Choir! Choir! Choir!

Last updated

Choir! Choir! Choir! is a Canadian musical choir, based in Toronto, Ontario. [1] Instead of a traditional organizational model, the choir is structured as an open participation group where anybody who wants to attend an event is welcome to perform as part of the choir. [2]

Contents

History

The group was founded in 2011 by Daveed Goldman and Nobu Adilman, [1] initially as a one-off event for the birthday party of Matt Murphy. [3] Meeting at Clinton's Tavern in Toronto twice weekly, [2] each performance revolves around a single song, starting with Goldman and Adilman teaching the song's arrangement to the participants, and culminating in a live performance of the song. [1]

2015

In December 2015, they performed John Lennon's "Imagine" at Lee's Palace as a fundraising event to raise money for Syrian refugees. [4] The event raised enough money to sponsor two full families. [3] In the same month, they collaborated with BADBADNOTGOOD to perform the holiday classic "Christmas Time Is Here".

2016

The group attracted widespread media attention for several performances in 2016. Their rendition of David Bowie's "Space Oddity", performed at the Art Gallery of Ontario six days after Bowie's death, went viral on the internet and saw the choir invited to perform at two Bowie tribute shows in New York City, at Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall; [5] a performance of Prince's "When Doves Cry" in May 2016 drew 1,999 participants to Massey Hall; [6] [7] [8] and their regular Clinton's Tavern session on May 25, 2016 was devoted to The Tragically Hip's "Ahead by a Century" following musician Gord Downie's announcement earlier in the week of his diagnosis with terminal brain cancer. [9] On June 19, 2016, they performed Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors" at Nathan Phillips Square, at a memorial vigil for the Orlando nightclub shooting. [10] The choir has also performed as an opening act for Patti Smith and Jay Leno, [3] and as supporting musicians with Tegan and Sara. [3]

2017

On October 24, 2017, they hosted a public gathering at Nathan Phillips Square in tribute to Gord Downie, who had died a week earlier. [11] This gathering, unusually, focused on performances of multiple songs by The Tragically Hip instead of just one, including "Ahead by a Century", "Bobcaygeon", "Courage (for Hugh MacLennan)" and "Poets". [11] On November 26, 2017, they performed "O Canada" before the 2017 Grey Cup in Ottawa. [12]

2018

In January 2018, Goldman and Adilman teamed up with David Byrne at New York City's Public Theatre for a Choir! Choir! Choir! EPIC Night performing David Bowie's classic anthem "Heroes".

In April 2018, Rick Astley joined with the choir for a performance of his 1987 hit "Never Gonna Give You Up", which had a burst of renewed publicity in the mid-2010s due to the internet phenomenon of rickrolling. [13] One of the attendees at that show, Mattea Roach, later referenced it during her championship streak on the game show Jeopardy! . [14] On October 11, 2018, six days before the one-year anniversary of Downie's death, the Tragically Hip's Johnny Fay and Rob Baker joined Choir! Choir! Choir! at Yonge-Dundas Square for a live performance of the Tragically Hip's "Grace, Too". [15]

2019

On April 5, 2019, Choir! Choir Choir! performed The Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun" at Nathan Phillips Square as part of the Daffodil Campaign, a Canadian Cancer Society fundraiser. As the event began, Goldman and Adilman invited a 23-year-old woman named Sabrina, a 10-year cancer survivor, to the microphone to speak. Choir participants raised aloft hundreds of daffodils, provided by the Canadian Cancer Society, as the song ended.

2020

In March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the organizers announced that they would livestream a virtual singalong, featuring the songs "Stand By Me", "You've Got a Friend", "Space Oddity", "Wish You Were Here", "Lean on Me", "With a Little Help From My Friends" and "I'll Be There for You", on March 17. [16]

2024

On September 5, 2024, Goldman and Adilman led a public singalong of several Tragically Hip songs following the theatrical premiere of the documentary series The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. [17]

Awards

The group were finalists for "Torontonian of the Year" on CBLA-FM's Metro Morning in 2015. [18]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Tragically Hip</span> Canadian rock band

The Tragically Hip, often referred to simply as the Hip, were a Canadian rock band formed in Kingston, Ontario in 1984, consisting of vocalist Gord Downie, guitarist Paul Langlois, guitarist Rob Baker, bassist Gord Sinclair, and drummer Johnny Fay. They released 13 studio albums, one live album, one EP, and over 50 singles over a 33-year career. Nine of their albums have reached No. 1 on the Canadian charts. They have received numerous Canadian music awards, including 17 Juno Awards. Between 1996 and 2016, the Tragically Hip were the best-selling Canadian band in Canada and the fourth best-selling Canadian artist overall in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gord Downie</span> Canadian musician and writer (1964–2017)

Gordon Edgar Downie was a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, musician, writer, and activist. He was the singer and lyricist for the Canadian rock band the Tragically Hip, which he fronted from its formation in 1984 until his death in 2017. He is revered by many as an inspiring and influential artist in Canada's music history.

<i>That Night in Toronto</i> 2005 video by The Tragically Hip

That Night in Toronto is a live concert DVD featuring Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip, filmed and directed by filmmaking brothers Pierre and Francois Lamoureux.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slush Puppie Place</span> Indoor arena in downtown Kingston, Ontario

Slush Puppie Place is an indoor arena in downtown Kingston, Ontario. Opened in 2008, it is the home of the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League.

"Fifty Mission Cap" is a song by Canadian rock group The Tragically Hip. It was released in January 1993 as the second single from the band's third full-length album, Fully Completely. It was first played in front of a live concert audience at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto on December 16, 1991.

"Bobcaygeon" is a song by Canadian rock band the Tragically Hip. It was released in February 1999 as a single from their sixth album, Phantom Power, and has come to be recognized as one of the band's most enduring and beloved signature songs.

The Strombo Show is a Canadian radio show hosted by George Stroumboulopoulos, which aired from 2005 to 2023 across various Canadian radio stations and networks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ahead by a Century</span> 1996 single by the Tragically Hip

"Ahead by a Century" is a song by Canadian rock band the Tragically Hip. It was released as the lead single from the band's fifth studio album, Trouble at the Henhouse. The song reached number one on Canada's singles chart, and is the band's most successful single in their native Canada. It was one of the 10 most-played songs in Canada in 1996. The song was nominated for "Best Single" at the 1997 Juno Awards. The song was certified platinum in Canada in 2016.

<i>The Grand Bounce</i> 2010 studio album by Gord Downie and the Country of Miracles

The Grand Bounce is the third solo album by Gord Downie, the lead singer of The Tragically Hip. It was released on 8 June 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grace, Too</span> 1994 single by The Tragically Hip

"Grace, Too" is a song by Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip. It was released in September 1994 as the lead single from their fourth studio album, Day for Night. The song peaked at number 11 on the RPM Canadian Singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nautical Disaster</span> 1995 single by The Tragically Hip

"Nautical Disaster" is a song by Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip. It was released in February 1995 as the third single from the band's 1994 album, Day for Night. The song peaked at number 26 on the Canadian RPM Singles chart. The song was performed by the band on their 1995 appearance on Saturday Night Live, along with their previous single "Grace, Too".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juno Awards of 2017</span> Edition of Canadian music award ceremony

The Juno Awards of 2017, honouring Canadian music achievements, were presented in Ottawa, Ontario the weekend of 1–2 April 2017. The ceremonies were held at the Canadian Tire Centre in Kanata and televised on CTV with Bryan Adams and Russell Peters as co-hosts. The duo replaced Michael Bublé, who was originally scheduled to host the show.

<i>Man Machine Poem</i> 2016 studio album by the Tragically Hip

Man Machine Poem is the thirteenth and final studio album by Canadian rock band the Tragically Hip, released on June 17, 2016 on Universal Music Canada. It is their last album to be released before the death of lead singer Gord Downie, as well as their last to be composed of new material. Produced by Kevin Drew and Dave Hamelin, the album is named after a track which appeared on the band's previous album Now for Plan A.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Man Machine Poem Tour</span> 2016 concert tour by the Tragically Hip

The Man Machine Poem Tour was a concert tour by the Tragically Hip in support of their thirteenth full-length studio album Man Machine Poem. The tour consisted of 15 shows, the first held on July 22, 2016, in Victoria, British Columbia, and the last held on August 20, 2016, at Rogers K-Rock Centre in Kingston, Ontario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Prince (musician)</span> Canadian musician (born 1986)

William Prince is a Canadian folk and country singer-songwriter based in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

<i>And the Conquering Sun</i> 2014 studio album by Gord Downie and The Sadies

And the Conquering Sun is a collaborative album by Gord Downie and The Sadies, released on Arts & Crafts Productions in 2014.

<i>Introduce Yerself</i> 2017 studio album by Gord Downie

Introduce Yerself is the sixth solo album by Canadian singer and songwriter Gord Downie, released posthumously on October 27, 2017, ten days after his death. A double album consisting of 23 songs which Downie has described as each being about specific people in his life, it was the last solo album Downie completed, although his brothers Patrick and Mike subsequently confirmed that additional unreleased material would be released in the future; the album Away Is Mine, which comprises the last songs Downie ever recorded and was completed by producer Nyles Spencer following Downie's death, was released in 2020.

The Poet Laureate of Ontario is the poet laureate for the province of Ontario in Canada. The position was established in 2019 as an office of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in honour of musician and writer Gord Downie.

<i>Saskadelphia</i> 2021 EP by The Tragically Hip

Saskadelphia is an EP by Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip, released on May 21, 2021.

The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal is a Canadian television documentary series, slated to premiere on Prime Video in 2024. Directed by filmmaker Mike Downie, the four-episode series profiles the history of the influential Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip, including interviews with the band members and other cultural figures including actor Will Arnett and broadcaster George Stroumboulopoulos.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Choir! Choir! Choir! Celebrates Five Years". Torontoist , February 2, 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Choir Sings Justin Bieber's 'Sorry' And It's Totally Actually Amazing". Huffington Post , January 6, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Breathing New Life Into Pop Songs with Choir! Choir! Choir!". The New Yorker , June 17, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Choir! Choir! Choir! sings it for Syria". Now , December 1, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Toronto’s Choir! Choir! Choir! goes from Clinton’s to Carnegie Hall". Toronto Star , March 31, 2016.
  6. ↑ Ortved, John (17 June 2016). "Breathing New Life Into Pop Songs with Choir! Choir! Choir!". The New Yorker. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  7. ↑ Rinaldi, Luc (9 May 2016). "Watch a 2,000-person choir sing Prince". Toronto Life. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  8. ↑ "This is what it sounds like when 1,999 people sing “When Doves Cry”" [usurped] . Chartattack.com , May 16, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Choir! Choir! Choir! sings “Ahead by a Century” in a touching tribute to Gord Downie" [usurped] . chartattack.com , May 27, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Toronto tribute to Orlando victims planned for City Hall". BlogTO, June 16, 2016.
  11. 1 2 "Watch Choir! Choir! Choir! unite Tragically Hip fans with a Gord Downie tribute". CBC Music, October 25, 2017.
  12. ↑ "TSN exclusively delivers live coverage of the 105th Grey Cup presented by Shaw". TSN. November 22, 2017. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
  13. ↑ Aynslee Darmon, "Rick Astley joins Toronto’s Choir! Choir! Choir! for ’Never Gonna Give You Up’ cover". Global News, April 18, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Toronto tutor Mattea Roach cruises to 'Jeopardy!' win No. 22". Calgary Herald , May 4, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Watch the Tragically Hip join Choir! Choir! Choir! for a touching rendition of Grace, Too". Q , October 17, 2018.
  16. ↑ Allie Gregory, "Choir! Choir! Choir! Hosting Virtual 'Social Distan-Sing-Along'". Exclaim! , March 17 and March 21, 2020.
  17. ↑ David Friend, "Tragically Hip fans belt out band’s classics en masse as TIFF gets underway". Toronto Star , September 5, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Torontonians of the year: Choir! Choir! Choir! Choir group sings popular songs while building community". Metro Morning , December 17, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.