For a country with a relatively small population, Canada has an outsized impact on the soundtrack of everyday life.
That’s not opinion. That’s math.
Our artists have filled radio waves, playlists, arenas, and quiet moments for decades. When we started pulling this playlist together, we made a deliberate choice.
You won’t find the obvious bands here.
The ones everyone already knows are Canadian.
This playlist is about the others.
The songs you’ve known for years.
Wait — they’re Canadian?
Hold on… them too?
Canada has produced so many more hit songs that we knew. Songs that hold up years later.
This playlist isn’t about trivia or surprise for surprise’s sake. It’s about recognizing the depth of what comes from here — and appreciating just how much Canadian music has already shaped the way we listen, live, and feel.
Chances are, you already know these songs.
You just might not have known how Canadian they were.
Erin Kelly
Never even heard of most of these. Was surprised by a few.
Ken McCormick
Wow what an horrible list I wish I never clicked on the link.
Mike
love this. another music junkie here and I still got caught by a few. Eyes of a Stranger was one of my favourite songs growing up and I honestly had no clue the Payolas were Canadian
Pure Muskoka
Hey Tom — thanks for taking the time to put this together. That’s a great list, and it’s clear you know this era inside and out.
You’re spot on — a lot of these are very Canadian, and many were top of mind for us too. We left the more obvious names out intentionally, since this first playlist was built around familiar songs that people might not realize were Canadian.
That said, this is exactly the kind of list we’d love to pull from as we build future volumes and variations. There’s a lot of depth here, and we appreciate you sharing it with us.
Thanks again for adding to the conversation, we’ll definitely keep this going.
Tom
Great idea! As an 80-90’s vinyl DJ from the past, I recognized most…
If you plan on adding to or creating different versions or volumes from songs submitted, here are a few others for your consideration…Leaving out some of the more obvious CDN talent of course…
The Pursuit of Happiness – I’m An Adult Now & She’s So Young
Goddo – Pretty Bad Boy
Barenaked Ladies – If I Had a $1,000,000
Saga – Wind him Up & On the Loose
Teenage Head – Teenage Beer Drinking Party & Let’s Shake
Triumph – Hold On & Somebody’s Out there
April Wine – Sign of the Gypsy Queen & I Like to Rock
BTO – Taking Care of Business & You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet
The Guess Who – No Time & American Woman
Crash Test Dummies – Superman’s Song
Streetheart – Here Comes the Night
The Spoons – Nova Heart
54-40 – Ocean Pearl & I Go Blind
The Northern Pikes – She Ain’t pretty & Dream Land
Prism – Spaceship Superstar
Trooper – Raise A Little Hell
Doucette – Mamma Let him Play
The Kings – Switch Into Glide & This Beat Goes On
Loverboy – Working for the Weekend
Hopefully you can keep this going while maintaining the CDN theme with involvement from your customers…
Cheers!