Celebration time, come on!
“To Be Safe, Loved & Home (2020)” Craig Cardiff’s viral video with fans and friends battles the pandemic blues
If there was ever a sentiment befitting of the times, it’s JUNO and CFMA-nominated singer/songwriter Craig Cardiff’s cozied, homespun video version of song “To Be Safe, Loved & Home” The video has become a much appreciated moment of lightness and positivity having been viewed over 150,000 times on Facebook and YouTube in the past few days.
Recognizing the songs’ relevance to the situation today, even though it was written and originally released several years ago, Craig asked his fans to share videos of themselves acting out the signs he has got fans at his concerts to do at every show, body positions that evoke human symbols of chorus lyrics to be “Safe”, “Loved” and “Home”. Over 50 people sent in videos of themselves, and for each submission Craig’s label True North Records is contributing $50 to the Unison Benevolent Fund, an organization that provides financial support to musicians and music industry people facing economic hardship.
It’s unsurprising Cardiff would rise to today’s uncertain times in such an thoughtful, inviting way; for almost a decade, the Waterloo, Ontario-based artist dubbed by Gordon Lightfoot as a “songwriter who needs to be heard” has passed around a notebook titled ‘Book of Truths’ during shows, encouraging the audience to write and share something — a story, a confession, a hope or a secret — they might be too afraid to say out loud.
As a result, Cardiff often finds himself responding by writing songs that offer glimmers of hope for people to hold onto; “To Be Safe, Loved & Home” — especially during COVID-19 — lands no differently.
Re-released especially for 2020, “To Be Safe, Loved & Home” is the latest to be added to Cardiff’s growing library where he has been streamed more than 100 million times, and heard on NBC’s award-winning television series This Is Us.
He has played with and opened for artists such as Justin Nozuka, Glen Phillips, Lucy Kaplansky, Dan Bern, Natalia Zukerman, Andy Stochansky, Sarah Harmer, Kathleen Edwards, Blue Rodeo, Gordon Downie, Hawksley Workman, Sarah Slean, Skydiggers, 54-40, and more.
Nominations for a JUNO Award (Roots and Traditional Album of the Year: Solo) and Canadian Folk Music Award (Contemporary Singer of the Year) round off a growing list of workshops and talks at schools, camps, festivals, and churches throughout North America and Hong Kong, as well as TED x University of Western Ontario, TED x Kanata and TED x KitchenerED.
Craig Cardiff is signed to True North Records, and represented by APA Agency, and Tom Sarig and his Esther Creative Group in New York City.
“To Be Safe, Loved & Home (2020) is available on all major music platforms.
The Barenaked Ladies’ “Pinch Me” From Their Homes
“We are isolating, but we are not isolated.” Check out Barenaked Ladies perform their hit “Pinch Me” from the comfort of their own living rooms.
What happened when two regular guys partied with Van Halen for a weekend?
The Hangover will be EPIC.
Travel back to a simpler time — a time when hair metal ruled the Earth; a time before legal release forms; the time when “Lost Weekend,” today’s pick for A Short Film a Day Keeps Anxiety Away, took place.
This documentary by Bradford Thomason and Brett Whitcomb tells the story of two 20-year-olds from Phoenixville, PA who won a contest to party with rock band Van Halen, then in their debaucherous prime.
But, of course, it’s not all glitz and glamour — there’s a dark twist.
1-minute tip for artists: Poll Your Audience
Here’s the big secret. People on social media love to give their opinions.
👕 Jesse Cook
Video: David Bowie’s internet TV show, Internet Tonight from 1999.
Here are a few clips from David Bowie’s Internet Tonight show on June 16, 1999 featuring “The Cyber Song Contest” from the recording session at New York’s Looking Glass Studio, as David Bowie records the song written by Bowienet Cyber Song contest winner, Alex Grant.
Video: Rare, live streaming session from David Bowie on Bowienet, his own Internet service provider in 2003
Following the launch of www.bowieart.com the previous December, a BowieNet pre-launch site was hastily posted on the www.davidbowie.com home page in August 1998 (due to prematurely released information by EMI-Canada) and BowieNet proper was announced worldwide. BowieNet was then activated fully, four days later on September 1st, 1998.
Here’s Miles Davis teaching Nicholas Cage how to hold a trumpet in 1986
This is a great interview with Dick Cavett and the great Miles Davis.
STRONGER TOGETHER, TOUS ENSEMBLE Extends to 90 Minutes as New Broadcasters Join the Largest Single-Show Broadcast Event in Canadian History
After incredible response and interest, the previously announced all-Canadian special, STRONGER TOGETHER, TOUS ENSEMBLE, has been extended to a 90-minute broadcast now airing 30 minutes earlier at 6:30 p.m. across all markets / 7 p.m. NT on Sunday, April 26. The event, in support of frontline workers fighting the battle against COVID-19, and Food Banks Canada, has become the largest single-show broadcast in Canadian history, with 10 additional broadcasters joining Bell Media, CBC/Radio-Canada, Corus Entertainment, Groupe V Média, and Rogers Sports & Media to present the star-studded, commercial-free broadcast, now available on an unprecedented 120 platforms.
New broadcasters joining the STRONGER TOGETHER, TOUS ENSEMBLE broadcast include ATN, APTN, Blue Ant Media, Wild Brain, Hollywood Suite, NTV, OUTtv, Stingray, Super Channel, and Unis TV. As well, more than four dozen new radio stations have come on board, including Bell Media’s EZ Rock as well as participating stations from Arctic Radio, Blackburn, First Peoples Radio, Harvard, Pattison, Rawlco, Stingray, and Vista radio networks (see broadcast details below).
Conceived and produced in an unprecedented collaboration between Insight Productions, Bell Media Studios, and CBC/Radio-Canada, STRONGER TOGETHER, TOUS ENSEMBLE is presented in part through the support of MADE | NOUS, the national, consumer-focused, industry-wide movement recognizing and celebrating creative Canadian talent.
Canadians who are able are invited to donate to Food Banks Canada in association with the broadcast to support local food banks from coast-to-coast-to-coast as they face the drastic impacts of COVID-19.
Featuring a mix of music, messages, and more, STRONGER TOGETHER, TOUS ENSEMBLE presents homegrown artists, activists, actors, and athletes sharing their stories of hope and inspiration in a national salute to frontline workers combatting COVID-19. Canadian talent are uniting to show everyone working on the front lines of this pandemic that we are all #StrongerTogether.
With final participants to be announced tomorrow, talent performing and appearing to date include Alessia Cara, Arkells, Barenaked Ladies, Bianca Andreescu, Bryan Adams, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Céline Dion, Chris Hadfield, Connor McDavid, David Suzuki, Eric McCormack, Hayley Wickenheiser, Howie Mandel, Jann Arden, Jason Priestley, Margaret Atwood, Marie-Mai, Michael Bublé, Penny Oleksiak, Rick Hansen, Rick Mercer, Russell Peters, Sarah McLachlan, Shania Twain, Sofia Reyes, Tessa Virtue, Will Arnett, William Prince, and more.
Broadcast Details
STRONGER TOGETHER, TOUS ENSEMBLE will air on at least 120 platforms, including live, simultaneous French translation on ICI ARTV, SériesPlus, VRAK, V, and Unis TV. The special can also be viewed on:
44 TV Platforms:
ABC Spark, ATN HD, ATN LIFE, ATN PUNJABI PLUS, ATN PM ONE, ATN TAMIL (JAYA TV), ATN GUJARATI, ATN BANGLA, ATN CRICKET PLUS, ATN FOOD FOOD, APTN, A.Side, BBC Earth, CBC, CBN, Citytv, Cottage Life, CP24, CTV, CTV2, FX, Family Channel, Global, HIFI, Hollywood Suite 2000s, ICI ARTV, Love Nature, MUCH, MTV, National Geographic, Makeful, NTV, OMNI Television, OUTtv, SériesPlus, Slice, Smithsonian Channel Canada, Stingray Hits, Stingray Retro, Super Channel Fuse, TSN, Unis TV, V, VRAK
12 Streaming Platforms:
CBC.ca, CBC Gem, CBC Listen app, CTV.ca, CTV app, Citytv.com, ETCanada.com, Global TV app, GlobalTV.com, GlobalNews.ca, iHeartRadio.ca, iHeartRadio Canada app
53 Radio Platforms:
CBC Music, CBC Radio One, EZ Rock, Sirius XM Channel 169, Virgin Radio as well as additional stations from Arctic Radio, Bell Media, Blackburn, First Peoples Radio, Harvard, Pattison, Rawlco, Stingray, and Vista radio networks
11 On Demand Platforms:
CBC Gem, Crave, CTV.ca, CTV app, Global TV app, GlobalTV.com, ICI TOU.TV, iHeartRadio.ca, iHeartRadio Canada app, Stingray Qello, Super Channel On Demand
Food Banks Canada
Viewers and listeners who are able are invited to support Food Banks Canada’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Food banks are concerned about the amount of food they have in stock as demand increases while food donations and volunteers decline rapidly. Funds raised as a result of STRONGER TOGETHER, TOUS ENSEMBLE will be used to source essential food and support items across the Canadian food bank network and support operational innovation, including creating alternative delivery systems to best serve people in need during COVID-19.
How to Donate:
SMS: Text COVID to 30333 to donate $5, $10, or $20
CBC/Radio-Canada And Canada Council For The Arts Announce “Digital Originals” Funding Initiative To Support Canadian Arts Community
CBC/Radio-Canada and the Canada Council for the Arts today announced the creation of Digital Originals, a new time-limited funding initiative to help artists, groups and arts organizations pivot their work to online audiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will directly benefit creators of original digital content.
The Canada Council will provide a total of $1 million in funding to successful applicants to develop, create and share original or adapted works with Canadian audiences online. CBC/Radio-Canada will showcase and amplify the discoverability of select projects on one or more of its platforms.
The Digital Originals initiative will allow artists, creators and makers to apply for a maximum of $5000 in funding per project. The Canada Council will fund approximately 200 projects. CBC/Radio-Canada will curate and feature select projects in a digital showcase; these showcased projects will receive a $1000 grant supplement. Artists can apply with a brand-new work or adapt their work for online sharing. For more information, please visit the Canada Council for the Arts website.
Also launching today is CBC’s Art Uncontained, a rich collection from CBC Arts offering inspiration for audiences and support to the Canadian artistic community in these unprecedented times. New original content includes:
- CBC Podcasts’ PlayME: The Show Must Go On, featuring adaptations from Canadian playwrights whose projects have been disrupted by the pandemic;
- COVID Residencies, video diaries from artists sharing how isolation has affected their art;
- Showcasing provocative original theatre from the National Theatre School of Canada’s Art Apart program, which supports young and emerging Canadian theatre artists;
- Scenes From An Exhibition, offering exclusive virtual tours of Canada’s finest galleries and museums;
- CBC Books’ Transmission, featuring Canadian writers reflecting on these uncertain times;
- CBC Music’s Quarantunes, highlighting Canadian music created in isolation;
- A COVID-19 resource list for artists and freelancers; and weekly virtual arts listings to help people explore culture from home.
Radio-Canada also continues to add new cultural offerings to its digital platforms:
- La commande culturelle is asking Canadians to submit their ideas for special cultural commissions—songs, readings, poetry, dance, comedy acts, or visual art to help them get through these trying times. These “command performances” will be published on Radio-Canada.ca and on its Facebook page.
- On the Radio-Canada OHdio app, Théâtre à la carte gives listeners the chance to revisit original theatre productions that were recently on stage or on the radio, adding to the app’s robust cultural offering of comedy shows, audio books and music playlists that showcase Canadian talent.
- ICI ARTV, Canada’s only French-language specialty channel focused on culture, continues to promote local artists and their works through its programming, on its social media and on ICI.ARTV.CA.