Sure, it’s been a week since the hoax that shook Canada, but it’s worth mentioning once more that Gordon Lightfoot is not dead.
The 71-year-old Canadian singer took to the airwaves last week in Toronto to assure his fans that he was very much alive after reports began circulating that he’d passed away — one of which was confirmed by a musician friend of his who’d been duped by his own management.
“I’m fine, everything is good,” Lightfoot told a Toronto all-news station. “I don’t know where it comes from. It seems like a bit of a hoax or something, I’m not sure. I was quite surprised to hear (it) myself.”
He joked that “I haven’t had so much airplay on my music now for weeks.”
The friend, singer Ronnie Hawkins, explained that his management team in the United States had told him that someone claiming to be Lightfoot’s grandson told them the singer had died, according to a Canadian Press report.
“I think they can trace that phone call, maybe, and see who did that,” Hawkins said. “Oh, what a dirty, sick joke that is, but I’m glad it was a sick joke and not the truth.”
A couple of weeks ago, we told you about Olivia Newton-John’s unlikely hockey connection as the Australian starlet has signed up to take part in “Score: A Hockey Musical.”
This bit of casting news makes a little more sense. WENN.com is reporting that Canadian Nelly Furtado is set to make her big-screen debut, playing a woman obsessed with the game, in the movie musical that is set to begin filming soon in Toronto.
Director Michael McGowan says, “Nelly is an incredible entertainer and, after speaking with her, I realized that she fully relished embracing her inner hockey fanatic.”
There comes a time when celebrities heed a certain call, and that time was Monday, when more than 75 singers and actors came together to record a 25th anniversary version of the moving and timeless charitable tune, “We Are the World.”
We’ve got some video, thanks to MTV, of the recording of the new version, which took place the day after the Grammys in the same studio where the original was done.
This time around, however, Canadians are represented quite a bit more significantly than in 1985. Back then, shots of Dan Aykroyd in the chorus were as good as it got for the Great White North.
The new version features Canadians Justin Bieber, Drake, Melanie Fiona, and Celine Dion, who figures to fill one of the solo roles as seen in the clip below. (Even Robin Thicke is in there and deserves a shout out for his Canadian father).
Above all that, Canadian Paul Haggis is directing the 3-D video that will accompany the new recording. (Take THAT, Cameron. More than one Canadian director can play the 3-D game).
The new version of “We Are the World” is scheduled to premiere during NBC’s coverage of the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics, which, in case you hadn’t heard, are taking place in Vancouver.
Check out the clip below…
<a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/" target="_blank">‘We Are The World’ Remake Brings Lil Wayne/Kanye/Pink/Usher, More Together For Haiti</a>
From the Better Late Than Never Department, here’s a quick run-through of the Canadian acts that scored at the Grammy Awards on Sunday night.
Crooner Michael Bublé took home the trophy for Traditional Pop Vocal Album for “Michael Buble Meets Madison Square Garden,” and Neil Young won his first-ever Grammy for Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package, for “Neil Young Archives Vol. I (1963-1972).”
Also, actor Michael J. Fox won the Best Spoken Word Album Grammy for “Always Looking Up,” which is based on his book “Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist.”
Other Canadian acts were nominated, but did not come home with any hardware. They included: rapper and Canadian of the Week honoree Drake, Montreal duo Beast, Nickelback, producer David Foster, R&B singer Melanie Fiona and aboriginal singers Northern Cree.
Toronto rapper Drake won’t have Kanye West by his side at Sunday night’s Grammy Awards, but he will have him mom with him.
She’s the lucky lady who will be on the arm of the 23-year-old sensation, who is nominated for two awards (Best Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap song — both for his quick hit, “Best I Ever Had”).
The night will be one of the biggest events of his life, and, win or lose, the former “Degrassi: The Next Generation” star is our Canadian of the Week.
In addition to being nominated for two awards (without even having a full-length album out), Drake will be performing his song “Forever” with Lil Wayne and Eminem. Kanye was on the original recording but, well, award shows haven’t really been his thing, of late.
Drake, whose role on “Degrassi” ended last year when his character graduated, said his Canadian roots are strong and that his hometown of Toronto is “the biggest inspiration behind my music.”
“I do everything I do for Toronto,” he told The Canadian Press after Grammy rehearsal on Friday. “It’s a city I really believe in.
“It’s got a bunch of great people. We got a lot of undiscovered things in Toronto, man: women, nightlife, restaurants, clubs, and talent. Women, first,” he adds with a smile.
“I just wanna bring the city to the forefront. I feel like every place needs an ambassador. They need somebody to show the rest of the world how magical that place can be. I think Jay (Jay-Z) does it for New York, a lot of people do it for Atlanta, Kanye did it for Chicago. A lot of rappers take it upon themselves.
“So I just really wanna be that guy for Toronto.”
Check out the official video for Drake’s “Best I Ever Had.” It’s kind of an odd tale of a women’s basketball coach (played by Drake) whose team is severely lacking in hoops talent and sports bras.
Halifax native Sarah McLachlan turns 42 today, and what better way to celebrate than to showcase our five favorite videos from her nearly two-decade career?
Well, we’ll say these are our four favorites of all time, and her new theme for the 2010 Winter Olympics, “One Dream,” which is growing on us in that epic, sports-montage-of-dreams-coming-true kind of way.
This is going to be a big year for our favorite mystery builder, starting with the aforementioned Olympics theme and continuing with a Lilith Fair revival that will feature some old favorites and new acts this summer.http://canadianoftheweek.com/tag/lilith-fair/
While George Clooney and Co. are running a star-studded telethon across several networks on American television, some of Canada’s biggest names will gather for an hourlong event that has a list of celebrities that more than holds its own.
The CBC reports:
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean are scheduled to deliver messages, and the Tragically Hip and K’naan will perform live.
Other prominent Canadians from music, film, television and sport to appear on the special include:
Musical acts Nelly Furtado, Measha Brueggergosman, Justin Bieber, Céline Dion, Sarah McLachlan, Barenaked Ladies, David Foster, Chantal Kreviazuk, Raine Maida and Simple Plan.
Directors James Cameron, Jason Reitman and Norman Jewison.
Actors William Shatner, Joshua Jackson, Pamela Anderson, Eugene Levy, Sandra Oh, Tom Jackson, Ryan Reynolds, Michael J. Fox, Rachelle Lefevre, Will Arnett, Hugh Dillon and Brent Butt.
TV personalities Mike Holmes, Rick Mercer and Alex Trebek.
Sports stars Gretzky and Steve Nash.
Humanitarian Craig Kielburger.
The money raised during the telethon will be distributed equally amongst a coalition of 10 large Canadian non-governmental organizations — including World Vision Canada, Canadian Red Cross Society, UNICEF Canada, Oxfam Canada and Save the Children Canada — with the funds exclusively earmarked for Haiti.
After tearing up the charts and scoring huge with “My Heart Will Go On,” Celine closed the decade with a five-year regular show in Las Vegas, which was — pardon the obvious pun — where she really hit the jackpot.
All told, the Times estimated Celine made nearly $748 million over this millennium’s first 10 years, besting Kenny Chesney ($742 million) and Dave Matthews Band ($737.4 million).
The Beatles ($627.3 million)
U2 ($609.7 million)
Toby Keith ($591.9 million)
Bruce Springsteen ($588.3 million)
The Rolling Stones ($569.6 million)
Tim McGraw ($550.7 million)
Britney Spears ($494.3 million)
The world lost renowned Canadian folk singer Kate McGarrigle on Monday, after she lost her three-year battle with sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that affects connective tissue.
McGarrigle was most famous for performing with her sister Anna as the McGarrigle Sisters, whose hits included “Heart Like a Wheel,” and was the mother of musicians Rufus Wainright and Martha Wainright, whom she had with her ex-husband Loudon Wainright III.
Some fantastic tributes to McGarrigle have already been written, including this thorough obituary from CBC.ca.
Check out the videos below to watch the McGarrigle sisters perform “Heart Like a Wheel,” and to watch Rufus Wainright sing “Beautymark,” a song about his mother.
Michael Buble is singing the tune of love, and bringing one of the northernmost nations in the world together with one of the southernmost.
The Canadian crooner is engaged to Argentine actress Luisana Loreley Lopilato de la Torre. No word on whether she’s going to officially add “Buble” to that list of names.
The Vancouver singer’s rep confirmed to People that Buble proposed in November, “in front of her family in Argentina” and she said yes. “They’re ecstatic. They’re adorable, in love and laugh all day long,” the rep told the magazine.
Buble has been engaged in the past. He was set to marry actress-singer Debbie Timuss in 2005. He also ended a long-term relationship with actress Emily Blunt, whom he dated for two years, in 2008.
Sure, it’s been a week since the hoax that shook Canada, but it’s worth mentioning once more that Gordon Lightfoot is not dead.
Toronto rapper Drake won’t have Kanye West by his side at Sunday night’s Grammy Awards, but he will have him mom with him.
Another day, another Quebecer topping a list.
The world lost renowned Canadian folk singer Kate McGarrigle on Monday, after she lost her three-year battle with sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that affects connective tissue.
Michael Buble is singing the tune of love, and bringing one of the northernmost nations in the world together with one of the southernmost.
