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cali

(114,904 posts) Sun Aug 21, 2016, 07:22 AM Aug 2016

Tragically Hip: Dying singer Gord Downie bids Canada farewell

The Tragically Hip drew a sell-out crowd to the last show in Kingston, Ontario, on Saturday, broadcast live across Canada.

PM Justin Trudeau, who was at the live show, said the band had "been writing Canada's soundtrack for over 30 years".

Lead singer Gord Downie, 52, announced his illness in May.

The news caused shock across Canada.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation called Mr Downie the country's "unofficial poet laureate".

The Globe and Mail newspaper reported that the 15-stop Man Machine Poem tour "left a trail of heartbreak but also celebration across the nation".

Mr Trudeau tweeted after the concert that the band would be "forever in our hearts and playlists".

He also tweeted a picture of himself writing on a wall of messages to what he dubbed "Canada's band".

<snip>

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37147588

&list=PLjzxksagVkmyZZahPb0TbJfuVZAOFYD-G

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Tragically Hip: Dying singer Gord Downie bids Canada farewell (Original Post) cali Aug 2016 OP

I had to work late last night True Dough Aug 2016 #1

I'm a long time fan- part of it is living so close to the border for so long, I suppose cali Aug 2016 #2

I always tend to find Canadian bands too late. Crash test Dummies I didn't find until around 2005... marble falls Aug 2016 #3

Our band used to cover New Orleans is Sinking panader0 Aug 2016 #4

It sure is. cali Aug 2016 #5

Drove 5 hours yesterday to see them for the 15th time in 22 years R.A. Ganoush Aug 2016 #6

.... opiate69 Aug 2016 #7

True Dough

(17,320 posts)

1. I had to work late last night

Reply to cali (Original post)

Sun Aug 21, 2016, 08:39 AM

Aug 2016

so I didn't record the concert, but when I took at look at my social media accounts they were littered with comments on the final performance of the Man, Machine, Poem tour, and the final performance of Gord Downie, a Canadian icon. Many of my friends admitted they were shedding tears, they were so moved by this band that had been part of their lives for decades, with songs that represent various stages of their lives. And now they were watching the lead singer pour his heart out on the stage one last time before fucking brain cancer ravages this great man. Such an awful disease. But Downie has done all he can to show Courage (the title of a Tragically Hip hit, by the way) in the face of great adversity.

cali

(114,904 posts)

2. I'm a long time fan- part of it is living so close to the border for so long, I suppose

Reply to True Dough (Reply #1)

Sun Aug 21, 2016, 08:46 AM

Aug 2016

I confess to shedding a few tears myself.

marble falls

(57,204 posts)

3. I always tend to find Canadian bands too late. Crash test Dummies I didn't find until around 2005...

Reply to cali (Original post)

Sun Aug 21, 2016, 09:23 AM

Aug 2016

and now this. I am so sorry to hear about Gord Downie and at about the same time I finally discover Tragically Hip.

panader0

(25,816 posts)

4. Our band used to cover New Orleans is Sinking

Reply to cali (Original post)

Sun Aug 21, 2016, 10:34 AM

Aug 2016

52 is too young.....

cali

(114,904 posts)

5. It sure is.

Reply to panader0 (Reply #4)

Sun Aug 21, 2016, 12:14 PM

Aug 2016

R.A. Ganoush

(97 posts)

6. Drove 5 hours yesterday to see them for the 15th time in 22 years

Reply to cali (Original post)

Sun Aug 21, 2016, 01:45 PM

Aug 2016

Most amazing show I've seen them do. Not a dry eye in the house and everyone lost their collective shit at the mic drop at the end of Grace, Too. Can't wait til it's available for replay online.

opiate69

(10,129 posts)

7. ....

Reply to cali (Original post)

Sun Aug 21, 2016, 02:09 PM

Aug 2016

Far and away, my favorite song of theirs... but really, there's so many to pick from.

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