Second draft of my Tragically Hip essay

Gord Downie fueled The Hip’s fame?

Gordon Edgar Downie, (Gord Downie) once said, “Music brings people together. So my function in anything I do is to help bring people closer in.” Downie has accomplished this by writing and performing music with his band called “The Tragically Hip.” Downie has contributed several pieces of music to Canada, which are also considered gifts by many Canadians, to enjoy, share, and talk about “together.” If it wasn’t for Downie, the well renown name in “ The Tragically Hip” would have never reached the same popularity level as they have in today’s society. Downie won many hearts over through his song lyrics which incorporate stones and myths about life in Canada.

Gord Downie kicked off his music career in Kingston, Ontario, at a high school called Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute. Here, he befriended musicians, who would ultimately join forces with him, and become The Tragically Hip (The Hip). The Hip started off in 1983, and consisted of five men including: Gord Downie, Rob Baker, Johnny Fay, Davis Manning, and Gord Sinclair. Three years later, Saxophone player Davis Manning left The Hip in exchange for Guitarist, Paul Langlois. This band was Downie’s first step into achieving his goal of becoming a successful musician.

Downie, and The Hip, began their careers  playing cover songs in bars all across Canada, for loose change, and almost instantly transitioned into becoming famous. Once Music Corporation of America (MCA Records) president, Bruce Dickinson saw Downie and The Hip preforming at the Horseshoe Tavern, a bar in Toronto, he quickly recognized the talent of the group, and pounced on the opportunity to sign The Hip to a record deal. Downie was already tasked with a tough role in being the lead singer, but he later would have to take on an even bigger role in the band.

Downie and the Hip released 17 albums together, all which were written by Canadian Icon, and lead singer, Gord Downie. All 17 albums have currently rose to the Canadian Billboard Chart, including 2005 album “Yer Favourites” which is currently the number one album in Canada. Along with “Yer Favourites”, three more albums written by Downie have risen to the top 10 on the Canadian Billboard Chart. These include ”Man Machine Poem,”which was the band’s first album, “Fully Completely,” and finally “Up to Here.” Ultimately, many Canadians were in love with the stories told in every lyric produced by Gord Downie.

Overall, Downie is a Canadian Icon, who made The Tragically Hip what they are today.

Without Downie, The Tragically Hip would have never gained the same amount of recognition as they did. Every lyric produced by The Tragically Hip, has ultimately been written by Gord Downie. Canadians are truly in love with the style in which Downie writes. Every lyric tells a story, or myth which Canadians fantasize over. Downie’s intriguing lyric scheme has made him what he is today, and he deserves every bit of fame in which he encounters throughout his life.

References:

"Gord Downie". En.wikipedia.org. N.p., 2016. Web. 23 Oct. 2016.

"Gord Downie". IMDb. N.p., 2016. Web. 23 Oct. 2016.

"All 17 Tragically Hip Albums Land On Canadian Billboard Chart". CBC Music. N.p., 2016. Web. 23 Oct. 2016.