stunners-aff: Canadian influence

Showing posts with label Canadian influence. Show all posts

(9) Canadian 60s Leonard Cohen Bird On A Wire

Thursday, August 20, 2009

"For four decades, Leonard Cohen has been one of the most important and influential songwriters of our time, a figure whose body of work achieves greater depths of mystery and meaning as time goes on.

His songs have set a virtually unmatched standard in their seriousness and range. Sex, spirituality, religion, power – he has relentlessly examined the largest issues in human lives, always with a full appreciation of how elusive answers can be to the vexing questions he raises. " From: http://www.leonardcohen.com/bio.html

Bird on the Wire is one of Leonard Cohen's signature songs. It was recorded on 26 September, 1968 in Nashville and included on his 1969 album Songs From A Room. Listen to it sung by Aaron Neville, one of the Neville Brothers.

Conclusion:

The names of pop singers and musicians below may not necessarily be from the 60s music genre but they are a personal list of about 400 taken from Wikipedia:

Paul Anka, Michael Buble, Leonard Cohen, Celine Dion, Nelly Furtado, Corey Hart, K.D. Lang, Gordon Lightfoot, Luba, Sarah McLachlan, Joni Mitchell, Alanis Morissette, Anne Murray, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Shania Twain, Neil Young.

This is the 9th and final posting in the series under Canadian pops. The reader is invited to make comments.

Reference: (1) Leonard Cohen Website (2) Wikipedia.

Image: http://www.whatwouldhenryrollinsdo.wordpress.com/

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Canadian influence, PaulAnka/PatBoone, Singapore 60s Music, Top Tunes 50s, U.S. invasion, Venues, vinyl records

(8) Canadian Pop Music Influence: Paul Anka Child Prodigy Diana, Crazy Love, My Hometown, Lonely Boy, My Heart Sings. Eso Beso, My Way

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Paul Anka, of Lebanese descent, was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada in 1941. Known for his song, Diana, many pop enthusiasts are not aware that it is not his first recording. Another song, I Confess, was written when this child prodigy was only 14.

When ABC record producer, Don Costa signed him on with his second composition, it sold 10 million copies worldwide. Dedicated to his baby-sitter, (I'm so young and you're so old...), Diana became synonymous with Anka.

By 1961, when Singapore pop was in its infancy, Paul Anka had already composed and recorded 125 songs with many of them in the top pop charts. He moved into movies with Let's Rock and Girls Town. The latter film spawned his biggest American hit, Lonely Boy.

He wrote for movie/TV themes and for many famous artistes in his time. My Way, one of his greatest hits, has been covered by Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Babra Striesand, Julio Iglesias, Gypsy Kings, Bon Jovi and Robbie Williams. Below is a list of some of the songs he wrote:

(1) Buddy Holly: It Doesn't Matter Anymore,

(2) Donny Osmond: Puppy Love (girlfriend Annette Funicello),

(3) Connie Francis: Teddy,
(4) Frank Sinatra: My Way (Comme d'Habitude/french song),
(5) Tom Jones: She's A Lady,
(6) Johnny Carson's: The Tonight Show Theme Song,
(7) Movie: *Girls' Town with, Lonely Boy,
(8) Movie: The Longest Day Theme Song.

Paul Anka is still singing today and his favourite haunt is Las Vegas. He performed at the Kallang Indoor Stadium on September, 22nd, 2008 in Singapore.

*This movie was promoted with a Singapore's Paul Anka Competition at the Rex Cinema in 1959. Check the third posting on December 6th, 2008, on this blog.
Reference/image: http://www.rocky.52.net/
Original article: Andy Lim

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Canadian influence, Headlines Today, Santana, Singapore 60s Music, U.S. invasion, Venues, Woodstock

Woodstock - Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez, Ravi Shankar, Santana, CCR, Joe Cocker, The Who

Monday, August 17, 2009

How awesome! While writing about Joni Mitchell and Neil Young, the song Woodstock, which was written after the festival, came to mind. It was 40 years ago to the day that this unique but controversial event took place.

The Woodstock Music & Art Fair (image) or just Woodstock was held at Max Yasgur's dairy farm in the town of Bethel, New York from August 15 to August 18, 1969. It is in Sullivan/Ulster County.

There were supposedly thirty-two acts performing outdoors in front of nearly 500,000 concert-goers. The Woodstock rock festival was a phenomenon and was one of the major milestones in popular music; it was a moment that changed the history of rock and roll. It also brought the 'flower people' together.

Among the artistes appearing, were Joan Baez, Ravi Shankar, Santana, CCR, Janis Joplin, The Who, Joe Cocker, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Sha-Na-Na and the great Jimi Hendrix.

In Singapore in 1969, pop 60s enthusiasts could just read about the event in the newspapers, on radio and TV news. Although the festival became a symbol for peace, love and good music, it was also a place where drugs were consumed all around. Were there fond memories of this event? Was it a co-incidence then that Singapore 60s music began its decline in the early 70s?

"Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair..."

Reference: Wikipedia

Image: Wikipedia.

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