Modern MusicCanadian Music II

Keeping Traditions:Native French Canadian East Coast (Maritime)

Modern Trends:Folk RockPopIndie

Contents

In the oldest cultures in Canada, people work hard to keep their traditions, and teach them to younger Canadians. Modern Native Canadian music uses drums and tradi-tional singing.Modern French Canadian music will still use only French.Modern Maritime music will still use the fiddle, bodhan, and other instruments.

Keeping Traditions

Keith Secola – Indian Car (NDN Kar)Ojibwa tribe, uses native chanting in his mu-

sic

Susan Aglukark – Hina Na HoInuit singer, combines Inuit language (Inuk)

and English

Native Canadian

Harmonium – Pour un instant (for a moment)band from the 1970s, very popular in

Quebec

Hay Babies – NeguacQuebecois folk singers – all female

French Canadian

Ashley MacIsaac – The Devil in the Kitchen Fiddle used in modern rock, heavy metal

Great Big Sea – Ordinary DayTraditional Irish style, flute and fiddle music

Maritime

Like many western cultures, Canadian music has been influenced by global music trends. Jazz, blues, rock, folk, pop, indie, hip-hop and rap have all become popular.

We will look at some of the most famous Cana-dian musicians in each of these musical styles.

Modern Trends

In the late 1960s, American and British music was becoming very popular around the world, especially in Canada.The Canadian Government passed Content Laws, forcing Canadian radio stations to play at least 30% Canadian music. Some people say this law helps Canadian musicians.Others don’t like this laws. They think radio stations should play what they like.

Canadian Content Law

Joni Mitchell – Big Yellow TaxiVery popular: original guitar; high, sweet voice

Gordon Lightfoot – If you could read my mindRomantic style of singing and guitar

Folk Music

The Tragically Hip – CourageReferred to as “The Hip,” widely popular

rock band

Neil Young – Rocking in the Free WorldFamous rock musician, often sang about

politics

Rock Music

Barenaked Ladies – Enidpop-rock band, often singing comedic

musicByran Adams – (Everything I do) I do it for you

Pop-rock and power ballads, romantic songs

Pop Music

(“Indie” means independent. This music is produced by small record companies, and usually sounds very origi-nal)Feist – I Feel it All

Indie folk singer, non-classical voice, mixed in-struments

Arcade Fire – Rebellion (Lies)Large band, men/women, French/English, many

instruments

Indie Music