Stephen Harper is among Canada's longest-serving Prime Ministers, but also among the most mysterious.
Even after nine years, Canadians have almost no idea of his dreams, fears or appetites — aside from his peculiar penchant for constantly appearing in miniature rock concerts. On Tuesday night, Mr. Harper appeared in his sixth such performance at the Conservative Party's annual holiday bash.
Every song Stephen Harper has ever performed in public:
October 3, 2009
National Arts Centre Gala. Ottawa, Ontario.
With a Little Help from My Friends – The Beatles
May 2, 2010
"Jam session" at 24 Sussex with Bryan Adams. Ottawa, Ontario.
Run to You – Bryan Adams
December 8, 2010
Conservative caucus Christmas party. Ottawa, Ontario.
Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
I'm On My Way – The Proclaimers
The Seeker – The Who
Share the Land – The Guess Who
Jumpin' Jack Flash – The Rolling Stones
April, 2011
Campaign stop with 10-year-old Maria Aragon. Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Imagine – John Lennon
November 1, 2013
Conservative Party Convention. Calgary, Alberta.
The Hockey Song – Stompin' Tom Connors
Folsom Prison Blues – Johnny Cash
Fast as You – Dwight Yoakam
Rock You Like a Wagon Wheel – Old Crow Medicine Show
Quand Le Soleil Dit Bonjour Aux Montagnes ("The French Song") – Lucille Starr
Takin' Care of Business – Bachman Turner Overdrive
December 1, 2013
Jewish National Fund Negev Dinner. Toronto, Ontario.
The Seeker – The Who
Oh Boy! – Buddy Holly
Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
Hey Jude – The Beatles
January, 2014
State Dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Jerusalem, Israel.
Hey Jude – The Beatles
December 9, 2104
Conservative caucus Christmas party. Ottawa, Ontario.
Ah Mary – Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Rock You Like a Wagon Wheel – Old Crow Medicine Show
Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
Jackson – Johnny Cash
Silent Night – Traditional
I Saw Her Standing There – The Beatles
Sweet Child O' Mine – Guns N' Roses
Accordingly, in an attempt to crack the psyche of Canada's most guarded leader, the National Post has meticulously catalogued every song publicly performed by Mr. Harper.
The result: pretty much what you would expect from a political leader who never swears, rarely drinks and whose hobbies include cats and obscure 19th century hockey history: Stephen Harper's setlist is essentially a history of the 20th century's most inoffensive, easy-to-sing rock music.
"This list is personality-less," said Chris Tait, a Toronto-based music producer and former guitarist with the 1980s band Chalk Circle.
"I think it's amazing that he has music in his life, but I can't imagine that there isn't some thought put into the context of these songs."
Mr. Harper's songs are all technically quite simple. His first-ever performance, With a Little Help from My Friends, was specifically written with limited range in order to match the vocal capabilities of Ringo Starr.
The songs are also well-established guaranteed crowd pleasers, and are on regular rotation as the songs played during lulls in hockey games. Even Sweet Child O' Mine, the edgiest song on the list, was originally sung by a man who is only three years younger than the Prime Minister.
"On the whole I don't believe he can go wrong with this list," said Doug Scott, president of the Canadian Disk Jockey Association, writing in an email to the National Post.
Calling it "toe tapping material," Mr. Scott added: "I personally would have selected a more interesting or popular playlist, but I don't think he will get in trouble playing or singing these examples."
Toe-tapping was also the verdict delivered by Duane Fitzgerald, member of Chesire Grin, an Ottawa-based all-purpose cover band. He said the prime minister's selection would "appeal to a wide variety of people."
The aggressively normal list does, also reveals a few specific clues about Mr. Harper. Mr. Tait noted that Mr. Harper's only exclusively francophone selection is a 1964 Lucillle Starr hit single known as The French Song.
Conversely, the playlist reveals the Prime Minister's comfortable position with the country's Jewish community.
Twice, Mr. Harper has performed the Beatles song Hey Jude to Jewish audiences: Once before the Jewish National Fund in Toronto, and the second time at a gala dinner in Jerusalem that included Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Penned by Paul McCartney, the song refers to Julian, the son of John Lennon. Nevertheless, Jude is also the German word for "Jew," and as such has no shortage of negative connotations.
Any awkwardness surrounding this was graciously ignored, however. In Jerusalem, the bizarre performance elicited a grinning "terrific; thank you Stephen" from Mr. Netanyahu.
For a Prime Minister not known for his jokes, Mr. Harper's playlist also appears to be tinged with a bit of musical humour. Share the Land by the Guess Who is essentially an anthem to hippie communes, if not outright land collectivization. Playing it in front of a room full of Conservatives is akin to performing Merle Haggard's Okie from Muskogee at a marijuana legalization rally.
While Mr. Harper does seem to relish his brief appearances in the spotlight, his musical dalliances obviously all come with a side of political strategy, which is why they so often come up during election campaigns.
"An activist by nature, the Prime Minister isn't content to let others do all the singing," boasts his official profile on the Conservative Party of Canada website.
If anything, the best political capita amassed by Mr. Harper's concerts is probably that he is an unambiguously terrible performer—quite possibly among the worst in the country he governs. His singing is consistently out of tune, he frequently appears to be in pain while performing and he has the stage presence of a bashful six-year-old.
'Stephen Harper can do all the Beatles and Guns N' Roses covers he wants but please give us back Sweet Caroline'
Despite this, the all-powerful head of a Commonwealth majority government repeatedly insists on appearing before underlings, opponents and foreign dignitaries to do what many Canadians would consider humiliating. Each performance is a naked display of humanity.
Plus, his repeated attempts at Sweet Caroline seem to rile the opposition.
"Stephen Harper can do all the Beatles and Guns N' Roses covers he wants but please give us back Sweet Caroline. It hurts to associate this song with the blue-eyed king of anti-soul," said Charlie Angus, a professional musician turned NDP MP, in a statement to the National Post.
Chimed in Andrew Cash, his NDP caucus-mate and an actual maker of hit music in his former life as a musician: "We look forward to taking back Canada in 2015, and also Sweet Caroline."
National Post
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