“I’m Here (A Song for Canada)” is available for digital download today.
Kreviazuk to perform song during the 2011 Canada’s Walk of Fame Awards on Saturday, October 1.
(Toronto, Ontario) September 27, 2011 – Canada’s Walk of Fame today announced two-time JUNO Award-winner Chantal Kreviazuk as the recording artist for A Song For Canada, presented by RE/MAX. The highly anticipated song, titled “I’m Here (A Song for Canada)” features members of Toronto’s renowned Bach Children’s Chorus as well as a 35-piece string orchestra, Global Village.
“I’m Here (A Song for Canada)” is available for download on iTunes and wherever music is available digitally beginning today by Canada’s Walk of Fame music partner, Universal Music Canada. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the National Music Centre in Alberta, also the beneficiary of the Canada’s Walk of Fame Inductee Charity Ball.
In addition, Kreviazuk, accompanied by Raine Maida, Stephan Moccio and both the Global Village orchestra and members of the Bach Children’s Chorus, will perform the anthemic tune for the first time during the Canada’s Walk of Fame Awards on Saturday, October 1, from Toronto’s Elgin Theatre. The Awards will air on Global and Slice™ – Sunday, October 23 at 8:00 pm ET/PT.
“I was moved to sing a song specifically written about our country,” said Kreviazuk. “There is a diversity and spirit to Canada that is unique to any other country in the world. I hope others share in the emotion of pride and gratitude that I feel from the meaning in the song.”
“I’m Here (A Song for Canada)” was co-written by Kreviazuk along with pianist, producer and songwriter, Stephan Moccio (“I Believe”, 2010 Vancouver Olympics theme song), and singer/songwriter and front man for Our Lady Peace, Raine Maida. Calum Graham, of High River, Alberta, the winner of the A Song For Canada competition, also contributed lyrics.
“The song is a glimpse into the soul of Canadians. It is a homecoming – a familiar blanket – like the smell of home,” said Moccio. “It is motoric and changes like the layers of our country with every listen. I hope that people embrace and feel the warm energy Chantal, Raine, and I feel every time we experience it.”
“I always knew that this song would be great given the three powerhouse musicians that collaborated on it, but I didn’t anticipate the overwhelming sense of pride that I felt to be a citizen of this country after hearing just the rough recording for the first time,” said Peter Soumalias, CEO and Founding Director of Canada’s Walk of Fame. “Thank you to Stephan, Chantal, Raine and our competition winner Calum for this wonderful contribution to Canada’s legacy and our presenting partner RE/MAX for their ongoing support.”
The original score was composed and arranged by Moccio. Kreviazuk and Maida worked with Moccio on the melody. The winner of the song competition, Calum Graham, a budding songwriter and musician,n was also flown in from Alberta for the sessions and can also be heard playing guitar in the song. Vocals for “I’m Here (A Song for Canada)” were recorded at Moccio’s downtown Toronto studio, Maison de Musique. The orchestra session was held at Revolution Recording, also in Toronto. Base, drum and guitar recordings took place at Mississauga’s Metalworks Studios.
A Song for Canada – 2011 Timeline
May 31:
- Canada’s Walk of Fame launches “A Song For Canada” competition, presented by RE/MAX
- The competition (June 1 to July 15, 2011) offered Canadians a chance to make history and help create a song for Canada by submitting a 250-word poem or essay describing what they felt is the true essence of the Canadian identity
July 15:
- Competition closed for submissions; 631 entries received from across the country
- One in every 50,000 Canadians participated in this competition.
- Age of oldest applicant: 97
- 63 per cent of submissions from Ontario
- 63 per cent of female applicants
- Average age of applicants: 41
- Age of youngest applicant: 9
August 8:
- Top 10 finalists announced, including:
- Amanda Baldwin, Halifax, NS
- Sandra Brenneis, Sturgeon County, AB
- Catherine Brenan, Oakville, ON
- Vince Dixon, Sydney, NS
- Kateri D’Silva, Unionville, ON
- Calum Graham, High River, AB
- John Honess, Toronto, ON
- France Levesque, Saint John, NB
- Christine Poissant, Burnaby, BC
- Susan Stevenson, Aurora, ON
August 8 to August 19:
- Top 10 finalists’ submissions posted online for public review and comments on favourites.
August 22 to August 26:
- Judges reviewed submissions and selected a winner
- Judges include:
- Peter Soumalias, CEO and Founding Director of Canada’s Walk of Fame
- Acclaimed pianist, producer and songwriter, Stephan Moccio
- Canadian jazz-pop singer and 2010 Allan Slaight Award recipient, Nikki Yanofsky
- Two-time JUNO Award-winner, Chantal Kreviazuk
- Acclaimed singer/songwriter and front man for Our Lady Peace, Raine Maida
- Entertainment Tonight Canada co-host, Rick Campanelli.
August 29:
- Kreviazuk began recording vocals in studio with Moccio and Maida.
September 1:
- Winners announced
- 1st place: 19-year-old Calum Graham of High River, Alberta. Calum received $25,000, a trip for two to the 2011 Canada’s Walk of Fame Awards and Inductee Charity Ball, and studio recording time at Metalworks Studios valued at $10,000. In addition, a minimum of one line from his submission was included in the song and he also had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with Moccio, Maida and Kreviazuk.
- 2nd place: 10-year-old Catherine Brenan of Oakville, Ontario, who received a cash prize of $2,500
- 3rd place: Vince Dixon of Sydney, Nova Scotia, received a cash prize of $1,000.
September 7:
- Calum Graham arrived in Toronto to meet with the team and attend the recording sessions.
September 8:
- Moccio in studio to conduct the 35-piece string orchestra Global Village’s contribution to the song.
- Members of the Bach Children’s Chorus in the studio to lend their voices to the song.
September 9:
- Kreviazuk and Moccio are in the studio to record final vocals.
September 27:
- Song released for download on iTunes and wherever music is available digitally by Canada’s Walk of Fame music partner, Universal Music Canada.
October 1:
- Kreviazuk, accompanied by Maida, Moccio and both the Global Village orchestra and members of the Bach Children’s Chorus, to perform the song during the Canada’s Walk of Fame Awards held at the Elgin Theatre in Toronto, which will be later broadcast on Global and Slice™ on October 23 at 8:00 pm ET/PT.