# Canadian music fans: Stan Rogers or Stompin' Tom? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 20, 2013, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-music-fans-stan-rogers-or-stompin-tom/669341 "2013-09-20T20:30:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-music-fans-stan-rogers-or-stompin-tom/669341/1 "2013-09-20T20:30:27Z")
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.) ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-music-fans-stan-rogers-or-stompin-tom/669341/2 "2013-09-20T20:35:54Z")
I’m going to vote for Ian Tyson. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-music-fans-stan-rogers-or-stompin-tom/669341/3 "2013-09-20T20:40:21Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-music-fans-stan-rogers-or-stompin-tom/669341/4 "2013-09-20T21:12:01Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![LC\_Strawhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-music-fans-stan-rogers-or-stompin-tom/669341/5 "2013-09-20T22:09:58Z")
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) ---
**Author:** ![MrSquishy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@MrSquishy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSquishy)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-music-fans-stan-rogers-or-stompin-tom/669341/6 "2013-09-20T22:33:36Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-music-fans-stan-rogers-or-stompin-tom/669341/7 "2013-09-20T22:54:46Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > Stan Rogers just looms over the Canadian psyche, 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. ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-music-fans-stan-rogers-or-stompin-tom/669341/8 "2013-09-20T23:36:15Z")
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](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw7rzpvDvS0) by Stompin’ Tom [Watching the Apples Grow](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POlMKesby1g) 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](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaVHESJCsM4) by Stompin’ Tom [Canada’s REAL national athem](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxJvrD80nJ4) by Stompin’ Tom ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-music-fans-stan-rogers-or-stompin-tom/669341/9 "2013-09-20T23:43:12Z")
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](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIwzRkjn86w) by Stan Rogers. Best sea shanty ever. But I voted for Stan Rogers for his gorgeous [Northwest Passage](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVY8LoM47xI). Stompin’ Tom never came close to the beauty and poetry of this song. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-music-fans-stan-rogers-or-stompin-tom/669341/10 "2013-09-20T23:46:11Z")
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. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2013, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-music-fans-stan-rogers-or-stompin-tom/669341/11 "2013-09-20T23:50:19Z")
Just found a cooler link to [Barret’s Privateers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0CvSIhF_tA). God damn that seventies hair! ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-music-fans-stan-rogers-or-stompin-tom/669341/12 "2013-09-21T00:03:56Z")
OP here. I appreciate both. Stompin’ Tom had a great sense of humour, but I think Stan Rogers’ music is more beautiful melodically. > [@Hodge](#): > > … > But I voted for Stan Rogers for his gorgeous [Northwest Passage](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVY8LoM47xI). Stompin’ Tom never came close to the beauty and poetry of this song. I think that’s my favourite Stan Rogers song. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-music-fans-stan-rogers-or-stompin-tom/669341/13 "2013-09-21T00:56:47Z")
Don’t know Stompin’ Tom. Love Stan Rogers, he’s one of my favorite artists of all time. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-music-fans-stan-rogers-or-stompin-tom/669341/14 "2013-09-21T21:46:53Z")
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… ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2013, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-music-fans-stan-rogers-or-stompin-tom/669341/15 "2013-09-21T21:56:23Z")
> [@Hodge](#): > > Just found a cooler link to [Barret’s Privateers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0CvSIhF_tA). God damn that seventies hair! 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? ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2013, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-music-fans-stan-rogers-or-stompin-tom/669341/16 "2013-09-22T04:26:42Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2013, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-music-fans-stan-rogers-or-stompin-tom/669341/17 "2013-09-22T18:05:33Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-music-fans-stan-rogers-or-stompin-tom/669341/18 "2013-09-23T02:27:12Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-music-fans-stan-rogers-or-stompin-tom/669341/19 "2013-09-23T02:33:01Z")
Okay, I went and looked up Stan Rogers - gah. That was awful! ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-music-fans-stan-rogers-or-stompin-tom/669341/20 "2013-09-23T03:03:45Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > 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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-music-fans-stan-rogers-or-stompin-tom/669341.md?page=2)