canspice.org

From the CBC:

One of this country’s most familiar tunes may have been heard on CBC-TV for the last time Wednesday night when the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins and won the 2008 Stanley Cup.

The Toronto agency representing the composer of the theme tune for Hockey Night in Canada says the CBC has declined to enter into a new licensing agreement for the song for next NHL season.

A news release posted on the website of Copyright Music & Visuals quotes company president John Ciccone as saying the CBC’s licence agreement for the hockey theme song ended with the Stanley Cup final.

The CBC “has advised the composer, owner and administrator of the musical composition that it is not prepared to enter into a new licence agreement with respect to the use of the theme,” the release says.

The CBC had no immediate comment Thursday.

The familiar theme music for Hockey Night in Canada was written in 1968 by Dolores Claman, who was raised in Vancouver.

In the news release, Claman expresses her disappointment that her song will no longer be heard in homes across Canada during hockey season.

“I am saddened by the decision of the CBC to drop the Hockey Night in Canada theme after our lengthy history together. I nevertheless respect its right to move in a new direction,” she says.

Copyright Music & Visuals says it had offered the CBC a chance to renew its licence to use her song on terms that were “virtually identical to those that have existed for the past decade.” Each use of the song in the past has cost the broadcaster about $500, the company says.

Do yourself a favour and go pick up Cradle To Grave’s most recent album, “Texas Medicine”. From The Metal Observer:

With hype from some of the most respected Metalheads hailing from Canada, including the legendary Devin Townsend, CRADLE TO GRAVE has a lot riding on this release. And they live up to every expectation.

Catchy vocals, heavy groove, shredding solos, and a rhythm section to shake the core of the earth, “Texas Medicine” is just what the doctor ordered. And in high dosage.

“Gassy Jack” by The Evaporators, featuring Nardwuar The Human Serviette as Guardian.

In the vein of things making music that normally don’t, like Tesla coils, I present a Renault Formula One V10 singing God Save The Queen:

If that doesn’t whet your appetite, how about La Marseillaise?

Just the other day Mrs. CanSpice and I were driving through the metropolis of Hilo when “Summer of ‘69″ by Bryan Adams came on the radio. I quickly proclaimed it the Greatest Song Ever, which it is. Mrs. CanSpice made the point that I’ve proclaimed many songs to be the Greatest Song Ever (Orbital’s “Belfast” is one of these) to which I made the point that there can be many Greatest Songs Ever and this in no way diminishes the greatness of “Summer of ‘69″.

Anyhow, this story was brought to mind by Mike, who just posted about that very same really bitchin’ tune. Here’s the video for those who want to rock out.