Newman enters ‘Anthem Challenge’

Since the beloved Hockey Night in Canada theme song was dropped due to copyright issues and infringements, many hockey fans and Canadians alike have been wondering what could replace the epic song, and more importantly, how this could possibly happen?
After what I’m sure was a mountain of hate mail and genuine concerns for the ever-popular television program, CBC devised a clever plan to find a new song to act as an introduction to the most popular night in hockey.
CBC has opened up a contest called the “Anthem Challenge” whereby fans and musicians can create their own version of what they think the new anthem should sound like.
Local teacher and musician Jim Newman has stepped up to the challenge.
“I really liked it [the classic theme] and it had been around for so long—for as far back as I can remember. You know it was kind of like an institution and when I first heard on the news that CBC was going to lose it, I was thinking, ‘Geez, how could they blow it! How could they do that!’” recalled Newman.
“It was just a part of Hockey Night in Canada. There was just nothing else that I could remember.
“But then heard about the contest and I was thinking, ‘You know, I could do this.’
“I was just thinking, ‘You know what would work’ and ‘What would I like to hear.’ Something that I could visualize as a pre-game [song] that would really get you going.
“So I started banging stuff around inside my head for a week or two, figured out where I wanted to go with it and I then I just sat down and started playing some parts,” he explained.
The song that he just banged together is called “60 Seconds to the Game” and according to Andrew George, owner of All Good Projects and the one who recorded Newman’s track, “I think it’s got a great shot.”
He described the piece as “epic” and that “it almost fits the mold of the last one but he put a different spin on it. It’s almost like an update.”
And an update is really what Newman did.
While the original song means a lot to many people and even is probably more recognizable to some than “O Canada,” it must be remembered that the tune is exactly 40 years old.
No one was glad to see it go but this is a good opportunity to get a fresh new sound.
The fresh new sound that Newman introduces is heavily reliant on drums with a chugging guitar underneath and a brass melody.
“A lot of sports intros, that is what you sort of see,” he remarked, referring to his composition. “It builds up momentum and tension and the melody is not so over-cluttered, so it will lend itself to a lot of visual hits.”
He noted that by “hits” he doesn’t mean necessarily brutal hockey hits, but rather pushes and beats that really drive the point home. He really thinks that his instrumental piece will be perfect for the visual cues and the hard-hitting sound that Hockey Night in Canada is known for.
The contest closed to entrants Aug. 31, but now anybody can go to the site and rate the various submissions.
On Oct. 4, voting for the favourite theme songs will begin and the race to the top will get underway.
The winner of the contest will be awarded with a $100,000 cash prize, but perhaps more importantly, will get the bragging rights to say that they were the one who saved the day by writing the new theme song that will be played in the 2008-09 NHL hockey season.
The song will be played during the intro for the full season and potentially, depending on popularity and receptivity, the contract may extend for years to come.
With Newman’s musical background (belonging to several bands, attending University of Windsor for their musical program, teaching music, and always having a tune stuck in his head), Fort Frances is really pulling for someone of his calibre to take the competition.
George stressed that no matter who wins, it will be a tough sell because of the controversial nature of the original song, but he assured that this song has a great chance and that “people will eventually get used to it.”
Newman has already been listening to the songs submitted by others and he admits that there are some pretty good ones in there but he hopes that his song will come out on top.
He also wanted to add that Andrew George of All Good Projects really helped him out a lot with the recording of the song.
He described his own attempts at recording the song but was happy that George could be of some help.
“He certainly knows his stuff,” complimented Newman.
Residents of Fort Frances are encouraged to check out the contest and find his song at anthemchallenge.cbc.ca/ to listen and rate it and to remember to enter their votes on Oct. 4 for the top song.