Downie, who wore a metallic silver suit and hat with a Jaws T-shirt underneath, hugged and kissed his bandmates before they stepped on stage to open with 50 Mission Cap, followed by three other songs from the album Fully Completely.
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The final show in the Tragically Hip’s Man Machine Poem tour in Kingston was broadcast live by the CBC.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation called Downie the nation’s unofficial “poet laureate” in a touching post on their website, while Trudeau took to Twitter with some touching words for the musician. There were plenty of searches for the band’s songs, lyrics, Gord Downie, his prognosis, his family, age and more.
May 24, 2016: The entire country of Canada is stunned at the announcement Gord Downie has been diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer and will lead The Tragically Hip on what could well be its last tour in the summer.
Mr. Downie, who announced in May that he has incurable brain cancer, told the audience that Mr. Trudeau “cares about the people way up North that we were trained our entire lives to ignore”.
“They are the ones that show us what hope is really about”, said Brown.
People across the country tuned in to see the legendary Canadian singer give one of the most emotional and hard-hitting performances of his career.
“It’s been such a gift that they’ve let us say thank you with this tour”, said Canadian actress and filmmaker Sarah Polley, who saw one of their final shows.
The band’s last hometown show last Saturday in Kingston, Ontario, was billed as a national celebration.
CBC’s broadcast of Saturday night’s Tragically Hip concert averaged just over four million viewers, according to the network.
Downie is considered one of Canada’s greatest songwriters, and news of his illness prompted an outpouring of shock and support. The song earned a Juno Award for best single in 2000.
More than 1,300 people came out to watch the live show on the big screen, with some even lining up in the afternoon to get a seat.
Thousands of Sarnia-Lambton residents filed into Canatara Park for “That Night In Sarnia” Saturday. So they’re up there, going through the emotions up there.
Group pictures and selfies were taken with family and friends as many in Bobcaygeon wanted to remember this special Canadian moment.
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Canadians Abroad of Southern California was to have a viewing party in Los Angeles.
