CBC Radio 3

Maybe it's his awfully fun name, or his zeal for staying in the public eye (no matter what), David Hasselhof is just one of those celebrities that keeps me endlessly entertained. The fact that he also sings is really just icing on the cake of his many talents, maybe even songwriting.

Now I don't know if he wrote "Sunday Dreaming," but I'm just saying I don't think many people would want to take credit for it. Just saying...

To get your very own Hoff doll cutout, go here.

I continue my quest to uncover, and then dramatically read, any and all songs with Saturday night in the title. Along the way I am uncovering some gems that would otherwise get lost, like this Misfits song called... wait for it... "Saturday Night."

I feel that bands are missing out on a grand opprotunity to become champions of one of the less liked days of the week always concentrating on Saturday. What about Tuesday, late morning? I'd love a song like that.

Until these start showing up, it's all about the Saturday night. Stompin' Tom is up next week.

  (Repeat: Show first broadcast @ 6am PT) 

     Last week, I asked you all to enter The Sunshine Show Short Story Contest.  As usual, your generation continues to disappoint me.  I don't want to alienate you listeners by itemizing the many ways that you've let me down, but I do want to register at least a little consternation at your lack of gumption.  The contest continues in the hopes that you'll help me out on this.  I will read one entry on the program this week, but as will be clear, it's not very good.

     Christmas shopping season is upon us and I need some extra money to buy my lady friend, Brenda, some finery.  So I'll be going ahead and selling some things that I found in my storage locker.  The brass has told me that I'm not allowed to use the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's radio airwaves as my own, personal trading post.  The way I see it is because this third arm of the service is only available via websites and satellites, there are no airwaves.

     My apologies if I seem a little short with you today.  Brenda has me running all over heck and back every weekend going to church bazaars.

     So listen, if you want to enter this short story thing, here's how:

     - must be 500 words or less

     - must be unpublished

     - must be self-composed (means: written by you)

     - no filth

     The most important rule?  The main character in your story MUST be yours truly, Sunshine Dick Johnson.

     So, electrically mail me your entries at feedback@cbcradio3.com and make sure you put "Sunshine Story" in the subject box for cripes sakes.

It's been quiet around the R3 office these past few days, as Grant is off in Toronto shooting with Mamma Yamma. He just sent the above image back, and I had to share, because it's kind of tripping me out a little. Not sure if it's the technicolour look of it, or the bow tie with the CBC cowichan sweater.

The pic btw is from the taping of the New Year's Day Special that will feature musical guests Sloan, Kathleen Edwards, Jill Barber, and Sadie Buck. Show airs from 7am till noon on CBC TV, so either set your TIVO, or maybe just don't go to bed.

Coming up: Carl Wilson

carl

I truly was not expecting end of the decade lists until next year, but it seems many a media outlet got going quick. I’ve seen lists about people who have had a bad decade – ouch! To what you favourite movie of the oughts so-far says about you. But the one list I spent a lot of time on was the The Decades 50 Most Important Recordings from NPR.

The idea behind the list is to compile not so much the best or favourite recordings, but a list of albums that “are the game-changers: records that signaled some sort of shift in the way music is made or sounds, or ones that were especially influential or historically significant."

On today’s show we’ll be looking back at these past 10 years in music and seeing if we can’t find some of these historically significant musical moments together.

I’ll be joined by Globe and Mail music critic, writer and blogger Carl Wilson… and of course – you.

Have a look at the NPR list, and tell us where you think they got it right and/or wrong.

For one thing, where’s TPain and the Auto Tune; and comedy albums like Flight of the Concords or drone metal from Sunn? That’s just three omissions from me, and what’s Amy Winehouse doing on this list? She’s always been more of an example of the train wreck that could sing…much like Britney who also made the list.

Wade in and we’ll chat.

Coming up today on Grant Lawrence Live, 2PM ET / 11AM PT on CBC Radio 3's web radio/Sirius 86:

Our Friday show is always all about the live music experience, so today we'll take a close examination of our Bucky Awards Short List for the Best Live Artist in Canada. Great word-of-mouth is huge for a touring band, and so that brings us to our...

Poll Question of the Day:

WHAT IS THE BEST LIVE BAND OR ARTIST YOU'VE SEEN IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS?

Is that band/artist on our Short List? Who truly blew you away with their live show? Which artist has been a recent live surprise? Who is overrated live? Let us know your thoughts by posting your comments to our blog, emailing feedback@cbcradio3.com.

 TOP 5 MUST SEE LIVE GIGS THIS WEEKEND:

Fri, Sat Nov 20,21 - M is for Montreal, Montreal QC. – This is an industry festival open to public that features DD/MM/YYYY, La Patiere Rose, Malajube, Champion and Fucked Up. We hear the place on Saturday is Metropolis.     

Sat Nov 21 – Bidiniband, Banff AB. – Not only will former Rheostatic Dave Bidini be playing with his band at the Margaret Greenham Theatre at the Banff Centre but he’ll be reading from his new book Home and Away and showing his documentary The Hockey Nomad Goes to Russia.  

Sat, Sun Nov 20,21 - Royal Wood & Rose Cousins, Edmonton AB – This is a two night stand of soft, sweet voices at The Haven Social Club; perfect date-night show, just ask Tyler from Said The Whale!   

Fri Nov 20 - Brian Borcherdt, Charlottetown PEI. Hear the softer side of the Holy Fuck founding member as he plays Hunter’s Ale House with long-time friend Julie Fader.   

Sat Nov 21 - Two Hours Traffic, Toronto ON. – This is a great bill for people who love pop-rock, alongside our favourite islanders at The Garrison are Toronto groups The Darcys and new up and comer Sports: The Band. This show is all-ages.  

Did we miss anything? What are you doing this weekend? Let us know!

Brent Bambury guest hosts on Q with You Say Party, We Say Die live.

Stars perform live on Radio 2 Drive today.

Ohbijou Christmas song on the way. Chart

D-Sisive's free digital album now online. Exclaim

Sloan tribute album reunites The Guthries. Chart

[Photo: You Say Party! We Say Die! @ Babylon, submitted by blurasis to our Last Night's Gig Flickr pool]