Christophe Elie’s “The Ride”: A Forever Folk Revival Layered with Activism and Honest Storytelling
Canadian folk singer and community activist Christophe Elie reissues “The Ride,” a track that could be considered one of the highlights of his first record, Deepest Shade of Blue. The song, which was originally released a long time ago, still retains its geniality, its dynamic character, and the artist’s reflection of the musical influences he draws from, namely Neil Young, Steve Earle, and Tom Petty, whose elements quietly resonate through the song’s acoustic structure and the lyrical content.
“The Ride” is a lively, slightly battered folk song of the road, which one could easily imagine playing while driving a long stretch of highway, with the mentality of keeping the windows down and the heart open. Elie does not depict travel as a way to escape reality but rather as a way to remember: life is not only about significance and final point, it is also about the little things that keep us going, the scarlet sunset, the unexpected conversation, the moment of breath between the duties. His writing remains very down-to-earth, simple, and entirely from the point of view of a fellow human.
The main reason for the re-release of this record to sound different or a bit more serious is the fact that it shows the person Elie is today. While he is still at the mixing desk of the new album planned to be released amidst the ups and downs of the present times, he is also simultaneously engaged in the local community scene in Ottawa through music, art, and activism, thereby saving the environment, promoting the issues of social justice, and building creative community. Through his program at CKCU radio, “Songs for the Revolution,” and the songwriter circle Writers’ Bloc, Elie energizes the heritage of folk as a form of protest and an expression of the community.
“The Ride” is the memory album that represents a starting point for him and gives the idea of the necessity tо speak оnоkе through the silence. The record is not a lavish production, nor is it attempting to be one. On the contrary, it acts like a calm, steady hand on the steering wheel, comforting, contemplative, and it comes from the presumption that music can be our guide in the times to come.
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