Toronto

Murray McLauchlan was one of the first of the inner-city folk poets to hit the scene with gruff tales of living on the street, including the Toronto classics "Down By the Henry Moore" (about Henry Moore's "Archer" sculpture at Toronto City Hall) and "Hard Rock Town." McLauchlan's True North Records labelmate Bruce Cockburn weighs in with "The Coldest Night of the Year." And we'll leave it to Crash Test Dummies lead singer Brad Roberts to have the last (explicit) word with "Torontonians, Pros and Cons."

Our tour of Toronto neighbourhoods starts at "The Rivoli," the showcase club at the heart of Queen Street. It's a short walk to "King Street," and past the CN Tower to the waterfront and "Lake Ontario Twilight." The corner of "Cecil and Spadina" is up the street from the Art Gallery of Ontario. Turn left on College St., and you're on your way to the bustle of the city's "Little Italy." The journey ends on "Parliament St." in funky Cabbagetown.

Jian Ghomeshi is the host of CBC Radio's The National Playlist, but he's also a vocalist with art-pranksters Moxy Fruvous — they of "King of Spain," about a deposed monarch now slinging pizza in Toronto. Kensington Market ("Kensington") has fresh produce, lots of bargains, and is a fashionista's dream: heaps of vintage and cutting-edge clothes. Show off your fancy new duds at a swanky society ball up at Casa Loma ("Casa Loma Stomp") and jitterbug the night away.

Like New York, Paris, and London, Toronto works hard and parties hard — an ethic instilled by an underlying commitment to business ("Conducting Thangs," according to Maestro). It's a city in constant motion, its denizens aware that any cultural breakthrough here will reverberate (for good or bad) across the country. Ultimately, the city's multicultural swagger has reinvigorated Canada's music scene and spawned a new wave of indie activity. From the pop of the Barenaked Ladies (celebrating the Jane/St. Clair intersection in "Jane") to the inner-city realities of Jelleestone, we give you a portrait of Toronto in song.