CBC has a great program on Monday to Friday in which host Jian Gomeshi is trying to come up with a National Playlist of 10 songs that will be made available as an iTunes playlist. Each week 4 songs are dropped and 4 new songs are added so the list is continually changing. I absolute think that Sarah Slean needs to be added to this list.

On each show two of the panelists make a pitch for a song and then they debate the new nomination. On Thursdays Jian chooses a listener's pitch and I want to send in a pitch for one of Sarah's songs. I'm not totally decided on which song to choose so I wanted some ideas from anyone who has an opinion. What do you think is Sarah's best song?

Check out the show at www.cbc.ca/nationalplaylist.
Thanks!

Megan =)

This sounds complicated, but I like the idea.

Would we be choosing her "best" song, or the one we think more people we like? Does recency (i.e. date of release) make a difference? What about single vs. non-single?

they do give the national playlist alot of coverage. they always have a little talk about it on CBC's newsworld's show "The Hour".

In the morning on CBC radio they always give you a run down what's going on it too.

It has no Canadian content quota but the Canadians have done well on it.

Cameron Bay.

There really aren't any regulations. It can be from any year and single vs. non-single isn't important.

I'm stuck on whether to go with something like Sweet Ones which I think people will like instantly or to choose a more rare song that could take a few listens to really appreciate. I'm leaning towards going with something quite accessible so that if the song gets chosen it will have a greater chance of staying on the list for more than just a week or two.

Give the show a listen; it's great!

[quote:be54fa9e7a="megan14"] It's great![/quote:be54fa9e7a]
I listened to the National Playlist earlier today, and I'd have to agree. Do you know if there is a deadline for entries? It would be great to hear one of Sarah Slean's songs on the show.

Just in case any interested persons had trouble getting to the website, remove the . at the end of the link in the first post, or click below

http://www.cbc.ca/nationalplaylist

Hi,

Here is my recent posting on this same subject. I'd welcome your thoughts.

Hi Sarah and all readers,

I�m looking for a little advice for a little Sarah promotion on the CBC. Listeners to The National Playlist (http://www.cbc.ca/nationalplaylist/) have been invited to petition the host to advocate for their favorite songs to be put on the playlist.

There are two categories of songs that you can put forward. One is tunes from the last year. The second is sort of desert island picks, that is, great songs from any year. The hitch for the second category is that you have to offer an argument for why your pick is relevant enough that it belongs on that week�s list.

Here�s my dilemma: I want to promote Eliot from Sarah�s second to last album. I like all of her tunes but I think that this is her strongest stand-alone tune and has the best chance to make the list. As much as I like the piece, I sense that its full meaning escapes me. Stating the case for its inclusion might be easier if all of its references were clear to me.

Even armed with a better understanding, some creativity may be needed to make an argument for its present moment relevance, beyond just being an amazing tune. So, I�m open to suggestions.

Also, if anyone else wants to make a similar effort for this song or another for the playlist, do feel free.

Cheers,

Ken

on eliot -- i think thats a good pick.

with regards to the song, i would say it typifies her music -- romantic, timeless, she often introduces it with a "take yourself back to the early 1900s, you're having a drink with hemingway..." or something to that affect.

It comes from a dream of hers, very typical of her music, about a creative genuis she's enchanted with -- much like most of her work, she is drawn to eccentric creators who were from a time before her or who have died -- eliot, glenn gould, even jeff buckley.
it is only natural as she has an old soul, and wonderfully eccentric traits herself. And her lyrics are full of imagery, like a sign of any great writer, her song paints great pictures, in this case, almost a dickensian picture -- "the city in winter, the sewage, the steam," of poverty, or of real people who are "workers and lovers, making their living space neat...."

for me, i especially love the night bugs version -- and the moment specifically after the "give him the nobel prize" verse. She starts to sing a wail so sleanesque -- its just her clear, beautiful voice rising, but somehow it sounds as though she's crying, and it makes me cry with her. I would play the song over and over just her that part, the emotion, the intensity in that couple of seconds alone.

i could go on and on....i love that song, i love her music, it hits hard, yet so subtly. i digress slightly...but those are my thoughts on that.

Yes. I think that Eliot would be a fantastic pick as it showcases her talents in an excellent way -- from her beautiful voice to her amazing Piano skills, it really is a great song.