The band consists of original members Cuddy (guitar/vocals), Keelor (guitar/vocals) and Donovan (bass) plus newer additions Glenn Milchem (drums), and Bob Egan (multi-instrumentalist). Former members include Anderson (drummer), Wiseman (keyboardist), Kim Deschamps (multi-instrumentalist), Mark French (drummer), and Jamie Gray (keyboardist) and Bob Packwood (keyboards).
Blue Rodeo is one of the most successful and well known contemporary Canadian bands, having released 11 studio albums, one live album, a greatest hits collection and a DVD which have sold more than 3 million copies worldwide. In addition, both Cuddy and Keelor have released solo albums. Blue Rodeo members have collaborated extensively with other notable Canadian artists, including Jann Arden, Cowboy Junkies, Burton Cummings, Kathleen Edwards, Great Big Sea, Sarah McLachlan, The Sadies, Ron Sexsmith, Skydiggers, and The Tragically Hip. Blue Rodeo have won many Canadian music awards, including seven Juno Awards (Canada's Grammy) and principal songwriters Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor have been honoured with seven SOCAN awards.
The band released (November 2008) Blue Road a special 20th Anniversary Live 'bootleg' DVD which features an insightful documentary by Chris Mills and an acoustic CD of their 2008 February 29th Toronto Massey Hall concert. The DVD disc features some acoustic covers, including Neil Young's "Are You Ready For The Country", Randy Travis's "Diggin' Up Bones" and Ian & Sylvia Tyson's "Four Strong Winds." In addition, there's a new bonus studio track on the audio CD by Cuddy and Keelor called "Losing You", which is also performed Live on the DVD.
It was formally announced on June 16th, 2009, that Blue Rodeo will be inducted onto Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto in September, 2009.
On November 10th, 2009, Blue Rodeo released its twelfth studio album, The Things We Left Behind, which is a double CD featuring 16 original compositions by Greg Keelor and Jim Cuddy. The release was produced by the band with engineering and mixing assistance from Darryl Neudorf (Neko Case, Jim Cuddy, Kevin Kane, Sarah McLachlan, The Sadies), and the first single to crack the airwaves is "Arizona Dust".
It was officially announced on December 12, 2011 that Blue Rodeo will be inducted into The Canadian Music Hall of Fame, with the formal presentation to occur on April 1st, 2012 at the Canadian Juno Awards.
Blue Rodeo released its 13th studio album on October 29th, 2013 entitled In Our Nature.
Canadian Governor General David Johnston announced on Dec. 30, 2013 that Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor will be celebrated as Officers of the Order of Canada, one of the country`s highest honours, in a ceremony to be scheduled later in 2014.
In the Fall of 2014, Blue Rodeo released their first seasonal holiday collection entitled, A Merrie Christmas To You, which is blessed with their favourite Christmas classics. The collection features beautiful songs by The Band, Big Star, Merle Haggard, Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, and two moving originals entitled "Glad To Be Alive" and "Home To You This Christmas".
Blue Rodeo released its latest studio album on October 28, 2016 entitled 1000 Arms, which was produced by Tim Vesely and the band. The Warner Music Canada release features eleven new songs penned by Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor, and the first single is entitled "Superstar".
For photo galleries, tour dates and other information on Blue Rodeo you can visit their official website, www.BlueRodeo.com.
Piranha Pool
Blue Rodeo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You just wave your magic wand
Dangling your fingertips
Into the world of the just beyond.
Sitting ever so quietly
In your private dining room
Guiding the waves of destiny
Into the face of oblivion.
So you'd rather been an opera star
At the turn of the century.
Well you never asked for this miracle trip
A genius in the military
You're sincerely surprised with your own success
Hanging out with the judges and the corporate heads
You never anticipate the final toll
Still shining all your medals
For the final curtain call.
You're always talking 'bout the here and after
But it don't make much sense to me
Still for all the men that you condemn
Well I hope there's some kind of heaven
And there's got to be some kind of hell for you
Leaning over the piranha pool
You just wave your magic wand
Dangling your fingertips
Into the world of the just beyond.
Sitting ever so quietly
In your private dining room
Guiding the waves of destiny
Into the face of oblivion.
But it don't make much sense to me
Still for all the men that you condemn
Well I hope there's some kind of heaven
And there's got to be some kind of hell for you
The lyrics to Blue Rodeo's song Piranha Pool are evocative and lovely, with a lot of depth and meaning beneath the surface. The song speaks to the idea that fame and success can be both alluring and dangerous, with the analogy of the piranha pool serving as a metaphor for the perilous nature of the entertainment industry. The singer describes the subject of the song as someone who is skilled and influential, able to shape the direction of the world around them. However, there's a suggestion that this power comes at a cost, and that the person in question is perhaps not entirely comfortable with the choices they've made.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of mortality and the afterlife, with the singer suggesting that the subject of the song has a lot to answer for in the grand scheme of things. There's a sense of judgment in the words, suggesting that the person might be held accountable for their actions and the impact they've had on others. Overall, it's a powerful and haunting song that explores some weighty ideas about life, death, and the human condition.
Line by Line Meaning
Leaning over the piranha pool
You are risking everything by getting too close to danger.
You just wave your magic wand
You are trying to control everything with little effort.
Dangling your fingertips
You are attempting to touch what you can't have.
Into the world of the just beyond.
You are exploring the unknown, hoping to find something greater.
Sitting ever so quietly
You are patiently waiting for the right moment to take action.
In your private dining room
You are isolated from the rest of the world, enjoying the fruits of your labor.
Guiding the waves of destiny
You believe that you have the power to direct the future.
Into the face of oblivion.
Your actions could lead to destruction and chaos.
So you'd rather been an opera star
You have regrets about your current life and wish you had taken a different path.
At the turn of the century.
You long for a time of great elegance and beauty.
Well you never asked for this miracle trip
You are grateful for your success, but you never expected to be where you are now.
A genius in the military
Your exceptional intellect has brought you far, even into the world of politics and power.
You're sincerely surprised with your own success
You are shocked at how far you've come in life and believe it to be a fluke.
Hanging out with the judges and the corporate heads
You are in the presence of great power and privilege.
You never anticipate the final toll
You don't realize the true cost of your actions until it's too late.
Still shining all your medals
You are proud of your accomplishments and accolades, showcasing them to others.
For the final curtain call.
You understand that everything will come to an end, but you want to make the most of it until then.
You're always talking 'bout the here and after
You are obsessed with thinking about what comes next after life.
But it don't make much sense to me
Others don't follow your beliefs and find it hard to understand.
Still for all the men that you condemn
Despite your views on religion, you still judge others for their actions and beliefs.
Well I hope there's some kind of heaven
Even though it doesn't make sense, you still hope for some kind of afterlife.
And there's got to be some kind of hell for you
You believe that if anyone deserves punishment, it's you.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GREG KEELOR, JIM CUDDY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind