Hockey theme could be a local tune

BY SARA KEDDY

Kings County Register

“Let’s jam,” urges four-year-old Jonathan, as George Thoroughgood’s “Bad to the Bone” gets underway.

Better yet, says dad Colin, “Let’s vote!”

He’s hoping to get some play for his entry in Hockey Night in Canada’s search for a new anthem, now listed on-line for consideration by hockey fans.

“Stick to your Guns” is a song the Berwick man wrote for his metal band, A Call for Submission.

“It got rejected - too pop for our singer,” Birnie says. “Whatever - I put it on the shelf, heard about this hockey challenge and went out and listened to it again.

“This’ll work.”

Birnie packaged the clip and entry form and sent it off to the contest’s website Aug. 4. Within an hour, he had an email back it had been accepted and posted. By the end of the day, “I’d made 50 calls: ‘I’m on the net, go vote, tell your friends, get it on Facebook!’

“I need to get people to go and listen to it.”

Birnie hopes, with enough votes and some comments, his song will rise to the top of entries being considered by anthem judges. Top picks will make it to an October 4 show, with two finalists announced October 9 as the NHL season opens and the winner announced October 11. Voting will be done by fans a la Canadian Idol.

Birnie has been a guitar player for 20 years, self-taught “in the locker room.” He’s been a band member with A Call for Submission for three years.

“I never played hockey - floor hockey, that’s it,” he says. “I might watch the play-offs - I’d pray for Toronto to win, and then I’d be a happy man.”

He writes a lot of music, some with lyrics, and is hoping this contest win - or even just the attention - could “get my foot in the door.” This tune features a long lead-in of drums, with hard base and guitar tracks kicking in - “just when the players start hitting the net or fighting.

“I think I’m going to win, sure! The first thing I’d buy is a new guitar for my son - he plays the one I started out on; and a few for myself!”

Birnie also adds something about “retirement” with a win. The anthem contest comes with a $100,000 prize and royalties split between the composer and national minor hockey programs.

WEBLINKS:

anthemchallenge.cbc.ca

Play it loud and local

As of August 5, the anthem challenge has attracted over 2,100 entries. The deadline is August 31.

• Entries from Alberta - 213, N.S. - 109, Ontario - 1,341, PE! - 14, B.C. - 362

• There are 1,322 “rock” entries, nine described as reggae, 433 pop songs, 16 latin tracks, 60 metal entries and 25 country takes.

• While you’re on-line, give a listen to Mitchell Pineo of Berwick’s two entries, one from Paul Seaman of Kentville, two by Wolfville’s Ken Shorely, Kimberly Smith of Canning’s entry and three from an anonymous Kentville contributor.