i still liked #4, the composition by the two Quebecers.  Now that they're gone....I'm rooting for the 13 yr old wunderkid from Toronto.  

Surprised at the final two. They must have had lots of self help voters.

Not suprised by Colin Oberst (#5) - it was my pick all the way - the bagpipes stick in your head - as a matter of fact, it was the only one that stuck in my head out of the first five...

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS STORY ON CBC'S WEBSITE, AS WRITTEN BY CBC WRITERS?
From http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2008/10/09/hnic-anthem-finalists.html    - 10:10 am MDT - Friday Oct. 10

Finalists named in Hockey Anthem Challenge
Last Updated: Thursday, October 9, 2008 | 10:17 PM ET Comments87Recommend72CBC Sports

The winner will be announced Saturday on Hockey Night In Canada (6:30 p.m. ET), when Toronto hosts Montreal and Calgary visits Vancouver.


12:18 MDT ---- CBC must have checked their schedule - the story was taken off around noon. If you wondered --- Vancouver visits Calgary

I like the one by the kid.

So now.  Do you think the Mothercorp will remember to buy the rights to the song for a long time or will the bureaucrats have another contest in two years to do this all over again?

THEY BOTH SUCK!!!

My guess another theme will be done in a year or two with little fanfare and it will probably have the same sound as the CBC Sports intro or the CBC Olympics intro.  

The only way this theme will sound better is if the video is re-tooled.  I find the new theme and the existing video don't work together (at least as seen in what CBC provided on their website).  Anyone agree/disagree?

“Canadian Gold” by Colin Oberst is the winner. http://anthemchallenge.cbc.ca/colinoberst/289271

I find parts of "Canadian Gold" sound a bit like the theme to "Dallas."  I even did a comparison on the air and asked my listeners, all who called agreed.  Try it on your show.

"It's CBC Hockey Night In Dallas with play-by-play from JR & Bobby Ewing!"

I dunno...maybe the theme will grow on me, but I preferred the other four options over the ultimate "winner".

I think what annoys me the most of this whole situation is the CBC showing how little they care about the audience...the same audience who absolutely FREAKED when TSN purchased the song.

If you're TRULY embarrassed over what happened and want to apologize to your audience, then SHELL OUT THE MONEY to pay royalties to an actual composer.  Someone legitimate...someone professional.

No, instead they're going to offer 100-grand to ANYONE and turn it into some ratings-grab contest????????  100-Grand?  Are you KIDDING me?  That's a FRACTION of what the song is actually worth, in terms of royalties.  And the whole gimmick is sponsored, so they're making money off that, too.

I dunno, maybe I don't know enough, but to me...as a somewhat-layperson....it just REEKS of the CBC taking the cheap, easy way out and saying a big "F*** You!" to their loyal audience.

Watching the Canucks on TSN tonight they opened with the original HNIC theme. The theme did not miss a beat nor did it sound out of place. Another dumb move by CBC.