Something unexpected happened last night. While waiting for my main computer to complete a backup, I found myself on Twitter to continue an earlier discussion about Canadian 80’s music. Somehow, the conversation evolved into great music, big hair and cheesy videos. Things got out of hand when we discovered a lot of the bands and music we were talking about — some of which didn’t didn’t make it through the 80’s — on YouTube.

A group of thirty-somethings, midnight, Twitter, and YouTube; it was a perfect storm.

This exchange reminded me that so much pop culture, which has largely been forgotten, is being preserved for all to discover. It would have felt lonely in many respects if memories of my youth had not been preserved for me to reconnect with.

The music industry doesn’t realize the opportunity it’s missing. If they took a few days to think productively and creatively about it, they could harness the long tail at a marginal cost, and rejuvenate a market that has a disposable income while establishing new markets that capitalize on the appeal of retro. Most importantly, they could breath new life into relative unknown and obscure artists at a time when making connections between musical styles and pedigrees is more popular and easily-done than ever before. (update: The music industry DOES want your money!)

Notable finds that were part of yesterday’s discussion include:

• Boys Brigade: Melody
• Chalk Circle: April Fool
• Chilliwack: My Girl
• Eight Seconds: Where’s Bula
• Glass Tiger: Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)
• The Grapes of Wrath: Backward Town
• Honeymoon Suite: Love Changes Everything
• Images in Vogue: Call it Love
• Loverboy: Queen of the Broken Hearts
• Scott Merritt: Overworked and Underprivileged
• Northern Pikes: Teenland
• One to One: Hold me Now
• Payola$: Eyes of a Stranger
• Pukka Orchestra: Might as Well be on Mars
• The Spoons: Romantic Traffic
• Strange Advance: We Run
• Streetheart: Snow White (live)
• Triumph: Lay it on the Line

To get your fix of Canadian music that the record companies won’t sell to you anymore, checkout the Canada Rocks! YouTube channel.

Thanks to everyone who reminded me of the bands I had long forgotten.