2 March 2026 - Lou-Adriane Cassidy ft. Ariane Roy - Ariane

Told ya.

This is a live performance of Lou-Adriane Cassidy's song "Ariane" WITH Ariane singing, too!

Ariane also appears on the record, but wasn't it far more impressive to see them live?

Lou-Adriane Cassidy will return. 

2 March 2026 - Ariane Roy - Berceuse

We're finally here.  

I've had drafts for Ariane Roy for years. I just needed an excuse to post her music.

So why not give her an individual day and take away from the Cassidy family funfest?

Well, Ariane Roy and Lou-Adriane Cassidy are very much friendly with each other - the latter literally had a song called "Ariane" on her album Journal d'un Loup-Garou. They did a live album together!  And, if anything is going to take the Francophone Album of the Year award at the JUNOS away from Lou-Adriane Cassidy, it's Ariane Roy's excellent Dogue. 

This song closes Dogue and is just great. Enjoy it. 

2 March 2026 - Lou-Adriane Cassidy - J'espère encore que quelque part l'attente s'arrête

I definitely did NOT expect last year that we'd be opening Maple Leaf March (which yes, I know.  We opened yesterday - but, actually, as you'll see in a minute, still applies) with an artist I had not heard of.

ESPECIALLY not a francophone.  

Here we are.  

Daughter of famed Quebec singer Paule-Andrée Cassidy (see what we did there?) and Serge Lacasse, who was a professor of music at L'Université Laval, both had a profound influence on her career.  No, she did not attend  L'Université Laval - she forged her own path.

This song is from her excellent 2nd album Lou-Adriane Cassidy vous dit: bonsoir and it holds up well against her 3rd and 4th, both released in 2025 (her third topped my Wicked 25 in 2025 and her fourth ALMOST made it on the list, too). It's a short and lively French pop song that would fit on English radio just fine. 

You can see how bouncy and lively the song is is she performs it - first, just like on the record.   Also, the song is a little punk, isn't it????

Lou-Adriane Cassidy will return. 

1 March 2026 - Paule-Andrée Cassidy - Ici

I usually open Maple Leaf March with someone you have heard of, because I've written about them in the past.    

Well, this year, I wanted to set a table - with an artist who most people outside of Quebec would never have heard of, despite her nearly 30-year career.  

And, make no mistake - Paule-Andrée Cassidy is a legend in Quebec independent music.  We've talked a lot here about the chanson francaise movement in Quebec, but she was one of the early adopters.  She still makes music, too - this is from her 2023 album Au bal des océans.  The song - co-written by Alexandre Martel (the producer), Gabriel Desjardins, Paule-Andrée and her daughter - is an absolute masterclass on a new classic album. 

28 February 2026 - Goldie Boutilier - Goldie Montana

Well, I screwed up.  I immediately published a scheduled post.  So now we start Maple Leaf March a day early.

So, Goldie's nominated at the JUNOS next month, and I think she's got a shot.

Nominated in the Breakthrough Artist category, she's making fun, compelling pop music.  Getting a big break opening for Katy Perry - even at this stage in her career - has really helped her immeasurably in reaching a larger audience. 

From her 2025 album Goldie Boutilier Presents.... Goldie Montana, without further ado. 

We weren't kidding about that Katy Perry tour.  And Ms. Boutilier made the most of her chance.  

The woman is a rock star.

28 February 2026 (Special Edition) - Neil Sedaka - Love Will Keep Us Together

Neil Sedaka is a big enough deal that he gets TWO posts. 

In 1973, he released a single called "Love Will Keep Us Together" that he wrote (with Howard Greenfield) and recorded himself. 

This performance isn't from 1973, but it's still really good. 

Anyway, I know you know this song.  As we approach post #2000 on this blog, take a look at post #10,  In 1975, pop duo The Captain and Tennille recorded a cover of this song that ended up being the literal biggest hit of 1975.  It was just a monstrous song - and at the end, they paid tribute to its originator.

In 1976, they performed the song with Sedaka. 

That wasn't the only time they did that.

Sedaka was a great songwriter and a delightful performer, and he will be missed.

28 February 2026 (Special Edition) - Neil Sedaka - Calendar Girl

The famed singer songwriter Neil Sedaka passed away yesterday.  His music will be missed.  He was probably more successful as a songwriter, but he *did* perform as well.  This song, from 1960, was his first top 5 hit in the United States and a #1 in Canada! The song, co-written by Sedaka and Howard Greenfield, is really a sweet tribute to the pinups of the past. 

This video is from 1966.

Sedaka never really stopped performing, and he always mentored the next generation of musicians.  Here he is with Fountains of Wayne in 2007.