Sunday, January 01, 2006

Happy New Year Toronto!

cK Welcomes 2006 with 35,000 other people!

2005 went out with a bang as I joined 35,000 other local citizens in bringing in the new year at downtown Toronto's City Hall.

The last time I was here, was in 2000 when I was with a group of my buds bringing in 2001. I remember it being very very cold. This time, I dressed real warm. With a puffy goose downed coat and gloves to keep my hands warm. Surprisingly enough, the weather was mild and wasn't cold at all! It was a perfect cool, where you weren't hot but not cold, if that makes sense.

The event was hosted by CITY-TV's Larysa Harapyn and Traci Melchor. The network has been broadcasting a party from Nathan Phillips Square for pretty much 20 years, and it seems every year it gets bigger. The musical acts performing this year were: Bedouin Soundclash, Divine Brown, Sean Desman along with a magical stunt by Santini. The crowd was all very positive and very crammed into the town square.

When the two girls came out to start the party, and everyone saw what they were wearing, you could hear people saying to themselves --- "What the F#$#?!?" Yes, Larysa Harapyn really outdone herself this year. It looked like a cruel joke, or maybe that was the intent. Anyways, it was horrible. Besides that, the show and performances were really good.

It started out with Sean Desman, who was introduced as a PLATINUM SELLING ARTIST that has changed the face of CANADIAN R&B. I think that was a little far fetched, but he does sell the records. And thats all people really care about these days.

When Sean Desman jumped out on stage, there was a lot of cheering and screaming --- but as always... there were a lot of people booing -- (like me!) I booed only because it was fun. I have nothing against Mr. Desman, it was just fun at the moment.

After that performance, a singer named Divine Brown came out and sang some tunes. She was alright, but her music was wayyy too mellow for such a party. That part I didn't see fitting. The hosts then got us hyped up for the mysterious magician and escape artist --- SANTINI.... his big stunt was getting trapped in a box that is heated to over 200 degrees Fahrenheit, and he has to escape. I'm sure it was a neat trick, but it wasn't all that suspensful. Maybe on tv it looked better.

The last act to bring in the New Year was Bedouin Sound Clash. I have to admit, they were good and their song, "When The Night Feels My Song" was very catchy. Everyone in the crowd sang along and somehow it seemed like a fitting track.

Anyways, I had a great time bringing in the New Year --- in TORONTO.. its not like last year when I was with n8 in Las Vegas. That has to be the craziest ever. This one was alright.