The legacy of the late Gord Downie was prominently honored as the Kingston alternative rock group the Tragically Hip was one of four musical ensembles welcomed into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame during a glittering event at Toronto’s Massey Hall on Saturday night.
When the Tragically Hip members took the stage to accept their award, they paid homage to their late bandmate, who passed away in 2017 after being diagnosed with a rare and terminal brain cancer.
Guitarist Rob Baker relayed a message he claimed was from Downie, “who was unable to attend.”
“I stood before the assembly of songwriters, offering gifts of alcohol and drugs. That’s not all, and it’s not sufficient. Wait over there until your turn comes. I stood before the assembly of songwriters, wide-eyed and captivated, just to be part of it,” Baker stated, standing alongside his bandmates Gord Sinclair and Paul Langlois.
This year’s inductees included Toronto indie music trailblazer Feist, the songwriting pair from rock band Loverboy (Mike Reno and Paul Dean), and the French-Canadian artist Roch Voisine.
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The cherished songs of the inductees set the tone for an evening that had attendees tapping their feet, clapping, and dancing in their seats as various artists, including Finneas, Our Lady Peace, and Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, took the stage for genre-spanning tributes ranging from arena rock to indie pop to heartfelt ballads.
Allison Russell performs as a purple hat is displayed onstage in tribute to the late Gord Downie Saturday. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press)
As the tribute to the Hip concluded the evening’s festivities, a purple feathered hat rested on a microphone stand, symbolizing Downie’s unique style. Allison Russell, one of the artists performing the Hip’s music, blew a kiss to the mic stand before beginning Wheat Kings, and concluded the song by saying, “We will always love you, Gord.”
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Baker expressed his gratitude in his speech, stating how fortunate they were “to have such an incredible frontman.”
“I recall taking (bassist) Gord Sinclair to see him perform at a venue in Kingston, insisting, ‘You have to witness this guy; we’re going to ride on his coattails,’” Baker remarked in his address, which also highlighted the Hip’s tradition of equally distributing songwriting credits among all members.
Finneas performs, inducts Feist
Earlier that evening, Los Angeles songwriter and producer Finneas inducted Leslie Feist. He recounted a delightful story about an accidental encounter with the Toronto singer-songwriter at an airport in 2018, later describing her as an “incredibly significant and inspirational figure in my life.” Finneas also performed her 2007 hit My Moon My Man.
Upon accepting her award, Feist admitted to the audience, “Speaking is more challenging for me than singing,” before sharing a heartfelt speech about how the 50-year-old artist has used her songs to navigate life’s ups and downs.
Finneas performs after inducting Leslie Feist into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press)
“If all the chaotic, meaningful, and sincere work can eventually lead anyone to a moment like this, then that’s how I learned to stand here and sincerely say thank you from my heart,” Feist said, also sharing video messages from notable personalities such as Sam Smith, Joe Jonas, Olivia Rodrigo, and director Jacob Tierney, whose popular show Heated Rivalry featured two of Feist’s songs.
Among the evening’s standout performances was Tweedy, introduced by host George Stroumboulopoulos as one of the finest living songwriters. The Wilco lead singer delivered a touching rendition of Feist’s poignant song The Park.
Leslie Feist speaks after being inducted. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press)
Lots of love for Loverboy
Earlier, Canadian singer Amanda Marshall kicked off the show with a powerful performance of Loverboy’s 1980 classic Turn Me Loose, instantly getting the audience on their feet, followed by Toronto folk singer Charlotte Cornfield, who delivered a smooth and soulful version of Feist’s How Come You Never Go There.
Later in the evening, the Ottawa-based artist Talk, dressed in a fitted baby blue jumpsuit with fringed sleeves, energized the crowd with a spirited cover of Loverboy’s iconic hit Working for the Weekend, garnering a standing ovation.
Talk perform a Loverboy tribute. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press)
The evening also resonated with Canadian pride. Jim Vallance, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside his songwriting partner Bryan Adams in 2022, began his tribute to Loverboy by expressing his pride in being Canadian and highlighting the nation’s ability to produce exceptional musicians.
Dean, the guitarist for Loverboy, accepted the honor on behalf of himself and lead singer Reno, who was unable to be there. He also expressed gratitude towards the other band members, including late bassist Scott Smith, who tragically died in 2000 in a boating accident.
Paul Dean of Loverboy speaks after being inducted. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press)
Voisine performs emotional duet
Other highlights of the evening included Olympic hockey gold medalists Laura Stacey and Marie Philip-Poulin, who inducted Voisine, noting his past as a hockey player before transitioning to music.
In his address, Voisine shared that he initially wrote songs solely for his own enjoyment. However, while attending the University of Ottawa, he practiced his songs in his building’s stairwell, discovering later that fellow students would study while listening to his music.
Roch Voisine, left, performs alongside French Canadian artist Isabelle Boulay. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press)
Following his bilingual address, during which he expressed gratitude to his family and songwriting partners, Voisine delivered an emotional choir-backed rendition of his ballad I’ll Always Be There alongside French Canadian artist Isabelle Boulay.
The beloved Canadian alternative rock band Our Lady Peace wrapped up the night with an energetic cover of the Hip’s Locked in the Trunk of a Car.
Lead vocalist Raine Maida recounted how witnessing a Tragically Hip performance at the age of 18 motivated him to pursue art over mere entertainment.
Before starting the song, he encouraged the audience to stand up.
“And light your phones up for Mr. Gord Downie.”