Canadian music fans, which do you prefer - Stan Rogers or Stompin’ Tom, and why?
(And by Canadian music fans, I mean all fans of Canadian music, not just those who are in Canada.)
I’m going to vote for Ian Tyson.
I chose Stan Rogers and Stompin’ Tom in the poll because I was thinking of great Canadian music legends who had passed away.
It’s not that I dislike Stompin’ Tom, but Stan Rogers just looms over the Canadian psyche, and he showed a much wider range of musical styles.
Stan Rogers and Gordon Lightfoot, however - there’s a tough choice!
I’m apparently the dissenting voice because I just don’t “get” Stan Rogers. (He fits into a strain of grim-faced, vaguely Celtic music from Canada which can be very well made but not my cup of tea)
Stan Rogers x100000. I really don’t understand the love for Stompin’ Tom. It’s barely even music as far as I can tell. Obviously YMMV.
A Canadian friend of mine (she’s about 50) announced on Facebook a summer trip to Nova Scotia (she’s from Vancouver). I responded by paraphrasing “Barrett’s Privateers” (I told her I had a bad experience with my last visit to Nova Scotia- God damn them all, I was told we’d cruise the seas for American gold, we’d fire no guns, shed now tears. Long story short: I ended up a broken man on a Halifax pier).
I figured this was a no-brainer as “Stan Rogers just looms over the Canadian psyche”, but she had no earthly idea what I was talking about.
I didn’t vote because I don’t know who Stompin’ Tom is.
I’m torn on this. I can appreciate both and was lucky enough to see Stompin’ Tom live a couple of times.
They both could write some real foot stompers:
Sudbury Saturday Night by Stompin’ Tom
Watching the Apples Grow by Stan Rogers
Stompin’ Tom’s strength was for songs about quirky people and a dedication to capturing everyday life across the country:
Muk-Tuk Annie by Stompin’ Tom
Canada’s REAL national athem by Stompin’ Tom
Argh! Hit submit when I meant to preview…
Stan Rogers died when I was still a kid so I’m not as familiar with his work but what I know, I love:
Barret’s Privateers by Stan Rogers. Best sea shanty ever.
But I voted for Stan Rogers for his gorgeous Northwest Passage. Stompin’ Tom never came close to the beauty and poetry of this song.
Sadly, I don’t know much of Stan Rogers’ catalogue. I’m only familiar with maybe 10 or so Stompin’ Tom songs.
I just listened to some Stan on Youtube, and I appreciate the Celtic sound of his music, but (like listening to The Dubliners) I’d need to be in a certain state of mind to listen to a lot of it in a row; and by state of mind I mean a lot of alcohol.
Stompin’ Tom’s songs are humourous and fun, so I’ll pick him.
But Gordon Lightfoot and Neil Young are the right answers. 
Just found a cooler link to Barret’s Privateers. God damn that seventies hair!
OP here. I appreciate both. Stompin’ Tom had a great sense of humour, but I think Stan Rogers’ music is more beautiful melodically.
I think that’s my favourite Stan Rogers song. 
Don’t know Stompin’ Tom. Love Stan Rogers, he’s one of my favorite artists of all time.
Bill Staines, a New England folkie, included (hey, he probably still does) “Barret’s Privateers” in his set. We all gladly sang along–it was a nice change from the Texas Singer Songwriter thing.
Then Paul Gross led a singalong of the tune on Due South. He also used “Northwest Passage” in the series finale.
I’ve been listening to Canadians since Ian & Sylvia and Gordon Lightfoot. (Yeah, I know Neil Young, Joni Mitchell & most of The Band are Canadian, too.) But I learned to love Stan Rogers. Never heard the other guy…
How is it possible that he is easily at least 47 years old in that clip despite the fact that he died at age 33?
I can appreciate that Rogers has a fantastic voice, but I’m just not a fan of his kind of music. I can listen to Stompin’ Tom’s corny humour all day, and stomp my foot to boot.
Mufferaw Joe for me.
Stompin’ Tom was a lot more fun than Stan Rogers, but Rogers just had that…I don’t know how to put it. You smiled when you listened to Stompin’ Tom, but when Stan sang, you felt.
I don’t know who Stan Rogers is, and I’ve been listening to music in Canada for 46 years now. Stompin’ Tom all the way!
Okay, I went and looked up Stan Rogers - gah. That was awful!
While everyone is certainly able to express their personal tastes, yours are simply wrong. This is going on your permanent record.