blog post East Coast top 10 songs revealed

No wonder I moved away from the Maritimes. What a sad, forlorn, depressing, and hidebound list. Perhaps there should have been two categories--"Top Ye Olde East Coast Song", and "Top Non-Traditional East Coast Song". No Wintersleep, Sloan, Matt mays, Jellyfishbabies, or heck, even April Wine? There's more to the Atlantic Provinces than jiggin' squid, chokin' herring, diggin' coal, and playin' the fiddle, dontcha know.

I agree with mwiyyc. And I still live and work in NS, and was born here (to thecodman). It is sort of an "old" list of tunes I see listed, and they seem to represent a specific demographic. I am 52, with two teenagers, and do think April Wine should be on there somewhere. 

No one said it had to be obviously east coast, or Maritime. I believe the criteria was best song. Period. All of the "best" songs that have come out of the Maritimes, are not about the ocean, fishing, or misery. And I am in no way being disrespectful of that subject matter either. Just thinking about variety, talent, and the right to change with the times.... no disrespect to all that has happened during our complete and entire history.

So hard to chose. There is a lot of talent in Atlantic Canada. I would have picked something by Johnny Burke (song writer), all of which were made popular outside of Newfoundland by Great Big Sea. "The Night Paddy Murphy Died", Cod Liver Oil", The Kelligrews Soiree", Excursion around the bay", and many more. Likewise, Newfoundland Francophone Emile Benoit had some amazing reels I would place in my top ten.

I'm also surprised nothing by Stomp'in Tom made the list. The man is to PEI what Ron Hynes is to NL. I also agree with the poster who complained that there were no non-trad songs on the list. Sloan comes to mind.

Finally, not sure what we can call an East Coast song but any of Stan Rogers tunes about Atlantic Canada would be up there. "The Idiot" I think is one of his greatest. Anyone forced to relocate to the oilsands from the East should take a listen and see that their plight is one that's been repeated by Atlantic Canadians for over 30 years.

Where are all the great Newfoundland song writers??? No Amelia Curran, no Great Big Sea, no Tim Baker, no Andrew James O'Briend, no Sherry Ryan, no John Cossar, no Dave Panting, no Chris Kirby, no Damhnait Doyle?   This is totally skewed by population and politics.   Trust CBC to pretend this makes sense.

"Top East Coast songs of all time" infers, to me, that the song(s) have had to actually stand the test of time.  Obviously, there are countless contemporary east coast songs that are brilliantly written - some have an element of universality, some speak to a narrower audience.  Regardless, will they be widely recognzied and listened to in another 25 years?  Only time will tell and I think that this is why we see a current list of suggested songs that seem "older" because they indeed have had the advantage of time on their side.  And don't forget - our current AMAZING east coast songwriters are direct products, one way or another, of these fabulous songwriters "of old".  

Another thought....the east coast has been immersed in misery often due to ocean/mining disasters and/or loss of the ability to support a family through fishing/mining/industrial work and these conditions have inspired some of the most beautiful lyrics/melodies that we have. That element can't be ignored, I think.

One of the great byproducts of a region with so many excellent songwriters is a wealth of passionate fans/listeners as seen with this contest.  Thank you, CBC, for yet again supporting our east coast musicins!! (Can we do this again in another 25 years?)

Joining this thread late - too late, I guess, to affect the choice.  Unless the number one spot was already ceded to Leon Dubinsky's anthem, written for the Cape Breton Follies years ago (see the "test of time" comment above) and made an anthem for all of us by the Rankin Family.  Never heard them do it anywhere where the audience didn't leap to their feet on that last triumphant note by Raylene.  "We Rise Again" should be on that list, or the list means next to nothing.  And there are great songs on the list!

David Myles? Are you serious? Who's David Myles? C'mon people. This is silly. We're being punked. LOL Good one! I laughed.

I cannot take this list seriously since there is not one song from Stan Rogers. Barret's Privaters has been an anthem in more pubs, at more campfires and kitchen parties for the last 30 years than any other song on this list. You have missed the mark.

OMG .... where is Leonard Cohen on this list ???

 And yes,  Stan Rogers is MIA !

It makes me cringe that you have not included our 'snowbird' Anne.

CBC - what were you thinking ????

Where is Matt Andersen ?

I agree with everyone about the lack of Stan Rogers songs, but the main reason he is not on the list is that he's not Atlantic Canadian... He's from Hamilton, Ontario and his grandparents lived in Guysborough County where he would often visit in the summer

I love Peters Dream,  the fishery squandered hit our regions so hard and the lesson of human greed and if it is too good to be true....etc.  and the pride , the passion and the independence of our people and the poetry of Lennie Gallant.... we know more about unfair circumstance, superficial judgements on us and hard choices,  the  only folk that understand  that aspect of life more is our First Nations.

love it...we are a people not afraid of anger, gets us off our butts to Do things. Peters Dream if beautiful.

but if Rise Again was on the list i would have voted for it, the way we love our kids , is the biggest story of who we are.

Of course april wine, Matt Minglewood Sloan Rawllins Cross and the Gospel aires all brought it and many more.

We just have too much talent... this is the folk trad song list.  Praising one aspect of the music takes nothing away from Matt Mays , Jenn Grant, Troy MacGillivray, Buck 65 and Kelly Russell and all our musical monsters from all times and styles, pity most of Canada never gets to hear most of the local big talents.

So many of them are such great people too.  narrowing it down to 10 or 1 is really impossible but kinda just for fun , don't ya think?