Harperman, a Protest Song

Welcome to the famous Harperman video, a protest song that helped defeat the Conservative government of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in the October 19 Canadian election. Canadians across the country enjoyed the high from getting together and singing for political change in the Harperman sing-alongs held during September and October. They were a fun and festive way to celebrate and at the same time protest the Conservative government.


This video was recorded in a live session on 12 June 2015 and features Tony Turner on guitar and lead vocal, with Ann Downey on upright bass. Tony got his inspiration from an article in a social justice newsletter and added to the list to create a toe-tapping participation song of protest.

Thanks to impressario and project manager Chris White for organizing this impromptu choir, the Crowd of Well Wishers, on short notice.

[Toolittletodo]

My favourite line was about Harper not caring about climate exchange until he can buy it on the stock exchange. Great job. What a fun, forthright, lively group! Thanks for showing your faces and joining your voices in "joyful protest" as you have so powerfully named it!

[robertreid]

Seeing Tony Turner suspended from work and investigated by the government for performing this song is a great indictment against the Harper government - even better than the song itself.

[robertclipperton]

Tony Turner, a scientist in habitat planning at Environment Canada, was recently sent home on leave with pay while the government investigates the making of Harperman, a music video posted on YouTube in June that has about 48, 000 hits.

[AndrewHallProductionsOttawa]

Hello everyone. With over 700 thousands views of this video and well over a million of the version posted on Facebook by the Globe and Mail, the Harperman song is a genuine social media phenomenon. Certainly, the main reason why Harperman has been such a success was the publicity from songwriter Tony Turner's suspension from the federal public service. This story broke in the national media on August 28.

In addition, the Harperman song and video is about optimism, about joyful protest, about looking forward to the federal election and the chance to send Harperman on his way. Look at the video - the singers are smiling, dancing about and having fun. The feeling tone is upbeat and positive. This is crucially important because it attracted people, unlike most anti-Harper criticism which comes across as dour and negative. The Harperman song is only one of many, many anti-Harper songs that have been widely shared, but the most effective have been videos like this one, that use humour and ridicule effectively.

More information about Tony Turner and the Harperman Song Project can be found at the website, harperman.ca. Tony resigned and took an early pension on October 2 so he could openly campaign in the federal election. He deeply believed that Canadians deserve a better government, one that doesn't promote pessimism and fear, but encourages hope and optimism, and sets an example to the rest of the world.

For more information, check the harperman.ca website.

[AndrewHallProductionsOttawa]

It wasn't the election of the new Liberal government in October 2015, more that Canadians decided to defeat the Harper Conservatives, and quite decisively. Our fellow Canadians actually did it, folks, they threw out the Harperman government. How neat is that! And Tony Turner's wonderful song of protest, Harperman, had some part in championing the anti-Harper cause. Well done, everyone. Thank you to all who were part of the Harperman crusade across our great country, a volunteer effort that has enriched Canada.

Everyone who participated in the Harperman sing-alongs has remarked on and enjoyed the high from getting together and singing for political change. The sing-alongs were a fun and festive way to celebrate and give voice to our dissatisfaction and qualms with the legacy of the Harper government, a government who in the past few weeks of the election campaign showed a racist, fascist face that was truly unCanadian, unbelievably divisive and mean-spirited.

Time to celebrate and get ready to start rebuilding our Canada. Time to put into practice the optimism and joyful protest that the best songs of protest like Harperman help give our voice to.
Time to take on the corporate agenda that somehow thinks impoverishing the middle-class is the way forward, that thinks the neglect and slow starvation of public medicare and the public education system is inevitable and necessary.

There is much to do in the days and years ahead to take back the Canada we thought we lived in and breath life back into it. There will be more and different sing-alongs in this journey ahead of us. And at least now we can leave Harperman behind us.

[silverautojesse]

This song should become Canada's greatest hit!

[LeaAnnM]

Mr. Turner, you and your fine band of Canadians make me proud to be Canadian!

[lisahurst-archer]

Thanks so much Tony Turner for risking your job to be able to stand up and sing! I just returned from a Green Party gathering in Victoria. What an event: First Nations singing and drumming, Missing Women acknowledged with a moment of silence, the crowd singing along with Danton Jay and Heather Lynn to songs from their new album Decades after Paris (check it out), UVic Greens' inspiring talk, Elizabeth May's rousing speech, all the Green candidates of Vancouver Island gathered and topped off by Tony Turner singing Harper Man. A peaceful, respectful, inclusive, and energizing gathering of Canadians. Makes me proud!

[mikesadava]

Love it, Tony. It's a hit with two-thirds of the Canadian population. Pass it along and share

[Lavabingo]

Thank you Tony Turner and the Gang. Best Protest Song Ever! It inspired me and millions of others to WAKE UP, pay attention, and spread the word that Harperman Has Got to Go. Thanks to you, the Polls have turned for change. VOTE VOTE VOTE. Only 2 more days to go and we are hoping for a Majority but even a Minority will do. Tony you are our hero and the bravest man in Canada. You took on Harperman all by yourself and risked your job. Only in Harperland could a person be forced into retirement for singing a song. Tony you deserve the Cross of Valour and the Order of Canada.

[sepeedehshahabadi]

This is the official song of Haper's Goodbye Party!!! Absolute GENIUS!!

[pemachozom]

This song is amazing, the ultimate protest song. This has to go viral, we have to share, share, share this everywhere. Great song. No one should face employment insecurity for protesting the government.

[kevinsloan]

Tony Turner, Thank you for writing a GREAT tune, Thank you for posting this Great tune .
You are my HERO ! Most Canadians will LOVE this song .
Total R-e-s-p-e-c-t for you and what you have created, a rallying cry to oust that lying control FREAK .
Reminds me of the protest songs of the '60's .
GREAT song Tony .

[harderindian]

We support you and your efforts to bring forth truth. Woliwon for your song and the hope for change it radiates whenever I hear it.

[crewby]

Strategic voting is the only way to go. Vote for the one who will win your riding. Avoid vote splitting.

[beingbernard]

i've never been prouder to be a canadian. thankyou for this most excellent song, sentiment and presentation...great work folks...

[terrymatheson]

And now we hear that Tony Turner has been suspended--SUSPENDED!!--for singing a song critical of Harper. What's next for our beleaguered "democracy"?

[Jeff-vhzz]

I can't help but smile whenever I watch this. You all look like you were having such a great time God bless you. May we be free soon!

[Dycehart]

This is the most reasonable protest song I've ever heard.

[NeauraNightsong]

This is quite possibly the best thing ever.