Does your city have an "anthem"?

balletomane · #1 Posted **Apr 26, 2017, 1:35 AM**

Does your city have an "anthem", a patriotic (in some cases) song that residents find relatable?

Probably Winnipeg's anthem, "One Great City" by the Weakerthans:

Late afternoon, another day is nearly done. A darker gray is breaking through a lighter one. A thousand sharpened elbows in the underground.
That hollow hurried sound of feet on polished floor, and in the Dollar Store the clerk is closing up, and counting Loonies, trying not to say, "I hate Winnipeg." The driver checks the mirror, seven minutes late. The crowded riders' restlessness enunciates that the Guess Who suck, the Jets were lousy anyway. The same route every day. And in the turning lane, someone's stalled again. He's talking to himself, and hears the price of gas repeat his phrase: "I hate Winnipeg." And up above us all, leaning into sky, our Golden Business Boy will watch the North End die, and sing "I love this town," then let his arcing wrecking ball proclaim, "I hate Winnipeg."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLlsjEP7L-k

Rollerstud98 · #2 Posted **Apr 26, 2017, 1:37 AM**

Not my city, but Regina sure does!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74B5kMLNd5Q

Aylmer · #3 Posted **Apr 26, 2017, 1:52 AM**

No, but if it did, I would for sure want it to be this one :

• Video Link

wg_flamip · #4 Posted **Apr 26, 2017, 4:15 AM**

Granted, a bit on the nose.

• Video Link

Xelebes · #5 Posted **Apr 26, 2017, 5:30 AM**

Vancouver:

• Video Link

Kelowna:

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Calgary:

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Edmonton:

Still deciding what is the worst I can find for Edmonton. Stuck deciding between Jo Thrillz and some other no names.

Architype · #6 Posted **Apr 26, 2017, 5:34 AM**

^ The Vancouver one is like something written for an amateur song contest in the 70s or 80s, not so good for an anthem today.

SignalHillHiker · #7 Posted **Apr 26, 2017, 8:34 AM**

The St. John's Waltz, originally by Ron Hynes, is the official one. A performance from his funeral:

• Video Link

...
All the sailors got a story
Some are true, some are false
But they're always wrecked and they're up on the deck
Dancin' the St. John's Waltz

Oh we've had our share of history
We've seen nations come and go
We've seen battles rage over land and stage
Five hundred years and more
For glory or for freedom
For country or for King

...
All the nine to fives survive the day
With a sigh and a dose of salts
And they're parkin' their cars and packin' the bars
Dancin' the St. John's Waltz

...
So leave the wayward free to wander
Leave the restless free to roam
If it's rocks in the bay or it's old cliche
You'll find your way back home
So don't question or inquire
What's been gained, what's been lost
In a world of romance don't miss out on the chance
To be Dancin' the St. John's Waltz

Kitchissippi · #8 Posted **Apr 26, 2017, 12:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aylmer

No, but if it did, I would for sure want it to be this one :

• Video Link

Actually, speed that up and put a disco beat on it and it wouldn't be too far from Ottawa's real attempt back in 1983 (before amalgamation to be fair):

• Video Link

MolsonExport · #9 Posted **Apr 26, 2017, 1:08 PM**

Couldn't resist:

• Video Link

This was mooted for London a few years ago, before being widely derided (especially since London was mired in a terrible recession at the time)

• Video Link

HomeInMyShoes · #10 Posted **Apr 26, 2017, 2:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rollerstud98

Not my city, but Regina sure does!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74B5kMLNd5Q

You have won the Internet.

esquire · #11 Posted **Apr 26, 2017, 2:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by balletomane

Does your city have an "anthem", a patriotic (in some cases) song that residents find relatable?

Probably Winnipeg's anthem, "One Great City" by the Weakerthans:

Late afternoon, another day is nearly done. A darker gray is breaking through a lighter one. A thousand sharpened elbows in the underground.
That hollow hurried sound of feet on polished floor, and in the Dollar Store the clerk is closing up, and counting Loonies, trying not to say, "I hate Winnipeg." The driver checks the mirror, seven minutes late. The crowded riders' restlessness enunciates that the Guess Who suck, the Jets were lousy anyway. The same route every day. And in the turning lane, someone's stalled again. He's talking to himself, and hears the price of gas repeat his phrase: "I hate Winnipeg." And up above us all, leaning into sky, our Golden Business Boy will watch the North End die, and sing "I love this town," then let his arcing wrecking ball proclaim, "I hate Winnipeg."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLlsjEP7L-k

I generally like the Weakerthans, but I always considered this song a bit of an embarrassment.

Winnipeggers are renowned for their love/hate relationship with the city, but this song mainly captures the latter half of that dynamic... to my mind it reflects the late 90s malaise that permeated this place.

Acajack · #12 Posted **Apr 26, 2017, 2:53 PM**

Gatineau doesn't have one and Ottawa's already been done.

This is probably the best-known one for Montreal. It's a "radio" song so it's not obscure at all. Written in 1976 by Robert Charlebois, who is the guy sitting at the piano. This video features Montrealers (native and by adoption) who've made it big in show business around the world, in duplexes from various foreign locales.

It's got subtitles albeit in French. The song is an ode to winter, cold, snow holding an old stone city in its grip. And the "pull back" that he feels in spite of it all.

Among our celebrities in there are several that most SSPers will recognize.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_8zatZ1zuA