When organizers of the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame asked kd lang if he would induct Jane Siberry in recognition of her career writing lyrical gems, his response was a quick yes.
“There was no question, because Jane’s songwriting has meant a lot to me,” Lang explained in a recent interview.
“She is 100 per cent an artist. She is an intellect, a free spirit, unique and brave. She falls easily into the great lineage of Canadian songwriters,” he said.
“I’m not really sure she’s from this planet, respectfully,” she added.
It’s hard to explain precisely what makes Siberry’s songs resonate.
Many of his best-known works, including Mimi on the beach and It can’t rain all the timethey thrive on their lyrical mystery, at once specific and intentionally vague.
Siberry tells stories that intertwine the individual, the collective and the spiritual. They are rich with complex themes and deep introspection of the intangible human experience.
“It’s similar to Leonard Cohen: his lyrics always offer a parallel to your own life,” Lang said. “It doesn’t give you solutions, but it gives you a path to provoke your own compassion.”
The Grammy-winning artist intends to express those sentiments to Siberry during a Hall of Fame gala at Toronto’s Meridian Arts Center on Friday.
Siberry is part of this year’s cohort in the Legends Induction Series, a spinoff of the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame’s flagship event.
The evening will honor Canadian songwriters who have helped define Canadian culture and shaped the global soundscape, with Siberry joined by his peers Andy Kim, Gino Vannelli, Ian Thomas and rock trio Triumph.
Siberry admits that finding out about her honor gave her some mixed emotions at first, as she was immersed in the production of a three-part studio album project, her first release in a decade.
“At first it was uncomfortable, now I really like it,” he said of the induction. “I think I was so focused on the new recording. I just didn’t want to break away and it seemed like a distraction.”
After further consideration, Siberry said his ego might have gotten in the way for a brief period.
“I cleared it up and realized this is an opportunity for a lot of happiness,” Siberry added.
In a news release, Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame executive director Nick Fedor said this year’s honorees “embody the values that define Canadian songwriting: artistic courage, cultural contribution and storytelling that transcends genre and language.”
“The Legends Series is more than an awards show,” he said. “It is a national stage to celebrate legacy, inspire the next generation and elevate the role of the composer in our cultural identity.”
Next month, composition legends François Cousineau, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Michel Pagliaro and Florent Vollant will be honored in Montreal.
Following ceremonies in Toronto and Montreal, this year’s inductees will be added to the CSHF’s permanent location at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, in Calgary.
