In the early 1980s, a new kind of pop band emerged from Toronto, characterized by an infectious sound, a radical purpose, and a message that would resonate through generations. The Parachute Club wasn’t just a band: it was a movement, and their debut single “Rise Up” became an enduring anthem for social justice and queer liberation.
Parachute Club’s “Rise Up” wasn’t born in a vacuum. The seven-member band, fronted by four women, was under pressure to finish their debut album when they approached poet and activist Lynne Fernie for help with lyrics. Band member Lorraine Segato, a singer and guitarist from Hamilton, Ontario, added her own lines, while drummer Billy Bryans, keyboardist Lauri Conger, and bassist Steve Webster composed the music. The result was a track unlike anything else on Canadian radio: a politically-charged, rhythmically hypnotic fusion of reggae and soca.
Before it ever hit the charts, “Rise Up” debuted at a 1983 Toronto Pride event at the University of Toronto, where hundreds of queer and allied fans rallied around its powerful lyrics: “We want freedom to love who we please.” In Segato’s words, “The impetus for Rise Up’s success first came from our grassroots gay, lesbian and feminist community, who were the first to hear and awaken to our call for equality.”
Set against the backdrop of global tension – Cruise missiles, arms control, and international conflict – the song’s lyrics called for peace and power: “Talkin’ ’bout the right time to be workin’ for peace / Wantin’ all the tension in the world to ease.” But it wasn’t just about politics; it was personal. The track’s fusion of dance-floor euphoria with radical demands for justice was something rare and urgent.
As Segato explained in a later interview, “We were trying to break new ground in whatever we could—politics and music. We were four women, three men, and we wanted to show that women could be players, in music and the world. And we wanted to show that politics could be danceable, too.”
When “Rise Up” was written and performed at Toronto Pride in 1983, LGBTQ+ rights in Canada were still in a precarious and limited state. Although homosexuality had been decriminalized in 1969, discrimination remained widespread. Members of the LGBTQ+ community had limited protections and were often subjected to discrimination in employment, housing, and public life. Same-sex relationships had no legal recognition, and marriage equality was decades away.
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms had just come into force in 1982, promising equal protection under the law, but sexual orientation wasn’t explicitly listed as a protected ground. It wouldn’t be until 1995 that the Supreme Court of Canada confirmed that discrimination based on sexual orientation was a violation of the Charter.
In this context, “Rise Up” was not just a catchy dance track: it was a bold political statement.
Produced by Daniel Lanois in Hamilton, “Rise Up” quickly became a national sensation. It appeared on RPM’s Top Singles chart, peaking at No. 9, and reached No. 26 on Billboard’s dance music chart. The accompanying music video earned a JUNO nomination and was later named one of the best music videos shot in Toronto by Toronto Life.
By December 1983, Parachute Club’s self-titled debut album had gone gold. The band won the 1984 JUNO for Most Promising Group of the Year, and “Rise Up” took home Single of the Year, beating out major stars like Bryan Adams and Corey Hart.
In the decades since, “Rise Up” has proven remarkably durable. It was remixed for multiple Parachute Club albums and turned into extended dance mixes. It was covered by The Nylons and sampled by Retrocity. In 2005, CBC named it one of the top 50 Canadian tracks.
The song has been heard in films like Sarah Polley’s Take This Waltz, television documentaries, and even political events. Segato performed it at the wedding of Jack Layton and Olivia Chow and again at Layton’s 2011 state funeral.
In 2018, a collective of Canadian country stars recorded “Rise Up Redux” to mark its 35th anniversary.
Parachute Club disbanded in 1988, but the legacy of “Rise Up” endures. Members like Segato and Fernie went on to make films, while others continued working as musicians and producers.
Whether blasting from Pride floats, state ceremonies, or dance floors, the song’s defiant optimism feels as relevant today as it did over four decades ago.
