Category: music

History of the Canadian National Anthem

On By Rick McIn government, musicLeave a comment

Originally, the current Canadian National anthem was composed in French, celebrating Quebec.

The lyrics are totally … separate and distinct … in the 2 official languages.

“O Canada” (French: Ô Canada) is the national anthem of Canada. The song was originally commissioned by Lieutenant Governor of Quebec Théodore Robitaille for the 1880 Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day ceremony; Calixa Lavallée composed the music, after which French-language words were written by the poet and judge Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier.

The original French lyrics were translated to English in 1906.  Multiple English versions ensued, with Robert Stanley Weir‘s 1908 version (which was not a translation of the French lyrics) gaining the most popularity; the Weir lyrics eventually served as the basis for the official lyrics enacted by Parliament.  Weir’s English-language lyrics have been revised three times, most recently when An Act to amend the National Anthem Act (gender) was enacted in 2018. 

The French lyrics remain unaltered.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

‘Gens du pays’, written by Gilles Vigneault and Gaston Rochon for the 1975 St-Jean-Baptiste celebrations on Mount Royal, Montreal is almost a national anthem in Quebec.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

All Too Well by Taylor Swift

On By Rick McIn musicLeave a comment

Brilliant poetry.

“Rolling Stone” contributing editor Rob Sheffield wrote the book:

“Heartbreak Is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music“

He feels this is Taylor’s finest song.

“All Too Well” is a song by Taylor Swift and Liz Rose.

A 10 minute song LIVE in concert? Fans love it.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Years later, Taylor directed this short film set to the song. It won the Grammy Award for Best Music Video.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Gumption by Nick Offerman

On By Rick McIn books, ethics, government, human rights, humour, music, philosophyLeave a comment

Nick Offerman has released four semi-autobiographical publications:

  • Paddle Your Own Canoe: One Man’s Fundamentals for Delicious Living (2013)
  • Gumption: Relighting the Torch of Freedom with America’s Gutsiest Troublemakers (2015)
  • Good Clean Fun: Misadventures in Sawdust at Offerman Woodshop (2016)
  • Where the Deer and the Antelope Play: The Pastoral Observations of One Ignorant American Who Loves to Walk Outside (2021).

Gumption is a humorous, philosophical look at some of the people who have inspired Nick over his lifetime. For example, as a young man he was a huge fan of the film Billy Jack (1971) — and its creator / star Tom Laughlin. He attended Tom’s funeral in 2013 and spent time with the family.

While focused on personal heroes, Nick finds time to expound upon many of his favorite topics such as religion, politics, woodworking, agriculture, creativity, philosophy, fashion, and, of course, meat.

21 profiles of America’s gutsiest troublemakers

  1. George Washington
  2. Benjamin Franklin
  3. James Madison
  4. Frederick Douglass
  1. Theodore Roosevelt
  2. Frederick Law Olmsted
  3. Eleanor Roosevelt
  4. Tom Laughlin
  5. Wendell Berry
  6. Barney Frank
  7. Yoko Ono
  8. Michael Pollan
  1. Thomas Lie-Nielsen
  2. Nat Benjamin
  3. George Nakashima
  4. Carol Burnett
  5. Jeff Tweedy
  6. George Saunders
  7. Laurie Anderson
  8. Willie Nelson
  9. Conan O’Brien

Remembering John Lennon – Oct. 9th

On By Rick McIn ethics, government, human rights, musicLeave a comment

I often wonder what John Lennon would be saying and doing today if he hadn’t been murdered.

His main theme at the end was …

PEACE

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Born Oct. 9, 1940, he’s celebrated annually with the lighting of the Imagine Peace Tower in Iceland.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The words on the tower are written in 24 world languages:

English: IMAGINE PEACESwahili: TUFIKIRIENI AMANI
Japanese: 平和な世界を想像してごらんIcelandic: HUGSA SÉR FRIÐ
Korean: 평화를 꿈꾸자Turkish: BARIŞI DÜŞLE
Chinese: 想像世界有了和平Persian: به صلح بیندیش
Arabic: احلم سلامFilipino: ILARAWAN ANG MUNDONG MAPAYAPA
Portuguese: IMAGINE A PAZTamil: சமாதானத்தை நினையுங்கள்
‹See Tfd›Russian: ПРЕДСТАВЬТЕ СЕБЕ МИРHungarian: KÉPZELD EL A BÉKÉT
Hindi: शान्ति की कल्पना करेंFinnish: KUVITTELE RAUHA
‹See Tfd›German: STELL DIR VOR ES IST FRIEDENGeorgian: წარმოიდგინეთ მშვიდობა
Italian: IMMAGINA LA PACEStandard Tibetan: ཞི་བ་སྒོམས་
French: IMAGINEZ LA PAIXHebrew: חלום שלום
Spanish: IMAGINA LA PAZInuktitut: ᓴᐃᒪᖃᑎᒌᑦᑕ

related – Pentatonic covers John Lennon’s Imagine

Jungle – Let’s Go Back

On By Rick McIn Art and beauty, musicLeave a comment

Jungle is a British band closely associated with a dance troupe. Some of their videos, including this one, are one shot. Very cool.

Choreography by Shay Latukolan

Will West is the lead dancer.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Portugal. The Man – Feel It Still

On By Rick McIn Art and beauty, musicLeave a comment

Catchy tune.

But I post here for the brilliant choreography by Emma Scherer using that song.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

It’s a reimagining of Bob Fosse’s choreography from the Rich Man’s Frug in the musical Sweet Charity (1969).

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Click PLAY or watch the original video by Portugal. on YouTube.

Fred again.. – Dermot (See Yourself In My Eyes)

On By Rick McIn music, videoLeave a comment

One of the most original music videos I’ve seen the past few years.

Fred Again works on the song while his friends enjoy a Guinness drinking party all around him. 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Fred again.. feat. The Blessed Madonna – Marea (We’ve Lost Dancing)

On By Rick McIn music, philosophyLeave a comment

We all want to forget about the pandemic.

But it’s worth looking back. And being thankful about what we have now.

Thankful.

DJ “The Blessed Madonna” during the pandemic 2021. Spoken over a dance track by Fred Again.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

At age-16, Fred Again started with Brian Eno.

An English record producer, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and DJ.

He frequently collaborates with other artists.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

This guy is super admired by musicians. Talented. And HARD WORKING.

Ed Sheeran loves him.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.