Just checked in and saw this post!
I have heard my mum say that back in the mid to late sixties Gord was everywhere - here in Toronto at least! He was on radio, doing CBC shows, interviews, articles in the newspapers and magazines.
As far as the connection of Gord being Canadian and other Canadians feeling different about him than non-Canadian fans I would have to say , at least in my case, it is true. So many Canadians have left Canada to become successful. I understand the dynamics that essentially force them to do this. Lightfoot stayed in Canada and stayed Canadian in every sense of the word. This in itself makes me feel about him in a way that non-Canadians can't feel, just by the fact that they are from other countries. They can be proud of him for remaining Canadian, just as I am, but it's not a pride of being a Canadian like him. I KNOW what it feels like, just as any person from any country feels when one of their own stirs those feelings up. I can imagine the pride an American has when they say "He/she" is an American!", but I don't KNOW it. I KNOW the Canadian version! I hope that made sense!
As far as Gord's images in his songs go - it's very true that many of them can be placed anywhere and each person can relate to a scene or emotion. Knowing what Lightfoot has said about his country, his hometown, the land he rode his bike on, fished in, travelled across and wrote about, they are all the backdrops to his songs. They are Lightfoot and they are Canadian. As am I. We are proud Canadians and I would like to think that Gord is as proud of me and all other Canadians as we are of him.
Gord uses other city names etc. in his songs like he uses women's names - but the backdrop is almost always something from "home." His images of home are very deep in Lightfoot and his memories are strong and vivid to him.
Perhaps for me the fact that he STAYED a Canadian in Canada, is almost, or maybe more important than BEING Canadian! It's a pretty close call!
American performers hardly ever have to leave their country to become successful so I don't know how those of you who are American can relate to the passionate devotion and pride I have for Lightfoot for this because so few Americans ever have had that choice to make. Ronnie Hawkins, from Arkansas, came up here to Toronto in the late 50's and has said that Canadian artists have to work 10 times harder than American ones - even those that go to the U.S. Yet Ronnie has remained in Canada (40 minutes N/E of me) and raised his family here. You have to laugh at the old Hawk tho - as he has been saying for 40 years - "the big time is right around the corner!"
Maybe one reason I have remained a stalwart fan, along with a deep love of the music is Gord has been true to Canadians/me and I want to show him that his loyalty to me as a Canadian is appreciated. I am a huge proponent of Gratitude - it is a major part of being a civilized person - being grateful/thankful for that which is bestowed upon you by another.! I am grateful for Gordon Lightfoot.
Your appreciation of his music is the same as mine. The only difference is that Lightfoot and I are Canadians and have that similarity that connects us in a way that can't connect fans from other places. We all look for ways to understand ourselves and those around us. But we can never KNOW. I can't even KNOW what another Canadian fan feels - it's that personal. It's true for every human that our own personal life experience to this moment, has coloured our heart's feelings and our mind's thoughts.
I can imagine your pride in whatever may make you proud - but I can't really KNOW it.
As a Canadian, this feeling I have is just different - not bad or good, not better or worse - just different.
I am grateful that you adore Lightfoot as I do and that I have found people to share my feelings with in a loving, laughing, intelligent and respectful forum such as this.
I believe the presence of Lightfoot in our lives makes us all better people.
Char
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