One of the most powerful things about music is its ability to connect us with distant cultures. It’s amazing how much you can learn about a people by listening to how their musicians express themselves through song. Recently I was introduced to a band called “PUP” (aww) from a strange, cold land known as “Canada.” I was astonished at how much this band taught me about the noble Canadian people, notably that they too think stuff is bullshit and that everything sucks.
I couldn’t believe it at first. I thought believing that shit is terrible and that life generally sucks ass was a cultural phenomenon confined to people from Pennsylvania and certain parts of Ohio. What sort of bullshit could there possibly be in Canada? Healthcare? Hockey? A third thing I can’t think of because I don’t know anything about Canada? But the more I listened to PUP, the more it became clear. Despite the fact that these guys spoke Canadian, I could understand them perfectly. And good news, shit is apparently terrible everywhere!
That’s not all PUP taught me. While commiserating about bullshit and how fucking stupid it all is, Canadians also sometimes partake in drinking beer. My people also drink beer! It got me thinking that maybe, one day, I could have a beer with someone from Canada. Not long ago I would have thought it was a preposterous idea but now I’m committed to making it happen if I ever make the journey to Toronto.
PUP also taught me about Toronto.
I would like to thank PUP for expanding my musical tastes and fixing my cultural myopia. Because if there’s one thing that music can teach us all, it’s that people are pissed off everywhere.