Canada D'eh 2011!

Phew! Sorry it took so long to get S.C.E.N.E. stuff up! Time sadly just got away from me!

Anyways, I have to say that Canada Day has got to be one of my favourite days of the year. I am 100 per cent proud to be Canadian and I love seeing so many people come together to celebrate a great nation's birthday! I realize (as is it is almost always the case) that events like these always seem to be a great deal when you are younger. I remember always going to the Glen (a neighbouring small community) to eat pancakes for breakfast, participate in the rubber ducky races and the annual Canada Day Parade. As I grew older I recall playing baseball (I could be wrong - I have a HORRIBLE memory haha). As I grew older we toned it down quite a bit but now that I am obviously of age that I can do whatever I please, I have always tried to find some kind music event to attend on this special day. These events are great for two reasons: 1) These events are usually free (unless you went to EdgeFest!) and 2) They showcase amazing Canadian talent to celebrate the day!

 After spending the day relazing and getting ice cream at Murphy's in Streetsville, my step-sis and I eventually ventured to City Hall in Mississauga to take part in Canada Day festivities. Celebration Square is officially open after what seemed like years of construction and it was time to make use of it! And from what I heard, Mississauga celebrations were the biggest Canada Day celebrations outside of Toronto! And I can see that happening as it was packed with THOUSANDS of people by the end of the night!

Luckily I was once again able to catch These Kids Wear Crowns rock the stage. Decked out in Canada flags, Justin Beiber t=shirts and quirky outfits, they sang to a patriotic and excited crowd. As I saw them only a week before I thought I wouldn't be as interested but they sure know how to entertain a crowd and keep them entertained. Singing  fan favourites "Jumpstart", "I Wanna Dance With Somebody", "Oceans" and "Skeletons" to name a few, they were extremely successful in pumping the crowd up and getting them ready for the rest of the night.

The only thing I would have to say that I disliked was the sound quality. While I'm not sure if it was because I was extremely close to the sound system or because it was just poorly executed, I just didn't seem to be able to hear it as good as it could have been. Take note Mississauga!

Next to take the stage was Fefe Dobson. She's been around since I was in high school (which in the music world is sometimes deemed to  be a lifetime) and she's never really appealed to me all these years. With her new album Joy though, she has converted me - sort of. Although her performance was okay, her stage presence was a little awkward. To me it seemed a little forced. I also didn't like the fact she was late - for her own performance. I don't know the circumstances (could have been a bathroom emergency for all I know) but to me that was far from good musician etiquette.

(By this portion of the night, the crowd had multiplied by the thousands...just so you know)

Lastly, the one and only Shawn Desman hit the stage. While I have listened to Shawn since I was in high school (yes I'm bringing it up again - going on seven years later now) I had never really gotten the opportunity to see him perform live before. Well, unless you include the time he sang the national anthem at the Jay's game. I was thrilled when I heard he was in the lineup! While he mainly played new songs to the wild crowd, he did manage to go back down memory lane and play a few old favourites (which I gladly sang along loud and proud to). The overall performance was upbeat, energetic and extremely exciting. Oh, and not to mention the spectacular dance moves.

I have to say though, the best part of the night has to have been the fireworks. Tuned to music, these pretty fireworks lit up the sky and provided amusement to people of all ages. It seriously brings the kid out in me every time so I can only imagine what everybody else was feeling!

Proud to be Canadian!
-Taryn