Catherine Bacque

Fat Cats

Catherine — Fri, 27 May 2011 03:15:02 +0000

No, not the kind on your sofa. I’m talking about a great boîte on Roncesvalles. The Fat Cat Wine Bar has a singer/songwriter night every Thursday, wonderfully hosted by Daniel Sky and Mark Cassidy. On May 12 I was the lucky guest when Jowi Taylor showed up with the Six String Nation guitar. In case you haven’t heard of it, go to www.sixstringnation.com. It’s the most Canadian guitar of all time, made from all Canadian materials by an East Coast luthier, and including bits and pieces of Canadian history.
To make a long story short, I got to play it. I debuted my bilingual song “Just Because/Voila Pourquoi” on an iconic Canadian guitar!
Not that this was the only highlight of the evening…I had a great time playing my set to a packed house, and loved closing by singing along with Mark and Daniel on Mark’s soaring song, “Cannonball’.
Kudos to host/chef/owner Matthew Sutherland for a fabulous evening in a great venue.

Looking forward to getting out to more gigs this summer. Look for me at my usual haunts at the markets (go to www.marketsbythebluffs.com) among others. As my dates firm up, I will post them on the shows page for you.

In the meantime, check out my new co-write on youtube, Message To You.

Cheers!

Catherine

It’s Been Too Long!

Catherine — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 16:17:12 +0000

I can’t believe how long it has been since I blogged last. It has been a busy and exciting summer, playing, writing and recording. Lots of folks have come by to see me sing at the outdoor markets in Toronto. I had great fun at the Peterborough Folk Festival also, dancing a square dance in the blazing sun to the fiddling of my friends the Dough See Dough Boys . There was even a picture of me in the Peterborough Examiner. Good thing I was do-see-do-ing right!
For those of you who are awaiting more recordings, this CD is taking a bit longer, but take heart! I am getting there. If you saw me online at the Songwriters’ Association of Canada Anniversary celebration, you heard a new song, “Stand”. This one is definitely coming along for the new record. “Love Letter”, which you can hear at www.myspace.com/catbacque is essentially done, and we have been ‘tweaking’ some of the songs from “Letting Go” (don’t worry – they are still the songs you love, just a bit cleaner and punchier).

Thank you to those of you that have sent me such positive comments. I really appreciate your interest and support. Thanks also and a shout out to everyone who I saw in person at the Victoria Park Secondary School/Collegiate Institute 50th Anniversary Reunion here in Toronto. I look forward to keeping in touch with you.

I love to get your emails too, so feel free to contact me at cat@catbacque.com.

I will try not to take so long to blog next time!

New Free Download!

Catherine — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 16:17:24 +0000

Help yourself to an immediate, free download of Fly. Click here to get your copy. Watch for additional downloads of songs and ‘unplugged’ versions soon.

Lots of activity in the studio this week, working on recording new tunes for the full length cd. I am looking forward to getting more songs out there to you.There’s tons of variety and some really eclectic instrumentation too. Guess I am going to continue to have trouble categorising my music according to the drop down menus on myspace and itunes….

Also, I want to make some ‘unplugged’ versions of songs available to you, because when you see me live, it’s usually acoustic and solo or with just one or two other players. On that note, watch the site for new listings of upcoming gigs in the Toronto and Peterborough areas.

Cheers!
Catherine

First Times…

Catherine — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:05:57 +0000

This week has been one of firsts for me. This site was launched, I attended a workshop session for songwriters at the Canadian Music Fest (formerly Canadian Music Week) for the first time, and I met my niece’s new baby boy!

I think the site is fabulous, thanks to Kevin Cameron (website design), Alan Hardiman (production), Jessica Anne Cullingham (video editor) and Doug Cotton (principal photographer). I am grateful for their support and expertise, not to mention the product.

Please feel free to give me your feedback on how you think it looks and sounds. Does it work for you? I’d love to hear about it.

The workshop at CMF was an eye-opener to say the least. The panel was top flight (EMI, Sony, Peermusic and Warner Chappell), and they were honest, professional and kind all at once – no mean feat in a room full of aspiring sensitive songwriters. While my song was not among those chosen at random for appraisal, the comments on other songs confirmed priorities that I had suspected the ‘big guns’ have when they look for good songwriting: an engaging story, creative and varied lyrics (not too stuck on ‘rhymy rhyme’ as one panelist put it), familiar structure (verse and chorus anyone?) and great melodies (of course). It set me thinking about how I write and the way that I am always reassessing and reworking lyrics, melodies and arrangements, even on some of the songs I have already recorded. Don’t worry, if I decide to try a new version of one of your faves, it will be in addition to the original, ok?

Last (and most importantly), I got some teeny socks and tiny sleepers for the baby. Maybe a lullaby is next on my ‘to do’ list…

You’re Still Mine – Lyrics

Catherine — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:19:55 +0000

Because you fall I will catch you
Because you cry I will soothe you
Because you go I will wait for you

Because you’re scared I won’t tease you
’Cause baby it’s so hard to please you
Because you’re lonely I will hold you

Chorus 1:
Whenever you call me
Wherever you are
Whatever the problem that troubles your heart
Wherever you run to
Whatever the time
Whoever has hurt you You’re still mine.

Because you laugh while you’re weeping
Because you talk when you’re sleeping
Because you need me like I need you
Because you ask me to help you
Because you don’t really want me to
Because you’re mine I will still love you

Chorus 1

Chorus 2:
However you choose to
Whatever you do
Whenever you miss me
When I miss you
Wherever life leads us
Whatever we find
Whenever you need me
You’re still mine

You’re still mine

Say That You Want Me – Lyrics

Catherine — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:18:11 +0000

Say that you want me
Not that you need me
Show me you love me
Tell me you will be mine….tonight

I’ve been giving all I got today
Always finding just the right words to say
It’s time to let the world just slip away
No doubts, no fears, no pain, no tears

Chorus 1:
Say that you want me
Not that you need me
Show me you love me
Tell me you will be mine….tonight
Whisper your fears
Laugh through your tears
Dream in my ear
Just let your spirit shine….it’s so fine

We have both been down this road before
Getting what you need makes you want more
We’re stepping into love’s revolving door
In dreams or pain, in sun and rain

Chorus 1

Baby it’s time to go the distance
Giving it all or nothing
Whatever we do
But I want to take a hold of this chance
It’s real and true, for me, for you

Chorus 2:
Say that you want me
Not that you need me
Show me you love me
Tell me you will be mine….tonight
Dance to your heartbeat
Set all your dreams free
Come on and kiss me
Love found us just in time….oh it’s so fine
In dreams or pain, in sun and rain

Oh show me, won’t you tell me

Chorus 2

No doubts, no fears, no pain, no tears
No doubts, no fears, no pain, no tears
Oh show me no fear
No fear….oh no fear

With You – Lyrics

Catherine — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:15:35 +0000

Stop at your door, stare at the floor
Fear rushes in, on the threshold again
Then I see your face, all my doubts slip away
One soft touch one sweet kiss, was I meant to feel like this
With you, with you

Hang up the phone, we’re both alone
It’s so hard playing tough, holding back takes so much
Still I’m laughing out loud, all alone in a crowd
At the things that you say, it just makes me feel that way
With you, with you

What am I doing here?
Who’s that girl in the mirror?
She sure looks a lot like me
Reaching out to touch her face
Another time, another place
I used to be so free
With you, with you

I see your eyes in the stars in the sky
I reach out, touching you, hoping you feel it too
Every touch of my dress is your hand, a caress
You are here next to me, all I want is to be
With you, with you

What am I doing here?
Who’s that girl in the mirror?
She sure looks a lot like me
Reaching out to touch my face
In this time, in this place
I can just be me
With you, with you
With you

Fly – Lyrics

Catherine — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:12:24 +0000

You say you sometimes long for another place
When all you need is right here
I hold you close to me in the falling dark
And close my eyes against the tears
I say I hope you find what you’re looking for
But what I hope you find is me
And I can’t deny when I turn away
I’m not as strong as I pretend to be

Oh oh oh
I want to laugh
I want to cry
I want to play and dance and sing
I want to fly

I truly hope you find what you’re looking for
Still what I hope you find is me
But there’s no denying when I go away
I’m not as strong as I pretend to be

Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
I’m gonna laugh
I’m gonna cry
I’m gonna play and dance and sing
I’m gonna fly

I Did, I Will, I Do – Lyrics

Catherine — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:06:28 +0000

I know I’m playing with the hand of fate
And what I say will be too little too late
After all the heartache and the pain
Before you go I’ve got some things to say

Did I fall in love that day?
Do I wish that you would stay?

Chorus:

Well I did and I do I will always love you
Every day of my life I will always be true
Then and now, now and then
And tomorrow too
I did, I will, and I do

I won’t pretend that things are black or white
There is no simple way to make it right
Still I keep wishing you were here at night
In spite of all the silence and the fights

Did I fall in love that day?
Do I wish that you would stay?

Chorus

I don’t want to be a saint and make every hurt all better
And I can’t be superwoman just to keep it all together
I can’t change what’s done and over
Baby I don’t want to know her name

There is a time to stay and time to go
My head is fast but my heart changes slow
Most of all I had to let you know
There’s no regret, it’s just a letting go

Did I fall in love that day?
Do I wish that you would stay?
And will I still feel that way
Or do I have the strength to make my own way?

Chorus
Repeat