Entertainment, Media, and Canadian Catch-all

[Ayreonaut]

Where is this from? I like it. I've always wanted to find a rooftop on Water to look over downtown.

[SignalHillHiker]

Originally Posted by Ayreonaut

Where is this from? I like it. I've always wanted to find a rooftop on Water...

It is actually a parking lot off Duckworth. I forgrt exactly where already but it is not hidden or off-limits at all so take a stroll and you'll find it. I think Cathedral is a near cross street.

[Ayreonaut]

Thanks, I'll try to find it in a few weeks.

[SignalHillHiker]

Is there a website where you can see what certain buildings would look like in your city?

I'm dying to see, for example, what the Burj Khalifa would look like where Scotia Square is in St. John's - or even one of the tall Toronto towers. These buildings are just on such a different scale and I'd love to see them compared to something I know intimately well. It's not the same comparing them to buildings of a similar height when I visit these cities. :-D

[vid]

That website is called "Skyscraperpage.com". The actual process however is quite difficult. It involves "Open photoshop and do it yourself".

[SignalHillHiker]

Hahaha, well, I'm out of luck there. I could do a rough one if I knew how to make it the accurate height. But I can't math.

[SignalHillHiker]

I've had a couple of drinks tonight. As I do most nights, especially when it's hot.

And I think this counts as Canadian entertainment because I am singing and dancing to it right now?

I think it's the most beautiful sounds ever compiled into a single song...

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AND NEXT UP, back to my old favourite... I don't usually go for mournful songs in the minors, but... fabulous...

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[SpongeG]

edmonton has been rocked by fake bieber concert tickets

lol

teen girls being scammed out of their babysitting money - aww

[SignalHillHiker]

^ Bahaha... serves them right.

One more, New Zealand... Commonwealth... totally appropriate for Canada...

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[SignalHillHiker]

My favourite Newfoundland folk song. Or... one of about 5-10 favourites.

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[SignalHillHiker]

And my favourite Irish folk song that has been stolen and adoped by Newfoundland.

I chose the same YouTube singer for this one, just to keep it consistent - but my favourite version of this I've ever heard was a live performance at The Ship Inn in St. John's by a beautiful, young blond lady who gave a speech about supporting the Dixie Chicks (it was around that time).

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I still get a little teary-eyed singing this one, hahaha...

[SignalHillHiker]

The Queen of Newfoundland folk music - who, sadly, put a bullet in her head in the 70s - singing an old classic.

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As an aside, she's an excellent example of how Quebec is typically depicted in Newfoundland folk songs.

Among the verses of her songs:

"Oh the Frenchmen in Quebec, they likes to shout
That from Confederation, they wants out
Well, if Canada you want to leave, me dears
GO! You're welcome! But, for God's sake, don't come here"

And

"Oh the French in Quebec want a separate state
Including our own Labrador, just you wait
They came down to Belle Isle, but they can't walk our straits
Oh, thank God we're surrounded by water"

And

Don't vote Confederation, that's my prayer to you
We own the house we live in, likewise, our schooner too
But if you heed Joe Smallwood, and that mainland French patois
We'll be always paying taxes to that tribe up in Ottawa

So remember, dearest mother, be a native soul and true
And when they offer pension cheques, just tell them what to do
Yes, keep the old flag flying, take strength from where you stand
As loved our fathers, so we love, God guard thee, Newfoundland

[SignalHillHiker]

Hardcore Newfoundland folk.

The type that, a century ago, had lyrics like:

We're proud of our own native isle, Newfoundland
No stranger shall hold an inch of her strand
Her face turns to Britain, her arse to your Gulf
So, come at your peril, Canadian wolf

But this one is actually pretty tame...

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[SignalHillHiker]

A great example of a Newfoundland versus St-Pierre-et-Miquelon song - based, of course, on a very true sinking.

The story:

In 1915, on the 10th day of June
At Burke's Wharf, the Marion lay
Prepared for the Banks as was custom to do
All loaded with capelin for bait

The wind, from the northwest, a fine, summer's breeze
As Ike Jones, from St. Jack's, he steered
And the boys in the focsle made plans for that night
When they'd all go ashore in St-Pierre

Some were uneasy, there'd by trouble, they said
'Cause Ike Jones was noted to fight
And at the Cafe de France on the last trip he made
A Frenchman had threatened his life

The challenge to fight was issued that night
As the cheap, French liquor ran free
The French captain then warned the Marion's men
He would answer their challenge at sea

Next day the Marion set sail again
And so to the story relays
The French beam trawler weighed anchor as well
And followed close by in her wake

She's a Fortune Bay schooner heading out for the Banks
With fine, hardy Fortune Bay men
But some on the Cape were o'erheard to say
She'd never be heard from again

The fate that befell the Marion's crew and their schooner
Will never be known
Not a trace and no tidings were ever again
To be heard by those waiting at home

Some say the Frenchman was true to his word
Some say he confessed 'fore he died
That he scuttled the Marion and settled the debt
Not taking one man o'er the side

Families of Skinners, and Mellors, and Myles
Grieve for their loved ones on shore
And the Newfoundland story of loss to sea
Was told as so often before

She's a Fortune Bay schooner, sailing out from St. Jack's
With a fine crew of Fortune Bay men
But never, no more, will she pass by the light
With her jib flapping into the wind

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[SignalHillHiker]

Switzerland's own Celine Dion (!?) from the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest. I actually LOVE this song. Celine's nasal style of French has never really appealed to me generally... but in this song, it's just beautiful...

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[SignalHillHiker]

Obviously the video is from Paris but I believe this band is actually Quebecois?

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Either way, LOVES.

Also, an aside, the Ukrainian version:

Slavic womens has got it goin' on, yo.

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[SignalHillHiker]

Every so often a club version of an Irish or Newfoundland folk song becomes ironically popular at even the trendiest bars in St. John's (and don't forget, nightlife is something we do exceptionally well).

The most famous is probably Peter Street, but this one is well up there as well.

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Well, Albert Mooney says he loves her, and all the b'ys is fighting for her!
They knock on the door, and they ring the bell, saying, "Oh, me true love, are ya well?"

[SignalHillHiker]

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Newfoundland folk music is full of songs dedicated to the prettiest girl in any given village, town, or city.

This is one from the suburbs of St. John's. A very well-known one.

Lyrics are:

Ye ladies and ye gentlemen
I pray ye lend an ear
While I locate the residence
Of a lovely charmer fair
The curling of her yellow locks
First stole my heart away
And her place of habitation
Is down in Logy Bay

'Twas on a summer's evening
This little place I found
I met her aged father
Who did me sore confound
Saying, "If you address my daughter,
I'll send her far away,
And she never will return again,
While you're in Logy Bay."

"How could you be so cruel as
To part me from my love?
Her tender heart beats in her breast
As constant as a dove.
Oh, Venus was no fairer,
Nor the lovely month of May."
May Heaven above shower down its love
On the star of Logy Bay

'Twas on the very next morning
He went to St. John's town
And engaged for her a passage
On a vessel outward bound
He robbed me of my hearts delight
And sent her far away
And he left me here downhearted
For the star of Logy Bay

Oh, now I'll go a-roaming
I can no longer stay
I'll search the wide world over
In every country
I'll search in vain through France and Spain
Likewise Americay
'Til I do sight my heart's delight
The star of Logy Bay

Now to conclude and finish
The truth to you I'll tell
Between Torbay and Outer Cove
'Tis there my love did dwell
The finest girl ever graced our Isle
So everyone did say
May Heaven above send down its love
On the star of Logy Bay

[artvandelay]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Best Canadian song of ALL TIME? Are you sure? That covers a lot of songs...

Sorry, I was wrong - I retract that statement. I forgot about the latest Nickelback single:

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[Acajack]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

Obviously the video is from Paris but I believe this band is actually Quebecois?

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French actually. One of the band members is called Pierre Mathieu, which is a very typical name in Quebec but he is in fact French.