Canadian Please

July 1, 2011 2:09 PM

Canadian Please. For Canada Day, a do-it-yourself music video by Julia Bentley and Andrew Gunadie.

Behind the scenes.

Local news coverage.

Live performance in Niagara Falls, as part of the 2010 Olympic torch relay.

Andrew has a humorous response to racist YouTube commenters.

Commentary (with other examples of people dressing up as Mounties and singing).

More music and comedic videos from Andrew Gunadie (gunnarolla) and Julia Bentley (honeychip).

posted by russilwvong (30 comments total)

The fundamental problem with pro-Canadian songs is that we're not really famous for anything and you resort to things like quoting numbers about available surface freshwater. And the inevitable confusion between "free" and single-payer healthcare systems.

That said, it's a fun video.

Also fun, but even more factually incorrect: Oh, Canada.
posted by GuyZero at 2:13 PM on July 1, 2011 [3 favorites]

Also, don't piss us off or we'll fucking destroy one of our own cities.
posted by GuyZero at 2:15 PM on July 1, 2011 [8 favorites]

▌♥ ▌
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:24 PM on July 1, 2011 [6 favorites]

For those wishing to follow Step #1 in becoming Canadian by "losing the gun" and wishing it to go to a good home, as a Canadian firearms owner I will adopt it and take care good care of it! *grin*
posted by Randwulf at 2:28 PM on July 1, 2011

You know who else dressed up as a mountie and sang?
posted by George_Spiggott at 2:32 PM on July 1, 2011 [1 favorite]

The song is adorable but Andrew's response to the racism is comedic genius.
posted by bettafish at 2:35 PM on July 1, 2011 [4 favorites]

You know who else dressed up as a mountie and sang?

Hitler Ren Höek
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:41 PM on July 1, 2011 [4 favorites]

This video makes me want to be Canadian so hard. I love you Canada. Someone should give you a whole day all to yourself.
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 2:48 PM on July 1, 2011 [1 favorite]

I also would like to be Asian when I become Canadian too, please.
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 2:51 PM on July 1, 2011 [2 favorites]

Well if you're Canadian, you can become Chinese, but sadly you cannot become Canadian and Chinese at the same time. Unless you started as Chinese before you became Canadian.
posted by GuyZero at 3:01 PM on July 1, 2011

There are three kinds of songs about Canada: the embarrassing, earnest kind where people rhyme stereotypes (see above), the indie-folkie kind that addresses the country with detached, crooning tones (see: anything that kd lang has covered, bless her), and the self-loathing satirical kind.

Of these, I have always been most comfortable with the third, and I think I share this with many of my countrypeople. The Arrogant Worms really nailed the genre, with entries like our alternate national anthem, Canada's Really Big, and the unfortunate Mountie's song ("sometimes I just want to puke on Sergeant Preston of the Yukon").

Or engage in our favourite pastime of regional sectarianism with classics like Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie's Toronto Sucks (actually a satire on Albertans) and the Vestibules' I Don't Want to Go to Toronto (actually a satire on Montrealers), and I am Not Canadian, which I believe was a Toronto radio station's shot at Quebeckers.

And then there's The Maple Leaf Forever, a hilarious spoof on the excesses of colonialism in the country's early years, and... sorry, what?
posted by bicyclefish at 3:22 PM on July 1, 2011 [5 favorites]

I liked the fact that they were polite while pointing out others' burning envy of their Canadianity. "Please" makes pretty much everything better.
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:30 PM on July 1, 2011 [1 favorite]

DONUTS MADE WITH EDIBLE OIL PRODUCT.

In a combination of the second and third categories, the Weakerthans' "One Great City". Wherein the chorus declares how much they hate said great city. Set to indie folk-rock.
posted by GuyZero at 3:36 PM on July 1, 2011

Confirming another national truism, I saw some of my friends in Andew's "I'm different from everyone else!" photos.
posted by Beardman at 3:55 PM on July 1, 2011

Sorry, I thought this was the most Canadian thing ever. Or was it this? Or this?
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 4:01 PM on July 1, 2011

Commentary (with other examples of people dressing up as Mounties and singing).

I think I ♥ her: poutine is a nice, light snack
posted by juv3nal at 4:06 PM on July 1, 2011

Also, I am on board with losing the gun, but you can keep your canoes.
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:06 PM on July 1, 2011

man, I hate this cute playing to cliches. Annoying as I often find him, I can't help but feel the first vid here would be helped by an assault by Don Cherry and various of the all-conquering Boston Bruins (most of whom are Canadian).

As for the actual music, the Guess Who are heavier, better fed, far more clever, working far cooler riffs.
posted by philip-random at 4:08 PM on July 1, 2011

Another entrant for most Canadian song ever: Dief Will Be the Chief Again.

Twenty years ago there was a lot of agonized soul searching about our identity. People didn't know if we had an identity, or if we did nobody was sure what it was. But now we seem to be over that, thank Molsen. People can celebrate Canada day and sing funny songs, and everybody's on the same page.

So yay Canada! Happy birthday! Until Trudeau returns from the Isle of Avalon to lead us in time of need, long may we prosper, sprawling across the latitudes and longitudes like a giant friendly beaver.

No, I'm not drunk.
posted by Kevin Street at 4:14 PM on July 1, 2011

Sorry, I thought this was the most Canadian thing ever. Or was it this? Or this?
posted by TheWhiteSkull
It' this.
Maestro Fresh Wes? Beautiful, baby.
posted by BozoBurgerBonanza at 4:23 PM on July 1, 2011

I prefer my "Canadian" songs like this.
posted by blue_beetle at 5:21 PM on July 1, 2011

And my Canadian propaganda comme ca.
posted by blue_beetle at 5:24 PM on July 1, 2011

And every Canadian knows this one.
posted by blue_beetle at 5:25 PM on July 1, 2011 [1 favorite]

Blue_beetle, a friend of mine had that as their wedding song. And they played it throughout the reception.
posted by acoutu at 6:59 PM on July 1, 2011

Ugh. This embarrasses me almost as much as that goddamned "apology wall".
posted by Roachbeard at 7:21 PM on July 1, 2011

I'm sorry.
posted by philip-random at 7:28 PM on July 1, 2011 [2 favorites]

This thread needs a dose of William Shatner "singing" O Canada. Funniest thing I've seen today. ("True patriot love — of same sex partnership.")

I also love that someone dug this VHS out and put it on youtube — Canadian pop idols singing O Canada in 1990. Cheesy, but sweet, too.

Bonus: Shane Koyczan's poem from the Vancouver Olympics opening ceremony.
posted by wenat at 10:32 PM on July 1, 2011

On the back of a cartoon coaster
In the blue TV screen light
I drew a map of Canada
Oh Canada

Thanks Joni. Happy Canada Day everybody.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:06 PM on July 1, 2011

Late entry here, but the band I would really describe as the most Canadian in a good way is the Rheostatics and if you are of a certain age and grew up in a small town in this great deaf mute giant of a country, then you should be able to relate to this.

As yes, Canada, Muzak content providers to the world.
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 12:20 AM on July 2, 2011

I'm just going to leave this here.

I'm so sorry Canada I love you so much
I have no sense of proportion
I'm a disgrace to my uniform
posted by penduluum at 9:00 AM on July 2, 2011 [1 favorite]