Bucket List: Blue Rodeo

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Blue Rodeo, Jim Cuddy at the mic

I don’t have a huge bucket list of places I want to go or concerts I want to see. Part of the reason is that I tend to do things I want to do, if I can afford to do them. The other reason is I have few wants, and those that I do have tend to be simple. But one of my bucket list wants has been to see Blue Rodeo live in concert. Admittedly, many of you reading this won’t even have heard of Blue Rodeo. They’re a Canadian band, been together 40 years, but they never really hit it big in the U.S. But in Canada…well, they are legendary.

Like any band of longstanding, Blue Rodeo has had changes in band members. The exception is the frontmen — singer/songwriters/high school friends Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor. They have very different vocals, but both are immensely talented — but once you hear Jim Cuddy’s voice, you’ll never forget it.

The long story short on this post is that Blue Rodeo actually came to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, where I live, in October. They played at the local hockey area to a full house of about 6,000 diehard fans. I knew it might be a risk — we’re always told not to meet our idols (or in this case, go to see our favourite band live) but I took a chance and…

Blue Rodeo played for 2 hours straight, including five of my favourite songs: Try, Bad Timing, Five Days in May, Lost Together, and Bulletproof.

And I’m no casual fan…I’ve included mentions of them in several of my novels, and even wrote a Facts in Fiction post about them on my website. You can access that here to learn more: FACTS IN FICTION: BLUE RODEO. And in case you don’t want to do that, here are some excerpts from three of my novels:

Excerpt from A Hole in One: A Glass Dolphin Mystery #2

“I’ve got to get back to Lount’s Landing. Can you point me in the direction of Union Station?” Kevin stood up. “I’ll do you one better. I’ll walk you there.”

They were within spitting distance of Union Station when Emily noticed Chloe strutting toward them, chest thrust out, hands on hips, her black spandex tights and leopard-print top accentuating every curve. How long had she been following them? Since they’d passed her gym the first time? Or on the way back? Emily didn’t know and was relieved to find out that she didn’t care.

Unless, of course, Chloe knew more about Marc Larroquette than she had shared with Kevin.

Damn it. She’d have talk to Chloe.

But not today. Today, Chloe was Kevin’s problem. Emily patted Kevin’s arm, letting her hand linger slightly longer than necessary, then gave him a peck on the cheek.

She wound her way through the throng of commuters to Platform 26, humming Bad Timing by Blue Rodeo. It was time to go home.

Want to hear Bad Timing? Watch the official YouTube video with Jim Cuddy on lead vocals.

Excerpt from Where There’s a Will: A Glass Dolphin Mystery #3

The DJ began playing Blue Rodeo’s Lost Together, a cue for Luke and Emily to take center stage for their first dance before inviting others to join in. Arabella pushed back a tear, watched the dance floor fill up, and contemplated the pairings.

Want to hear Lost Together?  Watch the official YouTube video with Greg Keelor on lead vocals.

And finally, from Past & Present: A Marketville Mystery #2

I hung up and found myself humming a few bars of “To Make You Feel My Love.” I thought about the Barnstable family curse and laughed. More like “Bad Timing” by Blue Rodeo. Hell, almost anything by Blue Rodeo, especially if Jim Cuddy was the one singing it. That man had a voice made for sad songs.

Maybe this time would be different. I started humming again.

And my all-time fave? Bulletproof with lead vocals by Jim Cuddy, courtesy of YouTube.

Thanks for listening.

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11 replies
    • Judy Penz Sheluk
      Judy Penz Sheluk says:

      Thanks Gay — I doubt they even know about them. They are quite a huge deal up here. I was surprised they came to our town — they can fill much larger venues — but they did a true Canadian tour, hitting all sorts of unlikely places West to East.

  2. Debra
    Debra says:

    Although I’ve read your books, I simply let the Blue Rodeo comments and songs go past me…..because I’m not that attuned to song titles (lyrics hit me). I just went and listened to the songs you cited. Wow! Cuddy has a beautiful voice and can deliver the lyrics and emotion perfectly. Thanks for writing this blog. If I ever have a chance to see Blue Rodeo in person, I will.

    • Judy Penz Sheluk
      Judy Penz Sheluk says:

      Thanks Debra. Yes, Cuddy’s voice is a pure today as 40 years ago. Just incredible. And of course, we can’t use lyrics without risk of being sued 🙂 I’m glad you were able to listen.

  5. Kathleen Kaska
    Kathleen Kaska says:

    Hi Judy, I listened to “Bad Timing” and watched the video. To put it simply, I loved it! I was having a stressful morning, and this song turned things around. It has a country music feel. I felt as if I were in a dance hall in Texas. I’m adding Blue Rodeo to my playlist. I’m off to read your Facts in Fiction post. Thanks a bunch!

  6. Lois Winston
    Lois Winston says:

    Judy, it’s quite possible that Blue Rodeo has heard of their mention in your books or will at some point. Years before I sold my first book, I Googled my name one day to see what would pop up. I never expected to find myself mentioned in A Murderous Yarn by Monica Ferris. But there I was, not as some random character that just happened to have the same name, but as myself when a character enters a needlework shop and asks if they carry any of my designs! I contacted Monica, introducing myself, and asked about the mention. She wrote back that she often mentions the names of her favorite designers in her books.

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