Polaris List, Some of It. Missing Two.
The “Fly Me To Polaris” name is based on a 1999 Hong Kong movie. Ok, Monday is the day we’re waiting for and it’s the 2009 edition of the Polaris Music Prize Gala. The photo from above, let’s say that I am missing two of the nominees. It’s K’Naan and F**ked Up. That’s right, one of the short nominees will be chosen to win the $20,000 prize. Here’s the 10 nominees listed;
1. Elliott Brood – Mountain Meadows
2. F**ked Up – The Chemistry of Common Life
3. Great Lake Swimmers – Lost Channels
4. Hey Rosetta! – Into Your Lungs
5. K’Naan – Troubadour
6. Malajube – Labyrithes
7. Metric – Fantasies
8. Joel Plaskett – Three
9. Chad VanGaalen – Soft Airplane
10. Patrick Watson – Wooden Arms

There has been some criticism over the short list because it seemed like the jury has been lazy in choosing the top Canadian album of 2008-2009. Basically, returning nominees like Patrick Watson, Chad VanGaalen, and Joel Plaskett are back at it. Also, there’s no female artists (that’s if you include Emily Haines in Metric) in this year’s list.
As much as I like several songs from Metric’s Fantasies, I felt that it’s too mainstream to be on the short list. Although, how could I forget about “In Our Bedroom After The War” by Stars being on the short list for the 2008 edition of the Polaris Music Prize.
The 2009 edition of the Polaris Music Prize still have diverse genres in the running. There’s hardcore punk to Hip-Hop to the standard Pop/Rock and Folk. Aside from the criticism, it will be still exciting to finding out who will win.

I had the opportunity to co-host again on Kristal’s Method at CKCU-FM because we were playing the short list nominees for the Polaris Music Prize. We discussed about what we liked or not liked on the short list. I mentioned on-air my pick to win The Polaris Music Prize. I won’t write it on here because I would want you to listen to it. It seems more like keeping in suspense but I could be wrong on my predicted pick. To whoever wins, congratulations on being the 2009 Polaris winner.

You can listen again or if you missed out by pressing play;
Note: A Joel Plaskett song was ended abruptly and Metric’s Collect Call was skipped.

Here’s some YouTube videos from a few of my favorite artists and bands. Since my favorite Joel Plaskett song wasn’t played on-air, but it has been played so many times on the radio or web radio.

Joel Plaskett – Through & Through & Through
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap_vWmhRHh0&hl=en&fs=1&]

Metric – Gimme Sympathy
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqldwoDXHKg&hl=en&fs=1&]

Great Lake Swimmers – Pulling On A Line
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-0HgSHYu2Y&hl=en&fs=1&]

There you have it, Fucked Up‘s The Chemistry of Common Life wins The 2009 Polaris Music Prize. [Link 1] [Link 2] In case you don’t want to read through the semi-live blogging provided from below. All in all, even with the criticisms of the short list, it was still an amazing way to establish Canadian music.

Live Blogging Response As I Listen Live to CBC Radio 3’s Coverage of the 2009 Polaris Music Prize Gala

9pm – Semi blogging and listening to the live broadcast on CBC Radio 3. Woot!
9.02pm – Not really liking Sarah Taylor of MuchMusic. Yay for Grant Lawrence.
9.03pm – Metric is up first! What the!
9.04pm – Kristal’s favorite radio guy (I think), Alan Cross introducing for Metric.
9.05pm – Nice acoustic version of Help! I’m Alive. From Hey Rosetta! on Twitter, http://twitpic.com/infq9. Mind you, I am not watching it from MuchMusic’s website.
9.10pm – Gimme Sympathy live. Nice! Another acoustic set.
9.22pm –  Great Lake Swimmers are up.
9.25pm – GLS performing Pulling On A Line. Such a nice relaxing song.
9.29pm – I’m still writing comments on CBC Radio 3’s blog and Twitter.
9.37pm – It’s pretty funny having to hear Vish Khanna and Craig Norris banter back and fourth during the Polaris Music Prize Gala. Referencing Goodfellas, that’s a classic.
9.40pm – I guess Sarah Taylor is graciously comfortable getting into host form. Malajube is up next.
9.49pm – Just one Malajube song performed?! OK, I am wrong at that (thanks to Arys on the CBC Radio 3 blog). Again from Hey Rosetta! on Twitter, http://twitpic.com/inkgv.
9.57pm – Gotta love Grant Lawrence saying the F word live at the Gala. Patrick Watson time. What a unique performance I am hearing from Patrick Watson. I am still listening by ear and not watching by eye. Twitter comments from people are seemingly surprised by his performance. From Jill Barber’s Twitter, http://twitpic.com/inmuo.
10.12pm – Craig Norris telling the listening audience of a technical issue at the Polaris Music Prize. Oh nevermind, it’s back on. K’Naan is up. Jian Gomeshi is introducing him. K’Naan performing Waving Flag, such an excellent song. Updates on Twitter is saving me while Facebook is failing on me. K’Naan now performing Take A Minute.
10.36pm – Now, he’s up and he’s my pick to win it (I hope), that’s Joel Plaskett. Three, ’nuff said. OMG, the guy who used to do Combat des Clips/Combat Zone on MuchMusic. Heartless, Heartless, Heartless with his dad, Bill Plaskett.
Deny, Deny, Deny, such a sweet song.
10:55pm – Seems like it’s going overtime. Chad VanGaalen is on now.
11.10pm – Took a blogging break of sorts, watched a bit of the MuchMusic webcast and eating almonds. Sweet, Elliott Brood is coming up and that means, Amanda Putz will be introducing them.
11.14pm – Yay! Great to hear Amanda Putz introduce Elliott Brood. Lots of cheers for her. Elliott Brood starts with Without Again. Such a great song. Another excellent song with Write It All Down For You. Crowd used cookie sheets and wooden spoons and that shows how awesome Elliott Brood is.
11.38pm – Down to 2. Now, it’s Hey Rosetta! from Newfoundland & Labrador. It’s unique to hear this NL band. Tired Eyes starts off the whole song.
11.51pm – Nearing midnight and the last nominee is none other than F**ked Up.
12am – It’s time for F**ked Up. Yes, Grant and Sarah said the actual name. I don’t know their songs and getting tired. Gonna sit back and enjoy their performance.
12.14am – Caribou on stage to present the winner. Who?
12.15am – It’s Fucked Up. Oh my, but congratulations for winning the 2009 Polaris Music Prize.
That’s a wrap. Out of the 7 albums that I have, only 3 I don’t have and one that wins it. It’s a surprise to see Fucked Up win and it finally takes the white male winning off now. An unusual choice but it will definitely get some buzz. Difficult to say if this was impressive but it sounds more like shock value.