Exclusive: Stream Alexis Normand’s New Curated “Songs That Remind Me of the Time When…” Spotify Playlist

By: Staff –

Folks may remember Alexis Normand as the guitar-playing member of Rosie & the Riveters. The band parted ways in 2020 and she has since become an award-winning documentary filmmaker and also recorded an album with James Bunton (Donovan Woods, Vivek Shraya). Mementos, which is out on September 15th. And to celebrate, the bilingual prairie songstress curated a brand new Spotify playlist of “Songs That Remind Me of the Time When…”Stream it below! 

The Ottawan – “Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)”

When I was a toddler, my dad would sing this song as he dried me off after bath time. Once, he even requested it on the radio – mom had the music blaring around the house as bath time drew to a close. I’ll never forget that memory! It was the first time a radio host said my name on the air.

Radiohead – “Talk Show Host”

This song brings me right back to middle school when I was OBSESSED with the soundtrack of Romeo and Juliet – you know, the movie version starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. It was my first cassette. Plus, I also had the biggest celebrity crush on Leo and had a poster of him in my bedroom. Ahh, to be a tweenager again! (…or not). 

Joni Mitchell – “Both Sides Now”

In grade 8, I decided to spend my birthday money at HMV where I left with a CD by the Smashing Pumpkins, one by Metalwood and Joni Mitchell’s Hits (compilation). Thus, began my obsession with Joni. If this song plays on the radio, I’ll drive around the block until it’s done. I’d love to have written a powerful song like this when I was 23 years old! What a legend. 

The Beatles – “Yellow Submarine”

I was 15 years old when I dug out my dad’s guitar, found a box of old music books, chose the song that had the fewest number of chords and taught myself how to play. “Yellow Submarine” was the first song in my repertoire, and after learning all the tunes I knew in that book, I started to write my own. 

Jean Leloup (Le Dôme, 1996) – “I Lost My Baby”

Since I attended a francophone high school, the students weren’t allowed to listen to music in English in the student lounge. However, we WERE allowed to listen to this bilingual song which ended up being my gateway to discovering all kinds of music in French that I love. 

Ariane Moffatt – “Poussière D’ange”

My roommate in university was from Montreal and would rave about Ariane Moffatt – a multi-instrumentalist who was a great songwriter with a really great sense of humour. I was immediately hooked after hearing this song and it always brings me back to the double room at the end of the hall in University of Ottawa’s Marchand residence. 

Beau Dommage – “Le Géant Beaupré” 

This song reminds me of the year I lived in Granby, Québec. I moved there to attend L’École nationale de la chanson – a school for francophone singer-songwriters. Robert Léger was the artistic director and also taught the lyric-writing courses. He had been a member of Beau Dommage – one of Québec’s most celebrated bands from the 70s. That year, one of my music history assignments was to create a compilation based on a theme. Since I was homesick for the prairies, I decided to curate a playlist about Saskatchewan and included this song. During my next one-on-one songwriting session with Robert, he asked me why his song, Le Géant Beaupré, was included in my compilation – he had written it. That’s when I informed him that Édouard Beaupré (aka the Beaupré Giant) was from Willow Bunch, Saskatchewan! He had no idea. 

Chic Gamine – “Les échos”

I was a HUGE fan of Chic Gamine for many years. The Regina Folk Festival hired me to open for the Juno award-winning band from Winnipeg early in my career. I was SO nervous. And SO excited. And COULDN’T believe my luck. They showed me that it is possible to bridge the French-English divide through music and were a strong example of the power of collaboration. 

Buffy Sainte-Marie – “We are Circling“

This song reminds me of the time I took the hotel elevator at Folk Alliance International (a big folk music conference) in 2019. I had just been for a swim in the hotel and walked into a jam-packed elevator wearing flip flops and a house coat over my bathing suit. It was really strange to be in an elevator FULL of people, yet no one was saying a word. That’s when I realized that Buffy Sainte-Marie was in it too. I mustered the courage to say: “Hi Buffy, I really like your music.” and she responded “I really like your outfit!”. Way to break the ice Buffy! 

Connie Kaldor (Wood River, 2010) – “Margaret’s Waltz”

My mom is probably one of Connie’s biggest fans and has been for years. Neither of us would have guessed that I would end up marrying Connie’s nephew. The first dance at our wedding was to Margaret’s Waltz – but I’m pretty sure my mom was more excited to hear Connie perform it than she was to see us dance!