Gordon Lightfoot Forums - View Single Post - IDOL songs to be sung-website

charlene · 08-16-2004, 03:43 PM

Toronto, Ontario (August 16, 2004) - Almost two years since he was felled by a near-fatal abdominal hemorrhage, Canadian icon Gordon Lightfoot continues his extraordinary comeback with a rare television appearance on CTV's Canadian Idol this week.

Airing live this Wednesday, August 18 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, "The Music of Gordon Lightfoot" is a special tribute episode in which the Canadian Idol Top Six perform the songs of the celebrated Canadian singer/songwriter.

The master musician – who only recently returned to the stage after his illness landed him ina coma in the fall of 2002 – is directly involved in the episode, leading the remaining six Canadian Idol competitors in individual workshops as they rehearse selections from his songbook.

In an interview with CTV's etalk Daily set to air Wednesday, Lightfoot said he agreed to become involved with Canadian Idol because he was allowed to have a very hands-on role. "I'm a perfectionist," he said. "I got involved because I think I can direct the flow of the interpretations [of my music]."

The competitors have chosen some of Lightfoot's most memorable songs, including "Sundown," "Early Morning Rain," "Song for a Winter's Night," "The Way I Feel," "Rainy Day People" and "If You Could Read My Mind." The competitors will perform two group numbers – Canadian Railroad Trilogy and Steal Rail Blues - on an expanded one-hour results show airing Thursday, August 19 from 8 – 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV.

In the etalk Daily interview, Lightfoot went on to say that Canadian Idol is a great opportunity for singers hoping to get into the music business. "There is potential in this program for some of these people to walk out the other side with recording contracts," said Lightfoot. "And you know, that means a lot. It gives the show some importance. [Canadian Idol] is important for Canada."

For the first time, Canadian Idol cameras will go live on Wednesday from outside of the John Bassett Theatre to capture the fan-demonium on the street. Each week, hundreds of enthusiastic fans line up for up to 10 hours for the chance to receive last-minute rush seats to what the Toronto Star calls "the most popular stage show in Toronto."

Since emerging from the Toronto folk club scene in the early 1960s, Gordon Lightfoot has recorded 20 albums, including "Harmony," released in May of this year. He has five Grammy nominations and has won 17 Juno Awards. He is a companion of the Order of Canada; the recipient of a Governor General's Award; a charter member of the Canadian Walk of Fame and was recently inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Lightfoot has composed a catalogue of classic hits for himself and many others, including "Cotton Jenny," "Don Quixote,", "Shadows," "Carefree Highway," "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," "Beautiful," "Alberta Bound" and "Ribbon of Darkness." Among the many artists who have recorded Lightfoot's songs are Bob Dylan, Glen Campbell, Anne Murray, Nana Mouskouri, Harry Belafonte, Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand and Peter, Paul and Mary.

Canadian Idol's remaining six finalists are: Jason Greeley, 27, Upper Island Cove, NL; Jacob Hoggard, 20, Abbotsford, BC; Elena Juatco, 19, Vancouver, BC; Kalan Porter, 18, Medicine Hat, AB; Theresa Sokyrka, 23, Saskatoon, SK and Shane Wiebe, 21, Abbotsford, BC.

Canadian Idol is Canada's most-watched television program, averaging more than 2 million viewers (2.06M, Wednesday nights) per episode (Source: BBM).

08-16-2004, 03:43 PM	#1
charlene Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 16,001	Toronto, Ontario (August 16, 2004) - Almost two years since he was felled by a near-fatal abdominal hemorrhage, Canadian icon Gordon Lightfoot continues his extraordinary comeback with a rare television appearance on CTV's Canadian Idol this week. Airing live this Wednesday, August 18 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV, "The Music of Gordon Lightfoot" is a special tribute episode in which the Canadian Idol Top Six perform the songs of the celebrated Canadian singer/songwriter. The master musician – who only recently returned to the stage after his illness landed him ina coma in the fall of 2002 – is directly involved in the episode, leading the remaining six Canadian Idol competitors in individual workshops as they rehearse selections from his songbook. In an interview with CTV's etalk Daily set to air Wednesday, Lightfoot said he agreed to become involved with Canadian Idol because he was allowed to have a very hands-on role. "I'm a perfectionist," he said. "I got involved because I think I can direct the flow of the interpretations [of my music]." The competitors have chosen some of Lightfoot's most memorable songs, including "Sundown," "Early Morning Rain," "Song for a Winter's Night," "The Way I Feel," "Rainy Day People" and "If You Could Read My Mind." The competitors will perform two group numbers – Canadian Railroad Trilogy and Steal Rail Blues - on an expanded one-hour results show airing Thursday, August 19 from 8 – 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV. In the etalk Daily interview, Lightfoot went on to say that Canadian Idol is a great opportunity for singers hoping to get into the music business. "There is potential in this program for some of these people to walk out the other side with recording contracts," said Lightfoot. "And you know, that means a lot. It gives the show some importance. [Canadian Idol] is important for Canada." For the first time, Canadian Idol cameras will go live on Wednesday from outside of the John Bassett Theatre to capture the fan-demonium on the street. Each week, hundreds of enthusiastic fans line up for up to 10 hours for the chance to receive last-minute rush seats to what the Toronto Star calls "the most popular stage show in Toronto." Since emerging from the Toronto folk club scene in the early 1960s, Gordon Lightfoot has recorded 20 albums, including "Harmony," released in May of this year. He has five Grammy nominations and has won 17 Juno Awards. He is a companion of the Order of Canada; the recipient of a Governor General's Award; a charter member of the Canadian Walk of Fame and was recently inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. Lightfoot has composed a catalogue of classic hits for himself and many others, including "Cotton Jenny," "Don Quixote,", "Shadows," "Carefree Highway," "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," "Beautiful," "Alberta Bound" and "Ribbon of Darkness." Among the many artists who have recorded Lightfoot's songs are Bob Dylan, Glen Campbell, Anne Murray, Nana Mouskouri, Harry Belafonte, Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand and Peter, Paul and Mary. Canadian Idol's remaining six finalists are: Jason Greeley, 27, Upper Island Cove, NL; Jacob Hoggard, 20, Abbotsford, BC; Elena Juatco, 19, Vancouver, BC; Kalan Porter, 18, Medicine Hat, AB; Theresa Sokyrka, 23, Saskatoon, SK and Shane Wiebe, 21, Abbotsford, BC. Canadian Idol is Canada's most-watched television program, averaging more than 2 million viewers (2.06M, Wednesday nights) per episode (Source: BBM).