Motorcycling around Canada is amazing, and it demands an equally impressive soundtrack. Whether it’s Steppenwolf’s unofficial motorcycling anthem, or the Great Lake Swimmer’s wilderness jams, Canadian artists have the unique sound to match our adventures.
There are a million Canadian hits to choose from, so we took some time in paring down our ultimate playlist. Here's how it goes:
- Joel Plaskett - Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'
- Steppenwolf - Born to be Wild
- A Tribe Called Red - Electric Pow Wow Drum
- Great Lake Swimmers - New Wild Everywhere
- Zaki Ibrahim - Draw the Line
- The Band - The Weight
- Tom Cochrane - Life is a Highway
- The Tragically Hip - Wheat Kings
- Arcade Fire - No Cars Go
- Gordon Lightfoot - Carefree Highway
- Stan Rogers – Northwest Passage
- Blue Rodeo – Lost Together
- Neil Young and Crazy Horse – White Line
- The Matinée – Young and Lazy
To find out why we chose these songs, and to hear the tunes for yourself, keep reading! Some of them invoke the freedom found between our wheels, while others lyricize the majesty found between our coasts. And all of them are homegrown from Canadian soil.
Joel Plaskett – Rollin’, Rollin’, Rollin’
Here’s some fingerpickin’ goodness from the famous Nova Scotian. This song perfectly evokes the Celtic magic of Eastern fjords, and resonates with anyone riding from what’s behind: “Rollin’, Rollin’, Rollin’ / Gathering no moss / I don’t know where I’m goin’ / But I know what I’ve lost.”
Steppenwolf – Born to be Wild
Ever since its prominence in Easy Rider , “Born to be Wild” has been the unofficial and unanimously accepted motorcycling anthem. Love it or hate it, it’s the authenticating stamp on any motorcycle playlist.
A Tribe Called Red – Electric Pow Wow Drum
Somewhere between Ontario and British Columbia, there’s about a million kilometers of open, flat highway. It’s the kind of place where you can ride neck-and-neck with a train for four days. And where some serious straight-line badassing is in order. A Tribe Called Red fits the bill with their monumental blend of electronic dance music and First Nations vocal chanting.
Great Lake Swimmers - New Wild Everywhere
Take it down a notch with the airy melodies of Ontario folk rock. These ethereal tunes are perfect for wilderness roads. It’s the kind of music that plays with your mind the same way that the wind plays with your hair, and the majestic Great Lakes play with your soul. ADV riders will appreciate the lofty promises of “a new wild feeling dancing in the air / … a new wild everywhere.”
Zaki Ibrahim – Draw the Line
This song is notorious for its heart-stirringly spooky undertones. The otherworldly melody is perfect for travelers in that wandering, dream-like state. Even as Ibrahim sings of finding the way, we’re not sure if we ever want to leave this eerie space. For this reason, “Draw the Line” seems ideal for carving around the misty labyrinth of the Rocky Mountains.
The Band – The Weight
“I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin’ about half past dead / I just need some place where I can lay my head.” What more can I say? Those twenty words encapsulate the theme song of the weary traveler. “The Weight” is perfect for late in the day, when the sun is waning and your energy with it.
Tom Cochrane – Life is a Highway
Time to get rolling! And what a way to hit the road – with the Manitoba native’s legendary travelling song. Life is a highway: go live it.
The Tragically Hip – Wheat Kings
Somehow, The Tragically Hip always sound exactly like Canada. This melancholy tale of a wrongfully convicted Canadian is no exception. Infused with references to Prime Ministers and CBC news, it feels like a good ride through “the Paris of the prairies.” And as always, Gordon Downie’s meandering, wavering voice is like ripples in a wheat field.
Arcade Fire – No Cars Go
Montréal’s sweethearts were bound to earn a spot somewhere on our list. The only question was, which of their celebrated repertoire would it be? “No Cars Go” is an exciting and tantalizing tribute to some elusive no-place. Is it tangible? Metaphorical? Who knows? Just grab a hold of the throttle and see if your motorcycle will get you there.
Gordon Lightfoot - Carefree Highway
Lightfoot’s mellow folk-country song is as therapeutic as a good long ride. And anyone who has ever taken solace in the open road will know what this is all about. With each turn of the chorus – and each turn of your wheels – every problem shrinks into the distance: “Carefree highway, let me slip away on you.”
Stan Rogers – Northwest Passage
This a cappella icon is the perfect song for suiting-up. Like a pre-battle melody, the “unofficial Canadian anthem” awakens a profound patriotism in listeners. For adventure riders pushing north, Stan Rogers will start you off with the steely bravery of a true explorer. However, something in his tempered voice also speaks of a fearsome reverence for this land so wild.
Neil Young and Crazy Horse – White Line
White line is the perfect Neil Young road trip song. The lyrics are blissfully ambiguous, crooning for something (or someone) that was (or is) much loved. It’s the kind of song where you fill in the gaps with pieces of your own soul. And whether we’re fleeing away or coming home, the road’s white line is guiding us along.
Blue Rodeo – Lost Together
Blue Rodeo has the best tune for two-up riding. If you’re hitting the road with someone special, flick on the rider-to-rider comm and put these Toronto countrymen on the mp3. It doesn’t matter where you’re headed, because getting lost isn’t so bad when you’re lost together.
The Matinée – Young and Lazy
This Vancouver-based band is on the verge of a major breakout. If you’re heading on a cross-Canada trek, they’ll probably be a sensation by the time you hit the ocean. And by then, you’ll already know “Young and Lazy” by heart. The Matinée conjures up a perfect teenage nostalgia, when freedom was as simple as an open road and Dad’s motorcycle keys.
So Canada, what songs would you add to our list? Is there a specific tune or artist that you wouldn't ride without?