This morning, a part of myself, died. As I awoken to the news that Gord Downie had passed away from glioblastoma (brain cancer), at the age of 53. Just 6 years older than I am. Upon hearing this, I broke down and cried for several minutes, holding Venus, my oldest Queen, to my chest. One way or another, the Tragically Hip have been part of my life, since 1991, when my then roommate introduce me to them, as we were both students at Carleton University, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Just before they released Fully Completely. Hard to believe 26 years have passed since then.
I found myself going over past events in my life, as their songs provided the soundtrack to this, in my mind. Some of these events, I am still trying to work my way through. May your death been peaceful, Gord. For your legacy will live on, with your music and poetry. Thank you for the gift that you have left behind.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/gord-downie-obit-1.4359906
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhpezwGtDEg (my favourite Hip's song)
Comments
I understand.
I felt the same way when Janis Joplin died. I learned of the passing of two of the original Beach Boys and the decline of Brian Wilson with the same sort of dismay. They were the music of my youth, my teens. Even now when I hear them in concert these days, they still have the same sort of magic that makes me feel like a teenager, struggling to find out who I was.
You have my sympathies for your loss, but always remember the good times and the good songs. They'll make you feel better.
Catherine Linda Michel
As a T-woman, I do have a Y chromosome... it's just in cursive, pink script.
David Bowie
I don't tend to follow major musicians very much. I primarily get my music from radio stations and from musicians I meet in small venues. But when I saw David Bowie in The Labyrinth his music had a strong impact on me. So it really hit me when he died last year.
So, while I am not familiar with your particular artist, I am familiar with your heart ache. One of my house mates is a musician. He is listening to a phone in talk show on the radio right now where they are talking about Gord Downie.
Small world. I live just a few kilometers south of Carleton University.