TORONTO, August 4, 2015 – The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF) is pleased to announce the most recent songs to be inducted into the Hall of Fame: ‘When My Baby Smiles at Me’ and ‘Vivre en amour’. To celebrate their induction, these songs are included in the Covered Classics series, a collaboration between the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame and CBC/Radio-Canada that invites some of Canada’s finest musical talent to perform their own rendition of these songwriting treasures. This month, chanteuse Jill Barber pays tribute to the Hall of Fame’s newest song inductions with evocative performances of ‘When My Baby Smiles at Me’ and ‘Vivre en amour’.
“These songs demonstrate the wealth of songwriting talent we have in Canada and are a significant part of our musical heritage,” says Barber. Her rendition of ‘When My Baby Smiles at Me’ and ‘Vivre en amour’ channels Barber’s vintage spirit and distinct voice while remaining true to the original versions.
‘When My Baby Smiles at Me’, penned by Montreal composer, pianist and musical director Billy Munro, is the hit song that made big band leader Ted Lewis, of the celebrated Ted Lewis Orchestra, an international star. The song also inspired the eponymous 1948 Oscar-nominated film starring Betty Grable. This ragtime style song was once the toast of Broadway, has been celebrated from Carnegie Hall to The Copacabana nightclub, and recorded countless times over the past century by such notable artists including Bing Crosby, Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller.
‘Vivre en Amour’ was the first hit for Montreal-born Luc Cousineau as a solo artist, and was co-written with lyricist Roger Magnan. The song was released in May 1976 and quickly shot up the Quebec radio play charts. This widely recognized Quebec classic ballad about a utopian vision of love and harmony earned a SOCAN Classic Award in 1995 for over 25,000 radio airplays.
‘Vivre en amour’ was written four decades ago, yet it still resonates with new generations,” says Cousineau. “Its message of universal love is something we aspire to, and I’m truly honoured to have it recognized by such a prestigious organization.”
“Writing a song isn’t easy, but writing a great song with a lasting legacy is even more difficult,” says Magnan. “It’s an honour to have ‘Vivre en amour’ recognized by the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame as having made a significant contribution to music in Canada.”
For a complete list of 2015 Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame song inductions and links to the new Covered Classics versions, visit https://cshfprd.wpenginepowered.com/inductionceremony/2015-song-inductions/
About the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (www.uatcshf.ca) honours and celebrates Canadian songwriters and those who have dedicated their lives to the legacy of music, and works to educate the public about these achievements. National and non-profit, the Hall of Fame is guided by its own board of directors who comprise both Anglophone and Francophone music creators and publishers, as well as representation from the record industry. In December 2011, SOCAN (the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada) acquired the Hall of Fame. The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame’s mandate aligns with SOCAN’s objectives as a songwriter and publisher membership-based organization.
About CBCMusic.ca
CBCMusic.ca (www.cbcmusic.ca) is Canada’s free digital music service connecting Canadians with the very best in Canadian and international music, concerts and features. Simple and easy to navigate, CBCMusic.ca gives music fans access to 50 Web radio stations, 12 distinct genre-based music communities, CBC Radio 2 and CBC Radio 3, plus content from the most knowledgeable music personalities and programmers from across the country, hundreds of concerts, playlists and more.
About ICIMusique.ca
ICIMusique.ca (www.icimusique.ca) is Radio-Canada’s online music platform. It allows Canadians to stream live radio, and listen to over 150 channels of web radio, albums streaming, special features and music news.
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Media contact, to arrange an interview:
Christine Liber, Liberty Ink Communications (for CSHF)
Christine@LibertyInk.ca, 416-651-4722 x 1
