Sometimes when I sit down to write these little excerpts, I fall down a well of forgotten music. I’ve made a list of songs, all of which I like or have life stories associated with them. Admittedly some I haven’t listened to in a long while. As I attempt to conjure something worthwhile writing I escape into a Youtube rabbit hole, reacquainting myself with a band I’ve regrettably neglected for too long. Never has that regret been as strong as right now. My god I forgot how fantastic a band Blue Rodeo is.
I knew about Blue Rodeo for a few years without giving them much thought. Then I moved to Saskatoon. I took in a roommate soon afterwards, a friend from university who had a robust collection of Blue Rodeo CDs. He spent many months in the field during the winter exploring for uranium and in his absence I’d invade his music collection and broaden my listening horizons. That is when I discovered the greatness of Blue Rodeo.
The interplay between Cuddy and Keelor’s voices is pure magic as the smooth, angelic tones of the former is perfectly balanced with the gruffer latter. A better representation of the country rock sound has rarely been recorded. Combined with their penchants for writing soulful, emotionally cutting songs of loss and love, Blue Rodeo is music you can really lose yourself in for hours at a time.
As a moody, forlorn twenty-something with seemingly zero potential for every finding “true love”, Blue Rodeo was a powerful, albeit painful, balm for my desperate heart back in those days. Today, though I’ve found that love, the music still moves me with the haunting memories of those fears and loneliness. Sometimes self-pity is a delicious guilty pleasure worth wallowing in.
Let’s hit the weekend with one of many terrific songs (too many to honestly just pick one but what choice do I have) that stabs you right in the feels. This is “Hasn’t Hit Me Yet” by Blue Rodeo from the 1993 album Five Days In July.
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