MISCELLANY -- Expo 86

CLICK HERE to visit Bob Buckley's website and listen to "This Is My Home"

Music

Music was everywhere at Expo '86, and judging by the email I receive, it was definitely a popular and sentimental part of the Expo experience. No less than 50% of the email messages I receive concerning Expo '86 are inquiries about the music played at the fair.

The official Expo '86 theme song was called "Something's Happening Here." As far as I know the song is not available online. However, I have seen the "Official Album of Expo '86" up for bid on several online auctions. Second-hand record stores within the city of Vancouver also have the record album in stock from time to time.

The official video of Expo '86 was also called "Something's Happening Here" and it can still be found in Vancouver (and vicinity) libraries. This video was sold during Expo and the theme song as well as "Canada: This is my Home" can be found on it. There are also several documentaries on Expo '86 that can be found in public libraries and the National Film Board of Canada archives.

"Canada: This is my Home" was introduced in the Celebrations theatre in the Canada Pavilion. It has become a popular musical selection for Canada Day celebrations and other patriotic ceremonies.

The Northwest Territory pavilion's award winning soundtrack was also available during Expo '86. It was called "Echoes from the Northland" and there may still be a few copies out there somewhere.

Many international pavilions had music of some sort for sale in their gift shops. However, it appears that World's Fair music is a one shot deal. If you liked it, you picked it up. After the fair, the music becomes next to impossible to find.

I managed to find the lyrics of two of Expo's most popular songs:

Something's Happening Here

Written and composed by: Michael Koren
Produced by: Michael Koren & Wayne Kozak -- KOKO PRODUCTIONS
Sung by: Nancy Nash (another version by Lisa Dalbello)

The official song of Expo '86. It was played before and throughout the fair during promotions, advertising, and most notably, the nightly fireworks display.

Lyrics:

Something's happening.
There's something in the air.
The world is spinning
a heartbeat faster.
Tomorrow's calling
(can you hear it?)
to people everywhere
Reaching out to you and me --
The future's ours to share.

Set the world in motion.
Together we can catch a rising star.
We can touch tomorrow
Discovering the wonder in our minds and in our hearts.

Together we can touch the sky
Share our dreams and watch them fly
Celebrate it!
Something's happening. Something's happening here.

Can you feel the magic?
Standing here together side by side
New ideas exploding
Touching every moment reaching all our lives.

Together we can touch the sky
Share our dreams and watch them fly
Celebrate it!
Something's happening. Something's happening here.

And now the magic has begun.
The promise of tomorrow
Here for everyone.

(Something's happening, something's happening, something's happening....)
Can you see that the feeling's getting stronger
(...something's happening, something's happening, something's happening...)
reaching out -- touching you -- touching me.

Set the world in motion.
Together we can catch a rising star.
We can touch tomorrow
Discovering the wonder in our minds and in our hearts.

Together we can touch the sky
Share our dreams and watch them fly
Celebrate it!
Something's happening. Something's happening here.

Canada: This Is My Home.

Composer: Bob Buckley (music abailable on Bob Buckley's website).
Lyrics: Brian Gibson

Introduced at Expo 86, "Canada: This Is My Home" has become a popular song during Canada Day celebrations across the country. Although it is not an official national anthem, it's considered one of the most beautiful songs ever written about Canada.:

Lyrics:

Je reconnais autour de moi des sourires, des parfums
Des façons de dire et des souvenirs encore
A quiet street a city's beat that's where the feeling starts
And homeward bound the sweetest sound is the music from the heart

From sea to sea a tapestry of colour, shapes and sounds
We're a people bound together by the visions we have found
From place to place face to face we share this common bond
It's a feeling lying deep within where only dreams belong
Et quand on partage un rêve on va beaucoup plus loin
Viens plus loins prends ma main tout un pays se rejoint

This is my home oh Canada
This is my home oh Canada oh Canada

Je découvre avec é moi des splendeurs et des coeurs
Des façons de vivre et des pouvoirs createurs
It's here where you realize the heart and home are one
Canada Canada we're your daughters we're your sons

This is my home oh Canada
This is my home oh Canada oh Canada
On est chez nous au Canada
Chez nous partout au Canada oh Canada
This is my home

This is my home oh Canada
Chez nous partout au Canada oh Canada
On est chez nous au Canada
This is my home oh Canada oh Canada
This is my home.