A song this beloved, played live only 31 times? The panel unpacks the mystery, the mischief, and the cat at the centre of 'The Darkest One'.

Episode Summary

The wheel landed on a big one. This week, The Tragically Hip On Shuffle pulls 'The Darkest One' - track three and the third single from "In Violet Light" (June 11th, 2002), and number 30 on the Tragically Hip Top 40 countdown. jD gathers Kirk from Chino, Sean from Toronto, and Duxoop from Toledo around the table to debate, discuss, and dissect it.

The tale of the tape raises the episode's central puzzle: first played live December 31st, 2001, last played August 1st, 2003, and just 31 performances all-time. Why did a single this strong vanish from the setlists? The panel has theories - Gord Downie's punishing high notes, his one-of-a-kind delivery timing, and the karaoke bravery both would demand.

There's a listen to a formidable live version from Vancouver, September 20th, 2002, a close read of the lyrics (a darling sky, not a darkening one - and the moment as a wild place), and Duck Soup's honest, funny, and disarming answer to the question the song keeps asking: who's the darkest one in your friend group?

Then it's off to the music video - the Trailer Park Boys, Don Cherry, vintage KFC buckets, and one great cat let in from the rain. The panel ranks the song on the album, mourns Hockey Night in Canada, debates a "Fully Completely" box set, and jD floats a Hip Club conspiracy theory about those suspiciously excellent bonus tracks.

 The Panel

• Sean from Toronto - repping The Hip from the West Coast, where he saw them at the Commodore on the World Container tour. This week's cheerfully unrepentant heel on 'All Tore Up’.
• Duxoop from Toledo - honorary Canuck (the Duck Canuck), karaoke stalwart, and the self-confessed darkest one in his friend group.
• Kirk from Chino - Discovering Downie alum, guitarist with The Daryls, and currently in the studio recording his first solo album, "From the Kirkyard", with producer Joey Delgado. Find him at Kirk Lane Music.

 Timestamps

- 00:00 - Welcome and panel introductions

- 03:14 - First hit: favourite Hip summer jams

- 06:05 - The tale of the tape: 'The Darkest One' by the numbers

- 09:37 - High notes, weird timing, and the karaoke problem

- 11:20 - Poll check: "In Violet Light" gets its flowers

- 13:44 - Listening party: 'The Darkest One' live in Vancouver, 2002

- 18:54 - First thoughts around the table

- 25:35 - The lyrics: every friend group has one

- 32:16 - The video: Trailer Park Boys, Don Cherry, and a great cat

- 37:50 - Final thoughts and album rankings

- 46:24 - Did it break through south of the border?

- 53:16 - Spin the wheel: next week's song revealed

- 55:11 - Plugs

 Resources & References

- Setlist and play-count data: hat tip to Hipbase and setlist.fm

- Live recording courtesy of The Tragically Hip Archive

- The Hugh Padgham stories come from This Is Our Life by Michael Barclay

- Bands plugged this week: The Fabulously Rich (Pacific Northwest), Gift Shop (Vancouver), the Knights of Molino (San Francisco), The Daryls, and the Delgado Brothers

- Related listening: Discovering Downie, wherever you get your podcasts

 Join In

The randomness is the feature, and the community is the point. [Join the community Facebook group](https://community.tthpods.com) to catch the next live stream, vote in the polls, and share your take in the chat. Want more from the network between episodes? [Subscribe to Yer Letter](https://subscribe.tthpods.com), the monthly newsletter from jD.

 Closing

Huge thanks to Kirk from Chino, Sean from Toronto, and Duxoop from Toledo for pinch-hitting on short notice and bringing the goods - from Salt Lake City name-drops to dentures that laugh. The takeaway this week: the wild are strong, the strong are the darkest ones, and every friend group has one. So there's that.

Next week, the wheel says 'Every Time You Go' - a deep cut from "Up to Here". Get after it.

 Connect

Facebook group: [community.tthpods.com](https://community.tthpods.com) | Instagram: @tthpods | YouTube: youtube.com/@tthpods | Email: [email protected]

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Meta description (155 characters): The Tragically Hip On Shuffle unpacks 'The Darkest One' from In Violet Light - Gord Downie's high notes, the Trailer Park Boys video, and one great cat.

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