It’s been a while since I’ve seen an alternate rock band, but I found out Our Lady Peace is performing on December 11 at the Great Canadian Casino Vancouver. I remember hearing “Superman’s Dead” on the radio as I was working on late night projects, but I didn’t expect them to be such an important influence in Canadian culture though. I just enjoyed some of their older songs.
Just earlier this June, they made it to Canada’s Walk of Fame. If you haven’t heard of Canada’s Walk of fame, it recognizes achievements or Canadians in things like science, business, or athletics. People like Jim Carey or Wayne Gretzky are big Canadian names, and if you look deeper into the history of Our Lady Peace, they’ve done a lot in 30 years.
Albums like “Naveed” and “Clumsy” resonated so well with Canadian audiences in the 90s with dark themes like loneliness and identity with a sense of optimism. For many young adults, this is something you’d listen to as you stare at a wall while you connect with the lyrics. That’s a time when you navigate your personal struggles and redefine your identity after an emotional burnout, so songs from Our Lady Peace tapped in their minds, making them examine themselves and their view on the world.
While I remember them for their older albums, they didn’t rely on the success of their existing songs. In one of their interviews in 2017, Duncan Coutts, their bassist, said the band doesn’t look back on their journey very much, and they instead use their time trying to innovate while keeping the integrity of their lyrics.
Our Lady Peace
They also co-founded the Summersault music festival that featured bands like The Smashing Pumpkins, Barenaked Ladies, and the Foo Fighters, and the earnings from the festival went to Canadian and American food banks. Not only have their songs made changes in people’s lives, but they also supported various causes like children’s hospitals, sustainability, and especially mental health issues relating to the struggles they project in their lyrics.
Throughout their career, they’ve left a positive impact on Canada’s identity, and they are an excellent choice to represent Canada’s music culture and social responsibility.
It makes me happy to see a culturally significant band in Canada still being appreciated today. To celebrate their milestone in Canada’s music scene, you can check out their upcoming Vancouver performance in December.