When it comes to music talent, Canada has an embarrassment of riches. It’s too bad the Olympic closing ceremonies were just an embarrassment. Avril Lavigne, Alanis Morissette, Simple Plan, and Nickelback? Which hosehead chose that lineup?

If I was the artistic director, these are the 10 songs I would have chosen to highlight Canadian music:

The athletes would have entered the stadium while K’Naan sang Wavin’ Flag.

The solute to the Canadian athletes would have included a video montage of the medallists and the song Gold Rush by Basia Bulat.

The Canadiana portion of the program would have featured:
Tournament Of Hearts – The Weakerthans
The Hockey Song – Stompin’ Tom Connors
Maple Leaf Forever – Michael Buble – The best song in the closing ceremonies. I really liked the dancing mounties (especially the female ones), lumber jacks, and giant beavers.

I would have introduced the Russian Sochi 2014 committee with Gimme Sympathy by Metric. This could also be used to shut down the torch – with no disrespect to Mr. Neil Young.

The dance portion of the evening would have had the athletes rocking out to Feist – 1 2 3 4, Hannah Georgas – The Beat Stuff, Tegan and Sara – Arrow, and Numero# – Tonton Klaxonne.

And as everyone filed out of the stadium, they would have been serenaded by local band Said the Whale singing Out on the Shield – the best anthem for the games.