A weekend (and a year) of celebrations across Canada….150 years young…..but is it really?
Oh how I love history! An item on my “to do” list before I pop my clogs is to work towards, and obtain, my BA Mediaeval History. Cambridge University is where I’d love to be (I do love England) but University of St. Michaels College here in Toronto is also an excellent choice and know for their studies in Mediaval history. The bucket list is not long, just really big projects.
Again I seem to running in circles while Mother Nature seems to suffer from severe indecisiveness. Dark, ominous clouds roll in, thunder and lightning key up together, sheet rain hits, cue hail and the next thing you know the sun is shining. It’s warm, it’s cool, it’s hot, it’s chilly….make up your mind. I’m not sure if I should be dressing in sandals, sneakers or boots. One thing is for sure, the plants and trees are loving it! So many rich and varied shades of green have been added to the landscape palette and the flowers just enhance it all. For all her varied moods, Mother Nature has created a most beautiful spring. Now, if the weeks would just slow down a bit….
I will start by paying tribute to two remarkable artists. First a true Canadian icon and our poet laureate (in our hearts) Leonard Cohen on Monday, November 7 although the notice of death was not released until the day he was buried. Today (Sunday, Nov. 13), the news informs us of the passing of the unforgettable Leon Russell. Two legends (if I may use that term) in our lifetime that have shared a piece of themselves with all of us. Their minds and their hearts live on in the music and lyrics of our lives.
We just passed another Beatle milestone on October 9th. It would have been John Lennon’s 75th birthday (and as many pointed out in Socialmedialand, his son Sean’s 40th). The world continues the nostalgic hypothesizing and speculating as to the what ifs had Lennon lived.
Before I begin my review, I have to say that I have the utmost respect for anybody who sits down (or stands up for that matter) to write a book…whether fiction or non-fiction. The amount of time and effort in research and the blood, sweat and tears that it takes to actually write it, can be monumental. Having contributed to over a dozen books, I know that it takes true dedication and can’t be undertaken lightly. Writing a book can (and often does) take over your life.
Last week’s ramble down Toronto’s musical memory lane seems to have touched a chord in those who were there, or wish they had been. The list of other musicians and bands from the 70’s and 80’s, many of whom became friends, then or since, is endless. Such a roster of incredible talent! It’s heartening to see how many of those great players are still around, and still entertaining their fans, either on record or live.
Usually, any 50th anniversary is a cause for celebration. But the 50th anniversary of The Beatles first appearance on the Ed Sullivan TV Show in New York was especially fun. And if you’re not tired of all The Beatles coverage, here’s a little more for you to digest. As most of the world knows by now, these four Liverpool lads – John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr – along with manager Brian Epstein and record producer George Martin, revolutionized music, fashion and merchandising from 1964 through to the end of the decade. And Canada played a major part in much of it.
Running a record label requires the stealthy and diplomatic handling of not only music but the egos of those that make it. Like certain personal relationships, you gotta put up with the crazy shit occasionally to get at the good sex.
Bullseye Records of Canada
Segarini: Don't Believe a Word I Say 