Pick My Playlist: ONTARIO

I travel with cameras, phone and computer. I also travel with songs–several thousand of them–and after I leave a place, I have usually collected a few dozen more.

My digital reservoir of music reflects all the places I’ve been in the world. Some tourists collect tea towels or shot glasses–well, I collect songs. I find the musical landscape of a destination equal to its geology, dialect, cuisine or history, and despite the constant inflow of background music in our digital lives, my greatest musical discoveries still come through travel. For me, new places = new music.

Such is my hope for Canada. I came to Ontario with a single song on my new unnamed playlist: The Lakes of Canada by The Innocence Mission. A personal favorite, this guitar ballad is a musical photograph of a morning on the myriad lakes of Ontario. I freely admit to singing it (alone) whilst rowing on the lakes of Canada.

Since arriving in Ontario three weeks ago, I have added a second candidate to my future collection: Ontario singer/songwriter Kirsten Scholte, who I discovered near Ottawa.

As I explore this magnificent (and massive) province, I hope to collect the perfect soundtrack for Ontario–a symphony of songs where I can hit “Play” and wallow in that closing-credits-feeling for my great travels here, from Thunder Bay to Ottawa and all the great places in between.

And so–Ontarians and fans of Ontario–I need your help! Please pick my Ontario playlist: in the comments below, please suggest any (good) song that mentions Ontario, was recorded in Ontario, reminds you of Ontario, talks about Ontario, sounds like Ontario or feels like something very Ontario. I am pretty open musically, so lay it on me. From your suggestions I shall listen, gather and comprise a final soundtrack that I will use during my remaining travels in the province and as a musical souvenir of Ontario once I have left.

I’ll listen to pretty much anything, however, my only stipulation is thus: my Ontario playlist must include at least one song by local wunderkinds The Tragically Hip. I am still undecided as to which hip song that should be, so please feel free to barrage me with your best recommendations.

I look forward to reading through your informative comments and plan to post my finished playlist exactly one week from today.

Thank you/Merci!