The Tragically Hip, led by the late Gord Downie, are a band many Canadians grew up listening to. Fans of the band include Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and their music often put the spotlight on different perspectives on Canadian issues.
Michelle MacQueen, a master’s student, is researching the band and the impact they have had on Canadian culture.
“It’s interesting to hear people talk about the band, and what they meant for them,” she said.
MacQueen decided to research The Tragically Hip after watching a stream of the band’s final show in Kingston, Ont. in 2016. The concert was broadcast on television and streamed live, and was viewed by over 11 million people.
“Even just from this event, it’s clear that The Hip have this iconic position in Canadian pop culture. And it’s kind of a nationalistic position—they’re ‘Canada’s Band,’” she said via email. “I thought it would be interesting to see what stories “Canada’s Band” tells about Canada and further, how these stories combined with the support for the band, affect what we think of Canada.”
Part of MacQueen’s research has explored how the band’s material touches on different aspects of Canadian life, sometimes with a darker, more critical tone.
“It kind of seemed odd to me that this band is being so critical about Canada . . . How can [Downie] be so nationalistic and critical?” she said. “So, I looked more into the catalogue of songs, and the themes seem to be a recurring thing.”
For example, in her thesis she discusses the song, “Wheat Kings,” off their 1992 record Fully Completely. The song explores the story of David Milgaard—a man from Saskatoon wrongly convicted of rape in the early 1970s.
“Here, The Hip are telling a Canadian story, but one that is obviously much darker,” MacQueen said through email. “By singing about a very somber event in the Canadian criminal justice system, they’re recognizing and discussing critical issues in Canadian society.”
Other examples she discussed include “Goodnight Attawapiskat,” which delves into Indigenous issues, and the themes of anti-Semitism in “Bobcaygeon.”
But, MacQueen isn’t just focusing on the band’s music—she’s also interested in their work outside the recording studio. For example, aside from being a musician, Downie was also passionate about the environment and Indigenous issues. Although Downie portrayed nationalistic themes within his music, being in this position caused Downie to be the opposite, and he was especially critical of Canada’s relationship with its Indigenous population.
For MacQueen, Downie’s activism becomes important given the position he occupies.
“I think Gord Downie, just as himself, uses his pedestal, his position as this rock star to bring attention to some issues,” she said.
Concluding her research, MacQueen added that she is trying to piece together the band’s messages, and how they reflect Canadian values.
“The stories that they’re creating about Canada are a bit more nuanced. They maybe paint a fuller picture of what Canada really is,” she said.
According to MacQueen, she is still working on her thesis paper, and said she is planning on doing a more in-depth analysis on The Tragically Hip and their contributions to both Canadian issues and music.
