From a media release:
THE WHO’S WHO OF CANADIAN ROCK SET TO PERFORM WITH COVER ME CANADA FINALISTS
- Members of Blood, Sweat and Tears, Chilliwack, Glass Tiger, Helix and Alannah Myles perform
- George Stroumboulopoulos steps up to the judges table as guest judge
Last week COVER ME CANADA challenged the finalists by having them perform Paul Anka favourites in front of guest judge, Paul Anka. This week the heat reaches even higher temperatures as the final four vie to impress and deliver on this week’s show where they’ve been given the daunting task of performing iconic Canadian hits… with the Canadian icons themselves.
The cast will kick off the show with a medley performed with Bill Henderson lead singer of the Juno award-winning band Chilliwack. Singing their famed 1970’s hit, ‘Whatcha Gonna Do’.
“Wow,” exclaimed Bill Henderson when asked about the upcoming performance. “Very cool that four young bands are going to do our old Chilliwack hit and I get to sing with them!!! We’re gonna have a great time.â€
Whosarmy takes on multi Juno-award winning, and Grammy nominated song ‘Someday’ by 80’s rockers Glass Tiger. Lead singer, Alan Frew will join the band on stage for this once-in-a-lifetime performance. “I can think of no greater compliment for a song’s ability to stand the test of time than being embraced and covered by younger generations,†reflected Alan Frew.
Guest from week one, David Clayton Thomas returns to perform his band’s (Blood Sweat and Tear’s) 1969 hit, You Make Me So Very Happy with Vancouver’s Warren Dean Flandez. Peaking at #2 on Billboard’s Hot 100, the song earned the band a Grammy for ‘Album of the Year’ in 1970 and the album went quadruple platinum in the U.S., selling more than four million copies. “I’m very excited to be coming back to Cover Me Canada’s Week #7, having attended the premiere a few weeks ago,†commented David Clayton Thomas. “I had a blast hearing Warren cover my song Spinning Wheel at the premiere and am glad to come on again this Sunday and perform another one of my songs with Warren in a special duet.â€
Heavy metal rock band Helix’s front man, Brian Vollmer will join Melanie Morgan and her band on stage to perform ‘Heavy Metal Love’. The band toured with the likes of Aerosmith, KISS, Whitesnake and Motorhead in the 1980’s. “I’m very honoured and excited to be on Cover Me Canada,†commented Vollmer. “The fact that I’m being considered as a “mentor” for Melanie is a validation of all the years I’ve spent honing my craft as a singer and performer. I hope I can do the job justice.”
Black Velvet hit #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in 1990 and put Toronto’s Alannah Myles on the map. In that same year, she took home a Grammy award for ‘Best Rock Vocal Performance’. This week, Myles will take centre stage with Vancouver’s Ali Milner to perform a duet of this coveted Canadian hit.
Canada’s favorite late-night host and music fan George Stroumboulopoulos will join the judges, helping decide who should stay and who should go on to the top three in COVER ME CANADA.
Myles commented, “I think Cover Me Canada is a wonderful show. I think it’s great that CBC is promoting emerging talent.â€
COVER ME CANADA is broadcast on Sundays at 9 p.m. (9:30 p.m. NT) on the CBC. Host Nicole Appleton (All Saints) and judges Jordan Knight (New Kids On The Block), chart-topping R&B sensation Deborah Cox and star-maker manager and record exec Ron Fair (Christina Aguilera, Black Eyed Peas, Pussycat Dolls), along with mentor-producers including Hawksley Workman, Kuya, and Gavin Brown, preside as the finalists perform live in a bid to win the hearts of the nation and the opportunity of a lifetime: a $100,000 cash prize and a recording contract for an original single to be released by Universal Music Canada.
