Before the internet, it was quite easy for a Canuck artist to have a hit domestically, but remain competely unheard of elsewhere. These days, digital distribution tends to even everything out. Most of these songs your average Canadian assumes everyone knows.
World Famous in Canada
Stompin' Tom Connors - Sudbury Saturday Night (1970)
Tom was one of Canada’s most beloved figures. So much so that St. Thomas University in New Brunswick awarded him an honorary degree.
Trooper - The Boys In The Bright White Sports Car (1976)
Hands down the most obnoxious song ever recorded.
Rough Trade - High School Confidential (1980)
This song was everywhere in the 1980s.
Headpins - Don't It Make Ya Feel (1982)
Canada’s version of ACDC.
Spoons - Nova Heart (1982)
New wave, Canadian style. The great Nile Rodgers produced one of their albums.
Dalbello - Gonna Get Close To You (1984)
Fun fact: David Bowie’s guitarist Mick Ronson saved her career.
The Box - L'Affaire Dumoutier (1985)
French-Canadian New Wave.
Dream Warriors - My Definition Of A Boombastic Jazz Style (1990)
Dream Warriors revived this tune before it became the Austin Powers theme.
Meryn Cadell - The Sweater (1992)
This one got some airplay on college radio in the USA. It fared better at home in Canada, due to regular rotation on Much Music (Canada’s version of MTV).
That's it for now. Hope you enjoyed the CanCon.