Kon Kan

Last updated

Kon Kan
Barry Harris 2023.jpg
Barry Harris of Kon Kan, 2023
Background information
Origin Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres
Years active1988–1994, 2013–present
Labels
Members Barry Harris
Past membersKevin Wynne
Website Kon Kan on Facebook

Kon Kan is a Canadian synth-pop project conceived and formed in 1988 by Barry Harris in Toronto, Ontario. Kon Kan were awarded a 1990 Juno for the song "I Beg Your Pardon" and nominated for a 1991 Juno Award for the single "Puss N' Boots/These Boots Are Made for Walkin'". [1]

Contents

History

Band name

Musician Barry Harris said the name "Kon Kan" is a play on the term "Can Con", the Canadian radio regulation that states radio stations must play Canadian artists at least 30% of the time. Harris named the group "Kon Kan" as a subtle advertisement to Canadian stations that he was Canadian. However, he said the move didn't work, and he wasn't noticed by the stations until Atlantic Records signed them. [2]

"I Beg Your Pardon"

"I Beg Your Pardon" was inspired in part by both the Pet Shop Boys hit single "Always on My Mind" and an increasingly prevalent use of sampling by artists such as Public Enemy, M/A/R/R/S and Coldcut. [3] The track sampled Lynn Anderson's 1971 hit "(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden", Silver Convention's 1976 hit "Get Up and Boogie (That's Right)", GQ's "Disco Nights (Rock-Freak)", Tones on Tail's "Go!", Spagna's "Call Me", National Lampoon's "Disco Hotline" sketch from their That's Not Funny, That's Sick album, and the opening bars from the theme music from The Magnificent Seven (which was also well known as the theme to a commercial for Marlboro cigarettes in the 1960s). [4] [5]

In a 1989 Billboard magazine interview, Harris reported it was a trip to Portugal that inspired him to write "I Beg Your Pardon", stating that he "got frustrated not getting anywhere as a DJ, so I went to Portugal to clear my mind. That's where the idea for 'Beg' came." The record was Harris' first studio project. [6]

Move to Move (1989)

Kon Kan's debut album, Move to Move , was recorded in Los Angeles in January and February 1989. Later that year, it appeared on the RPM Top 100 Albums chart. [7] As well as "I Beg Your Pardon", it also spawned the singles "Harry Houdini", "Move to Move" and "Puss N' Boots". The latter track included samples and interpolations of Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" and "Good Times Bad Times", Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" and the Champs' "Tequila".

Vida!... (1993)

Following the commercial failure of Syntonic, Kon Kan was dropped from Atlantic Records' roster.

For the next album, Vida!... (Hypnotic Records), Harris resumed songwriting duties with Bob Mitchell and Kon Kan expanded to a 4-piece band. Along with original songs such as the album's lead single "Sinful Wishes", there was a remake of "Move to Move" and a cover of David Bowie's "Moonage Daydream". The second single released from the album was "S.O.L." (short for "shit outta luck").

In April 2020, Harris released Vida! worldwide digitally with additional previously unreleased remixes. [8]

2013 reformation, Lost 80's Live 2022 tour and 2023/24 live tour

In June 2013, Barry Harris and Kevin Wynne briefly reunited as Kon Kan, but went their separate ways again in the spring of 2014.

On 16 May 2022, Harris posted a letter to Kon Kan's Facebook Page to announce that he will not be performing as part of the band for the Lost 80's Live 2022 U.S. tour, and that he allowed Wynne to use the Kon Kan name for the said 2022 tour. He also said that there will not be any new Kon Kan music. Also performing as part of the band was Sandy Horne of Spoons. [9]

On October 21, 2023, Harris announced on Kon Kan's Facebook Page the new Kon Kan 2023/2024 live touring band featuring himself (vocals, keyboards, guitar) with new band members Kimberley Wetmore (vocals), Christian McFadden (vocals, bass, keyboards), Adam Weatherup (guitar) and Tim Fleming (drums, percussion). [10]

Kon Kan discography

Albums

Singles

YearTitlePeak chart positionsAlbum
CAN US UK
[11]
GER NLD AUS
[12] [13]
NZ
[14]
1988"I Beg Your Pardon"19155831007Move to Move
"Harry Houdini"398815614
1989"Puss N' Boots/These Boots Are Made for Walkin'"615817311
"Move to Move"84
1990"Liberty!"91152Syntonic
"(Could've Said) I Told You So"72
1993"Better Day"
"Sinful Wishes"75Vida!...
"S.O.L."
1994"I Beg Your Pardon (I Never Promised You a Rose Garden)" (re-recorded for Hi-Bias Records)I Beg Your Pardon (I Never
Promised You a Rose Garden)
(EP)
2007"I Beg Your Pardon (I Never Promised You a Rose Garden)"2007 Remixes(iTunes release)
2014"I Beg Your Pardon 2014" (Barry Harris presents Kon Kan)"I Beg Your Pardon 2014"
(Edson Pride Remixes / Part 2)
2021"Arias & Symphonies"Spoons "Echoes"
(various artists)
2023"Stars"Non-album singles
2023"Sinful Wishes (2023 Moonlight Mix)" (feat. Kimberley Wetmore)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crash Test Dummies</span> Canadian rock band

Crash Test Dummies are a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thunderpuss</span> American remix/production team

Thunderpuss is the remix/production team of Los Angeles–based music producers Barry Harris and Chris Cox. Harris had previously worked as part of several music groups including Kon Kan, Top Kat, Killer Bunnies and Outta Control and had also released several solo singles himself. Cox, a musician and DJ, had also worked for years as a DJ and producer, producing a megamix of Paula Abdul songs, among other things, and started his own record label, Interhit Records, with Jeff Johnson.

Outta Control, and later Killer Bunnies, was a Canadian house/Eurodance project based out of Toronto, Ontario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barry Harris (Canadian musician)</span> Canadian musician

Barry Harris is a Canadian record producer, DJ, remixer, singer and songwriter. He created the recording act he named Kon Kan in early 1988 which had worldwide success with "I Beg Your Pardon". The song, initially issued on the now defunct Toronto-based indie label Revolving Records, was quickly discovered and signed by Atlantic Records' A&R rep, Marc Nathan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walkin' on the Sun</span> 1997 single by Smash Mouth

"Walkin' on the Sun" is a song by American rock band Smash Mouth from their first album, Fush Yu Mang (1997). Released as their debut single in June 1997, the song was Smash Mouth's first major single, reaching No. 1 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart. It was also a success abroad, peaking at No. 3 in Canada and Iceland, No. 5 in Italy and Spain, and No. 7 in Australia, where it is certified platinum for shipments exceeding 70,000 units.

The Juno Awards of 1991, representing Canadian music industry achievements of the previous year, were awarded on 3 March 1991 in Vancouver, British Columbia at a ceremony in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Paul Shaffer was the host for the ceremonies, which were broadcast on CBC Television.

Puss in Boots is a European fairy tale about an anthropomorphic cat that helps its owner gain riches and fortune.

Duane Björklund known professionally as Duane Steele, is a Canadian country music artist. He has released five studio albums and one greatest hits album, and has charted multiple singles on the Canadian country singles charts, including the Number One hit "Anita Got Married" in 1996. A new album entitled "Drive On" was released in 2019.

<i>Move to Move</i> 1989 studio album by Kon Kan

Move to Move is the debut album by Kon Kan, released in 1989 on Atlantic Records. It spawned the singles "I Beg Your Pardon", "Harry Houdini", "Puss N' Boots" and "Move to Move". The album reached number 69 in Canada. "I Beg Your Pardon" was a top 20 hit in at least six countries, going top 5 in the UK and the Netherlands.

"Disco Nights (Rock-Freak)" is a song written by Emanuel LeBlanc, Herb Lane, Keith Crier and Paul Service and performed by American band GQ, from their 1979 debut studio album Disco Nights. The song was produced by Larkin Arnold, Beau Ray and Fleming Jimmy Simpson. The original title is "(Rock-Freaks) Disco / Boogie".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)</span> 1981 single by Ottawan

"Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)" is a 1981 song by Ottawan. It was the band's second-biggest international hit single, after their 1979 hit "D.I.S.C.O.".

Family Brown was a Canadian country music band founded in 1967 by Joe Brown, along with his son Barry and daughters Lawanda and Tracey (vocals), as well as Dave Dennison (guitar) and Ron Sparling (drums). Between 1967 and 1990, the band charted several singles in both Canada and the United States. The band also won eighteen Canadian Country Music Association awards, the most received by any artist. After disbanding in 1990, Barry and Tracey Brown and Randall Prescott formed the group Prescott-Brown in 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Beg Your Pardon</span> 1988 single by Kon Kan

"I Beg Your Pardon (I Never Promised You a Rose Garden)" is the debut single by Canadian duo Kon Kan, from their 1989 debut album Move to Move. It was written and produced by Barry Harris. American musician Joe South also received a songwriting credit, due to the song's sampling of Lynn Anderson's 1970 hit "Rose Garden", which South wrote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry Houdini (song)</span> 1989 single by Kon Kan

"Harry Houdini" is a song by Canadian duo Kon Kan, released as the second single from their 1989 debut album Move to Move. The song did not match the success of their previous single "I Beg Your Pardon", managing to just scrape into the top forty in their native Canada at No. 39 and peaking at No. 88 in the UK, although it was a bigger hit in New Zealand, where it reached No. 14 in September 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puss N' Boots/These Boots Are Made for Walkin'</span> 1989 single by Kon Kan

"Puss N' Boots/These Boots " is a song by Canadian duo Kon Kan, released as the third single from their 1989 debut album Move to Move. The song peaked at No. 61 in their native Canada, and at No. 58 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. In October 1989, the song peaked at No. 11 in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Move to Move (song)</span> 1989 single by Kon Kan

"Move to Move" is a song by Canadian duo Kon Kan, released as the fourth single from their 1989 debut album Move to Move. The song peaked at No. 84 in Canada.

"Rose Garden" is a song written in 1967 by American singer-songwriter Joe South. It was first recorded by Billy Joe Royal on his 1967 studio album Billy Joe Royal Featuring "Hush". Versions by South himself and Dobie Gray appeared shortly after the original. Gray's version became a minor hit in North America in 1969.

<i>Syntonic</i> (album) 1990 studio album by Kon Kan

Syntonic is the second album by Kon Kan, released in 1990 by Atlantic Records. Syntonic was the first Kon Kan album to solely feature Barry Harris; Kevin Wynne had departed the previous year.

<i>Vida!...</i> 1993 studio album by Kon Kan

Vida!... is the third album by Kon Kan, released only in Canada in 1993 by Hypnotic Records.

Michael Breen is the former stage name of Michel Pépin a Canadian pop and rock singer and session musician. Although he released only one album as a solo artist, he had a hit single with "Rain" in 1987 and received a Juno Award nomination for Most Promising Male Vocalist at the Juno Awards of 1989.

References

  1. "Juno Awards Database". Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  2. "Interview with Barry Harris of Kon Kan". Kickin' it Old School. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  3. Lost Albums : KON KAN Move To Move | The Electricity Club Archived 21 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Kon Kan's I Beg Your Pardon sample of Lynn Anderson's Rose Garden | WhoSampled
  5. "The Marlboro Man". National Public Radio. 21 October 2002. Archived from the original on 1 December 2002. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  6. Richliano, James (12 August 1989). "Kon Kan Is on The 'Move' With New Album" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. p. 9. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  7. "RPM Top 100 Albums". RPM Magazine Volume 50, No. 24 14 October 1989.
  8. https://www.facebook.com/konkanofficial/posts/pfbid0237MrxXwMkVwQZdbakcF66BLwtGMe9462GCND6fe5898YfqmNnFdQWubEjro9owutl [ bare URL ]
  9. https://www.facebook.com/konkanofficial/posts/680865833328024 [ user-generated source ]
  10. https://www.facebook.com/konkanofficial/posts/pfbid0W7DTeNb2JijGjU3QpM7rQcBoRPx9CaR2GLsUgAhQWnp6CXvgw4MtVZWvfUtDASwTl [ bare URL ]
  11. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 306. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  12. "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 15 July 2015". Imgur. Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  13. "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing 25 February 1991" . Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  14. "Kon Kan Discography". charts.nz. Retrieved 24 March 2013.