ARKELLS – “Ticats are Hummin'” (2012 iTunes single)
Disclaimer #1: I hate all sports.
Disclaimer #2: Of all the sports, I hate football the most.
I do love the Arkells, and for them, I’ll download a song about football, and dang it, I’ll even enjoy it.
“Ticats are Hummin'” is a tribute to the Arkells home team, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. They have a rivalry with the Toronto Argonauts. And that’s about all I can tell you about the Ticats. I do like this song. Alot! It is a bright, boppy and upbeat tune with a guitar and piano delivering the main musical hooks. Of course, there are plenty of those patented “woah, oh oh!” vocals that Arkells fans adore.
Saw some old friends,
From down in T.O.,
But old Queen Lizzy,
Will take them back home!
They look so sad,
At the end of the night,
Blown out like Pink Floyd back in ’75!
“Queen Lizzy” refers to the Q.E.W. – the Queen Elizabeth Way, a major highway connecting Toronto and Hamilton. I sometimes wonder if the Arkells staunch commitment to local references in their lyrics has held them back from international success. I think these references only enrich the music and add to their down-home vibe.
“Ticats are Hummin'” would have been one of the band’s first recordings with new keyboardist Anthony Carone. It preceded their excellent High Noon album by a couple years, but you can hear elements of where they were going, with the indelible pop melodies.
This track was released to iTunes with proceeds going to the Boys and Girls Club of Hamilton. It also received a physical release, on a rare 2 CD compilation called Everybody Dance Now – Songs From Hamilton, Volume 8. Be on the hunt.
5/5 stars