No Ordinary Love...

Une nouvelle chanson, and some sweet distractions.

May 22, 2024

First of all THANK YOU to those who have subscribed to my Substack newsletter- I’m thrilled that you are here.

In a time where there is SO MUCH INFORMATION to be distilled each and every day, my commitment to provide SHORT and INFREQUENT updates remains steadfast ; )

Today the third “focus track” (don’t call it a single!) from my forthcoming album ENCORE! was released. It is a cover of the Québecois classic “Ordinaire,” written in 1970 by Claudine Monfette, Pierre Nadeau and Robert Charlesbois, and turned into a Québec anthem by Charlesbois (and later covered by Celine Dion in 2016.)

Along with director Michael Makaroff, I shot a fun video at my favourite local bakery Livia with some pals last month. I hope you enjoy it! J’espere que vous aimez!

The version that I recorded (with producer Drew Jurecka) is decidedly very different (jazzier?) from the original, and I’m very curious to see how the Québec public responds. It’s a song full of drama, imagery and pathos- and I have loved it from the first time I heard it about 10 years ago on tour in La Belle Province.

LISTEN TO MY VERSION OF ORDINAIRE HERE (and the previous two tracks released, Padam padam and De temps en temps.)

My new french album ENCORE! comes out June 14th, 2024.

In the meantime, here are a few things that have been stealing my attention lately:

This book, “The Creative Act: A Way of Being,” by Rick Rubin, landed on my doorstep the other day from a thoughtful friend following a conversation we had about creativity. Have you read it?

I didn’t know how much I needed this book until I read the first few pages.

This wonderful Len O’Neill vinyl record that I purchased at Fred’s record in St. John’s, NFLD last month during an in-store record release (with great artwork by my longtime pal Jud Haynes)