It’s a most Canadian response to social distancing, with a ‘courageous’ twist.
Montreal comedian Joey Elias has put a call out on social media – inspired by the sights and sounds of Italy’s serenades – for Canadians to “sing from the rooftops” this Thursday, March 26.
The choice of song? Courage by the Tragically Hip.
Elias wants as many citizens as possible to join together at 6 p.m. EST – 3 p.m. Pacific Standard Time – to sing the lyrics (posted below).
“It was just an idea that came together; there’s so many people indoors, so much gloom, and I thought courage was the perfect word,” said Elias. “As a comedian, I’ve got nothing going on right now. My job is to get up on stage and let people forget about their world for ‘x’ amount of time, so I thought this is one way to do that.”
As of Thursday morning, Elias received more than 150 retweets, and a variety of responses, including Americans who are fans of the Hip who want to join in the serenade.
He said radio stations in both Montreal and Ontario have agreed to play the song on-air. Hip band members Gord Sinclair and Paul Langlois retweeted Elias’ tweet which has helped spread the message.
“The reaction has been so overwhelming; this is what social media should be used for. There’s a wonderful reaction – that’s the Hip community – that’s what it was like on the last tour.”
Italy has serenaded us. Spain crooned! Now it's time for #Canada to "Sing From the Rooftops"
This Mar. 26 at 6pm EST let's all sing, play, dance whatever to "Courage" by @thehipdotcom
Who is with me?@CHOM977 @GordQuotes @TheKaufmanShow @InRodWeTrustMTL @PatDussault— (((Joey Elias)))🇨🇦 (@bruins_514) March 23, 2020
For those who need a refresher, click on the official video below.
Courage by The Tragically Hip:
Watch the band through a bunch of dancers
Quickly, follow the unknown with something more familiar
Quickly, something familiar
Courage, my word, it didn’t come, it doesn’t matter
Sleepwalk, so fast asleep in a motel
That has the lay of home and piss on all of your background
And piss on all your surroundings
Courage, my word, it didn’t come, it doesn’t matter
Courage, your word, it didn’t come, it doesn’t matter
Courage, my word, it didn’t come, it doesn’t matter
Courage, it couldn’t come at a worse time
There’s no simple explanation
For anything important any of us do
And yeah, the human tragedy
Consists in the necessity
Of living with the consequences
Under pressure, under pressure
Courage, my word, it didn’t come, it doesn’t matter,
Courage, your word, it didn’t come, it doesn’t matter
Courage, my word, it didn’t come, it doesn’t matter
Courage, it couldn’t come at a worse time
It couldn’t come at a worse time
It couldn’t come at a worse time
Courage
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