Canadian Playlist

As it's Thanksgiving Monday, I thought I'd do something other than a Confectionery post this week.  Instead, I'm sharing a CanCon playlist...that's Canadian Content, to non-Canucks.  So I'm sharing some of my favourite Canadian artists - some I'm sure you've heard of, but there are also genuine hidden treasures here.

SLOAN

One day after school, the Coax Me video came on MuchMusic & I was hooked.  4 guys from Halifax, looking & sounding like they had traveled to 1994 from an earlier time.  I don't think I can choose just one song from any of these artists, so I'm going with 2.  For Sloan, I give you the Coax Me video, & their most recent, Unkind.  Sloan is currently on a Twice Removed tour, playing that iconic album front-to-back, & I CANNOT WAIT.

CITY & COLOUR

City & Colour is the stage name that Dallas Green started using when he performed his solo material, which was much more mellow than his work with Alexisonfire (also great, although screaming is not my thing):

City & Colour is the perfect music for relaxing - it's soothing & intense at the same time.  Here are Save Your Scissors, from Sometimes, & a live version of Fragile Bird, which is incredible.

SARAH HARMER

I want to listen to Sarah Harmer when I'm driving, when I'm cooking, when I'm working...she's pretty great.  Here are Pendulums & Silver Road from All of Our Names.

THE TRAGICALLY HIP

While I've never been a Hip superfan, you really can't get more Canadian than a band with a lead singer named Gord.  They are great at what they do, & I know I'm in the minority, so I'm sharing my favourite Hip song, Bobcaygeon, & their most popular, New Orleans is Sinking.  I will say that the one time I saw The Hip live, it was really impressive, hence the live version.

SARAH SLEAN

I discovered Sarah Slean with the kind of happy accident that Napster sometimes provided - My Invitation was incorrectly labelled as a Sarah Harmer song.  I fell in love with Sarah's voice & waited impatiently for Night Bugs to be released & have bought every album & seen every local show since.  The first song is Pilgrim, because who doesn't love a haunting song with the first line "A little blood & vomit on the car seat, & a tooth is sitting in my lap"?  The second is a gorgeous piece featuring an orchestra, The Cosmic Ballet.

ROYAL WOOD

I first saw Royal Wood live, when he opened for Sarah Slean at the Danforth Music Hall.  He sat down at a piano & did a jazzy version of the Oompa Loompa song & it was amazing.

The first real Royal song is Juliet - one of the most beautiful videos I've ever seen, to match an equally beautiful song, from A Good Enough Day.  I wish there was an official video or a good quality live version of the second song, because it is my favourite from The Waiting, Birds on a Sunday.  Just gorgeous.

BARENAKED LADIES

Originally dismissed as a novelty band with their If I Had ($1,000,000) hit, BNL has always been an extremely underrated band.  Ed began writing my favourite BNL song Am I The Only One? (from Maybe You Should Drive) for his future wife, but after his brother passed away in a motorcycle accident, the song was changed for him.  Heart-wrenching, & I love this intimate version. The second song is their cover of Bruce Cockburn's Lovers in a Dangerous Time, with the video taking us through Scarborough in the early 90s.

MOXY FRUVOUS

Another band considered gimmicky, Moxy Fruvous was a favourite amongst my friends.  Harmonies, songs about war & Canadian politics & authors.  Love them.   Here are Stuck in the 90s & King of Spain, both from Bargainville.

COLIN JAMES

Both his rock/pop work & his Big Band work are worth checking out., but Colin James made a name for himself with the blues.  Here are 2 of my favourites, Just Came Back & Limelight. 

GREAT BIG SEA

Being of Newfoundland heritage, I can't possibly compile a CanCon playlist without Great Big Sea.  You would think that a band playing a mix of original & traditional Newfoundland folk songs shouldn't be so popular, but you've probably never seen them live.  It is true pub music, so pour yourself a beer & sing along to Mari-Mac, & Lukey from Up...& just because, a bonus video of their kick-ass, super-speed version of R.E.M.'s It's The End of The World As We Know It (& I Feel Fine).

BLUE RODEO

So Canadian.  So good.  I think I would believe anything Jim Cuddy told me, he's so genuine.  Here are 2 of my favourites, 5 Days in May & Bad Timing, both from the brilliant Five Days in July.

RUSH

Subdivisions & Limelight.  That is all.

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The Confectionery - 9

These are the things that I think are great.  So great that I want to sing about them.

PLAY ME, I'M YOURS / ANDREW MITCHELL

Recently, 41 vibrant pianos appeared all over Toronto as part of the Play Me, I'm Yours event.  An art installation encouraging the participation of the community, it is a kick-off to the 3 year countdown to the 2015 Pan Am Games, to be held in Toronto.  The pianos were designed by artists from each of the participating countries; they are beautiful.

Nicaragua

Costa Rica

Now, some people might simply appreciate the artistry of each design.  Some may take a seat & play a little something if there's nobody around.  Some might take the opportunity to share their talent & entertain.  But that's not quite enough fun for my friend, Andrew.  Andrew Mitchell played & sang Gavin DeGraw's "Not Over You" on 10 different pianos around the city, then edited the filmed performances together.  In 2 minutes, visit Guatemala, Brazil, Suriname, Aruba, Cuba, Canada, The Bahamas, Haiti, Jamaica & Honduras, courtesy of Andrew!

I roll with talented people, what can I say?  

To learn more about Play Me, I'm Yours & if it's headed to your city next, go here.  To see some great photos of the pianos featured in Toronto, go here.  To learn more about Andrew Mitchell, I will tell you he's awesome, & the only thing that could have made this video MORE awesome is if he had been wearing his rebel/Che Guevara costume from a production we were both in.  I suppose Che singing "Not Over You" at the Cuban piano would have been disturbing, so...good call on the casual look, Andrew.

SCARY SMASH

Written By a Kid is a new series by Geek & Sundry that transforms a story told by a child into a short film.  It's live-action, animated, stop-motion, & FUN.  I love this first installment, starring Joss Whedon as the leader of the "S.Q.U.A.T. Team".  I'm sure the kid was thinking of S.W.A.T., but this is MUCH funnier.  Hilarious & creative & bonus Kids In The Hall cast member & love love love.

Check out other videos (costumes, casting & a "making of") here.

MR. WIZARD'S A DICK

Watch this compilation of times Mr. Wizard is snarky towards the children on his show.  It is amazing.

Ashley is my favourite.

"RUSH AS FOOD" MEAL

Matt Kantor is a Rush fan who happens to be a chef.  Combining the 2, he recently prepared a 9 course meal inspired by Rush.  From the National Post article by Mike Doherty:

"Kantor’s amuse-bouche was something of a (dry) ice-breaker: a white blob plucked out of a cauldron of liquid nitrogen, to be consumed whole; the freezing substance quickly dissolving into a film of lime-flavoured meringue. The dish was named after the song Limelight, not only because of its ingredients, but also because eating it was a performance — everyone was eager to see the smoke coming out of their fellow diners’ noses."

"The song Red Barchetta, about a joyride in the future when cars have been outlawed, became a deconstructed red bruschetta where a tomato, shiny like a polished racecar, seemed to have burned black-olive rubber through a “dirt road” of breadcrumbs."

To read more details of this very creative meal, like the complex "La Villa Strangiato" dish, read the full article here.

THE MINI-GOLF OPEN

Improv Everywhere is a comedy troupe that began with a Ben Folds Fake prank that I had read about several years ago.  They haven't stopped creating scenes since then - their website boasts of over 100 missions involving tens of thousands of people in on the joke, or "undercover agents".  Their latest scene transformed a family miniature golf outing into a major sports event - complete with fake ESPN coverage, caddies, a gallery, & the actual Claret Cup, just hoisted by the winner of this weekend's British Open, Ernie Els.  The commentary is hilarious: "Max, of course, sponsored by Star Wars", & I love that the champion is greeted by a fake family.  Well done.

Watch more scenes created by Improv Everywhere here.

LABYRINTH ONESIE

I saw this shirt at thinkgeek about 9 months ago & immediately had to order it for my niece, who was yet to be born.  Labyrinth was on a steady rotation when my brother & I were young, so his baby had to have this.

What power?

You're reading this blog, so I assume you get the reference, but I see no need to NOT post this awesome clip full of awesomeness so you can have yourself a dance party.

Clearly, I am the nerdiest of Lily's 2 Aunts, as her Aunt Lindsay writes a wonderful blog about normal adult things like home renovating.  The onesie is also available as a women's shirt, & you can buy them both here.  Look how cute it looks on Lily! 

She's working on her Goblin King hair.

So far, I've resisted the urge to toss her 20 feet into the air & wait for a Muppet to catch her.  So far.

Those were my favourite internet sweets of the past week.  Come back next week for more goodies!

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