Canada’s pop music icons of the 80s came in droves to the Gladstone Tuesday night to launch two new documentaries coming to CBC.
Following up on the first in the series, Shakin’ All Over: Pop Music Of The 60s, writer Nicolas Jennings and director Gary McGroarty have put together two new docs spotlighting the best of Canuck pop in the 70s (This Beat Goes On) and the 80s (Rise Up).
As the films screened sans sound, artists caught up with each other at what felt like a mammoth reunion. Among the guests were Michael Levine of Triumph, reggae master Moja, the Good Brothers, Parachute Club’s Lorraine Segato, co-writer of the song that gives the 80s collection it’s name with Lynne Fernie, songwriter Christopher Ward (Black Velvet), Martha Johnson of Martha and the Muffins and author, Spoons Rob Preuss and Derrick Ross and singer/songwriter Dan Hill, who talked with me at length about writing in Nashville and the global songwriting community.
As the images flashed behind them, many of the musicians treated them as they would a car wreck – hard to look at but irresistable. Preuss, looking positively ageless, kept eyeing the screen and then looking away during the Spoons’ spot and Segato could barely stand the Parachute Club moments, either. Seems they were slightly embarassed by the big 80s hairstyles.
See what I’m talking about when Rise Up airs on CBC September 10 and 17. This Beat Goes ON airs at 9 pm August 27 and September 3.
