Numbers show 11.7 Million Canadians watched The Tragically Hip perform their final ‘Man Machine Poem’ tour stop, in their hometown of Kingston, Ontario. However, according to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) the concert, broadcast across all CBC platforms on August 20th, wasn’t Canadian enough**.
“Essentially, Canadians attending the show in person at Kingston’s K-Rock Centre, watching and listening across the country, and coming together gathering in countless communities coast to coast to coast, were Tragically Rip-ped off” asserts CRTC spokesperson John A Canuck. Adding “In the eyes of the CRTC, this event did not achieve Canadian Content (Can-Con) requirements to satisfy our mandate". Even with the Prime Minister in attendance, the CRTC sights the broadcast being well below their acceptable level of over 100% Canadian Content.
Case in point, a highlight of various Tragically Hip song lyrics including ‘America’ & ‘Elvis’. The CRTC tracking those, and other words, not ‘born of Canada’ throughout the broadcast. The CRTC’s investigation also extends to the band itself. Although all members are Canadian, the Commission finds their current line up featuring just 2 members named Gord unacceptable. The recommendation is a minimum of 3 Gords –ideally 4 or more- in the Tragically Hip line up. The CRTC does offer flexibility in allowing for ‘Gord’ ‘Gordie’ and ‘Gordon’ as the registered legal name.
Lead singer Gord Downie’s concert appearance is also of concern, says John A. “Aside from Don Cherry, your average Canadian does not dress like that. The CRTC would have preferred more subdued colours, perhaps a plaid jacket….personally I did like the hat, though, it should have been a toque”
Ironically, the most Canadian Content compliant event of the night didn’t even come from the Kingston concert, or Canada. In Chicago, American group Pearl Jam also performed August 20th, and, during their set paid tribute to The Tragically Hip and it's lead singer. “Having a band with the clout and recognizability as Pearl Jam referencing something Canadian is always a boon for our country, and sits well with our CRTC mandate” explains John A.
Pearl Jam’s comments also highlight the direction the CRTC has for Canadian Content. New documents show minimum requirements outside of Canada, with 15-20% Canadian Content expected by CRTC from fellow Commonwealth Nations, and due to geographic proximity, 35% for the United States. From the documents: “Moving forward, we feel America fulfilling a 35% Canadian Content requirement is appropriate. Their current non-compliance is troubling.”
His thoughts on the event, “Watching the concert, live and uninterrupted on CBC, this supposed ‘Canada’s Band’ on stage, frankly, the whole event did nothing but snub the CRTC and our strict content guidelines, all for the Nation’s joy and celebration” John A quickly adding “it was a slap in the face, how quickly we were replaced” -John A’s paraphrase of Alanis Morrisette lyrics purposeful, as he confirms, all CRTC communication must also adhere to can-con guidelines.
In recommendations, the Commission seeks accountability at all levels for the decision to air an uninterrupted, enjoyable, public broadcast to the Nation. Suggestions include upping Can-Con levels with Canadian Tire Commercials, or, if anything, a Tim Horton’s banner scroll “We are sure they have a new tasteless breakfast item they’d love to push, with back to school time, and fall approaching” states the Commission.
John A Canuck also underlines easy ways the show could have been more ‘Canadian’ for the Millions together for the event. “The lack of Canadian Content from The Tragically Hip was insulting, from beginning through to all the goodbyes, how hard is it to add an ‘eh’ to one of the thank yous?, you know, something like ‘Thank you, eh, for keeping me pushing and keeping me pushing.’ How hard is that?!”
The investigation continues.
-Gilmore
--* Photo by Mike Homer, found via Toronto Star in this article: https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2016/08/20/tragically-hip-get-hometown-heroes-welcome-in-kingston.html
**-- Yes this is a joke. You enjoyed reading it I hope. Please share, thanks :-)
What is he on eh? lol
ReplyDeleteNormally I appreciate a good political satire. But to use this concert for a joke is innapropriate.
ReplyDeleteIt was a chance for a nation to come together and appreciate a huge part of our culture in a non-partisan way. I can't think of many other times our nation has gotten to do that with the people we are celebrating while they are still here. There weren't even any commercials, it was just pure connectedness. To take that experience and turn it into a political jab like this doesn't sit well with me.
It was funny and well written, just the wrong event to be joking about. It doesn't feel very Canadian.
How many people will flip out over this, without realizing it is a joke?
ReplyDeleteThis has got to be total bullshit! The CRTC repeatedly allows Canadians to be ripped off by the "big 3" and they take a Canadian band broadcast on a Canadian (our tax dollars) station watched by millions of Canadians and say not Enough Canadian content! Piss off! Who of the "big3"cried because they didn't think of it first!
ReplyDelete