By any chance did anyone save a copy of this article? My browser says it's not available any longer.

TV hopefuls get singing advice from genuine Canadian Idol Gordon Lightfoot
Canada.com - August 17, 2004
Is Gordon Lightfoot cool again? Somewhere between playing small folk festivals and recovering from a ruptured blood vessel in his abdomen, the 65-year-old songwriter's ...

By any chance did anyone save a copy of this article? My browser says it's not available any longer.

TV hopefuls get singing advice from genuine Canadian Idol Gordon Lightfoot
Canada.com - August 17, 2004
Is Gordon Lightfoot cool again? Somewhere between playing small folk festivals and recovering from a ruptured blood vessel in his abdomen, the 65-year-old songwriter's ...

Yes, our old Canadian dude is cool once again! http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

Yes, our old Canadian dude is cool once again! http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif

this one, bjb? (from ctv.ca)>>>


Idol hopefuls get advice from Gordon Lightfoot

The six young singers left on Canadian Idol honoured a living Canadian legend -- one who came perilously close to becoming a dead one.

For Gordon Lightfoot, Wednesday was his biggest audience yet -- counting the TV one at home -- since he resumed performing in public again this summer.

In 2002, a ruptured blood vessel in his abdomen almost killed him. He was left in a coma for five weeks.

"I actually feel quite strong now," Lightfoot said. "It's been 22 -- what, 23 -- months since everything went black."

He played a few songs at the Mariposa Folk Festival in Orillia, Ont. -- his hometown -- in July. Then he teamed up with cancer survivor and fellow music legend Ronnie Hawkins to perform at a benefit concern to aid the flood victims in Peterborough, Ont.

Reportedly, some of the under-30 audience left while he performed, his often-melancholic material not to their tastes.

Last fall, when he was still on the mend, a tribute disc to Lightfoot was released. Called Beautiful, it featured some of Canada's top singer/songwriters -- including Bruce Cockburn, The Tragically Hip and the Barenaked Ladies -- interpreting his songs.

With Lightfoot's resurrection comes a rebirth in popularity. His new CD, titled Harmony, debuted on the charts at number 13 -- his highest-charting disc in more than 26 years.

He's been a performer for more than 40 years. He has written more than 200 songs.

"Gordon is having another revival in his career," said music critic Larry LeBlanc. "He's had more comebacks than most boxers we can name."

As part of the tribute, Canadian Idol contestants sang Lightfoot songs.

Before going on live TV, they received some one-on-one coaching from the master. "Your energy level has got to come up -- but not too far," he counselled one.

"If I'm going to leave some songs as my legacy then I'm going to make darn good sure that when they get done I'm around to help as much as possible," he told the group.

"My stuff is not your normal kind of stuff. It's folk, country-oriented ... It requires a special kind of attention this material. I want to be involved."

To Kaylan Porter of Medicine Hat, Alta., Lightfoot said of one song: "This is one of those kind of personal type tunes ... It's one of those cases where you direct your personal life into your songwriting," he said. "Sometimes it hurts .. If it makes for a good song I say do it.

"No matter how upset you might feel, you could be going through the breakup of a relationship or something of that type, if there's a song there and you're worth your salt you're going to write the song."

Porter wound up singing If You Could Read My Mind, one of Lightfoot's biggest hits.

Theresa Sokyrka, a 23-year-old resident of Saskatoon, told Lightfoot she busked all the time.

"That's really an excellent thing to do," he said. "You think about it from the rehearsal (side). I'm one of those guys that's big on rehearsing. I always encourage people to rehearse a lot."

On Thursday's show, the Canadian Idol contestants will be break with the show's tradition by playing instruments while performing Lightfoot's Canadian Railroad Trilogy.

Written in 1967 for the 100th anniversary of Confederation, it chronicles the building of the railway and is considered one of his classics.

Thanks JJ, but it's another related article that quotes some of the words he said to each of the Idol contestants. I read it once but neglected to save it so I can't re-read it http://www.corfid.com/ubb/frown.gif

The one you sent has a few great nuggets in it too!



[This message has been edited by bjb (edited September 21, 2004).]

ok, ok, i know what you mean now...cheers, bjb http://www.corfid.com/ubb/smile.gif
>>>

TV hopefuls get singing advice from genuine Canadian Idol Gordon Lightfoot

TORONTO (CP) - Is Gordon Lightfoot cool again?

Somewhere between playing small folk festivals and recovering from a
ruptured blood vessel in his abdomen, the 65-year-old songwriter's career
seems to have found new wind.

Older patriots who remember when Peter, Paul and Mary made Early Morning
Rain a U.S. hit in the mid-'60s have been following the singer's recovery as
documented in headlines. And less than two weeks ago he re-emerged on stage
to help air dry Peterborough, Ont.'s soggy summer setback.

But some of the under-30 crowd in the Peterborough audience left the hockey
arena to gather outside with friends when the gaunt singer took the stage.
They weren't acquainted with the music legend's vast catalogue.

That'll change Wednesday night when hottie Canadian Idol competitors wearing
the latest designer clothes give Lightfoot's songs an Idol makeover, as well
as unprecedented access to a MuchMusic-raised listener base -many of whom
will likely be asking their excited parents "Gordon who?"

TV's most popular summer program -which normally highlights flashy pop
fare -is featuring Lightfoot's melancholic folk repertoire. The remaining
six contestants have each chosen a track from his list of over 200 songs to
perform for the competition.

Knowing a good opportunity when he hears one, Lightfoot got on board with
the TV show and offered contestants some pointers on performing and
songwriting during rehearsal sessions at Toronto's McClear Studios, a
downtown landmark which has captured the sounds of stars like Mel Torme,
Anne Murray, Ringo Starr and Rosemary Clooney over the years.

"If I'm going to leave some songs as my legacy then I'm going to make darn
good sure that when they get done I'm around to help as much as possible,"
he told the group, whose members range from 18 to 27.

"My stuff is not your normal kind of stuff. It's folk, country oriented . .
. It requires a special kind of attention this material. I want to be
involved."

Before heading into the one-on-one lessons, Lightfoot -looking the
antithesis of a celebrity with his suspenders holding up his jeans -also
gave them a brief history lesson on his career, explaining how '60s folk duo
Ian and Sylvia gave him his first break at the height of Toronto's
coffeehouse scene.

"Some of you may have heard them or heard your parents mention them," he
told the green group.

After that study, Lightfoot started his coaching sessions and offered advice
on the following (names of songs being covered are omitted at CTV's
request):


On fancy stuff . . .

At the sight of Jason Greeley walking in the studio with his guitar,
Lightfoot pipes up: "Are you ready? You going to impress me, are you?"

"The vocal sounds good," encourages Lightfoot after Greeley has run through
the song. "When you get up there you might find another couple of percentage
points of energy but that's all."

"All it requires now is you go play it a few times which you will. It's a
real good song. People love this song," the veteran performer adds.
"I've always been a firm believer that simplicity is the key to getting your
point across," says Greeley, 27, born in Carbonear, Nfld.

"Absolutely," says Lightfoot.

"Too much fancy stuff doesn't work," adds Greeley.

- On refuge. . .

With 19-year-old Jacob Hoggard, Lightfoot discusses songwriting.

"I have a band," the apprentice carpenter from Abbotsford, B.C. says
hesitantly. "I write most of the music . . . probably 90 per cent of the
music and the lyrics."

"Well don't stop doing that," says Lightfoot in a grandfatherly tone.

"No, I don't think I could," replies Hoggard. "That's the biggest outlet for
me."

Lightfoot cuts in: "I use the word refuge. Can I start using that outlet
word that you just used?"

"I like refuge. Refuge makes you seem like an Israelite," replies Hoggard.

- On the drink. . .

The quiet Kalan Porter, a student from Medicine Hat, Alta., asks Lightfoot
to explain the story behind the song he's chosen to perform.

"This is one of those kind of personal type tunes . . . It's one of those
cases where you direct your personal life into your songwriting," says
Lightfoot, his voice wavery. "Sometimes it hurts . . . If it makes for a
good song I say do it."

"No matter how upset you might feel, you could be going through the breakup
of a relationship or something of that type, if there's a song there and
you're worth your salt you're going to write the song."

"Cool," mumbles Porter. "Thank you."

"A drink or two might help but I gave that up years ago," Lightfoot adds
grinning.

- On busking . . .

With 23-year-old Theresa Sokyrka, Lightfoot wants to find out about her
experience as a street musician.

"I busk all the time. It's how I make my money," says the Saskatoon
musician. "Don't make much of it though."

Lightfoot, born in Orillia, Ont., approves.

"That's really an excellent thing to do," he said. "You think about it from
the rehearsal (side). I'm one of those guys that's big on rehearsing. I
always encourage people to rehearse a lot."

- On the ladies . . .

Lightfoot tells Vancouver-born Elena Juatco to stay focused because "we need
more ladies on the show."

"Stay focused on it," he said. "You've got to think about a lot of stuff.
You've got more than just one song to think about at a time these days. I
wish you all the best."

"Thank you so much," she replied.

"I hope you do well. We're running short (on ladies)."

"It's only two left," said Juatco.

"Sing it through a few times. You know what you've gotta do. I always find
if I get in a room and run through it three or four times it starts to gel
after a while," said Lightfoot.
- On a good night's rest . . .

"All you gotta do is go rest up a little bit," Lightfoot tells Shane Wiebe,
a perogy vendor from Abbotsford, B.C. "You look like you've had lots of
sleep."

Wiebe asks what his song is about.

"I never know what they're about," Lightfoot says slyly. "All I know is it
sounds good."

"Sometimes that's just the way it goes, eh?" replies Wiebe.

"It was written way back when, in the very early years," explains Lightfoot.
"The emotional tight rope was just starting to tighten. The roller-coaster
was starting up."

"It's a beautiful song," gushes Wiebe.

"I like what you did with it," replies Lightfoot.

- This week marks the first time one of the 25 Idol franchises has allowed
the contestants to show off other talents besides vocals. Thursday's
one-hour results show will give viewers a chance to check out the
competitors' instrumental skills. The six will play guitar, piano, bass,
mandolin and fiddle together on Lightfoot's Canadian Railroad Trilogy.

hey, ms. bjb....can i stop looking yet? lol

WOW! I was so happy reading that I forgot to say thank you, jj!!! You got the nail right on the head.

Got any other neat stuff? (give 'em an inch and they'll ask for a mile http://www.corfid.com/ubb/wink.gif

i got lotsa neato stuff! (but wish it was ALL archived electronically)

then there'd be far less clutter around me here

Should I mention that I have four or five boxes of stuff from when I was a diehard RHCP fan??? (thought of starting a museum...)

wow, i keep realizing how uncool i am in this day and age, didn't even know what RHCP stood for (at first), lol

more fun, elena and shane are back (i guess this idol stuff is becoming small talk, they didn't even mention GL, buggers, lol)
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...0694_91284587/

rhcp???

rhcp???

quote:Originally posted by charlene:
rhcp???

Red Hot Chili Peppers, perhaps??

i don't even like the mild kind too much

yeah, even ketchup makes me sweat, pathetic

jj(aka mr. bland)

Right, still love the Peppers, but now it's GL all the way (he was first in my books anyway). So watch out, I'm slowly starting to collect stuff about Mr. Lightfoot http://www.corfid.com/ubb/wink.gif

still have no idea what/who you are talking about....

still have no idea what/who you are talking about....

we are (were) talking about CI

ie. Canadian Idol, lol

Re RHCP -- remember "Under the Bridge"? I have a picture but I can't find the instructions on how to post it...you'd think I'd know by now as John has posted the information enough times. oh well, it's not an RHCP page anyway http://www.corfid.com/ubb/wink.gif

JJ - i'll slap you hen i DO see you!
I got the IDOL part - no the rhcp- is that a group?
men/women ?? what do they sing?

wondering in whitby...

JJ - i'll slap you hen i DO see you!
I got the IDOL part - no the rhcp- is that a group?
men/women ?? what do they sing?

wondering in whitby...

http://www.2ub.org/~michelle/recipes...ili_pepper.jpg

but i'm not certain that there are 4 in the band, lol

bjb, i only know how to post pics already uploaded to the web...you'll have to ask char or lsh http://www.corfid.com/ubb/wink.gif

Hey.....you're good!