The Jerry Cans
Summary
"Swell (My Brother)" by The Jerry Cans
Song: Swell (My Brother)
Date: January 27, 2024
The Jerry Cans are a band from the North in Iqaluit, Canada. This JUNO Award-nominated group is committed to making music that honors their home communities while bringing positive dialogues to the public. The band utilizes electric guitars, drums, effects-warped throat singing, and darkened violin work that brings sounds and emotions of love, anxiety, desperation, and grief. Their music is unique in bringing together folk music, country music, and Inuit throat singing, with the majority of their music being written in Inuktitut, the indigenous language of the Inuit.
The band originated as a blues rock trio while the three members attended secondary education. After relocating to Iqaluit, the band expanded with the addition of several other members.
I chose “Swell” as my favorite song because it speaks on sensitive issues that are important topics to discuss. The music video also captures some amazing shots of the Arctic Circle and its beauty.
Another one of the band’s famous songs, “Arnalukaq,” is a part of their Inuusiq Album, highlighting important topics of relationship violence and women empowerment, connecting their music to their community.
Works Cited:
“The Jerry Cans.” The Jerry Cans, www.thejerrycans.com/. Accessed 27 Jan. 2024.
Reviews, Z-side’s Music. “Echos by the Jerry Cans: Album Review.” Medium, Medium, 19 Dec. 2022, zsidesmusic.medium.com/echos-of-the-tundra-the-jerry-cans-create-the-true-beauty-of-nunavut-through-their-fourth-release-5bbfe2dcd342.
“Swell (My Brother).” YouTube, YouTube, 14 May 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLUAfMRBdfI.
“The Jerry Cans – Arnalukaq.” YouTube, YouTube, 20 Jan. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=omU6iIMuW0E.
I liked how you included two songs from the band to show the bands range in songs and sound. I thought the landscape in the Swell music video helped to convey a sense of isolation that many people fight, and simultaneously put more of an emphasis on the words and sound of the instruments in relaying emotions such as grief and sorrow because of the bareness. While listening to Arnalukaq I noticed the piano in the background as the main (or only) instrument and that the video was in black and white and showed headshots of women of all ages. I thought this was a very powerful aspect again helping to relay the sentiments that the lyrics and instruments do. The difference in messages between the two songs reminded me just how powerful music can be in discussing a wide range of topics.
I listened to the music video you attached for “Arnalukaq by Jerry Cans.” The aspects of piano, drums and the message of the song, makes it particularly emotional and raw. I found it interesting that they also sung a few words in English as well. The fact that their music takes a stance against violence in relationships in Nunavut, is also notable as they are sharing parts of their culture that faces struggles. I chose a Sámi artist, Mari Boine. Listening to both of these, the Jerry Cans use instruments that express much desperation and grief as in contrast, Boine uses many traditional Norwegian elements and has more of a folk vibe. I like how the band you chose also incorporates a lot of modern elements yet still includes Inuit throat singing and addresses controversial topics.
What a great band to find! Both of these songs are so beautiful and I can see why they have gotten so much recognition. “Swell” was an upbeat and fun song to listen to paired with the amazing clips of the Arctic circle was so cool to listen and watch. The second song I felt the emotion in their voices and loved the piano piece in this song. I like how this band is able to incorporate issues that matter to them into their music in such a seamless way. Overall thank you for sharing because I enjoyed learning and listening to this band.
From the very start of the music video, the band’s connection to nature is clear. I thought it was interesting how the video began with alternating shots of water flows and ice sheets, juxtaposing the two elements, and emphasizing their relationship. The video then captures one of the band members standing on a very small piece of ice in a body of water. The image is sad and disheartening as it forces viewers to think about the warming temperatures and melting ice. The lyrics of the song also highlight the desperation of the climate situation in the arctic. The band sings, “How long must we keep on dying? How long must we keep on crying?” Those living in the northern regions of the planet are struggling while societies farther south ignore the horrible and increasingly worse situation. The song repeats the words “we dying” and the musicians can be both heard and felt. The end of the song ends somewhat hopeful with the final lyric, “we rising.” Although I felt that the overall mood of the song was desperation.