Throwback Tracks -- October 18, 2017

I don't even know how to write this today. I found out this morning that Gord Downie, the beloved Canadian, and lead singer of the Tragically Hip has succumbed to Cancer. We all knew this was coming; it's been a year and a half in the making. But it doesn't make this any easier. I am absolutely gutted today. 

I thought it would get easier as the day went on, but he's too entrenched in my life for it to be easy. 

I cried this morning when I found out. I cried again a couple times throughout the day. Then, as I was on my way home, I was listening to a podcast from this morning's sports show in Calgary. The hosts were chirping each other about some random thing when Boomer, the main host, found out about Gord. It changed the entire scope of the show. When they came back from break, the producer played Wheat Kings, and then there was silence. Boomer wasn't sure what to do with himself. 

That's the sort of effect Gord had on this country. Just hearing about his death had grown men on the radio speechless, crying, and completely derailing the show to talk about the sort of person he was. 

I've been thinking about what to write, and how to write it here. I still want to do a Throwback Tracks, but I want to find a way to do a tribute to the man whom I grew up loving. 

Because today I've been listening to nothing but the Hip, I think I might just do an all-Hip Throwback Tracks. I don't think this will go into the October Playlist, because that's a lot of Hip. If you want to listen to all Hip, there are many playlists on Spotify for that. But today, for Gord, I give you the Hip. 

These are some of my favourite songs by one of my favourite bands. While I would generally do the description thing after each song, these are extenuating circumstances. I just want to let the songs speak for themselves. They're not all their best songs, because if you want that, you need to have 50 songs on this week. So this is a sample of their stuff, giving a nice cross-section of what they were capable of. 

I love this band. I loved this man. I'm heartbroken today. 

Wheat Kings

Sundown in the Paris of the prairies Wheat kings have all their treasures buried And all you hear are the rusty breezes Pushing around the weather vane Jesus In his Zippo lighter, he sees the killer's face Maybe it's someone standing in a killer's place Twenty years for nothing, well that's nothing new, besides, No one's interested in something you didn't do Wheat kings and pretty things, let's just see what the morning brings.

Last American Exit

Music video by The Tragically Hip performing Last American Exit. (C) 1987 UMG Recordings, Inc.

Cordelia

Album Road Apples (1991) Lyrics: Angst on the planks, spittin' from a bridge Just to see how far down it really is Robbing a bank, jumping from a train Old antiques a man alone can entertain It takes all your power To prove that you don't care I'm not Cordelia,

Bobcaygeon

Music video by The Tragically Hip performing Bobcaygeon. (C) 1998 Universal Music Canada

Grace, Too

Music video by The Tragically Hip performing Grace, Too. (C) 1994 MCA Records Inc.

It's been a tough day, my friends. As I said up above, even when you know it's coming, it doesn't make it any easier. This is the celebrity death that has affected me the most ever. Very few people have had the impact on my life that Gord did. I'm going to miss him forever. 

RIP, my friend. Thanks for the memories. 

D (@davidronn)