Posted on 11/18/2006 5:01:58 AM PST by Squawk 8888
The green camouflage wristband might not be noticeable to the audience.
But if you know what you are looking for you would not miss it on Lightfoot's right wrist. Let's just say this is the famous entertainer's way of having every Canadian soldier in Afghanistan up on that stage with him.
It's a moving gesture by the music icon and proud Canadian as he gets ready to perform again at Massey Hall tonight and tomorrow night -- the end of a four-show run that started Thursday.
"One of the soldiers gave it to me at the Red Rally and I have been wearing it ever since," Lightfoot said after the show.
And he's proud to do it -- realizing so many have been killed or wounded and are still at risk.
BATTLED BACK
Lightfoot, who himself has bravely battled back from severe health issues, came out Sept. 29 to the rally in support of Canadian troops at Dundas Square where Canadian Armed Forces personnel were so appreciative they gave him the band.
Meanwhile who says you have to be young to be hot?
Who's hotter these days than Lightfoot? It was his 68th birthday last night and yet there's no hotter ticket in town.
Scalpers were outside Massey Hall moving the much coveted ducats. Autograph seekers, and those who sell memorabilia, were waiting outside the stage door as if it was Justin Timberlake or something.
But these fans are not after the flavour of the month. There's nothing better, they say, than a mature wine that just gets better with time.
The 16-time Juno winner is so low key about it. If he were British he would be Sir Paul McCartney and if he were American he would be Bob Dylan. But he's Canadian and when he leaves a performance hall he gets into his own car and drives home.
Don't forget this guy has written songs covered by Elvis Presley, Peter, Paul & Mary, Dylan, Anne Murray, Glen Campbell, Barbra Streisand, Harry Belafonte and Nana Mouskouri for crying out loud.
He can afford a driver. He doesn't want one. The biggest legends don't realize that they are ones.
Sometimes they don't know why they are. Hit songs. Classic songs. Songs that define a generation or a time. Lightfoot has had his share of those. Not many can boast writing and recording Sundown, Early Morning Rain, The Edmund Fitzgerald, Ribbon of Darkness over Me, Alberta Bound and If You Could Read My Mind -- just to name a few.
The songs are part of what makes someone a legend.
The other part is the fans.They decide who they love and want to make legendary. They love Gordon Lightfoot.
Here's an example from the first show in this latest Massey Hall run. He was on stage for an encore when his guitar came loose from its strap.
INCREDIBLE BAND
There was kind of thud as he grabbed the guitar before it hit the stage. It's an awkward moment for a performer but kind of fitting for Lightfoot who does not rely on backing vocals, lights, smoke and dancers.
He and his incredible band is what you get and what his fans want. The guitar falling represents the raw reality of his performance that has become world renowned over 50 years. The guy is genuine. Nothing fake about him.
"Nice catch, Gordie," yells out a man from the capacity crowd.
No roadie came out, no stagehand. Gordon simply tried to put the stubborn strap back on the guitar and there was an pause of silence while he did it.
The silence didn't last long. "Happy birthday, Gordon," yelled out a fan.
There was a standing ovation and then, in unison, the whole crowd started singing Happy Birthday.
They love this guy. He's family. For his part Gordon looked out on the crowd and tried to not show emotion but you could tell it meant a lot to him. He loves them, too.
The guy is a national treasure, a member of the Order of Canada who has done this country proud for a long time.
'ALL-CANADIAN'
"He's all-Canadian that's for sure," said his manager of 25-years Barry Harvey. "He's proud of it."
We are proud, too.
True, it's just an elastic band when you get right down to it. But it means a whole lot more to those over fighting on behalf of this country. "I think of them all the time," said Lightfoot. "I am really impressed with them."
The feeling is mutual.
I love Lightfoot's music. By why does every article praising a Canadian have to compare and contrast hiom or her with an American? The "little man" syndrome is constant in Canadian media.
It has ever been thus, probably because the best success stories here have been low-key due to the fact that we're a pretty small country.
Now I'm gonna have that damn song in my head all day...
Looks like I have another album to buy.
Ping
"why does every article praising a Canadian have to compare and contrast hiom or her with an American?"
I don't know...when I see these kinds of things in article, I take it more as a compliment to the achievements of American individuals. I like Lightfoot too, but I had no idea he was still popular. Guess he's also like our..."Bob Seger". LOL. Sorry...couldn't help it.
I just find it odd that in this type of article there is ALWAYS a reference to how this Canadian star being praised is somehow to superior to an American one. This piece could have given Lightfoot the praise he deserves without the gratuitous "he's not like this AMERICAN star" knock. Just being good should be enough.
Yeah, he hasn't been burning up the charts lately, though I really loved his 70's hits. In America he'd be just another singer-songwriter flogging his old stuff. At least he's not Celine Dion.
I HATE CELINE DION !!!!!!
I can't stand that screeching pompous over hyped Maroon...
During katrina an interview with larry King she said regarding the looting......." Oooh, they have never had anything beautiful in their lives...let them TOUCH these things for once!"
I saw him this past February here in Florida. It was the third time I had the opportunity to see him. The first time was years ago and he announced that one year earlier, from that night, the Edmund Fitgerald had sunk. This last one you couldn't help but notice his voice wasn't as strong as it had once been, but nonetheless it was a great concert. One of the greats of all time.
Here, I can help take care of that problem
Classic Barney
I love you
I love you, you love me were a happy family with a great big hug and a kiss from me to you won't you say you love me to.
I love you, you love me were best friends like friends should be with a great big hug and a kiss from me to you won't you say you love me to.
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
When the skies of November turn gloomy.
With a load of iron ore - 26,000 tons more
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
When the gales of November came early
The ship was the pride of the American side
Coming back from some mill in Wisconson
As the big freighters go it was bigger than most
With a crew and the Captain well seasoned.
Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
When they left fully loaded for Cleveland
And later that night when the ships bell rang
Could it be the North Wind they'd been feeling.
The wind in the wires made a tattletale sound
And a wave broke over the railing
And every man knew, as the Captain did, too,
T'was the witch of November come stealing.
The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait
When the gales of November came slashing
When afternoon came it was freezing rain
In the face of a hurricane West Wind
When supper time came the old cook came on deck
Saying fellows it's too rough to feed ya
At 7PM a main hatchway caved in
He said fellas it's been good to know ya.
The Captain wired in he had water coming in
And the good ship and crew was in peril
And later that night when his lights went out of sight
Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Does anyone know where the love of God goes
When the words turn the minutes to hours
The searchers all say they'd have made Whitefish Bay
If they'd fifteen more miles behind her.
They might have split up or they might have capsized
They may have broke deep and took water
And all that remains is the faces and the names
Of the wives and the sons and the daughters.
Lake Huron rolls, Superior sings
In the ruins of her ice water mansion
Old Michigan steams like a young man's dreams,
The islands and bays are for sportsmen.
And farther below Lake Ontario
Takes in what Lake Erie can send her
And the iron boats go as the mariners all know
With the gales of November remembered.
In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed
In the Maritime Sailors' Cathedral
The church bell chimed, 'til it rang 29 times
For each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald.
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
Superior, they say, never gives up her dead
When the gales of November come early.
"Low key" is the perfect description for his act. He made music. That's all. He didn't strut or fret or pontificate. He played the music that made him famous.
When he got to "Don Quixote," I almost got misty. Songs like that come from the days of the troubadour, not from the plastic bands of the post-Modern world.
For a few hours that night, I was reminded of the heights to which Man can aspire.
And isn't that the purpose of art?
I saw him a few years ago when he was in Boise....it was funny to see the audience..alot of old farts like me!...Gordon was great...
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