Canada lost one of its leading lights this week with the passing of the highly accomplished movie director Norman Jewison at the age of 97.

His Academy Award winning movie “In The Heat Of The Night” starring SIDNEY POITIER was one of my earliest admired movies.

Kimberly and I had the honour of getting to spend an evening at an intimate dinner setting back in 2014 when the WINDSOR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL presented him with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

My daughter Hannah forwarded me this morning from the WIFF Instagram page.

That evening he regaled the 8 of us at dinner with stories of a remarkable life. The creativity of his story-telling was astonishing and inspiring. All of this occurred with him exhibiting understated modesty of his many storied accomplishments.

In particular, I remember him telling about taking his son to a clinic in California after he broke his arm skiing only to be joined in the waiting room by NY Senator Bobby Kennedy who had come in with his son for the same reason a few minutes later.

He started the story by then saying, “…well I knew who he was…“ and went on from there…

How to pick a song to honour Norman?

I couldn’t stay true to the spirit of this project by choosing a song by CHER (“Moonstruck”- 1987) or a musical song from “Fiddler On The Roof” (1971) or “Jesus Christ Superstar” (1973). That is not going to happen and Norman would respect that approach.

No, I just let my mind think of a song that reminds me of Norman’s life and legacy and the needle dropped on this gem by Brit JULIAN COPE.

Follow the lyrics on the Spotify link and you will hopefully understand why this song fits Norman’s inspiring life and art.

SPOTIFY-

https://open.spotify.com/track/5NiXSM4rbfeRflklSqWFON?si=trdZKb04QSOit_m_ufwjgw

(SONG 753)

Play Loud (like Norman)

1/23/2024