Canadians around the world have their double-double’s at half mast today, as we mourn the passing of Canadian singer and icon Gordon Lightfoot.
Only Canadians can recognise the power of the name ‘Gord’ in Canada, as it carries a deity-like status when it comes to our entertainers. Wade however is a close second (dontcha know!)
In honour of Gord, I thought I would not only share some of my fave songs of his (and covers), but also a lovely AI tribute obituary lovely written with digital care.
Carefree Highway
A great Canadian road song, this 1974 hit was off the album Sundown and hit the easy listening charts like a defenseman teeing up Eric Lindros.
Although ‘Carefree Highway’ is much about a state of mind, it’s also a road sign he saw on your in America.
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
Only a true Canadian balladeer could craft a song about a cargo ship sinking in the darkest of Great Lakes, and make a hit out of it.
This 1976 song tells the tragic tale of a ship that was lost in Lake Superior in 1975, although Lightfoot had written it prior to the wreck being found.
Sundown
Did you know the song ‘Sundown’ has ties to John Belushi’s drug overdose?
Lightfoot wrote the song for Cathy Smith, a back-up singer that Gord had an affair with, and detailed her dark and twisted ways.
After splitting with Lightfoot, Cathy started dating comedian John Belushi, and injected him with that fatal speedball that killed him at the Chateau Marmont.
Smith was later deported back to Canada after being implicated in Belushi’s death, and neighbours reportedly always checked to make sure that she wasn’t ‘creeping round their back stairs.’
AI Obituary
It wouldn’t be a celebrity death, unless we let AI have a crack at trying to cement our legacy.
After all you might have lived an honest, and dedicated life, but artificial intelligence might still think of you as a turd.
After a bit of tweaking, here is a funny ChatGPT obit for Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot.
It is with great sadness and a little bit of maple syrup that we say goodbye to Canada’s greatest musical treasure, Gordon Lightfoot. Gordie was born in Orillia, Ontario in 1938, which was apparently a really long time ago. He passed away on May 2, 2023, at the age of 84, which is like 500 in rock star years.
Gordon was a true Canadian legend, a folk singer, and a bit of a prankster. He was the kind of guy who would sing about shipwrecks, maple leaves, and the Edmund Fitzgerald, and somehow make it sound really cool. In fact, he once wrote a song about a donkey, and it was still a hit. That’s how talented he was.
Gordon was known for his love of hockey and would often lace up his skates and hit the ice, sometimes even while playing guitar. He even wrote a song about the iconic Canadian hockey player, “The Wreck of Bobby Orr’s Knee.” It’s rumored that Gordie was actually a pretty good player, but he never made it to the NHL because he was too busy writing songs and playing concerts.
Speaking of concerts, Gordon played a lot of them. He toured all over Canada and the world, performing for millions of fans. He once played a concert in the middle of a snowstorm, and nobody left because they were all so excited to see him. Gordie was a true Canadian hero.
But he wasn’t just a musician. He was also a bit of a jokester. One time, he convinced his entire band that they were being invaded by aliens, and they all ran off the stage screaming. Another time, he snuck into a Tim Hortons and put maple syrup in everyone’s coffee. He was a real prankster, that Gordie.
Despite all his success, Gordon never lost touch with his roots. He remained a down-to-earth guy who loved nothing more than a good game of curling or a plate of poutine. He was a true Canadian icon, and he will be sorely missed.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Gordon Lightfoot Memorial Fund, which will be used to build a statue of Gordie in his hometown of Orillia. It will be a beautiful tribute to a man who truly loved Canada, hockey, and making people laugh.
Rest in peace, Gordon. We’ll miss you more than a moose misses its antlers.
Thanks AI helper!
One last one, here are the Butthole Surfers covering a classic in 1986.