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The Tragically Hip
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Artist · chart history · #374 in indie & aaa artist polls

The Tragically Hip

Band Kingston Canada Active 1983–2016

The Tragically Hip formed in 1983 in Kingston, Canada and was active until 2016. The Tragically Hip has 185 chart appearances on 73 radio countdowns from 17 stations on RockLists, spanning 1991–2026. The most successful song on radio countdowns is “Courage”, which appears on 25 lists with a best position of #42. The station that charted The Tragically Hip most often is CFNY 102.1 The Edge (Toronto, ON), with 91 appearances. The artist’s biggest year on year-end countdowns was 2004.

185appearances
73countdowns
48songs charted
17stations
0#1 finishes
1991–2026years

The Tragically Hip came out of Kingston, Ontario, and over a 33-year run they became a Canadian institution. Gord Downie sang, Paul Langlois and Rob Baker (Bobby Baker until 1994) played guitars, Gord Sinclair played bass and Johnny Fay played drums, and once Langlois came aboard, that lineup never changed. The music is rootsy, bluesy bar-band rock with a folk streak and a psychedelic shimmer, but the focal point was always Downie, whose voice and words gave the band its peculiar spark.

Up to Here in 1989 announced them with the swampy stomp of "New Orleans Is Sinking" and "Blow at High Dough", and Road Apples in 1991 kept the momentum with "Little Bones". Fully Completely in 1992, with "Fifty-Mission Cap" and "Locked in the Trunk of a Car", is where the songs got bigger, and Day for Night in 1994 brought the brooding "Grace, Too". Trouble at the Henhouse in 1996 had the gentle, rueful "Ahead by a Century", and Phantom Power in 1998 added "Poets" and the tender "Bobcaygeon". "Courage" and "At the Hundredth Meridian" are countdown favorites too.

At home the numbers were enormous: nine albums at number one in Canada, 17 Juno Awards, from Breakthrough Group of the Year in 1990 through Entertainer, Group and Album of the Year, and the title of best-selling Canadian band in Canada from 1996 to 2016. All told they made 13 studio albums, including Music @ Work, In Violet Light and World Container, with "In View".

In 2015 Downie was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, and the band went out on one last tour of Canada behind Man Machine Poem. The final show, in Kingston on August 20, 2016, was broadcast around the world by the CBC on television, radio and the internet. Downie died on October 17, 2017, and in July 2018 the others announced they would no longer perform as the Hip. They have since put out deluxe reissues with unreleased songs from the vaults and reunited now and then for special shows with Feist and William Prince.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.

Songs by The Tragically Hip on radio countdowns

#SongStrengthListsBest#1sPeak year
1 Courage
869		 25 #42 – –
2 Poets
737		 23 #19 – 1998
3 New Orleans Is Sinking
631		 13 #5 – –
4 At The Hundredth Meridan
617		 11 #23 – –
5 Little Bones
556		 9 #5 – 1991
6 Ahead By A Century
470		 6 #3 – 1996
7 Bobcaygeon
378		 8 #17 – 1999
8 In View
347		 5 #10 – 2006
9 Fifty-mission Cap
289		 4 #54 – –
10 Locked In The Trunk of A Car
288		 4 #19 – –
11 Vaccination Scar
233		 3 #6 – 2004
12 Blow At High Dough
226		 3 #13 – –
13 Grace, Too
217		 5 #41 – –
14 Looking For A Place To Happen
200		 4 #78 – –
15 Nautical Disaster
154		 4 #122 – –
16 At Transformation
146		 4 #16 – 2012
17 Silver Jet
137		 2 #44 – 2002
18 In a World Possessed by the Human Mind
136		 3 #4 – 2016
19 My Music at Work
124		 2 #39 – 2000
20 Twist My Arm
120		 3 #127 – –
21 38 Years Old
114		 3 #110 – –
22 Fully Completely
108		 3 #79 – –
23 Love Is a First
99		 2 #11 – 2009
24 In Sarnia
97		 1 #4 – 2017
25 So Hard Done By
74		 3 #156 – –
26 It's A Good Life If You Don't Weaken
72		 1 #63 – 2002
27 Heaven Is a Better Place Now
70		 1 #69 – 2004
28 Gift Shop
66		 2 #183 – –
29 Scared
65		 1 #352 – –
30 We Want To Be It
61		 1 #54 – 2013
31 About This Map
56		 1 #58 – 2014
32 700
49		 2 #142 – –
33 It Can't Be Nashville Every Night
48		 1 #57 – 2004
34 Greasy Jungle
41		 1 #588 – –
35 50 Mission Cap
41		 1 #55 – –
36 The Darkest One
38		 1 #67 – 2003
37 Fireworks
36		 2 #148 – –
38 Boots Or Hearts
35		 2 #712 – –
39 Yer Not the Ocean
29		 2 #74 – 2007
40 Three Pistols
28		 1 #146 – –
41 The Lonely End of The Rink
27		 2 #77 – 2007
42 Luv (Sic)
24		 1 #99 – 2007
43 Wheat Kings
19		 2 #166 – –
44 Freak Turbulence
17		 1 #87 – 2000
45 Summer's Killing Us
13		 1 #94 – 2004
46 Ouch
5		 1 #21 – 2021
47 Gus: The Polar Bear
3		 1 #89 – 2005
48 700ft Ceiling
2		 1 #980 – –

Albums with charting songs

Where each song was first released, from MusicBrainz.

Year-end chart timeline

Combined year-end countdown points per year. Taller bars mean more songs placing higher across more stations.

91 96 98 99 00 02 03 04 05 06 07 09 12 13 14 16 17 21

Every countdown appearance

Year#SongCountdown
2026 649 Bobcaygeon WYEP Greatest Songs of All Time
2026 778 Little Bones The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Songs You Discovered on The Colorado Sound
2025 358 New Orleans Is Sinking 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2025)
2025 442 Courage 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2025)
2024 364 New Orleans Is Sinking 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2024)
2024 487 Courage 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2024)
2024 687 Bobcaygeon WYEP Best Songs of the Past 50 Years
2023 775 Bobcaygeon WYEP Countdown to Fall 2023
2023 224 Ahead By A Century The Current's 893 Essential Songs of the '90s
2023 386 Ahead By A Century The Current's 893 Essential Songs of the '90s
2023 838 Grace, Too The Current's 893 Essential Songs of the '90s
2023 847 New Orleans Is Sinking The Colorado Sound Top 850 Songs of the 1980s
2023 882 Courage The Current's 893 Essential Songs of the '90s
2023 536 New Orleans Is Sinking The Colorado Sound Top 800 Songs About Places
2022 674 Little Bones The Colorado Sound Top 900 Songs of the '90s
2021 21 Ouch 102.1 The Edge The Top 21 of 2021
2021 89 Courage 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '90s
2020 102 In a World Possessed by the Human Mind 102.1 The Edge Top 102 of the 2010s
2019 518 Poets WYEP Labor Day Weekend Countdown 2019
2019 518 Poets WYEP Big Spring Countdown 2019
2017 4 In Sarnia WBER Listener Countdown 2017
2016 4 In a World Possessed by the Human Mind WBER Listener Countdown 2016
2016 65 In a World Possessed by the Human Mind WEQX Top 102.7 of 2016
2016 645 Poets WYEP 913 Countdown 2016
2014 58 About This Map WBER Listener Countdown 2014
2014 1077 Courage CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014)
2014 1757 Poets CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014)
2013 16 At Transformation WBER Listener Countdown 2013
2013 54 We Want To Be It WBER Listener Countdown 2013
2013 1016 Courage CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013)
2013 1680 Poets CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013)
2012 50 At Transformation 102.1 The Edge Top 50 New Rock Songs of 2012
2012 77 (tie) At Transformation WBER Listener Countdown 2012
2012 90 At Transformation WEQX Top 102.7 of 2012
2012 22 New Orleans Is Sinking 102.1 The Edge Top 102 New Rock Songs of All-Time
2012 45 Poets 102.1 The Edge Top 102 New Rock Songs of All-Time
2012 60 Little Bones 102.1 The Edge Top 102 New Rock Songs of All-Time
2012 79 Fully Completely 102.1 The Edge Top 102 New Rock Songs of All-Time
2011 968 Courage CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011)
2011 1617 Poets CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011)
2010 936 Courage CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010)
2010 1550 Poets CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010)
2010 5 New Orleans Is Sinking 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of the 90's (September 2010)
2010 23 At The Hundredth Meridan 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of the 90's (September 2010)
2010 30 Ahead By A Century 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of the 90's (September 2010)
2010 39 My Music at Work 102.1 The Edge Top 200 New Rock Songs of the Millennium
2010 43 Bobcaygeon 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of the 90's (September 2010)
2010 54 Poets 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of the 90's (September 2010)
2010 63 Courage 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of the 90's (September 2010)
2010 69 Fifty-mission Cap 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of the 90's (September 2010)
2010 73 Little Bones 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of the 90's (September 2010)
2010 81 Locked In The Trunk of A Car 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of the 90's (September 2010)
2010 88 In View 102.1 The Edge Top 200 New Rock Songs of the Millennium
2010 98 Looking For A Place To Happen 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of the 90's (September 2010)
2010 112 Fully Completely 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of the 90's (September 2010)
2010 127 Twist My Arm 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of the 90's (September 2010)
2010 142 700 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of the 90's (September 2010)
2010 148 Fireworks 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of the 90's (September 2010)
2010 154 Nautical Disaster 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of the 90's (September 2010)
2010 162 So Hard Done By 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of the 90's (September 2010)
2010 166 Wheat Kings 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of the 90's (September 2010)
2010 183 Gift Shop 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of the 90's (September 2010)
2009 11 Love Is a First 102.1 The Edge The Top 102 of 2009
2009 95 Love Is a First WEQX Top 102.7 of 2009
2009 906 Courage CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009)
2009 1520 Poets CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009)
2009 3 Ahead By A Century 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of All-Time (2009)
2009 19 Locked In The Trunk of A Car 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of All-Time (2009)
2009 33 Poets 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of All-Time (2009)
2009 46 At The Hundredth Meridan 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of All-Time (2009)
2009 64 Courage 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of All-Time (2009)
2009 78 Looking For A Place To Happen 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of All-Time (2009)
2009 90 Fifty-mission Cap 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of All-Time (2009)
2009 102 Blow At High Dough 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of All-Time (2009)
2009 111 Grace, Too 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of All-Time (2009)
2009 122 Nautical Disaster 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of All-Time (2009)
2009 148 Bobcaygeon 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of All-Time (2009)
2009 163 700 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of All-Time (2009)
2009 10 New Orleans Is Sinking The Top 200 Songs of the 90's According to 102.1 The Edge
2009 21 Ahead By A Century The Top 200 Songs of the 90's According to 102.1 The Edge
2009 31 Poets The Top 200 Songs of the 90's According to 102.1 The Edge
2009 42 Courage The Top 200 Songs of the 90's According to 102.1 The Edge
2009 54 Fifty-mission Cap The Top 200 Songs of the 90's According to 102.1 The Edge
2009 65 Bobcaygeon The Top 200 Songs of the 90's According to 102.1 The Edge
2009 76 At The Hundredth Meridan The Top 200 Songs of the 90's According to 102.1 The Edge
2009 87 Little Bones The Top 200 Songs of the 90's According to 102.1 The Edge
2009 98 Locked In The Trunk of A Car The Top 200 Songs of the 90's According to 102.1 The Edge
2009 110 38 Years Old The Top 200 Songs of the 90's According to 102.1 The Edge
2009 122 Fully Completely The Top 200 Songs of the 90's According to 102.1 The Edge
2009 134 Looking For A Place To Happen The Top 200 Songs of the 90's According to 102.1 The Edge
2009 146 Three Pistols The Top 200 Songs of the 90's According to 102.1 The Edge
2009 156 So Hard Done By The Top 200 Songs of the 90's According to 102.1 The Edge
2009 167 Grace, Too The Top 200 Songs of the 90's According to 102.1 The Edge
2009 177 Nautical Disaster The Top 200 Songs of the 90's According to 102.1 The Edge
2009 188 Twist My Arm The Top 200 Songs of the 90's According to 102.1 The Edge
2009 199 Wheat Kings The Top 200 Songs of the 90's According to 102.1 The Edge
2008 882 Courage CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008)
2008 1494 Poets CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008)
2007 34 In View 102.1 The Edge Top 102 Songs of 2007
2007 74 Yer Not the Ocean 102.1 The Edge Top 102 Songs of 2007
2007 77 The Lonely End of The Rink 102.1 The Edge Top 102 Songs of 2007
2007 72 In View WBER Listener Countdown 2007
2007 99 (tie) Luv (Sic) WBER Listener Countdown 2007
2007 102.7 Yer Not the Ocean WEQX Top 102.7 of 2007
2007 886 Courage CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007)
2007 1407 Poets CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007)
2006 15 In View CFNY Top 102 Songs of 2006
2006 10 In View The Bear Top 107 Songs of 2006
2006 106 The Lonely End of The Rink The Bear Top 107 Songs of 2006
2006 377 Artist ranking WXPN 885 All-Time Greatest Artists (2006)
2005 89 Gus: The Polar Bear CRNC Top 90.1 Songs of 2005
2005 1148 At The Hundredth Meridan CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005)
2004 30 Vaccination Scar CFNY Top 102 Songs of 2004
2004 6 Vaccination Scar The Bear Top 107 Songs of 2004
2004 57 It Can't Be Nashville Every Night The Bear Top 107 Songs of 2004
2004 94 Summer's Killing Us The Bear Top 107 Songs of 2004
2004 36 Vaccination Scar WEQX Top 102.7 of 2004
2004 69 Heaven Is a Better Place Now WBER Listener Countdown 2004
2004 1148 At The Hundredth Meridan CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004 1830 Poets CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2004 1862 Courage CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004)
2003 44 Silver Jet The Bear Top 107 Songs of 2003
2003 67 The Darkest One The Bear Top 107 Songs of 2003
2003 1148 At The Hundredth Meridan CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003 1830 Poets CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2003 1860 Courage CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003)
2002 53 Silver Jet WBER Listener Countdown 2002
2002 63 (tie) It's A Good Life If You Don't Weaken WBER Listener Countdown 2002
2002 1163 At The Hundredth Meridan CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002 1856 Poets CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002 1899 Courage CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002)
2002 1086 Courage Fred XM Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (July 2002)
2001 494 Courage WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2001)
2001 1164 At The Hundredth Meridan CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001 1870 Poets CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2001 1914 Courage CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001)
2000 60 My Music at Work 103.3 The Edge Top 103 of 2000
2000 87 Freak Turbulence 103.3 The Edge Top 103 of 2000
2000 499 Courage WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2000)
2000 1162 At The Hundredth Meridan CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000 1874 Poets CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000 1914 Courage CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000)
2000 48 New Orleans Is Sinking 103.3 The Edge Top 103 New Rock Songs of the Millennium
1999 17 Bobcaygeon WXRT Listener Poll: Top 25 Songs of 1999
1999 1160 At The Hundredth Meridan CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 1874 Poets CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 1913 Courage CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999)
1999 6 New Orleans Is Sinking CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1999 13 Blow At High Dough CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1999 23 Little Bones CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1999 63 Fifty-mission Cap CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1999 72 Grace, Too CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1999 79 Courage CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1999 87 At The Hundredth Meridan CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1999 147 Locked In The Trunk of A Car CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1999 210 Nautical Disaster CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1999 234 Twist My Arm CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1999 352 Scared CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1999 383 38 Years Old CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1999 432 Gift Shop CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1999 467 Looking For A Place To Happen CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1999 481 Bobcaygeon CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1999 588 Greasy Jungle CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1999 682 So Hard Done By CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1999 712 Boots Or Hearts CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1999 723 Poets CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1999 810 Ahead By A Century CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1999 910 Fireworks CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1999 980 700ft Ceiling CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999)
1999 943 New Orleans Is Sinking KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1999)
1998 102.7 Poets WEQX Top 102.7 of 1998
1998 993 New Orleans Is Sinking KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1998)
1996 57 Ahead By A Century WBER Listener Countdown 1996
1996 876 New Orleans Is Sinking KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1996)
1991 20 Little Bones CFNY Top 91 Songs of 1991
1991 45 New Orleans Is Sinking CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (1991 Edition)
1991 226 Blow At High Dough CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (1991 Edition)
1991 319 Little Bones CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (1991 Edition)
1991 938 38 Years Old CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (1991 Edition)
1991 939 Boots Or Hearts CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (1991 Edition)
– 5 Little Bones CRNC Top 90.1 Songs of the '90s
– 19 Poets CRNC Top 90.1 Songs of the '90s
– 41 Grace, Too CRNC Top 90.1 Songs of the '90s
– 55 50 Mission Cap CRNC Top 90.1 Songs of the '90s
– 88 Courage CRNC Top 90.1 Songs of the '90s

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