Celebrate Canada’s birthday with a Made in Canada Running Playlist. A little homegrown talent to inspire the true north strong and free as we run above the 49th parallel. From the 1950s to the hitmakers of today this musical journey features a selection of our Northern Stars. They may be over the top (Celine), overplayed (Nickleback), splitzville (BNL), or relatively unknown outside the border (Hip), but the nostalgia rooted in homespun familiarity is surprising motivating. So flashback to your favourite Dominion Days and go on a birthday run with some red and white beats moving your feet. Bonne fête du Canada.
[Click the title to listen to the song]
1958. Walking Along – The Diamonds. In the great tradition of stealing doowop songs The Diamonds had a hit with Walking Along. To be fair, one of their few original songs, The Stroll, was also one of their highest chart-toppers. This is as soda shop era as it gets, walking along just feeling glad, singing a song I won’t be sad.
1962. I’ve Been Everywhere – Hank Snow. Listen bud, I’ve traveled every road in this here land. I’ve been everywhere man. My nana adored Hank Snow and, I admit, I get a kick out of his rapid-fire city naming. The “singing ranger” persuaded the Grand Ole Opry to allow a then undiscovered Elvis Presley to perform as his opening act and was part of The King’s original management team. Now that’s cool.
1965. Walk That Walk – David Clayton Thomas and The Shays. Before joining Blood, Sweat, and Tears – just based on the name alone this group should be in every running playlist – he had a couple of hits on his own.
1968. Born to be Wild – Steppenwolf. Get your motor running’. Head out on the highway. Lookin’ for adventure or whatever comes my way. Fartlek through the riff.
1968. The Weight – The Band. This song supposedly has layers of meaning, but I was always the one in English class thinking some things should be taken at face value. Whatever this songs “really” means, as a post-run lyric take a load off fannie speaks to me.
1969. Snowbird – Anne Murray. A winter runner’s lament – spread your tiny wings and fly away and take the snow back with you where it came from on that day. I haven’t heard this song in years, I was surprised by the quickness of the rhythm.
1970. No Time – The Guess Who. No time left for you. Distant roads are calling me. Legend has it the band released a single with no name, just the teaser “Guess Who?”; DJs thought it was their name and it stuck. The DJs were on to something – it sure beats Chad Allen and The Expressions.
1972. Bad Side of the Moon – April Wine. At times during a run you may find yourself on the bad side of the moon. It helps to chant this is my life, this is my life, this is my life ad nauseum. Really, it does.
1974. Carefree Highway – Gordon Lightfoot. PMS: Post Marathon Syndrome. The mornin’ after blues from my head down to my shoes.
1974. Takin’ Care of Business – Bachman-Turner Overdrive. The training never seems to end, but at least you can take care of business while listening to music self-described as overdrive. I can use a little overdrive on some of my tempo runs.
1975. Big Yellow Taxi – Joni Mitchell. A political contribution to the list. Outdoor runners need trees and trails, not parking lots. Put away the DDT now. Put spots on my apples, but leave me the birds and the bees now.
1977. We’re Here for a Good Time – Trooper. We’re here for a good time, not a long time. If the optimism of this ditty is too much for you, go for Raise a Little Hell instead.
1979. Log Driver’s Waltz – Mountain City Four. You think trail running is tough, imaging running along logs as they float down rivers? For he goes birling down a-down a white water. And yes, the word is birling. It’s a sport, for reals. I highly recommend you click the link and watch the video; kids of the 80s will remember the National Film Board short airing between Saturday morning cartoons and everyone else should watch one of the NFB’s most requested films at least once. It starts out with real footage before breaking into the best of 1970s animation.
1979. Hey Hey My My – Neil Young. It’s better to burn out than too fade away? Goes against the conservative approach of starting slow, but there’s definitely a time and a place to go for gold even if you risk a magnificent flame-out. (For those expecting it, Long May You Run was too slow to make the cut.)
1981. Magic Power – Triumph. I’ve got the magic power of music in me.
1981. My girl (gone, gone, gone) – Chilliwack. I like to listen to this one at the end of my long runs: gone gone gone she’s been gone so long. She didn’t have to run. Gone gone gone she’s been gone so long.
1981. Turn Me Loose – Loverboy. I was born to run, I was born to dream. Turn me loose. Picture yourself on the starting line ready to go, ready to turn loose.
1982. The Safety Dance – Men Without Hats. Cause your friends don’t dance and if they don’t dance well they ain’t no friends of mine. We can dance real neat from our hats to our feet and surprise ‘em with a victory cry. It’s upbeat and it’s about moving your feet, what more do you want?
1984. Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen. The original recording artist, now with over 200 cover versions. They say you find religion battling those finish line demons; here’s a song to help you pray.
1985. Never Surrender – Corey Hart. I had a Corey Hart poster on my wall and I wore my sunglasses at night. It was the 80s and I was a kid, don’t judge. Despite the slow tempo, never surrender is surprisingly motivational. So if you’re lost and on your own you can never surrender. And if your path won’t lead you home you can never surrender. With a little perseverance you can get things down. Never surrender. It’s a great line for a t-shirt.
1985. Situation Critical – Platinum Blonde. I’m on the roam. And I like it. I train to avoid a situation critical, like the kind that hits around mile 20.
1986. Marathon – Rush. Sometimes song choices are obvious for a reason: best race lyrics ever. It’s a test of ultimate will, the heartbreak climb uphill. Got to pick up the pace, if you want to stay in the race.
1986. Baby Ran – 54-40. As a idealistic pre-teen I listened to One Gun over and over, but it’s Baby Ran that makes my playlist. Aside from the obvious baby ran, she ran so far away, there is a steady beat for your tired feet. Fifty-four forty or fight!
1988. My Song – Glass Tiger. I want to sing my song, it takes me home to where I come from. He’s singing my dream: I’ve left it all behind me to travel the distant roads so far from my homeland.
1989. Blow at High Dough – Tragically Hip. Sometimes the faster it gets the less you need to know. But you gotta remember the smarter it gets the further its gonna go. Rumour has it the expression came from Gord Downie’s grandmother and it basically means don’t get ahead of yourself. Runner’s translation: don’t jackrabbit out of the gate and lose steam before the finish.
1989. Let Your Backbone Slide – Maestro Fresh Wes. This is a throw-down, a showdown. Hell no, I can’t slow down. Let your backbone sliiiiide.
1990. Home for a Rest – Spirit of the West. You’ll have to excuse me I’m not at my best (I know those fans along the side of the course telling me I look good are lying). Too much drinking, too much running … whatever your vice you probably need a rest. Take me home.
1991. Walk Away – Alanis. Before she was Alanis Morissette she was willing to leave Joey How You Doin’ Tribbiani if he didn’t shape up. It’s peppy and upbeat and it’s about walking away, which is almost about running. Fine, it’s a stretch, but post-bubblegum pop Alanis with the Morissette is too much of a downer for my playlist.
1991. Superman’s Song – Crash Test Dummies. A slow song, this one is best for winding up before a tough effort. Their planet crumbled, but Superman he forced himself to carry on, forget Krypton, and keep going. All I have to complain about is getting up early to run, this song reminds me to suck it up.
1991. No Regrets – Tom Cochrane. You can’t go wrong if you live your life with no regrets.
1993. My Baby Loves a Bunch of Authors – Moxy Fruvous. Political satire set to music. This one is for those of you that don’t just run, but like to read about running.
1995. Run Runaway – Great Big Sea. Energetic folk rock with a sea shanty vibe. All their songs are awesome, so take your pick.
1998. Who Needs Sleep? – Barenaked Ladies. Dedicated to the early morning runners and the over-training insomniacs. (p.s. Dear Ed, I’ve loved you since 1992. Don’t tell Husband. Sincerely, RunShorts.)
1998. Run Like Mad (Elsewhere) – Jann Arden. Every voice inside my head is telling me to run like mad. I watched Dawson’s Creek (and in the Pacey-Dawson showdown I was rooting for Pacey all the way) and only recently discovered that this was the original US and the ultimate international edition theme song.
2000. Life – Our Lady Peace. Life waiting for you. It’s all messed up but we’ll survive. This is a song for The Wall.
2001. Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk – Rufus Wainwright. Skip the cigs, but reach for the chocolately milk. It’s great for post-run refuleing.
2002. Open Road – Bryan Adams. You were expecting Run To You, no? I’m not always predictable. Bryan Adams is still rocking in the new millenium and Open Road features his sexy rasp. Life is an open road – it’s the best story never told. It’s an endless sky – it’s the deepest sea. Life is an open road to me. When I’m famous and in need of an autobiography Open Road is in the running for the title.
2002. Up – Shania Twain. When you hit bottom remind yourself, it can only go up from here.
2003. Time Running – Sara and Tegan. The indie pop twins got their start in a city talent show called Garage Warz – sounds like one of those shows on TLC. The time you’ve got me running.
2004. Mushaboom – Feist. This song is randomly sprinkled with awesome running lyrics. Old dirt road, knee deep snow. On a little road barely on the map. Collect the moments one by one. I love a good tune about taking the time to enjoy it all. Shaboom shaboom.
2006. Bridge to Nowhere – Sam Roberts. If this is a race then I hope you come last. You’re on a bridge to nowhere and you’re gettin’ there fast. It’s not all rainbows and cotton candy, some days are hard.
2006. Keep Holding On – Avril Lavigne. I’m as shocked as anyone to find Avril singing such a motivational, non-teen angst ridden, pop rock power ballad. Just stay strong. Keep holding on.
2007. Walls Fall Down – Bedouin Soundclash. Any song about breaking down walls is bound to be helpful eventually.
2006. Don’t Get Down – Hayden. As Rachel Green would say, and Ross Gellar would misunderstand, this is a song for when you need a break.
2006. Sunday Morning – k-os. Every day is Saturday night, but I can’t wait for Sunday morning. The morning of my long run. I can’t wait for Sunday morning.
2007. No Cars Go – Arcade Fire. I’d like to find a place where no cars go. It would be my smog-free utopia. I need a replacement for the island, at least until my city-wide strike ends.
2008. My Happy Place – The New Odds. The New Odds are the old Odds and now they have a happy place. Playing the Corner Gas theme song probably helped pay for it.
O Canada. Oh no? Did I miss your Canadian super group? Let me know.
Title Reference: Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier (lyrics) & Calixa Lavallée (music). 1880 (English lyrics written in 1908 by Robert Stanley Weir).
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Happy Valentine’s Day. I’m not sure what this “holiday” celebrates, so I went to Wikipedia, my source of all information. The entry was long and talked about a lot of dead people … so I quickly lost interest. The gist of it is that we can blame Chaucer for associating the date with romantic love. I think we can blame Roman and/or Greek mythology for the creepy naked boy armed with an arrow. 
