The song is a gem.ĭownie explained to Steve Newton in 1992 that he liked a different angle to the story: “In World War II when you were a new pilot, you’d be given a new hat. The story of Bill Barilko is a strange one. (from ‘The 11-year mystery of Leafs’ ‘Bashin’ Bill Barilko’,’ Toronto Star, ) That it inspired Downie to write a song that combined the mystery of Barilko’s disappearance with a cap given to elite bomber pilots of the allied air forces during World War II is even stranger. The industry too often created pop stars and flashes-in-the-pan in the hopes of cashing in on the latest fad and obscuring real music. Downie remarked that the inspiration for these lyrics came from his critical assessment of the music industry. The song’s chorus refers to fireworks exploding in the distance, emulating heaven, and replacing stars. You held my hand and we walked home the long way We all squeezed the stick and we all pulled the trigger If there’s a goal that everyone remembers Related: Top 10 Montreal Canadiens Goal Celebrations He won the Stanley Cup twice, first with his famous flying Cup-winning goal in 1970. Considered one of the greatest hockey players of all time, Orr was a defenseman for Sinden’s Bruins (of course). The song is also about growing up and about the first flush of love that can displace even the great Orr.
#Gord downie last photo series#
Paul Henderson and Bobby Clarke of Team Canada celebrate Henderson’s series-winning goal in Game 8 of the 1972 Summit Series between Canada and the Soviet Union at the Luzhniki Ice Palace (Photo by Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images) It was the defining moment for a generation. The ’72 summit series was a great moment for Canada and Paul Henderson’s series-winning goal is the most famous goal in Canadian hockey history. The song references the 1972 Summit Series, hockey legend Bobby Orr. The 1972 Summitt Seriesįireworks is the third single from the Hip’s sixth studio album, Phantom Power. Hockey, as a central part of Canadian identity, found its way into many of their songs. Downie famously wore his Boston jersey in the music video for Courage (for Hugh MacLennan). This was no doubt influenced by his godfather Harry Sinden, former coach of the Boston Bruins. To me, the power of his lyrics and of the meaning of the songs justify retracing some of these steps. I came to those pieces only after I started writing this one. Bob McKenzie released an excerpt of his 2014 book, Hockey Confidential, in which he traced the history of the Tragically Hip and hockey. Justin Cuthbert did something similar previously. Their partnership began in 2006 when Rock–known for his award-winning work with Metallica, Mötley Crüe, and Michael Bublé, to name but a few–produced The Tragically Hip’s acclaimed 10th studio album, World Container, followed in 2009 by the chart-topping We Are The Same.I am not the first to try and connect Gord, hockey, and music. More than a decade in the making, Lustre Parfait sees Downie’s peerless lyricism and incendiary heart given newfangled energy by his longtime friend and collaborator, famed producer/musician Bob Rock. It causes you to look back, and I get choked up every time I hear it, still. The lyric was written before he was diagnosed with the sickness that he had. It’s special because of what he talks about. It’s absolute perfection in terms of songwriting and in terms of what he did. Somehow, I stumbled on this magic chord, a simple minor to a major progression, and it moved me. The music was based on that journey, this rising tide of chords, crescendos in the chorus. “Setting a mood and going someplace, just taking you somewhere.
“I’ve always been a fan of long pieces of music,” says Bob Rock.
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