The common joke about maple syrup being Canada’s only export does a lot to discredit the many fine musicians from this country. No matter what era you were born in, there’s a good chance one of your favorite songs was recorded by a Canadian artist.
The following male singers are some of the most famous male singers to come out of Canada, many of whom are considered the greatest songwriters of all time. Some of these artists may well surprise you.
Neil Young
Neil Young was a prolific artist who debuted in Buffalo Springfield and eventually added the Y to Crosby, Stills and Nash to form CSNY. Of course, it’s important to remember that beyond that, his solo career is probably more famous for his many hit singles over the decades.
In addition to a strong stage presence that only adds to the impact of his lyrics, Neil plays electric guitar in an unapologetic way, often valuing performance over technique.
Gordon Lightfoot
When it comes to Canadian folk singers, no one is more famous than Gordon Lightfoot. In the United States, Gordon is primarily associated with his songs “Sunset” and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” (played annually on radio stations in the Great Lakes region on the anniversary of the sinking).
Lightfoot’s death in 2023 marked the end of a prolific career that produced 21 studio albums, the last of which was released in 2020.
Leonard Cohen
Almost everyone who has heard Jeff Buckley’s version of “Hallelujah” has taken the time to explore Leonard Cohen’s track after realizing he was the original songwriter. Of course, this song is just a small part of a career that spanned 49 years and 15 studio albums.
Cohen was actually a writer and poet before becoming a singer-songwriter in the late 1960s. He has published 3 novels and more than ten collections of poems, songs, diaries, and sketches.
Gordon Downey
Even though we know that Gordon Downie’s life was numbered due to an incurable brain tumor, that doesn’t make his death in 2017 any less impactful. ” (The Tragically Hip)’s final show aired, adding even more heaviness.
In addition to The Tragically Hip, Downey has also had a career as a solo artist. He’s also committed to supporting larger causes, even establishing a charitable foundation to benefit Canada’s Aboriginal people.
John K. Samson
If you know John K. Samson, it’s likely because you’ve listened to The Weakerthans while openly crying and thinking about life’s what-ifs. The band’s material hinges on the sincere lyricism and vocal delivery that Samson brings to the table, and Left and Leaving is a prime example of this.
Samson also has a solo career, which he began in 1993 while playing bass guitar in the punk band Propagandhi.
Paul Anka
Paul Anka was one of the greatest Canadian singers of the late 1950s, scoring his first number one hit in 1957 with “Diana”. songs, including “She’s A Lady” (sung by Tom Jones), and eventually began writing the soundtrack for “Princess Diana.”
Anka’s style of music fell out of fashion in the mid-1960s, but enjoyed a resurgence in the 1970s and 1990s. In addition to music, Anka has appeared in films and television series.
Michael Bligh
It’s safe to say that Michael Bublé has proven that the lounge singing style can survive in the modern 21st century. By 2005, Bublé was considered one of the biggest stars in the world, a far cry from his life as a commercial fisherman more than a decade ago.
Sebastian Bach
Sebastian Bach rose to fame in the band Skid Row, which was essentially one of the biggest bands in the United States in the early 1990s. The band’s first album included some hit songs, including “18 to Life” and “I Remember You,” both of which highlighted Bach’s powerful vocal power.
In addition to constantly touring with various groups, including his own band, Bach has been a regular guest on television for many years. He’s even had roles in various theater productions, including “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Jekyll and the Hidden.”
justin bieber
Without YouTube, it’s hard to say whether Justin Bieber would have become an international star. After his debut, Bieber quickly became a household name in the 2010s, with every studio album released to date reaching No. 1 on the Canadian and U.S. charts.
Because he began his career at the age of 13, his career has benefited from changes in voice and interests as he has naturally matured.
Dan Bejar
If you like Canadian indie rock, you may know Dan Bejar from his band The New Pornographers or his solo project Destroyer. Bejar’s solo career has been praised for its continued evolution in sound, with his last four solo albums regularly included on their best albums lists of the year they were released by various publications, including Pitchfork.
Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams was one of the most famous artists of the 1980s, cementing himself on the airwaves with numerous international hits such as “Summer of ’69” and “Cuts Like a Knife” . Since her debut, Adams has released 16 studio albums and has toured nearly every year since.
In addition to music, Adams is a renowned photographer and has had solo exhibitions of his work since 1999.
