For Timmins locals, Canadian fans and for many countries in the world Twain’s brand of country/pop rock rules.
Twain, has a new retrospective cd/dvd Live From Vegas which hits retail March 3 2015.
She will visit Canada this week to promote this new Live From Vegas package.
Twain has not released a full new original album since Up in 2002
It was and still is a great cd.
That’s over 13 years.
As a 5 time Grammy and 12 time Juno Award winner it’s way too long for her fans to wait.
Purely to show perspective Bruce Springsteen has released 6 or 7 newly recorded albums and songs in the same period.
Me, well I’m reflecting.
On what you ask?
How about back to Timmins and her hometown concert on July 1 1999?
Wow, on that day we were feeling Timmins and world pride folks.
Stoked and rocking in the heat of 20,000 people euphoric in the heart of Hollinger Park.
It was a moment etched in time
For everyone.
Whether you were from anywhere on the planet or from Timmins or Toronto Ontario you felt that inner sense of pride about the city of Timmins and Twain.
Heck you can also go back to the Olympic torch run with Twain in January 2010.
I was standing outside in the -35 below temps with my grandson James.
Yes, readers let your mind go back to that time.
Whether you liked Twain’s music or not (and millions still do) you felt great
Truth is that particular level of pride has been missing for many years.
That civic pride at least on the entertainment level is at least one of the factors of why Timmins does not draw big name acts like Bryan Adams.
Think of it, Bryan played 3 hours away in Sudbury.
Talk about a world class rock n’ roller that still kicks butt, well folks he still has the passion.
Most people these days lack that Ol’ Rock n’ Roll passion on many levels.
For that matter, in every walk of life.
Hey, I’m guilty of watching my fair share of “on demand” movies in my easy chair.
But really folks, it’s time to wake up and get back some passion.
Back in 1999, I was there to review the concert for the Timmins Daily Press.
In those moments and now as I type this I reflect on my own and my friends musical past.
The days when 20 or more Timmins clubs were packed.
Where every musician like myself and my friends rocked away weekends.
It was a way of life in the 70’s and 80’s.
Fresh from underground mining or a day in the mill you and your friends went out early to get a table at the bar.
Our group of players and I’m sure Eilleen (Shania) who was there remembers those days.
JP’s Lounge in Timmins, The Riverview, The Rock n Tap, The Empire Hotel, The Travel Host, or The Maple Leaf where Stompin Tom put the boot to the plywood.
I could go on and on!
Four sets a night folks.
May I remind readers this is not fiction it’s fact.
This Saturday, February 28th Shania’s Vegas show airs on the ABC TV Network.
JOHN EMMS is a veteran music journalist and Sun Media contributor
Sure, your getting excited for The Grammy’s and you have checked out iTunes top songs.
But here are the real songs you need to check out now.
Coldplay-Ink-If Paul Simon and Brian Wilson got together with Coldplay this would be the result-Stunning pop-craft-cd-..Ghost Stories
Diana Krall-I’m Not In Love-Think you know 10cc’s classic?-wow not until you hear this-cd-..Wallflower
Fall Out Boy-Centuries-Yes, this is the new version of FOB..I too like the rock they used to do, but this is a great pop song-cd-American Beauty/American Psycho
Ron Hawkins & The Do Good Assassins-Propellers-The most important indie rock song you need to hear…cd-..Garden Songs
Jake Bugg-Messed up Kids-It will only hurt for a minute-The future of rock n’ roll? Perhaps.cd-…Messed Up Kids EP
Tom Cochrane-The Ones That I’ve Known-Combining Rosa Parks and Terry Fox into a roots masterpiece.-..cd Take It Home
JOHN EMMS is a veteran music journalist, radio host, Sun Media contributor and musician
Diana Krall and producer David Foster have produced a master stroke of pop genius with Krall’s latest album Wallflower.
The intimate and intelligent arrangements to songs like California Dreamin’ with it’s gorgeous piano solo by Krall, and the vivid soundscape of Neil Finn’s Don’t Dream It’s Over are stunning
Listen to the superb duet vocal with Bryan Adams on Randy Newman’s Feels Like Home.
It has a ton of feel and integrity.
In fact if the Krall/Adams duet is not a major radio hit we all might as well all hang it up now .
Elsewhere be ready to be blown out of the room with her take on the Eagles I Can’t tell You Why.
Krall’s piano solo floats above key changes while her intimate vocal brings you to another place sonically.
And that Folks is where the genius of David Foster lies.
The orchestrations are killer, but listen to the vocal takes that Foster gets out of Michael Buble and Krall on Gilbert O’ Sullivan’s Alone Again Naturally.
In one word spellbinding.
Krall tackles an unreleased Paul McCartney track If I Take You Home Tonight and turns the chord changes into a superb showcase for her voice.
Krall also completely makes 10cc’s I’m Not In Love her own.
Awash in a killer mix that literally fills the room it makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck.
An international album without a doubt, but there is a huge Canadian connection here.
Krall, Adams, Buble’ all Canucks including myself grew up listening to rock/pop radio here in Canada.
A ton of great international pop hits came out of our radios.
But it was also important to know that up in Canada in the 70’s you could hear songs like Foster’s own band Skylark on the radio, or the huge hits like the Guess Who’s Undun or Gordon Lightfoot’s Early Morning Rain.
You may not know it, but that fact and vibe is ingrained in this record from a DNA point.
Elsewhere, Bob Dylan’s little known track Wallflower (the title track) bears an almost Linda Ronstadt vibe that really works.
This album is very refreshing, and is going to surprise people.
What we have here is a melodic re-invention of pop classics.
Expressive and exhilarating work for sure.
JOHN EMMS is a 30 year veteran music journalist, radio host and musician.
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You can check out John’s songs with roots/blues rockers THE SHAFTMEN
