I saw John Mayer perform at the outdoor Molson Amphitheatre on Monday night. I'm not embarrassed to say I've liked John Mayer for years, even when his live CD's are drowned out by screaming girls. I really liked the show and as I reported on Facebook...I really enjoyed his warm summer blues sounds. My wife just shared a review article that sums up the concert so well, I couldn't have said it better.
This week, we are celebrating Canada Day and Independence Day. And on this fourth of July, I am thinking of my friends and family south of the border and hoping they are enjoying their day. In celebration, I am sharing some lyrics about both countries.
Starting with Canada:
CA-NA-DA (One little two little three Canadians) We love thee (Now we are twenty million) CA-NA-DA (Four little five little six little Provinces) Proud and free (Now we are ten and the Territories sea to sea) (CA-NA-DA (or the Centennial Song)) I still have a 45 of this song (perhaps I shouldn't admit to this as it wasn't mine originally - probably my parents or older sister - they may claim it back)
Another summer day Has come and gone away In Paris and Rome But I wanna go home (Home by Michael Bublé)
The morning light steals across my windowpane Where webs of snow are driftin' If I could only have you near To breathe a sigh or two I would be happy just to hold the hands I love Upon this winter's night with you And to be once again with with you (Song for a winter's song by Gordon Lightfoot)
Un Canadien errant, Banni de ses foyers, Parcourait en pleurant Des pays étrangers. (translation: An errant ‘Canadien’ Banished from his homeland Weeping, he travels on Wandering through foreign lands (Un Canadien errant written in 1842 by Antoine Gérin-Lajoie after the Lower Canada Rebellion) (also recorded by Leonard Cohen in 1979)
There is a town in north Ontario, With dream comfort memory to spare, And in my mind I still need a place to go, All my changes were there. (Helpless by Neil Young - I know the k.d. Lang version)
Ain't no school bus (ain't no school bus) Ain't no streetcar (ain't no streetcar) Ain't no subway car (ain't no subway car) The Spadina bus (the Spadina bus) (Spadina Bus by The Shuffle Demons)
Coo roo coo coo coo coo coo coo... Take off to the great white north Its a beauty way to go Take off to the great white north (Take Off by Bob and Doug McKenzie)
or if you prefer
On the 6th day of Christmas my true love game to me 6 packs of 2-4 5 golden tuques 4 pounds of back bacon 3 french toasts 2 turtle necks and a beer in a tree
Everything's gone wrong Since Canada came along Blame Canada (Blame Canada as heard on South Park)
For my friends in the U.S.:
Some folks like to get away, take a holiday from the neighborhood Hop a flight to miami beach or hollywood. Im taking a greyhound on the hudson river line Im in a new york state of mind. (New York State of Mind by Billy Joel)
I want to wake up in a city that doesn't sleep (New York New York by Frank Sinatra)
Everybody's gone surfin' Surfin' USA
Philadelphia, Brotherly love. (Philadelphia by Neil Young)
There is a house in New Orleans They call the Rising Sun (the House of the Rising Sun by The Animals and by U2/Green Day - see below)
New birth...rebirth...Trombone Shorty Living like birds in the magnolia trees Child on the rooftop, mother on her knees Her sign reads Please!!! I am an American!!!! (The Saints Are Coming by U2 and Green Day as performed live at the New Orleans Saints game)
Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans and miss it each night and day
From the lakes of Minnesota, to the hills of Tennessee, across the plains of Texas, from sea to shining sea, From Detroit down to Houston and New York to LA, Well, there’s pride in every American heart, and it’s time to stand and say: I'm proud to be an American (God Bless the U.S.A. by Lee Greenwood)
America! America! God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea! (America the Beautiful)
Songs that have been used for both countries:
Mon pays ce n'est pas un pays, c'est l'hiver (my country is not a country, it is winter) Mon jardin ce n'est pas un jardin, c'est la plaine (my garden is not a garden, it's the plain) Mon chemin ce n'est pas un chemin, c'est la neige (my road is not a road, it is snow) Mon pays ce n'est pas un pays, c'est l'hiver (my country is not a country, it is winter) (Mon pays by Gilles Vigneault)
I'm a star in New York, I'm a star in L.A. In my life there's no place for the man that I love 'Cause I'm livin' my life just to sing and be free From L.A. to New York, from New York to L.A. (From New York to L.A. performed by Patsy Gallant to the tune of Mon Pays)
Don't want to be an American idiot. One nation controlled by the media. Information age of hysteria. It's calling out to idiot America. (American Idiot by Green Day)
Don't wanna be a Canadian idiot Don't wanna be some beer swillin' hockey nut And do I look like some frostbitten hose-head? I never learned my alphabet from A to Zed (Canadian Idiot by Weird Al Yankovic)
This land is your land, this land is my land From California to the New York Island From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters This land was made for you and me. (This Land Is Your Land by Woody Guthrie)
This land is your land, this land is my land From Banavista, to Vancouver Island From the Arctic Circle to the Great Lakes waters, This land was made for you and me. (recorded by The Travellers in 1955)
And to finish off, back to classic Canadian songs:
Hello out there we're on the air it's hockey night tonite Tension grows the whistle blows-& the puck goes down the ice. The goalie jumps and the players bump and the fans all go insane Someone roars "Bobby scores!" at the good ole hockey game (The Hockey Song by Stompin Tom Connors)
I just found these last night (NOW and HMV sources) and downloaded 2-4 tracks per artist, so repeat airplay hasn't pushed them all right --> to the PJMixer Hot Music List yet.
The one trick I use when exploring a new artist is to use iTunes to see which tracks are the most popular - it's usually a good starting point.
While out with friends the other night we got talking about favourite songs. Specifically what is your favourite song of all time?
This seems like an easy answer at first, but the closer I get to an answer, the harder I think it is. My all-time top 10 or top 100 I could answer more easily. There would be some songs for happy times and sad times. Songs I love for the melody, others for the lyrics. Some songs that speak to me or put a smile on my face. Songs that bring me back to a specific place, time or people.
So to pick just one song from all the songs that I love? I'm going to take some time with this one and report back next week.
So for now, I will share more of my favourite lyrics. Lyrics about dreaming always speak to me...as I am a dreamer and my friends tell me I live in a rose-coloured world. Even back in high school, my entry in my yearbook was: "Usually Found... daydreaming". I haven't changed much.
You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one I hope some day you'll join us and the world will be as one. (Imagine by John Lennon)
J'rêve les yeux ouverts Ça m'fait du bien (Les Yeux Ouverts by Beautiful South from French Kiss soundtrack)
and the English version of the song: Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you. But in your dreams whatever they be, dream a little dream of me.
I am a dreamer but when I wake You can't break my spirit -- it's my dreams you take (Goodbye My Lover by James Blunt)
I used to be a dreamer Couldn't fall asleep Trying to find an answer A reason to believe (Live by Ben's Brother)
I want to change the world...instead I sleep. (Keep Breathing by Ingrid Michaelson)
Got my dreams, got my life, got my love Got my friends, got the sunshine above (Happy by Natasha Bedingfield)
And while I can think, while I can talk While I can stand, while I can walk While I can dream, please let my dream Come true, right now. (If I Can Dream by Elvis Presley)
In honour of my wedding anniversary this weekend, I thought I would share some of my favourite lyrics about love (not that our anniversary or love are frivolous but sharing favourite lyrics may become a regular fun thing for me to do).
With all your faults, I love you still (It Had To Be You by Harry Connick Jr.)
When the chips are down I'll be around With my undying, death-defying Love for you (Power of Love by Frankie Goes to Hollywood)
I hope all my days Will be lit by your face I hope all the years Will hold tight our promises (Atlantic by Keane)
There will be no white flag above my door I'm in love and always will be (White Flag by Dido)
I want somebody who cares For me passionately With every thought and With every breath (Somebody by Depeche Mode)
I love you more than I could ever promise and you take me the way I am (The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson)
Love is the answer for most of the questions of my heart (Better Together by Jack Johnson)
it's the heart that really matters in the end (Little Wonders by Rob Thomas)
So put your arms around me and then stay there forever Let it always be this way, you and me forever (Put your arms around me by Natasha Bedingfield)
Hope you enjoyed and have a wonderful Victoria Day weekend.
I finally got around to adding a new playlist on finetune, hope you like it - Latest rotation of tracks just in time for spring 2008. All over the map with a few old surprises, but common thread comes back to giving you something to move to. To access all my playlists go here.
