Posts Tagged ‘Winter Olympics’

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Calixa Lavallée – "O Canada" (1880)

2010/03/01

Today is a big day in Canada. With the Olympics in Vancouver concluded and with a Gold Medal in the Men's Hockey (and also the Women's), Canada as a whole must be feeling on top of the world. The grass may not look greener today in all of Canada, but the snow probably looks whiter, the maple dipped donuts sweeter (mmmm…. Tim Hortons), and the poutine more delicious than ever! I congratulate Canada on their success in the games and especially in the Men's Hockey game yesterday, where I rooted for Canada. Some may mark me a traitor, but I know how much it meant to you Canada, and I want you to be happy so when I come to visit you, you are still your delightful self.

(USA, buck up. You still brought home the silver in the Hockey and you made the Canadians fight to the bitter end for that Gold. Generally not known for fighting, Canadians will fight for their hockey! Also with 37 medals the USA is the most decorated country in a Winter Olympics ever. Let's not forget that my stereotypically lazy and yet over achieving in athletics countrymen.)

In honor of Canada, I present the national anthem of Canada, "O Canada", music written by Calixa Lavallée in 1880. It has been a staple in the "soundtrack" of these Olympics. Though I am not Canadian, I often think it would be fun to be one. Because I am not Canadian, and with Russia hosting the next winter Olympics in 2014 in Sochi, I decided the rendition of Canada's anthem by non-Canadians, and by the Alexandrov Ensemble Choir of Russia specifically, would be appropriate. It would be nice to think we are are all feeling a little Canadian today!

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Ô Canada!
Terre de nos aïeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!
Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,
Il sait porter la croix!
Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits.
Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.

Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest the music genre:

Click here for more info on Calixa Lavallée – "O Canada".

The MP3 of the commemorative version presented in these Olympics, "O Canada (With Glowing Hearts)", may be purchased here…

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The Hours – "Ali In The Jungle" (2007)

2010/02/18

I hear music everywhere. The radio (online and AM/FM), out and about in the world, friends, family, my own collection, but also on TV in shows and commercials. The advertising jingle is all but dead in part because quality music is finding its way into commercials. Some may see this as bands "selling out". Maybe. I see it as a way for bands to get to a lot of ears and help catapult their careers, and make some money at the same time. It is business, but it is also a channel for their music. "The xx" for example have their song "Intro" featured in an AT&T commercial with Olympic Speed Skater Anton Ohno, a song that I have previously named a song of the day.

What is nice about the Olympics, and even the commercials during these Winter Olympics, is there is a lot of inspiration to be had. Sure the commercials may be trying to sell you something but they're also motivating and emulating the Olympic spirit of self competition. For most athletes you really get that sense of the competition being just as much, if not more, about surpassing their own limits. Today's song is no exception. It is "Ali In The Jungle" by The Hours, currently featured in a Nike commercial. Along with the awesome visual stitching of athletes competing with themselves, this song plays with the key lyrics:

Everybody gets knocked down,
Everybody gets knocked down,
How quick are you gonna' get up?
How quick are you gonna' get up?

I'm inspired. I've recently hurt my knees. They are stiff. They hurt when I move them. They crack several times a day. They wake me in the night. My leg muscles are totally foobar as a result too. I cannot sit the way I use to either. What drives me more crazy is I don't know what I did to hurt them. I don't know if this is something I'll be able to solve easily, or how long it will take. Is it even solvable? I may never be able to do certain activities ever again. I ran 7 miles just a couple months ago… will I ever be able to run so far again? Will I be able to climb mountains? Will this pain be a new dark companion? Will my slight limp go away? I don't know. But last night I decided it doesn't matter. Yes, I will do what I can to heal my knees, but if they never heal, then I am not going to let it stop me from living. I'll do what I can within my new limits and press those limits. I may not be able to run, but I'm going to be an excellent walker then. Yes I am knocked down, but I am going to get up.

Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

I also suggest the music genre:

Click here for more info on The Hours – Narcissus Road – "Ali In The Jungle".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

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Natalie MacMaster – "David's Jig" (2006)

2010/02/13

Normally I ignore most sports on the television. Team sports are particularly boring to me. I slept through the second half the Super Bowl and celebrated at the end of the football season because if there is anything more boring than watching it, it is talking about it and listening to people at work talk about it week after week.

However, I love the Olympics. I especially love the Winter Olympics. Perhaps it is because I actually enjoy many of the winter activities and sports, including skiing, cross-country skiing, and snow boarding. I love watching the short track speed skating and the freestyle skiing too. The figure skating can be sick too! The Games are a good time and they are special because they last but two weeks and then poof, you have to wait four years.

G, some friends, and I all watched the opening ceremony last night. The ceremonies are very interesting and sometimes have gems of amazement. Last night's had good parts and bad (e.g. Bryan Adams and Nelly Furtado… not good), but the good stuff was really good! I thought the projections on the floor of the stadium were awesome. The Whales were wicked! The punk-like fiddling and tap dancing representative of the Canadian Maritimes and Quebec was also very impressive. All in all, I had a good time and I commend Canada on the performance even with the glitches. I love you Canada!

I did a little more research to learn the primary fiddler was apparently Ashley MacIsaac of Nova Scotia. I have yet to determine what song was played but a little more poking around brought me to "David's Jig" by Natalie MacMaster, Ashley's cousin (and both of them are apparently distantly related to Jack White of the White Stripes). I was looking for a song a little more "rock" or "punk" influenced by a "Cape Breton fiddle music" artist for today's song, but a whole world of music I barely knew existed has just been opened up and it will take some time to sort through it. I really like this song, so here it is!

Canada's secret it out!

Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

I also suggest the music genre:

Click here for more info on Natalie MacMaster – Yours Truly – "David's Jig".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

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