For the better part of 16 years, my favourite band has been Great Big Sea. A full half of my life can be chronicled by their music. I have seen them live 5 times and even met them in a Tim Horton's the morning following one of those concerts. I once went to their concert only a week after an unexpected surgery while I probably should have been laying on my couch recovering, but I just couldn't fathom staying home with GBS tickets sitting on my dresser. There is always a GBS CD in my car.
Great Big Sea recently celebrated their 20th anniversary as a band. This has to be a remarkable achievement in the music industry. God, I hope we're not still talking about Miley Cyrus in 20 years.
While I love all of the band members, Séan McCann has always been my favourite. I have always admired his infectious energy, his back and forth banter with Alan Doyle, and his addictive singing voice. At a GBS concert I am in a different, beautiful place, and Séan McCann has always been a significant part of that experience. I was shocked and saddened to find out last week that Séan will be leaving the band in the new year.
Séan and the other band members have always been fiercely private about their personal lives. He has made a few solo albums and has a wife and young children, so those are pretty good reasons to stick closer to home. Or maybe he has other new projects in mind? While I respect his decision to leave the group, I selfishly hope he still keeps a finger in the music industry.
In honour of Séan, today's petit plaisir is his music. I know I'll be listening to my Séan McCann and GBS albums a little more this week.
Here is one of Séan's classics - The Night Pat Murphy Died
And here is one of his more recent songs with Great Big Sea - Good People.
Be sure to also check out some of his solo music here and here. My fav is The Reply (the ballad of John and Mary). For the mamas, he also has a great lullaby album.
Enjoy!
xo
Jenn
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