Every major city has an anthem. New York has at least three fighting for the top spot (although few will really contend with Sinatra's classic).
But ask Vancouverites to name the most iconic song about this city and they'll struggle to agree, assuming they can name one at all. Matthew Good wrote a song literally titled "The 鶹ýӳNational Anthem" (as part of the Vancouver album), but should he really win on a technicality?A music writer told me recently that "YMCA" by the Village People was written in 鶹ýӳand that got me thinking about other songs that may be inspired by Vancouver, not just by local artists but international ones. Thus the ultimate 鶹ýӳplaylist was born. We blew open the parameters of music and anthem to include any vaguely musical piece available to listen to on the internet that mentions Vancouver. Currently, the list sits at 71 strong but will continue to grow as we learn of new songs or new music gets released. There are the usual suspects with Tegan and Sara, Said the Whale, and The Zolas making up a few entries from local bands who have grown to acclaim outside of the city—Dan Mangan and the Japandroids too.
Writing this list also drew my attention to the reference to Pigeon Park in Billy Talent's "Fallen Leaves," a song I have listened to dozens of times but completely didn't realize was about Vancouver. I also learned that Death Cab for Cutie wrote a song called "Expo 86."
We recently asked the readers of our daily newsletter for song suggestions and a few people mentioned the historic Mushroom Studios that was based in 鶹ýӳbefore relocating to Toronto in 2010. Between 1966 and 2006 the building saw dozens of high-profile music projects that created many surprising songs connections to Vancouver, including the score of Top Gun.
There are some parody entries on this list too—"The Kingsgate Mall Tribute" which I first heard on CFOX and the Save On Foods rap that fellow reporter Brendan Kergin found to name a few. There are a surprising amount of raps that have been written about random parts of 鶹ýӳlike the "SkyTrain" rap by Emotionz and Low Pressure All Stars.
We know of a Portuguese rap about 鶹ýӳthat's in existence but haven't been able to find it so if anyone knows what it's called please let us know. Did we miss anything else?
- "Vancouver, Baby!" by Behind Sapphire
- "Robson Girl" by Mac DeMarco
- "Big Wave Goodbye" by Said the Whale
- "Kingsgate Mall Tribute" by Ian Boothby and Vicky Van
- "West Van Girl" by The Awkward Stage
- "Vancouver" by Reckless Kelly
- "The 鶹ýӳSong" by Treelines
- "English Bay" by Blue Rodeo
- "Expo '86" by Death Cab For Cutie
- "Expo in BC" by The Spores
- "Fallen Leaves" by Billy Talent
- "Summer Wages" by Ian Tyson
- "Vancouver" by Jeff Buckley
- "Main & Broadway'" by Cub
- "Northern Touch" by Rascalz ft. Kardinal Offishall, Thrust, Checkmate, Choclair
- "Vancouver" by Joey Lau
- "Vancouver" by Genesis
- "鶹ýӳB.C." by The Smugglers
- "鶹ýӳTown '71" by Rolf Harris
- "The 鶹ýӳNational Anthem" by Matthew Good
- "バンクーバー (Vancouver)" by Superfly
- "Commercial Drive" by The Gruff
- "Hell" by Tegan and Sara"The Cure" by Tegan and Sara
- "Vancouver, une nuit comme une autre" by Aut'Chose
- "鶹ýӳ(Richards on Richards)" by They Might Be Giants
- "Vancouver" a song and album of the same name by Véronique Sanson
- "鶹ýӳ(Instrumental)" by Violent Femmes
- "Girl from Vancouver" by Svavar Knutur
- "Tropical Rainstorm" by Doug and the Slugs
- "Chinatown Calculation" by Doug and the Slugs
- "Doldrums" by Elbow
- "Wreck Beach/Totem Park" by The Zolas
- "Effort" by Blue J
- "Timezone" by Blue J
- "Up Granville" by Peach Pit
- "Back To Vancouver" by Funboy Five
- "City You Live In Is Ugly" by Young and Sexy
- "Pine For Cedars" by Dan Mangan
- "Rockers East Vancouver" by Japandroids
- "False Creek Change" by Said The Whale
- "Black Day In December" by Said The Whale
- "鶹ýӳBlues" by Tim Hus
- "Commercial Drive" by Low Pressure All Stars
- "鶹ýӳB.C." by Orca Team
- "Rock Deep (Vancouver)" by Heart
- "鶹ýӳDivorce" by Gord Downie
- "The Bridge Came Tumblin' Down" by Stompin' Tom Connors
- "The Crawl" by Spirit Of The West
- "Sovereignty" by Japandroids
- "Skytrain" by Emotionz and Low Pressure All Stars
- "鶹ýӳB.C." by Curious Hands
- "Wrong Side of the Country" by Old Man Luedecke
- "2010" by Said The Whale
- "Dumptruck" by Blind Melon
- "鶹ýӳShakedown" by Nazareth
- "Vancouver, BC" by Vic Vodka
- "East Van Girls" by Shimmering Stars
- "Canadian Boyfriend" by All Girl Summer Fun Band
- "Vancouver" by Anamanaguchi
- "Vancouver" and "鶹ýӳ(Remix)" by Donae'o ft. Blanco (original) and Kwesi Arthur, Frenzo Harami (remix)
- "Ayahuasca" by 鶹ýӳSleep Clinic
- "Flow Vancouver" by Shanty Boy
- "Miss Me" by Grandphone Vancouver
- "Jubab" by 鶹ýӳShullai
- "鶹ýӳTime" by Leif Vollebekk
- "Rolling In EastVan" by Money Hungry
- "Vancouver" by Raz Fresco
- "鶹ýӳx Ice drippy" by Xapp
- "Vancouver" by Ligia Oancea
- "Save-On-Foods #940 鶹ýӳProduce Rap" by Miguel Cruz
- “Cordova” by Limblifter
- "We're Here For A Good Time (Not A Long Time)" by Trooper
- "Summer of 96" by Turtle ft. Rushden & Diamonds
- "Vancouver" by Harriet Chung
- "When the Earth Was Flat" by Heather Haley