37 Famous Canadian Songs
Contents
“Universal Soldier” by Buffy Sainte-Marie
Song Year: 1964
One of Buffy Sainte-Marie’s oldest hits, Universal Soldier is a relatively short song at a little over two minutes and didn’t immediately see success on release. However, a few other artists covered it, and it soon rose to prominence along with anti-war sentiments.
The lyrics come from the perspective of a student who’s focusing on writing an essay, trying to persuade their professor while discussing some of the attitudes of soldiers throughout history. It’s ultimately about individual responsibility in wartime, and how older models of thinking can hurt people.
“Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen
Song Year: 2012
Another song that feels older than it is, Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” is a Grammy-nominated pop hit talks about how easy it can be to fall in love and how people can act on impulses to try and start a relationship. It’s a fundamentally optimistic song, though, and despite its passion, it maintains a line of invitation instead of pushing too hard.