, Eindhoven. Any wishes ? Hell yeah ; it's a long time running.
Than a Long Time running it is, my friend
He is so, so, so much missed. One of the best live bands ever.
TTH - "New Orleans is Sinking", "When the Weight Comes Down", "She Didn't Know"
Nice, try Blough at High Dough. 38 years old, Wheat Kings. Thanks guy's!!!😃🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
The Tragically hip are awesome. Love Gord Downey, Gord Sinclair, Robby Baker, Robby Fay, and Paul Langlois. Love from Kingston Ontario the Birth place of the Tragically Hip
Thank you so much for doing this song. Loved your reaction and you nailed their uniqueness.... I like Todd's suggestions below... three great ones to try. Little Bones next tho please!
Someday my favorite band Big Wreck will appear here
They are Canada's band they have so many songs you should listen to and you definitely need to watch there last show they did
I am very pleased to see you discover the genius of Gord Downie. More Hip please, too many great songs for me to list or choose from. I am sure others will suggest many. Thank you Brad & Lex!
OMG… yes!! Your reactions really made me smile.
So
This was great, the band was phenomenal and Gord was - a real artist. I got to see the farewell tour, grateful about that.
So, the he is looking for logic (Logos) and she is feeling (Eros). Gord’s lyrics were not purposely vague, he wrote from the collective unconscious (ideas that rest in potential and not quite formed) and that accounts for having to figure them out.
All the greats did this.
Gord Downie was like a DemiGod on stage.... Canada's poet warrior
Very true about artists singing vs. just another good singer on American Idol.
Cordelia is my fav Hip song, glad you guys liked it!!!
The Hip is one of those bands I honestly find it impossible to pick a favorite. Just when I start thinking of one, another one pops up, then another and so forth. So I stopped doing that lol.
@@Jack-zf3rzwhile I agree with you. Cordelia is just different for me
Gord was a poet who put it to music. Brilliant, edgy and different. One of Canada’s treasure.
treading the boards screaming out macbeth. an actor just tempting the fates saying the name of that play (black adder actually taught me something i could remember).
One of the best lyricists in all of music... RIP Gordon Edgar Downie.
I love bands with a singer with a unique voice and his is definitely that.
Check out their powerful song "Fiddler's Green".
Nice. Blow at high dough, fireworks, the trickle down, bring it all back, locked in the trunk of a car, highway girl and a hundred more.
R.I.P. GORD
Brad & Lex, I suggest checking out the Hip's official video for 'My Music at Work'. It's my favourite Hip song (although 'Bobcageon' is a close second).
My favorite Tragically Hip song. love that you reacted to it! Cheers!
Without a doubt…Gordie was one of the most brilliant lyricists in music history…ever!
His brilliance was that he painted an incredible visceral image that was completely unique to each person.
What was that song saying to you?! Different for every single person. That was his brilliance
Thip was huge in my high school seen em love 3times. Rip Gordy
Gotta give 'Fireworks' a listen. Another good one would be 'Twist My Arm' or 'Emperor Penguin'. Love the Hip!
Emperor Penguin does not get enough attention!
Very much agree
i like that you mostly play the entire tune and just enjoy