Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - Michelle Mackey Kicks Out the Jams: Toronto Mike'd #1090

Episode Date: August 2, 2022

In this 1090th episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike chats with 680 and CityNews's Michelle Mackey about her recent engagement and her trip to Italy before she kicks out the jams. Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, Canna Cabana, StickerYou, Ridley Funeral Home and Electronic Products Recycling Association.

Welcome to episode 1090 of Toronto Mic'd. Proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery. A fiercely independent craft brewery who believes in supporting communities, good times, and brewing amazing beer. Order online for free local home delivery in the GTA. StickerU.com. Create custom stickers, labels, tattoos, and decals for your home and the GTA. StickerU.com Create custom stickers, labels, tattoos, and decals for your home and your business.

Palma Pasta. Enjoy the taste of fresh homemade Italian pasta and entrees from Palma Pasta in Mississauga and Oakville. Dewar. The world's most comfortable pants and shorts. Save 15% with the promo code Toronto Mike.

Ridley Funeral Home, pillars of the community since 1921. And Canna Cabana, the lowest prices on cannabis. Guaranteed over 100 stores across the country. Learn more at cannacabana.com. across the country. Learn more at canacabana.com Today, making her triumphant return to Toronto Mike

to kick out the jams is Michelle Mackey. I'm so pumped to be here. Oh, I get giddy when I hear your intro music. Is that like a Pavlovian response? You know it's go time when you hear that.

It's go time, baby. Let's go. Well, welcome back. It's go time, baby. Let's go. Well, welcome back. I have nothing but like fond memories of your first visit to the program, which was on the deck in the backyard. You know what? I had such a fun time. I was so excited when you asked me to come back. I was honored too, because you never know, right? It's like when Johnny Carson, before your time, of course, because you're a young person but so young like a comic would come on and then johnny would like nod for you to come sit beside him to chat afterwards and he only uh you know he didn't do that for everybody like that was a big deal for comics yeah well i i honestly was very excited when you asked me back

because you posted a picture and it was the anniversary, I guess, the one year anniversary. That's when I remember all my former guests. So yeah. That's so good. It's a good technique. Every year I go through the XML file and I just search for the date. And then I put out like, okay, on this day, this happened. So I know on this day in 2017 or something, Fred Patterson from Humble and Fred came over to kick out the jams. Like I,

so every day I do this every morning. That's such a great idea. And you know, I have an agenda and I, uh, I literally like write down my daily tasks in this agenda. And every now and then I'll go back and take like, and one of my old books and look at a past year and what I was doing on that day. It's a cool exercise. It's good to look back. Yeah. Reflect back what you were doing. Why aren't you like, why aren't I doing that anymore? Like I enjoy doing that. That's something I might want to do again, but okay. So you're here. Your name is Michelle. Yes. Just in case you forgot. That's right. I have a Michelle as well. That's right. And I just want to say, uh, now it's been a few days now, but my daughter, Michelle turned 18 that's huge yeah so she

turned 18 on i guess three days ago oh my gosh happy birthday michelle 18 is a big one you know it's kind of you're you're oh you really got there what three four years ago exactly yes a cool three years ago sure thank you for the coffee you brought me a coffee always most guests bring me nothing okay so And you got anywhere like, oh, it's black. I hope that's okay. But black is actually how I drink my coffee. Me too.

It's perfect. It's pure. It hits a little harder, I find. Oh, no. Thanks so much for that. I got a note when I just tweeted you were coming on and then Mike Gentile. Am I saying that right?

Gentile? Mike. Sure. That works. Yeah. I think you nailed it. How do you say it? Yeah. Mike Gentile. Oh, Gentile. Okay. I. That works. Yeah. I think you nailed it. How do you say it? Yeah.

Mike Gentile. Oh, Gentile. Okay. I'm trying to like, I'm making it even more. You made it very Italian. Right. Which he is Italian. Right.

But yeah, he's, uh, he's great. I worked with him for years at the Weather Network and then we both kind of switched over to Rogers at the same time. That's what he says. Michelle's my good buddy from the Weather Network and 680 and she's the best. Oh, Mike. that's so nice. Yeah, Mike was kind of my biggest cheerleader when I first started at the Weather Network.

And right away he had my back and was giving me great feedback and really pushed for me to, you know, have more shifts on the morning show. He's the best. What's Mike doing right now? So I believe he's at 590. Yeah. Sounds about right. So is he producing programs for the 590?

He was born to be a producer. He's so organized and creative. He has to do that. I'm forcing him forever. That's what you have to do, Mike. The last time you were here, I do want to read the description. So people can go back and if they want the A to Z and hear more about Michelle Mackey on the Weather Network

and how she got to 680 and her city news and everything she's up to, you can go to episode 866. Yes. Did you get a tattoo subsequently with the numbers 866 on you? I should have. No tattoos for me. But the fact that one- Oh, you have none on.

You have no tattoos. No tattoos for me. Are you ever going to get a tattoo? No, I'm way too scared for that. Because I also don't have a tattoo, but I feel like there's fewer of us left. Yeah. I just, if I had a higher pain threshold, I would. But no, no, no.

I'm very, no, I'm not doing it. You're a wimp. I'm a total wimp. But by the way, congrats on 1,000. Is this the 1,090th? Yeah, this is 1,090. That's wild, Mike. What?

So you were 866. And what was that? Was that last summer or two summers ago? It was last summer. Yeah. So you've done some work in between. It's been busy times. And you know why?

Because in pandemic times, i started adding people via zoom so yeah i had gowan on yesterday which was great but gowan who could have come over like i i was told so this was arranged by eric alper do you know the name yes i do of course i know i don't know he's the music guy right he's a lot yeah he's got a music thing and he's on twitter he reps some musicians and stuff pr wise and then he's like hey would you talk to gowan because gowan's having like a like a little renaissance because uh the new jordan peel movie nope have you seen it no but i'm a big horror movie fan so and also fun fact the two stars of nope were at the vatican the day after i was there okay we're gonna get into that this

is recent, right? Yes. And who are the stars of Gnome? Oh my gosh, you're going to, I forget the names. I absolutely forget the names, but I saw the pictures. You know them. But there's, and I have not seen this movie yet, but I will see it. But at some point there's a pivotal scene and the music you hear in the background of

this scene is You're a Strange Animal by Gowan. Come on. So like, I'm not not gonna say this is like you know gowan's gonna get the kate bush bump or whatever because uh stranger things like completely like resuscitated kate bush's so but but but you know the fact that this is a big movie with a big new movie and there is a big scene with a gowan jam in it like it's kind of neat so gowan so so alper's like what you want to talk to Gowan at 9.30 on Monday morning? And I'm like, yeah.

Does Gowan know it's a holiday? Like, just curious. And then he's like, oh, Gowan's in the, he's in the States. So I think, okay, well, that's why he can't come here. Anyway, I'm, I go, I jump on. And I can't remember. I just said something.

Where are you? Where are you? You know, Larry. And because, you know, his name's Larry. And then he's like, oh, I'm here by the I can't remember. I just said something. Where are you? Where are you? You know, Larry. And because, you know, his name's Larry. And then he's like, oh, I'm here by the Scarborough Bluffs. And I'm like, that's bullshit. I biked there. Come on.

No, you know what? I think it's so much better if you can do it in person. I'm just so done with Zoom. If I never had to do a Zoom anything ever again, I'd be OK with it. No, I'm with you. And a lot of times, like, I'm offered people that I actually would love to talk to and they're like oh can we zoom it and i actually say now like oh i'm willing to wait five years for you to get your ass over here well listen like even before the mic was on it was like a nice little interaction we had right although i did tell

you i didn't want to talk to you he yeah i mean you did that the last time too so i was expecting it you said save it for the pod don't talk to me we'll record oh yeah so now is your opportunity to praise the environment that you're in because you're not in the backyard yeah this is really cool we're downstairs in i guess let's call it a studio can you do this in your reporter voice we're downstairs in mike's studio i haven't had enough coffee for it oh my gosh um we've got in the background sticker you dot com. We've got a Toronto mic sticker.

Palma's kitchen, which by the way, has great lasagna. I'm hoping I'm getting one of those. Did you get one last time? Yes, I did. And did you enjoy it?

Destroyed it. It was the best. Did you, did your boyfriend get some? At the time, this was a boyfriend. Well, no spoiler, but we'll get to this.

Yes, he did and loved it. We, we, we had a couple meals out of that it was pretty big so you are going to leave here with another lasagna yes did you bring home any Great Lakes beer last time I did you are also going to leave with some fresh craft beer

from Great Lakes you didn't get this last time I know this is since you were last on I'm not you can answer it or you can plead the fifth, which doesn't exist in this country. But do you smoke cannabis? I do not.

Do you have anyone in your circle? You used to. Okay. So this is an ashtray from Canna Cabana. Canna Cabana will not be undersold on cannabis or cannabis accessories. They have over 100 locations across the country. So there's somebody in your life, like a neighbor or a loved one who smokes and could benefit from a ashtray.

I will absolutely. I know exactly the person. And since we're doing this, I know normally I don't do it right off the top, but you were doing such a great job for your reporter voice. I shouldn't have interrupted, but this is from Ridley Funeral Home and you might need to, I feel like everybody should carry around measuring tape you never know when you have to measure

something i like to measure things you can read into that like you wish what you wish this is for you to measure things michelle oh you know what hey how much snow fell that's okay let's measure that but when you do like when you're on the air and you're like you know uh i don't know you're 15 centimeters fell i learned that from my Ridley Funeral Home measuring tape. Just like flash it, pull it out. Just shout out, just say shout out to Ridley Funeral Home. Shout out to Ridley Funeral Home. You do it better though.

Honestly, like you've got a really cool voice when you're doing your intro. My heart's melting. I resisted doing anything of this nature because i hated my voice and to hear you say that i could openly weep with you right now no you're great 1090 episodes in i know i've come to accept my voice and i'm used to it now but in fact okay dean mcdermott does that name mean anything to you um yes why does that i was zooming with dean the other day oh wait like the actor yeah Yeah, the actor. Oh.

So we're Zooming. Yeah. Oh, that guy? It's a top secret production I'm involved with. So involving Dean McDermott. Okay. If I tell you anymore, I'd have to kill you and then I'd have to shout out Ridley Funeral Home.

Okay. See how that would work. But Dean, Dean. So I think Dean's got this cool voice because he's kind of gruff and I can't quite imitate it, but it's got a manly. It sounds cool to me, my ears. And then out of nowhere, he says, you know, Mike, you have a great voice. Like he says that. I don't know, is he blowing smoke up my ass?

But I said to myself, I said, wow, if I'd only known one day Dean McDermott would compliment my voice, I would have started this podcast a long time ago. Yeah, no, you have a great voice during the intro i was sitting there and i was like oh man because i i was like he's gonna ask me to do the reporter voice and i well matt mcclain wants you to recap something that happened which we're gonna get to in a moment but uh did i finish reading no i gotta read okay 866 i know i got distracted by asking if you had a tattoo that said 866. Mike chats with 680 News and City News. They rebranded 680 News since you were on.

I think I asked you in that backyard whether you knew it was coming because I heard rumors. But okay. News and weather reporter Michelle Mackey about her years at the Weather Network, her move to 680 News and City News, the Arkells, because you're a big Arkells fan. Big Arkells fan, yeah. And your work as a mental health advocate. Yeah, we covered a lot. We covered a lot of ground,

and it was over an hour and 15 minutes. You left with Posse, you left with Great Lakes. Yeah. And subsequently, and we'll talk about your trip before we kick out jams, but I have a jam to accompany this question from matt mcclain okay so let me just kick this is not one of your jams okay but this is a jam nonetheless just drink it in for a moment michelle and then we'll get to this

that's groovy i feel like i'm gonna propose to you now we'll put a deep bring it down but that is boys to men on bended knee matt mclean wants to know can you recap your engagement in your reporter voice? Congratulations, Michelle. I hear you got engaged like in July. Yeah, literally, I think like just over a week ago in Italy. Did you? Okay. Did you know it was coming? No, I kept thinking it would have been a very big missed opportunity if it did not happen in Italy because it was so beautiful. But we had talked about rings, I think about six months ago.

So I was hoping, but it was the end of the holiday. So I thought I... What city did this happen in? This was in Sorrento. Where is Sorrento? That's Amalfi Coast, so it's south of Rome. And yeah, I was genuinely very surprised. And my sister and her boyfriend were with us and they were totally in on it.

Wow. And it was very chaotic. I need to ask some questions now. I feel very paternal towards you. How long have you dated this gentleman? So we've been dating for four years. We actually met through a man named George Karunas, who's like an adventurer explorer at the weather network. He does a lot of work there. So he introduced us. I basically volunteered because Neil's a photographer. And I said, I volunteered to

interview him for his opening night at one of his exhibits four years ago. That's the move, is it? It's the move, I guess. Yeah. So Neil is this gentleman's name. Yes. And he literally was kneeling. Neil kneeled. He kneeled, kneeled. But I got to tell you, I blacked out. Like, I didn't remember him kneeling. I said to him after, did you kneel? And he was like, yeah.

But it was so, like, your heart's pounding. But somebody took video. And yes, my sister and her boyfriend were in on the whole thing. There were photos and videos. It was all recorded. And did you say yes? I did say yes. I realized in my post, I did not say that I said yes.

So a few people were like, so what'd you say? So my wife, my current wife, said no. What? Not to me. Not to me. Not to me. I should rewind. Before me, like in her life before me, i gotta be careful i tell you before me like in

her life before me believe it or not a life before me can you imagine uh she was proposed to by a boyfriend of seven years come on and she said no come on and that's how that's that opened the door for me there but uh otherwise this never there would be no jarvis and there would be no Morgan. Wow, I like her though. So is this the first proposal you received? It is. Like a sincere proposal, not like from some crazy fan or whatever? Yes, the first sincere in-person, not on Twitter proposal that I have ever received. And it was the best moment of my life.

I'm excited for you. Thank you. I'm so excited too, except I just, it's very overwhelming, you know. Already I'm like how do I get, how do I find a venue? What do I do here? Well, then, listen to this voice. I know you put all your trust in me. I'm sorry I let you down.

But I won't let you down. I'm gonna swallow my pride. Oh, come on. That's so good. I always think of End of the Road, though, and then I want to shout out Ridley Funeral Home again. But that guy with the super deep voice, like, no wonder I avoided a microphone so many years.

Like, that's how I thought you were supposed to sound. That guy, that's insane, that guy's voice. He's an exception. I know. But it's sort of like porn. Like, oh, I saw a porno. And get the measuring tape out, right? It's like, holy smokes.

Like, what's going on here? Okay, that voice is like butter, though. And that's why they're as famous as they are. That is true. They're a big deal. Okay, a lot of big hits. Okay. So, congratulations.

You're now engaged. And you said there's a lot of work ahead of you now. Where do you want to do this? Is it going to happen in Toronto? Oh, gosh. Well, I really like the Niagara region. You want to do it in my it going to happen in Toronto? Gosh. Well, I really liked it. You want to do it in my backyard.

And if I can live stream it at live.torontomike.com. We'll podcast the whole thing. Yeah. Let's do it. Will colleagues be invited? Like, will there be? of course.

Yeah. Like even a couple of, uh, two of my best friends are from the weather network and I've already asked if they'd be, um, bridesmaids for me. So Rachel shoots in Kelly Sonnenberg. Wow. yeah they're my some of my best friends okay will anybody from uh City News be invited of course yes the whole crew my producer for example Laura

Matt she's amazing she's become such a great friend of mine and uh she was one of the first people I told afterwards so I think that's always a good time. Did she get told before social media? Always. Yes. I had to go through a very specific list of people who I had to tell before I posted. Who'd you tell first? So the first person I told mom and dad obviously had, had to do the parents. And then, uh, I think I went Rachel. I think I went Rachel and then Kelly. Yeah. Okay. Okay. And then, then social media and then social media. Rachel. I think I went Rachel and then Kelly. Yeah. Okay. Okay. And then social media. And then social media. Yeah. I wanted to make sure I waited a full day before I posted on social media just to make sure I wasn't forgetting anyone. So how long were you in Italy? So we

were there for almost 10 days. So I will tell you, I had my, I'm trying to think back now, my anniversary in the second marriage was to Italy. Oh, isn't it the best? So I remember like I had business in Amsterdam. Oh, okay. That's fancy. And I flew from Amsterdam. We flew from Amsterdam to Rome. And then the rest of the trip in Italy was like via train. Yeah.

I still remember my stops. But tell me what were your stops in Italy? Okay. So we did three days in Rome. We probably could have done it in two days, to be honest. And it was also incredibly hot. Like it was heat like I've never expected. Oh yeah, Europe's having quite the heat.

Oh, it was 39. So you really do have to go inside in the afternoons and just kind of like stay in the cool air. So we think we probably could have done Rome in two days, but we still loved it. But the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento, was the nicest place I've ever been in my life. And my next vacation, I just want to go back there. You know, sometimes you plan your next vacation.

Nicer than the Scarborough Bluff. Listen, Scarborough Bluffs are a close second. Close. Did you go to Florence? No, we didn't. And we think, because I think Florence is a little bit north. No, you're right, because I went north. a little bit north. No, you're right. Because I went north.

Yeah. So next time we want to do north. So I'm going to pick your brain the next time. So, okay. So you do, because then Cinque Terre, which is the five towns. Yes. That was a highlight. And I remember thinking when I was doing that hike between towns, I remember thinking like,

oh, this is like the most beautiful place I've ever been. Like I had that thought. Yeah. So Italy and the food, I mean, Palma pasta aside, which is great Italian food here, but that food in Italy is that's next level. Well, a bit of a story. Okay. The food there. Yes, it is 10 out of 10 best food I've ever had in my life. The one night it was the night after we got engaged. Neil took me up to this beautiful hilltop farm to table restaurant. You don't even get a menu. It's just this Nona wakes up at like five in the morning and she's like, here's what's on the menu today.

And here's what you're going to get. Best food I've ever had in my life. It was about half an hour drive from our hotel. Very windy roads. And the best meal of my life ended up up on the side of the roads oh my goodness you got a car sick very very car sick yeah so uh note if you go to italy uh just uh bring gravel if you're driving i'm just gonna say that that's not morning sickness which would explain the sudden proposal he's like i gotta make an honest woman out of no that was that was absolute. But I was very, I was devastated because that really was the best meal of my life.

Okay. How long have you been back from Italy? I think one week. No, not even a week. I don't think. Shout out to bare naked ladies. It's been not one week. It's been one week since Italy. Yay, that works. Have you been back to work yet? I have, yeah. So I took the first day back. I just kind of chilled and then I was right back in it. And we kind of hit the ground running because it was Caravana. And then the next day...

You know, we don't call it that. Oh, I always forget. It's always... Can I ask you, is that a branding issue? Like, did someone own the copyright on that and they couldn't use it? You know what? I was wondering about that. I think it's got to be money.

It's got to be money. I just feel like it's always caravana in my heart, but it's Toronto Caribbean carnival. I told myself that a million times during the show. I didn't get it wrong on, on air, but then, uh,

yeah, it was so fun. And the costumes were just like, Oh my gosh. Oh, no doubt. I mean, I did,

uh, that day of the parade, I biked over to check it out. And then, yeah, I took some photos of like, just people going to the parade in their costumes and it's amazing everyone's so nice too it was a great great day of weather and oh it was perfect it was perfect and then the next day went to veld and that was really cool too totally different scene so kind of just hit the ground

running okay so when when you go to work uh, is it 680 or city news or are they the same? Like just help us out. Yeah. So now, so obviously there's a city news and then city news 680 and I'm still doing about, you know, half and half. Uh, since I've been back, I've been on the weather side of it, but because you know, things are opening up and there's festivals again, I'm going out in the field doing weather from events and it's so much it's just so nice to be out and meeting people and doing things again let's do our uh mandatory shout out to fot and mike apple oh mike apple i was at a jay's game like i don't know the day sid six arrow throughout the first pitch oh yes okay that's right i missed his pitch but i guess breakfast television got a box or something yeah i think the whole crew was there so the only member of that crew that wanted to meet me was

mike apple so much love to the great mike you want to talk about a good voice mike apple has a great voice well he's listening now praise him a little further well i he's so nice he was yeah he was one of the first people i met at uh at, City News 680, before I even applied for a job. I kind of went in there with Neil one day and we had a nice chat. He's the best. And I told you last time you were here that Carl Hansky lives in the hood, right? Yes, of course.

He's your neighbor. He's my neighbor. Neighboresque, yeah. He's in the hood. It's a small little hood. Exactly. He's always walking his big dog, Gracie. Gracie.

And you know who he's married to, right? Another Michelle. Oh, right. Michelle Butterly from CHFI. I'm telling you, Michelle's rule of the world. Yeah, no, I'm a big fan. Like, a firstborn daughter is a Michelle. So, big fan of the Michelles.

And Michelle's really just like Michael. It is. It's the female version. You know, you're naming her after me basically basically quite the power move it is it is so we're gonna get a lot of ground to cover but this trip sounds like it was amazing italy is a beautiful country oh yeah the best and it's nice to be back traveling after uh well not that we're out of the pandemic but we've decided to move on right yeah i guess so yeah i mean we were really cautious there were a couple times where, I mean, in the Vatican, they get something like a

million people who go through that museum every day and masks are not required. And so I rocked my mask the whole time and there was no air conditioning in there. So I don't know. There were a couple of times I took it off to just breathe and I kept thinking, you know, if I'm going to get it, this might be it. Wait, you think if I get it in the Vatican, I'm going straight to heaven? Well, I kind of. Are you a Catholic? No, well, Christian.

Okay, because Christian is not enough for the Vatican. You have to be Catholic. I guess you do, yeah. That Pope is not in charge of Protestants. I guess so, yeah. But you're, okay, so you're Christian. I clearly need to learn more. Listen, I was raised Catholic.

The Pope's in charge of the Catholics. That's right, okay. Not all Christians. Yes. But okay, so it wouldn't have helped you much, okay. listen i was raised catholic the pope's in charge of the catholics that's right not all christians yes but okay so it wouldn't have helped you much okay yeah so uh i was gonna say you get those last rites from the pope you go straight to the front of the line okay saint peter takes you right away okay that's right but it was beautiful it really was it was beautiful but there were it was it was busy amazing okay you're kicking out the jam we are going to kick out some jams now. I'm so excited.

Well, you know, we'll talk the jams. Because when I went through your jams, I realized that I'm unfamiliar with nine out of your ten. No, no, sorry. I'm unfamiliar with eight of your ten jams. Okay, cool. Which I think might be a record. Wow.

And I've done a lot. We've kicked out jams of almost 100 people, I think maybe more. And I don't think I've ever batted so poorly like that. That's okay. I only know 20. Yeah, I'm excited to learn about these jams. Like even the artists, I only know four of these artists. I went different because I was like, he's going to just expect this to be in Arkell's list.

So I didn't put any Arkell's. Where's the Bruce Springsteen? I know. Where's the Led Zeppelin? I know. I do have the hip. There's a hip on it. Spoiler alert. that's one of the jams i know okay spoiler alert so yes just before we begin i'm gonna be very honest of artists one two three so i know four of these artists and i know two of these songs okay so the listenership is heavy i'll be

honest it's heavy gen x okay so i feel like the listenership some of the listenership might be in the same boat as me that's okay we're learning i love it like your jams are your jams and and i'm not gonna i mean am i allowed to ask your age i guess you can always yeah i'm 31 okay so you're 31 i just want to get my mindset so if you're 31 you're born in 91 i'm a 90 baby almost 32 almost 32 okay so gotcha so if i get my frame so you're basically coming of age in the 2000s yes so meanwhile like i'm preparing to die in the 2000s so it's a little different here okay so without further ado, I ask you one very important question. Okay. Are you ready, Michelle, to kick out the jams? Born ready, baby.

Let's go. Let's go. God, I wish somebody would have told me when I was younger that all bodies aren't the same. Photoshop, bitty, bitty models on magazine covers. Told me I was overweight. I stopped eating. What a bummer.

Can't have carbs in a hot girl's cellar. If I could go back and tell myself when I was younger, I'd say, psst. I know Victoria's secret. A girl you wouldn't believe. She's an old man who lives in Ohio. Making money off of girls like me. Cashing in on body issues. Selling skin and bones with big boobs.

I know Victoria's secret. She was made up by a dude. Dude! Victoria was made up by a dude. Okay, so also it might be fun for this old Gen Xer to react to the music. Yes, react. Catchy and I very much enjoy the messaging in this react. Which is, I want to tell you, okay. Catchy and I enjoy, very much enjoy the messaging in this song. That's why I chose it. But the messaging's great,

but it's also catchy, fun pop song. Like it sounds like it could have been like a Miley Cyrus song. Totally. Like I dig it is what I'm telling you. Right? So what's the name of this artist? Okay, so her name is Jax

and I found her on TikTok and she just writes all of her own music and she sings about different things like she's got a great message and what a cool message this is and it's also a bop so no it's a bop and so tell me let's talk a bit more about this messaging because we did kind of talk about this briefly during your first visit but uh I love this like what I like I when I look back at my old self I think I was like when I was younger i was thinking like oh like who is she to wear a bikini like she's got a big belly sure and i would think like oh like like that's not a bikini body and then as you you mature you realize that all bodies are bikini bodies a body is a body exactly Exactly. And I think for so long, Victoria's Secret when I was in high school watching those shows.

And I know it deeply affected other people, you know. And so I love a song like this where it's just I think every young girl and woman needs to listen to this and understand that Victoria's Secret was literally made up by a dude. No, yeah, absolutely. And, you know, call it what you will, photoshopping or airbrushing or it's, it's, it's, you're being sold a bill of goods and an unachievable bill of goods that's unhealthy, completely unhealthy to attempt to achieve. Even some of the models now are coming out and saying, you know, we were told to lose weight when we were at our sickest. And it's, you know, truly there were just some executive men who decided that this is what beautiful is and nothing else counts. So good choice there. And you introduced me to Jax.

She's super cool. Yes. Michelle would really like her, I think. Okay. No, yeah. Well, Michelle likes her and I'm going to make sure. I will actually run this list back against my 18-year-old daughter. Yes, you have to tell me what she thinks.

I will. I will. Okay okay you ready for your second jam yes long hair crossed the room, she got that glow I know you see me over here So dance on me real slow We've been going for about two hours And I don't even know your name So baby, please reveal, reveal Your friends are calling you

Baby, stay with me instead. I know you're saying that you're tired. There's a door dancing in there. Even if I go, I still think of you in my bed. Of a good time, good time, good time we listening to? Okay, so this is Odessa, Across the Room, and this is very cheesy, but it always makes me tear up this song

because it reminds me of when Neil and I first met, and I figured because we're now engaged, I'd throw this on there. It's kind of our song. So there you go. But I love that story because a lot of times that song hits you at the right moment and then you associate it with a particular feeling and it sticks with you for the rest of your life. Absolutely. And just, you know, the title of it across the room is, you know, kind of how we met. And, you know, when I walked into that gallery and we locked eyes and it was pretty instant that there was something special there. So, so sparks were flying. This is what the people want to hear, Michelle. Okay. So

love at first sight or lust at first sight. I remember that night I sent a picture of us because we did have a picture together on our, the first night we met and I sent it to my sister and I said, uh, look at this, look at this cute photographer and he's a bit older than me and she was like, he's way too old for you. So she'll never live that down. He's not my age, is he?

He is 44. So he's 12 years older than me. But there's nothing, age is just a number, man. See, we can't say that anymore because R. Kelly wrote that song for his like 14 year old wife. Ooh, that song for his 14-year-old wife. Ooh, I take it back.

That's okay. R. Kelly ruined lots of things. He did, yeah. The worst. But that's great. Aaliyah, right? Aaliyah Jain. Yes. So Odessa is the woman's voice? Odessa? Well, I think it's Leon Bridges. But that's the dude, right? Odessa?

I don't know if you know. Maybe is it like... Is Odessa the... Because there's a woman who I quite like in this song. She sounds like the woman who's on those Pink Floyd songs. Like there's a woman I hear on a Pink Floyd song. Anyway, sounds good. This is Leon Bridges as the dude.

Yeah. And Odessa's... They're DJs. Okay. Yeah. So they're kind of the... Like a Calvin Harris exactly yes a little more chill I would say right okay okay yeah this woman this voice I like

yeah I don't know who this woman is but All right, I dig it. Two for two. Good stuff here. Okay, I'm so glad. Now that I've learned that he's 44, that tells me he was 40 when you started dating. Yes. So I was, I think, 27

because I hadn't turned 28 yet. And he was a young looking... First of all, that gap is fine at that age. Oh, totally. First of all, Monica upstairs is 40 and I just turned 48. Okay, yeah. See, I think when you're older, it doesn't matter as much. But to be single at 40, he wasn't damaged goods.

No, he had recently gotten out of a relationship and I swooped right in. You saw it was your opportunity. My opportunity. All right. Lucky man. Lucky me too. Good stuff. Yeah. Okay, we're going to right in. You saw it. It was your opportunity. My opportunity. All right. Good. Lucky, lucky man. Yeah. Lucky me too.

Good stuff. Okay. We're going to roll in. I'm going to come out of this and roll right in. I'm going to show off my skills here. You're doing well with it. Lots of practice. If we need a DJ for the wedding, you're in. Oh my God.

I would totally do that. You'd be great. Lots of 90s CanCon old rock. Get some Rusty in the mix. Some Killjoys. You shut me down, you lack the control You speak to me like I'm a child Try to hold it down, I know the answer I can shake it off and you feel threatened by me

I try to play it nice but oh, oh, oh, oh, don't kill my vibe Oh, oh, oh, oh, don't break my stride You think you're so important to me, don't you? But I want you to know that you don't belong here You think you're so important to me, don't you? But I want you to know that you don't belong here You think you're so important to me, don't you? Don't kill my vibe You love to tear me down, you pick me apart Then build me up like I depend on you

Build me up like I depend on you But I throw myself from heights that used to scare me Guess you're surprised I'm the person you can't figure out I try to play it nice but Oh, oh, oh, don't kill my vibe Oh, oh, don't break my stride I'm trying to play it to you You think you're so important to me, don't you? That I wanted you to know that you don't belong here You think you're so important to me, don't you?

Don't kill my vibe Say I'm young, I don't care, I won't quit, no, no, no Say I'm young, I don't care, I won't quit, no, no, no No, you're acting like you heard me, but I'm not even listening No, you're acting like you heard me, then I'm not even listening. So normally I know the song because it's usually, you know, it's another Elton John song or whatever. So I know when I'm fading down. But because I'm really hearing these songs, they're new to me.

It's really cool watching you. I don't know where to fade down because every time I think it's time to bring her down, there's a new part I want to hear. You know what? There's a lot of interesting parts to this jam this is so fascinating watching you listen because i can see you almost start to go down and then i think you like this one i was digging and you're like oh oh yeah and i like i like not knowing where the song is going okay you only get one shot no i love this song it's cool right it's yeah it's a banger. So who's the artist? Okay, so her name is Sigrid.

And I believe she's from, yeah, she's European. I think she's from a Nordic country. Well, that narrows it down. Let's make her from Norway. Norway it is, sure. And she's super cool. But I just love this song. And I think very female empowerment, you know?

And I always kind of- Don't kill always kind of don't kill my don't kill my vibe i've which is a great expression like i'm gonna start using that if somebody's i'm like don't kill my vibe no exactly and so this is kind of twofold for me it's um gotten me through like you know breakups that kind of thing in the past but it always kind of reminds me of you know career stuff what was your longest relationship that ended? Um, three years and, or no, not three years. Uh, I think it was two years and, uh, yeah, that was in Australia. You lived in Australia. Did I know this? I think. Did you tell me this last time? How long did you live in Australia for? Two years. Okay. You were with some Aussie for two years.

And then did you break up because you wanted to go home or did you break up and then you went home well we broke up and then i went home because uh you know what when you go through because he was a crocodile hunter he was a crocodile hunter uh no i just uh what do you want to do when you go through a breakup is be with your family and i just wanted to come home and that's a long way away yeah and so uh it was really really tough obviously that breakup because it was like moving country and all this. And I just found that song. I found it kind of shortly after. And I went in my top 25 most played songs and that was number one. Wow. OK, that's your breakup song. That was the breakup song.

But I find, listen, career goals, anything you want, like it just it hypes you up. No, I dug it. Like, again like i like hearing somebody's favorite song that i don't know at all like it's okay cool i do this a lot but a lot of times nine out of ten songs i know something usually sometimes it's ten out of ten songs it's like of course i know the bands of the weight like i've heard it a hundred thousand times like i know i know these songs so well i don't need to hear uh taking of Business by BTO anymore. Like I would be happy if I lived the rest of my life never hearing it ever again. But Sigrid, did I say it right? Yeah. Sigrid's Don't Kill My Vibe. I heard like five seconds of it when you put it on my list to

make sure I had it. But then I just see waveform. I didn't actually play it. So I'm hearing it for the first time. And that's why I almost wasn't going to fade that down. I'm like, where's Sigrid going next? Well, part of the reason I chose kind of these different songs is I wanted to, you know, tell a story. And I didn't, yeah, I didn't want to have just the basics, you know? Right. Yeah, you don't need to tell the story with Madonna and, you know, Prince or whatever. Again, not a great artist, but okay. So these are three artists we've heard so far

that I was unfamiliar with. Now, we are going to play your fourth jam now, and I do know the artist, but I didn't know the song. You ready? Here we go. Here we go. Yeah, in a familiar place We got our heads down And we pretend it's cause the night is dark

And we're running out of space And we're still running around But if the dead end, then my knees tie And it's been a long time of this Something has got to give Everyone here is ready to go It's been a hard year with nothing to show From down this road It's only on we go, on we go Lights.

Lights, of course. Had to include a Canadian, right? You have more Canadians coming. I do. I do, of course. Had to include a Canadian, right? You have more Canadians coming. I do. I do, of course. And I say that because of the three artists left that I've heard of, two of them are Canadian. That's right.

No, she's awesome. I actually met her at a grocery store once, and I went up and introduced myself to her, and she was absolutely lovely. What neighborhood was this grocery store in? Liberty Village. This was like 10 years ago. No, yeah, like almost 10 years ago.

She was so cool. Like just as nice as she appeared on TV in person, which I always really appreciate. And I just can't. She was just lovely. You know, I have a case. So Lights, I root for the Canadian artists. Always. And then there was a very popular,

I think she's from England, but there was an artist named Ellie Goulding. Yes. And Ellie Goulding had a smash hit called Lights. Oh yeah. And I always felt like that was going, like that was unfortunate. Like there was confusion

because it's in the same kind of space, sort of. There's this massive lights now that's an Ellie Goulding song. I know. And that might overshadow somehow that there's this, and also she had,

like let's face it, her manager was Gian Gomeschi. I know. So there's, you know, you got to deal with that fallout or whatever. And this song came out right around that trial. Right.

Right. So, I root for Lights. I hope she's still making great music. She is. And up we go here. This hypes you up when you hear it? Always hypes me up. I used to run through Toronto when I first moved here listening to this song.

So, very fond memories of this. And shout out to the Canadians, right? Of course. Now, what neighborhood uh you don't have to get too specific but what neighbor do you live in now i live at one no i'm just kidding so i'm in the high park area so just uh do you do you know that they were ticketing cyclists in high park for speeding i saw that okay now it's fine if they're going 40k and you're like okay these are the tour de france and there's a 20k limit what are you doing 40k for in this park but i saw on twitter that this guy was had his ticket

he was going 26k an hour oh in high park by the way where if you as you know there's a sidewalk where people walk and then there's a road where the cars and the cyclists share this road i'm not saying uh cyclists are above the law i'm saying it's embarrassing to me when our police force is ticketing people for going uh 60 26 kilometers an hour in a high park but also isn't it close to traffic on the weekends anyways so aren't those roads clear for biking yeah i know i know but so so so so this happened i just was curious uh what do you think of that michelle mackie that the should we be uh stinging it's almost like shooting fish in a barrel right because there's not a lot of places in toronto you can go where

you have sort of like a like a loop like yeah i mean i only heard briefly about that but from my understanding high park is closed to drivers so i, if we're all using the road respectfully, I don't know enough about it. But, I mean, that seems kind of... No, no, listen. You're talking to a guy who doesn't own any Lycra. Like, I don't own any Lycra. So, like, yes, I bike a lot. I do bike a lot every day.

But I'm not one of those Tour de France guys. Like, I max out. I guess if I'm going down a hill, I'll hit 30K. But typically, I'm going, like hill, I'll hit 30K. But typically I'm going like 24, like around that. That's sort of like what I ride at, 23, 24 kilometers an hour. The fact is when I'm in Hyde Park and I do that loop, I probably am going around 25, 26 because there's that hill there or whatever. It doesn't feel right that we'd have cops standing there

and just like shooting the fish in a barrel. What was happening? Was there a blitz or something? Yeah, there was a blitz, I guess. I don't know. I suspect that you get those packs of Lycra guys who show up. And I know they on those road bikes that they have, they can easily be cruising at like 40k.

And I would imagine that like pedestrians would feel like maybe unsafe somehow at certain parts of the park when the guys are zipping along at 40k. But maybe there just needs to be better signage because, you know, if it's close to drivers during the weekend, maybe people can just be more, you know, maybe we just need signage that this road is still used for bikes. Like be cautious. I don't know. I don't know either. But anyway, you mentioned high parks. This is all your fault, but that is all you are living in a lovely, lovely neighborhood. It is great. Here's all my fault. You are living in a lovely neighborhood.

It is great. Here's an artist I know. Okay. This ain't for the best. My reputation's never been worse, so you must like me for me. We can't make any promises now, can we, babe? But you can make me drink. Dive bar on the east side where you at, phone lights at my nightstand in the black, come here you can meet me in the back.

Dark jeans and your Nikes, look at you, oh damn never seen that that color blue just think of the fun things we could do cause i like you for the best my reputation's never been worse so you must like me for me yeah i want you we can't make any promises now, can we babe? But you can make me drink Is it cool that I said all that? Is it chill that you're in my head? Cause I know that it's delicate Is it cool that I said all that?

Is it too soon to do this yet? Cause I know that it's delicate Is it cool that I said all that? Is it too soon to do this yet? Cause I know that it's delicate. Isn't it? Isn't it? Isn't it? Isn't it? Isn't it? Isn't it?

Isn't it? Isn't it? Isn't it? Isn't it? Isn't it? Isn't it? Isn't it? Isn't it?

Isn't it? Isn't it? Taylor Swift. Of course. Now, I brought this song up for two reasons. Of course, I love Taylor Swift. And I think this is her best song ever. I'll take maybe.

Do you know, I don't know the song. Yeah. Was it a hit? It was, but I don't think it was her biggest hit by any means. Right. My favorite. But highest CO2 emissions of any celebrity using their private jet. It just came out.

Taylor, girl, what are we doing? What are we doing? What are we doing? The reason I know about this come out thing is because Drake had to respond because they said his plane went from Toronto to Hamilton. Yeah, 14 minute flight. I guess I'm just blown away.

I mean, I've never been on a private jet. Don't know a lot about them, but now that this is getting all publicized, like, what a, what? No, I know, I know. And I feel like this also came to light because there are a Kardashian, and I can't remember the name of this Kardashian,

but the younger Jen Kardashian, Kylie, who tweeted like, mine are yours. Like, which private jet are we taking? How relatable. At a time, very relatable. Thank you so much for that. At a time when so many people can relate to that i'm surprised that t-swizzle here like i was to be more uh sensitive to her carbon footprint yeah well you know maybe something good can come out of these celebrity private jets

getting publicized like maybe we can calm down those seven minute flights seven minutes what are what wow okay so uh taylor come on curb your uh usage of the private jet still love you though delicate audio and again i'm not familiar with this song but i think i do know pretty well like a good dozen taylor swift songs i just don't know Delicate. How old is Delicate Audio? Is it a new, a fresh jam? No, it's from her Reputation album.

So I think this was mid, I think this was like 2016, something like that. Gotcha. Maybe a little later than that. Okay, good. And with it, so this was an easy,

you had to pick a Taylor Swift and it was easy to pick Delicate Audio. Again, I went through a lot of my top 25 most played and this was one of them. Not the top, but close. Again, I went through a lot of my top 25 most played, and this was one of them. Not the top, but close.

Okay, I love the insight, the analytics. I'm really hoping that your listeners are digging these jams. You know what? Regardless, listen. People love to hear the passion in your voice as you talk about your jams. This is so fun. Your jams, yeah, we're only halfway done here. So your jams, okay, this fun. Your jams. Yeah, we're only halfway done here. So, your jams. Okay, this one

is obviously, you're throwing a bone to the audience here because you know what's coming next. Of course. Look, it's a great summer jam from a great Canadian band. Let's get to it. I left your house this morning About a quarter out of the night Could have been the Willie Nelson Could have been the wine

But when I left your house this morning It was a little loud tonight It was in Bob Cajun I saw the constellations Reveal themselves one star at a time Well, bring her down to hear your voice and then maybe when Gord says that night in Toronto One star at a time. We'll bring her down to hear your voice, and then maybe when Gord says that night in Toronto,

we'll scream at the top of our lungs together. Okay, Michelle, talk to me. Why Bob Cajun, by the tragically hip? Well, born and raised in Bridge North, which if any of our listeners know, is a quick hop away from Bob Cajun. So I spent my summers growing up in the boat, boating up from Bob Cajun. So I spent my summers growing up in the boat, boating up to Bob Cajun,

and my parents would always put this on. So whenever I hear this song, it's happy days in the summer when I was a kid. I didn't know, did I know you were raised up there? I don't know. I'm learning so much more about you this time. I know. See, this is why we have to do it twice. Because I'm starstruck the first time.

I'm like, oh, Michelle's here. Usually she's on TV. No, yeah. I spent a lot of time there. Beautiful. Beautiful. And what beautiful lyrics, too, right? Here, hold on.

That night in Toronto. It's true. No, great. No, you're preaching to the choir on this one. I love the Tragic Lip. I think they might be my favorite band of all time. I mean, of course. Listen, how creative are those lyrics?

The constellations, the stars revealed themselves. One star at a time. Wild. Now, I'm going to ask you about another lyric in this song. Okay. Because I interpreted it differently as a younger man than I do today. So, could have been the Willie Nelson, could have been the wine. How do you interpret that lyric?

I mean, I think... Are you going to shout out Canna Cabana? I was just going to say, I think he's you going to shout out Canna Cabana? I was just going to say, I think he's wondering what substance is making him feel the way he's feeling. As a younger man, I took it very literally.

Like, Willie Nelson's music. Oh, for sure. Right, with the wine. But then I realized, like, I was missing it because I was stupid. Like, clearly Gord is saying it could have been the weed

or it could have been the wine. But I think that's the brilliance. Willie Nelson is code for weed. That's the brilliance of this song. As a kid, you're listening to it and you're thinking, oh, he just really likes Willie Nelson. Right.

Perfect. If you don't get it, yeah, exactly. It's nice and subtle. Yeah. And it's great. This is honestly a fantastic song. Isn't it? Beautiful song.

And, you know, like I got tired of BTO's taking care of business, but I ain't getting tired of Bob Cajun. You can't. And it's very summery and very Ontario. Of course, Bob Cajun's Bob Cajun. But it just gives you a sense of cottaging. Oh, my gosh. Even here.

I cottage in the city. I am by the lake all the time there's a beach we've named morgan's beach because morgan likes to wade in it not too far from here and then i'm always like fantasizing about the kayak i'm gonna buy maybe for my 50th birthday i'm gonna kayak i'm sold on it i'm gonna it's coming soon and soon. And you're on the water. Lake Ontario is right at our doorstep here. So you cottage in the city, and then this is like your soundtrack. I mean, I think every Canadian can relate to this.

And how brilliant of a song to just encapsulate that feeling that is unique to us, that we all know, but maybe people in other parts of the world. Don't identify with as much. There's something unique about a Canadian summer. Amen. We're going to roll out of the hip. Into your next jam. But I'm digging this. Right.

Only know what I've seen Walls are dissolving and you come to me in my dreams A fire inside me is burning brightly And all that you need is inside you, you said to me lightly And I'll follow you till the edge of tomorrow We'll see you next time. There's nowhere around to walk Don't look straight through the mirror Sometimes I just feel the need to scream from a high place And sometimes I just need to look you in the face And what if we suddenly open the door

What if we just left it all behind And if we're getting free, what are we gonna be If we're, if we're to, Michelle? Another Canadian, Lubalin. Another one. I had no idea. What part of Canada did you know? Montreal.

I've interviewed him. Okay. Well, tell me. Okay, tell me. Okay. Lubulin. This guy, why this song was not number one is beyond me. It is so cool.

This guy, you all know him. He, about a year ago, started a series on TikTok that went so viral called Internet Drama. And he would create these songs from these silly, you know, chat room arguments, things like that going on online. And it went viral.

So I interviewed him for City and he's an artist. He actually does, you know, real songs. And I just fell in love with his music. What's the name of this song? This is called Dougie Jones. I'm not sure why why but it's called like i'm so out of touch i thought the artist was dougie jones and the song right lubalin so lubalin yeah he's the artist and he has so many other great songs and if you think his

internet drama skits are funny and brilliant well listen to his music. Oh, and he's from Montreal, which is where my Michelle is moving to later this month. Full circle. There you go. Wow. And you know what? To me, it feels like she's going to Australia because it's not like a day trip anymore. It's like this is a whole thing.

I know. She turns 18 and she's out. And Monica made this observation because I had a party for her on Saturday. And then I was like, I had these, like, usually we play euchre on Saturday night. But she was like, no, my friends are doing this thing and I'm going to sleep over, whatever. And she's like, yeah, like, like, she's like, she's gone already. Like, yeah, she still needs some financial support or whatever.

But like, Michelle's gone. She's just adulting now. It's like, luckily, I have a spare six-year-old to slide in and replace her. And she won't be out for a while. Well, hopefully. Yeah,

hopefully she gives me another good 10 years of having a little daughter at home. Okay, speaking of 18, this is not 18, this is less than that. But here, speaking of, well, 18, this is not 18. This is less than that. But here, let's get to this next jam. I remember the sickness was forever.

I remember the sickness was forever. I remember snow videos. Cold Septembers, the distances we covered. The fistfights on the beach. The busies wound us up. Do it all again next week In embryonic love The first time that it's scarred Embarrass yourself for someone Crying like a child And the boy you kicked Tom's head in Still bugs me now That's the thing, it lingers And claws you when you die

I was far too scared to hit him But I would hit them in a heartbeat now That's the thing with anger It begs to stick around So if you fleece you of your beauty And leave your spell when I want to offer But you hurt the ones who love you You hurt them like they're nothing Can I guess, is this guy from Scotland?

I think he's... Because there's a brogue in there. It's got a Scottish brogue in there. Okay, I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure he's from the UK. Okay, well, that could be Scotland. Yeah, yeah sure he's from the uk okay well that could be scotland yeah yeah somewhere in there so you might be right okay but what a cool song i love songs that can tell a story that's different and he's dropping in his friend tom's name and it just works there's a story to it give us his name who is the singer so this is sam fender sam and this

song kind of put him on the map at least in north america i think he's a pretty big deal in in europe but this guy is so talented like i said if you can weave a tale into a cool song and it's you know not repetitive and it actually is including your friend's names well done okay so i, so what my ears hear is a Scottish brogue is actually a Geordie accent from England. Okay. I hope I said Geordie wrong. So I guess there's a part of England that's got that type of accent

that I confuse in this song with Scottish accents. It does sound Scottish though. And I like a song where you can hear their accents too, right? Sure. Well, like the Proclaimers. Like the Proclaimers just threw the accent in the song. So, you know, they're from Scotland. There you go.

Okay. Yeah. Strong Giordi accent. Okay. That's like one of his trademarks here. Okay, cool. Thank you for introducing me to Sam Fender. Do you like it? Yeah. here. Okay, cool. Thank you for introducing me to Sam Fender. Do you like it?

Yeah. Yeah. Sure I do. It's kind of got a neat kind of like an indie rock feel to it. Yeah. All right, cool.

And where, so where are you discovering your music? A lot of this is on TikTok. See, that's, see, I'm not on TikTok. You've got to get on TikTok. So you're discovering

music on TikTok. Okay. Lubalin, this guy, Jax, so much of this is from TikTok. Okay you're discovering music on TikTok. Okay. Lubalin. This guy. Jax. So much of this is from TikTok. Okay. Yeah. He's a big black hole for me. But I'm almost 50. Am I allowed on

TikTok? I expect you to create a TikTok account by the end of the day. Is Neil on TikTok? No, he tried for a minute. He's mid-40s. And was over it so fast. Okay, well that's going to happen to me. Immediately over it. My Michelle is on TikTok. Okay. And she'll show me things.

And then she can scroll, like, forever. And I do get bored after, like, 90 seconds. Yeah. And I'm like, I'm kind of done with this now. So, okay. So, I shout out to Neil. All right. All right.

We have our penultimate jam coming up. So, we'll get rocking. And then we'll find out, like like exactly what you're up to and your goals in life and all that important stuff but here we go Look into my eyes It's the start of my demise Everything I know and trust It's the start of my demise Everything I know and trust But we shall rise

And much to their surprise Cause we are not the ones Whose torment has begun This is forever, yeah They come, they go But you know, I've known this is forever Michelle, do you know how close you came to picking a song by 680? I know, it was real close 660

Which was in my life before 680 If you're Canadian and you like the Arkells It was real close. 660, which was in my life before 680. If you're Canadian and you like the Arkells, it's the equivalent to how New Zealanders, Kiwis feel about 660. Okay, then educate me. I don't know much about 660. So these guys, I think they started in a university band in New Zealand back in the early 2010s. And they are so good.

You know what? They do remind me a lot of the Arkells. Great storytellers, kind of a rocky vibe. Really? And not a lot of North Americans know about them. No, and I'm seeing here in New Zealand, they sell out. They have 50,000 fans watching them in stadium shows. Huge.

They're like New Zealand's Tragically Hip. Absolutely. And so when I was living in Australia, I would hear them all the time. And then I came back to North America and it was like radio silence. So let's bring it back. Okay, cool. And this song's called Forever. Yes.

It's my favorite song, but they've got so many others. Purple's really good, too. Okay, so, okay, okay, okay. So, yeah, I guess your time in Australia introduced you to 660, and you're wondering why the hell the rest of the world isn't getting on board. What is going on? Wake up. the rest of the world isn't getting on board.

What is going on? Wake up. Like when I find out they didn't rock out to Rusty's Fluke in USA the way that we did. I'm like, what are you guys? Why aren't you into Rusty's Fluke? You are missing out. So who knows? Maybe 660 will hear this and be like, we gotta do a Canadian tour. Or you meet an

American and you go, what's your favorite Sloan song? And they go, what are you talking about? Sloan song. And you're like, what do you mean you don't have a favorite Sloan song? And they go, what are you talking about? Sloan song. And you're like, what do you mean you don't have a favorite Sloan song? Okay. Okay. So speaking of, so this is 660, but you're at 680. So remind us now, instead of making everyone go back and hear the first appearance, remind us where can we see and hear you?

Yeah. So my schedule right now, I have Thursday, Fridays off every other day of the week. You can either hear me on City News 680 or turn on the TV or we're now live streaming as well on City News. And I'll do weather reporting and occasionally anchoring as well now. So are there. And I mean, since Gord Martineau, I lost track of anchors over there. Like so. So do you have like a, like, do you have an anchor? Well, City News is really dynamic. So a lot of times, yesterday, for example, FISA was anchoring from the field.

So we call them readers and we'll often open the show with a reporter in the field. And then we'll have someone in studio kind of just guiding the show together. But it's not necessarily like a traditional anchor. Yeah, like there's no Peter Mann's bridge. No, it's very different than that. I think it's pretty cool the way we do it. So how do you get to anchor? Because that sounds pretty damn cool.

The first time was a total fluke. I can't remember. It was last summer. I can't remember if someone was sick or something happened. There was a breaking news story and the anchor for the 11 o'clock show needed to leave and I was doing weather and they said, Michelle, can you anchor? And I'd had no training, but you know what you say in those situations? Yes, absolutely. You could have called me. Did anyone think of calling Toronto Mike? Next time.

Because he could bike over and anchor. Next time you're in. Well, now you've got the gig. I can never get it from you. Okay, so cool. Okay, now Richard Southern is still there, right? He's a good FOTM as well. I want to shout out the FOTMs over there.

If there's anyone I want to be like in my career, it's Richard Southern. I got to get Richard back here to kick out the jams. What kind of jams do you think Richard likes? I feel like he's going to kick out the jam what kind of jams do you think Richard likes I feel like he's gonna like some Canadian classics he's gonna like Taking Care of Business by BTO right yeah prove me wrong Richard he's gonna want Rush

I would like I mean he's pretty he's pretty in tune with pop culture he does those really fun segments on City News so I am going to challenge him to find you know some new maybe even TikTok maybe he'll steal your jams and it'd be he'll just steal i'd be honored secret and uh lights and odessa i would be honored all right so i can't wait to find out why you chose this song okay we're just gonna kick

it out this is your final jam yeah i've thoroughly enjoyed this michelle in fact i'm thinking like every summer i might just find an excuse for you to drop by. I am in. Count me in. Keep you and Neil fed with your palm of pasta and your Great Lakes beer. Did I give you a sticker last time from StickerU? Yes, it's on my fridge.

Take a picture of it and tweet it at me. I totally will. So thank you, StickerU.com because they're in Liberty Village, but anywhere you have an internet connection, you can order from stickeru.com. Upload the image. If your kid's got a good drawing

or something, you upload the image and you get stickers made of it. It's amazing the quality of these stickers. I will say it has not budged from my fridge.

I had Toronto Mike's 10 years old or whatever and they look like they're brand new. They do a great job at stickeru.com. All right. The final Michelle Mackie jam.

Here we go. So dramatic. Just like me. Quite an intro. It is a long intro. We should probably talk about it. I will say, I do have a... Maybe you already have these fun... I have a great fun fact about this song.

You do? Yeah. On Pandemic Fridays, we talk a lot about Jim Steinman. But here she is. It was so cold That my body froze in bed If I just listened to it right outside the window

There were days when the sun was so cruel And all the tears turned to dust And I just knew my eyes were drying up forever. I finished crying in the instant that you left. And I can't remember where I went or how. And I banished every memory you and I had ever made. Are you going to sing? You can sing if you want. Go ahead.

No one needs to hear that. But if you're watching the video, there's a lot of lip syncing going on right now. It's a singer's line. How can you not jam out to this? And you know the best part of the song is coming up. All right, you tell me when to fade down. Okay. Okay, so we've got a little while, but there is a baby, baby, baby.

Or tell me when to fade up. Okay. Okay, it's coming, it's coming. There were moments of gold and there were flashes of light. There were things I'd never do again. Okay, it's coming, it's coming. Wait for it. There were nights of endless pleasure. It was more than any loss. Here it is.

Baby, baby. Here it is. Okay, so This jam Think about this jam Then think about I would do anything for love But I won't do that By Meatloaf

What? Okay What? Because they're essentially The same song So, okay So, these are all these These big

This song You call it dramatic Because they are dramatic. Yes. But they're like theatrical epic because they're Jim Steinman jams. Oh. Like Bat Out of Hell. Oh.

By Meat Loaf. That's all Jim Steinman stuff. I didn't know that. So if I have it right, okay. So Jim Steinman wrote this song. Okay. And it was like not a hit, but it was for like a band called Pandora's Box. So they record this and it's not a hit.

Meatloaf hears it and Meatloaf, he likes to belt out these Jim Steinman jams. Like a lot of his big hits like I would do anything for love. Yeah. So that's Jim Steinman, right? So he wants this song on Bad Out of Hell 2. Like this is going to be like the centerpiece for Bad Out of Hell 2. What? But then Celine Dion swoops in,

covers it and has a massive hit with it. Now Meat Loaf can't do it because Celine did it. Oh my gosh. So it's like Meat Loaf's pissed off because he can't do this jam. So instead he takes

a different Jim Steinman jam which is I would do anything for love but I won't do that. if you hear their same kind of dramatic theatrical broadway's type i did not know this yeah and uh there's other big songs that are epic like this and you'd be like oh that's a jim steinman song too oh i will look this up i didn't all the jim steinman songs have this kind of epic mentality to it. But I couldn't imagine anyone but Celine singing this. But then if you listen to I Would Do Anything for Love,

I Would Do That, you can hear how it would sound. Okay, so Bonnie Tyler, for example. I'm just going to give you some of the hits that were Jim Steinman jams here. Okay, so I wish I had a handy list here. This is lots of fun. Little people listen to me Googling here, but okay. So Total Eclipse of the Heart. Oh, come on.

Is a Jim Steinman jam. And think about that. That's the same kind of epic. The drama. Sure. Right. And do you know the song Making Love Out of Nothing at All? Out of nothing at all.

Oh, now when you sing it, I do. Keep going. That's an air supply, like number one hit hit but these are all power ballads right that's a jim steinman jam uh as well but you know if you think of total eclipse of the heart and this and it's all from the same uh template yeah here's that baby again. like that Then we steal what we want to see Oh, coming back to me The flesh and the fantasies Oh, coming back to me I can barely recall

But it's all coming back to me now Woo! Right? No, it's big. It's huge. So we've lost, they're both dead. selene's still with us of course but uh me loaf is dead jim steinman is dead oh geez all fairly recently just a shout out

ridley funeral home one more time i'm also wondering how sensitive these mics are because i have been lip syncing pretty hard and i feel like I'm maybe singing at a very low tone. I'll have to review the tapes. Okay, review the tapes. Isolate the vocals. Yeah. Then I'll release my Michelle Mackie isolated vocals. So Michelle, would you come back next summer?

Yes, of course. I would be honored. And when's the wedding? I don't know if I asked that earlier. You don't know because of COVID, it is so backed up. I've reached out to three venues. None of them have Saturdays for all of 2023. Well, why don't you do it at Great Lakes Brewery?

Because on September 1st from 6 to 9 p.m. This is very important, Michelle. TMLXX is taking place at Great Lakes Brewery in Southern Etobicoke. And we're going to have, it's going to be great. And Palma Pasta is going to feed everybody. And then your first beer is free.

And there's going to be some amazing musicians that are going to perform some acoustic jams. And I have an idea for this open mind blow thing for FOTMs to compete. I have some ideas.

I'm still working it out. But you and Neil have to attend this. I have some ideas. I'm still working it out. But you and Neil have to attend this. We would love to. September 1st. September 1st. Okay. And bring along, I don't know if it's a long drive

because I know Apple's far out of the city or whatever, but Apple's got to come to this too. I'll make sure Peter Gross is there. Richard Southern. That's a slam dunk. Richard Southern's got to come out too. All the FOTMs and future FOTMs. September 1st, 6 to 9 p.m. and if there if you

wanted I know Stu Stone can marry people he says he's got like the officiant license or whatever you have for that he could marry you and Neil live at TMLXX could you imagine just make sure the parents are there and I mean it would be pretty easy it would be easy on the wallet and it'll be a lot of fun and you'd never forget it and just consider it. Okay. I'll definitely consider it. I offered this to Cam Gordon, by the way, and I don't think he's into it, but if you're

into it, let me know. Okay. He'd be posted. Awesome jams. So much fun. Great time. Don't forget my lasagna for you is in the freezer. Thank you, Palma Pasta.

And then we'll take our photo by the tree and then I'll count the days till your next visit. Beautiful. Love it. Thank you so much for having me. This was a blast. And that brings us to the end

of our 1090th show. You can follow me on Twitter. I'm at Toronto Mike. Michelle is at Michelle Mackey. That's like M-A-C-K-E-Y. Nailed it. Our friends at Great Lakes Brewery are at Michelle Mackey. That's like M-A-C-K-E-Y. Nailed it. Our friends at Great Lakes Brewery are at Great Lakes Beer. Palma Pasta is at Palma Pasta.

Sticker U is at Sticker U. Dewar are at Dewar Performance. Say 15% with the promo code Toronto Mike. Ridley Funeral Home are at Ridley FH. And Canna Cabana are at Canna Cabana underscore. Smoke them if you got them. And see you all Thursday when Mark Weisblatt from 1236 returns for another marathon episode.

Brace yourselves. But the snow, snow wants me today And your smile is fine and it's just like mine And it won't go away Cause everything is rosy and green Well, you've been under my skin for more than eight years It's been eight years of laughter and eight years of tears And I don't know what the future can hold or will do for me and you But I'm a much better man for having known you Oh, you know that's true because

Everything is coming up rosy and gray Yeah, the wind is cold but the smell of snow Wants me today And your smile is fine and it's just like mine And it won't go away Because everything is rosy and gray Well, I've been told That there's a sucker born every day

But I wonder who Yeah, I wonder who Maybe the one who doesn't realize There's a thousand shades of green Cause I know that's true Yes, I do I know that's true Yes I do I know it's true Yeah

I know it's true How about you? Oh they're picking up trash And they're putting down roads And they're brokering stocks The class struggle explodes And I'll play this guitar just the best that I can Maybe I'm not and maybe I am

But who gives a damn? Because everything is coming up rosy and gray Yeah, the wind is cold But the smell of snow Warms me today And your smile is fine And it's just like mine And it won't go away

Cause everything is Rosie and Gray Well I've kissed you in France And I've kissed you in Spain And I've kissed you in France and I've kissed you in Spain And I've kissed you in places I better not name And I've seen the sun go down on Chaclacour But I like it much better going down on you Yeah, you know that's true

Because everything is coming up I like it much better going down on you. Yeah, you know that's true. Because everything is coming up rosy and green. Yeah, the wind is cold, but the smell of snow warms us today. And your smile is fine, and it's just like mine. And it won't go away. Because everything is rosy now everything is rosy and everything is rosy and gray Music Music Music Music