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Politics
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney Dances to Down With Webster in Viral Victory Video
The Prime Minister partied to the Toronto band's 2010 song "Whoa Is Me" after securing a fourth term for the Liberal party in Canada's 2025 federal election.
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Prime Minister Mark Carney is dancing to victory.
The Liberal leader saw his party win a fourth term in government in Canada's federal election on April 28. He celebrated on the dance floor, partying to Down With Webster as they performed "Whoa Is Me," in a clip that has since gone viral.
Carney has caused an unexpected resurgence for the Canadian rap-rock band, often using their song "Time to Win" to close out his rallies as he sought to build up support for the Liberals following former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's resignation. He told Nardwuar the choice was not a coincidence, and that he is a fan of the band.
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After being elected Prime Minister, Carney was filmed wearing a Down With Webster sweater and throwing up their signature 'W'.
In the winter, the election was looking like an easy win for Pierre Poilievre's Conservative Party. But support for the Liberals rebounded amidst threats to Canada's sovereignty from south of the border, while Poilievre faced unfavourable comparisons to the American President, including in an open letter from 150+ Canadian musicians.
"His agenda echoes Donald Trump’s playbook: sowing division, empowering the wealthy, and weakening institutions that unite us," the letter stated, referencing Poilievre's anti-social justice rhetoric and targeting of the CBC.
Another thing the two have in common: artists asking them not to use their songs. While Neil Young has previously called out Trump for using "Rockin in the Free World" at rallies, in the Canadian election, Toronto new wave group Martha and the Muffins asked Poilievre to stop using their hit "Echo Beach."
Band member Mark Gane reportedly sent a cease and desist regarding the song's use earlier this year, and says he finds the continued use of the song at campaign events "disrespectful."
"We don’t want to be associated by our work in any shape or form with them,” he said on election day, per The Canadian Press.
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"‘Echo Beach’ remains a song about escapism, imagination, and personal expression -- not a soundtrack for partisan political campaigns,” the band added in a statement.
Down With Webster, though, have embraced Carney's fandom, previously congratulating him when he became Prime Minister in March. "Great campaign song choice," they added.
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