What makes a great song?

Sometimes it’s a question of how adaptable it is. If you strip the song down to its bones, does it still hit? If you expand it, is it still recognizable?

The Tragically Hip were recently inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. During their acceptance speech, Rob Baker spoke of “interminable” jamming trying to find the spark and get the song right. He said, “It’s not a fast or efficient songwriting method, but for us it worked.”

So many of us have grown up with the music of The Tragically Hip. It may be clichéd to say, but their music really has become the soundtrack of the lives of so many Canadians. The band is so ubiquitous, its sound so distinctive, and the chemistry of its members so unique, that it’s easy to forget (or sometimes not realize) just how well written these songs really are.

The depth of their catalogue was on display for all to hear and see at the sold-out Kingston Grand Theatre premiere of It’s a Good Life If You Don’t Weaken, a new musical by Theatre Aquarius featuring the songs of The Tragically Hip. Details and tickets here.

The story follows Waleed, a young journalist who flees Iraq and immigrates to Canada. Upon arriving in Kingston he meets Kate, the owner of a local music store.

This was Paul Langlois and Gord Sinclair’s first time seeing the show. They spoke with us about their expectations for the show, and how it came to be.

Of course, we were all interested to see how the music of The Hip would mesh with a story. The songs are concepts and feelings that stand alone, and were never intended to be part of a larger narrative. This was made even more challenging by the fact that Gord Downie’s writing was often esoteric and mysterious. At the same time, the lyrics were always very evocative. The play’s scenes don’t always match the lyrical narrative of the songs, but certainly the mood and imagery.

It has to be said that trailers for stage musicals rarely do a production justice. Many of us (myself included) weren’t quite sure what to make of it when we first saw it.

Seeing and hearing it in person (and in context) was a completely different experience. The cast was great, the dancing was exciting, and the story was very compelling. But not surprisingly it was the music that was the real emotional impetus of the production.

It was amazing to hear these songs with expanded instrumentation as well as new voices and harmonies. They felt fresh without being alienating. It didn’t matter whether the song was extravagant or stripped down. They were all just as impactful. I don’t want to spoil too much of the repertoire (although I’m sure we can all make some reasonable assumptions), but I still got goosebumps during Bobcaygeon’s “night in Toronto.” This show really is a testament to the music’s power.

And the crowd was definitely into it.

We spoke to a couple who had already seen it seven times out of town, and the lady behind us spent most of the second half in tears. Granted, I may be a little too close to the music to gauge how an outsider might react, but if you’re a Hip fan, this show definitely hits.

It's a Good Life If You Don't Weaken runs from October 22 to November 8 at Kingston Grand Theatre. Details and tickets available online here.