Rapping about CRA and crooning about the economy

Sometimes the best way to confront a difficult topic is to laugh at it — at least that’s what CBC satirical show This is That and CIBC economist Avery Shenfeld are trying to do. In two separate send ups of the financial world, they parody dry tax material and the loonie’s recent troubles.

Radio show This is That recently interviewed fake CRA spokesperson Bernard Wesley, who explains, “Often the information we’re trying to convey when we’re talking about the Canadian tax code can be dry and sterile and boring. What’s not dry and sterile and boring is rap.”

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In a bid to make taxes more accessible, Wesley hires fictional New York rapper Lil’ Nas T to come up with rhymes about tax carry-overs, T4 slips and more.

“I ain’t no president, this is for a non-resident,” raps Lil’ Nas T. For the full piece, click here.

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In what’s becoming a bit of a tradition at CIBC, economist Avery Shenfeld has released another Weird Al-style financial re-write of a popular song. Last year, he wrote lyrics about the Federal Reserve and OPEC meetings to the tune of Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5. This year, he’s set his words to the tune for Adele’s Hello:

Hello (Canada’s Call to U.S. Investors) Hello, it’s me I was wondering if after oh-fifteen you’d like to meet To go over, our economy They say the loonie’s supposed to heal it But it ain’t done much healing

Hello, can you hear me I’m in Fort McMurray dreaming about how it used to be When crude was boosting, the TSE I’ve forgotten how it felt before our stocks fell at our feet

There’s such a difference, between us Not yet a new Trump wall

Hello from the northern side We’re suffering from the resource slide We tell you, we’re sorry For everything that you’ve lost But ask you not to short us For what we’ve cost

Hello from the northern side Our central bank plans will collide As the Fed, in hiking, Is breaking your heart But Steve Poloz, he clearly Must set us apart, even more

Hello, how are you ‘Cause it’s typical of us to need a U.S. lift you see We hope that you’re well Can you ever make it up for elsewhere Where nothing ever happens

It’s no secret That our housing boom Is running out of time

So Hello from the northern side We’re counting on the loonie’s dive To sell you, our exports All of our planes and our trucks And hire our poor workers At cheaper bucks

Hello now it’s cold outside On this side of the great divide We tell you, there’s more to Oil and gas in our cart As we know now, we clearly Cannot rest on that part, anymore

Ooooh, anymore Ooooh, anymore Ooooh, anymore Anymore

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