Kardi, Bedouin On Coke

07/31/09 2:03pm

by Bianca Marcus (CHARTattack)

Musicians in the U.S., China and Singapore have done it, so we knew it wouldn't be long before Canadian celebs gave in to the peer pressure.

Coca-Cola Canada has recruited a group of Canadian artists to record their own version of "Open Happiness," the song Coke is using as part of its current marketing campaign.

Canadians on the track include Kardinal Offishall, Jay Malinowski of Bedouin Soundclash and Quebec singer-songwriter Coeur De Pirate (a.k.a. Beatrice Martin).

According to Coca-Cola, the track "reflects the spirit of positivity, optimism and fun" of their campaign. Oh, and it's also meant to drum up excitement for the upcoming 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver.

"I was particularly interested after hearing the song that was done in the States with artists like Cee-Lo Green," says Kardinal Offishall. "It's an honour to have the opportunity to participate in the Canadian version that will be part of what Coke is doing at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games and I'm really happy with how it's turned out."

The song, produced in Toronto by Vapor Music, will be incorporated into the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. All three artists will perform on site.

A commercial featuring "Open Happiness" will hit Canadian TV screens next week. English and French versions of the track will soon be available for download at iCoke.ca. You'll also be able to grab ringtones of the song.

The Open Happiness campaign launched in the U.S. earlier this year. The American version of "Open Happiness," written and produced by Butch Walker (Simple Plan, Katy Perry) and co-written by Cee-Lo Green, was recorded in March by Green, Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy), Brendon Urie (Panic! At The Disco), Travis McCoy (Gym Class Heroes) and Janelle Monae.

You can see Kardi perform at Kelowna, B.C.'s Center Of Gravity Festival July 31 and at the 1000 Islands Music Fest in Gananoque, Ont. on Aug. 15.

Bedouin Soundclash will play the following dates:

Aug. 2 Kitchener, ON @ Bingeman's Fun Park (Cutting Edge Music Festival)
Aug. 8 Regina, SK @ Victoria Park (Regina Folk Festival)
Aug. 10 Lethbridge, AB @ The Blarney Stone
Aug. 11 Medicine Hat, AB @ Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre
Aug. 12 Bonnyville, AB @ Bonnyville & District Centennial Centre
Aug. 13 Edmonton, AB @ Starline Room (5 Year Anniversary w/ Ben Stevenson)
Aug. 15 Salmon Arm, BC @ Salmon Arm Fair Grounds (Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival)
Aug. 22 Bala, ON @ Kee To Bala w/Arkells
Aug. 27 Ottawa, ON @ Lansdowne Park (Ottawa Exhibition)
Aug. 29 Peterborough, ON @ Beavermead Park (Canadian Wakeboard Championships)
Sept. 10 Amherstburg, ON @ Fort Malden Historical Park w/The Stills

Coeur de pirate will play these shows:
July 31-Aug. 2 Montreal, QC @ Maison Du Festival (Les Francofolies De Montreal)
Aug, 5 L'Assomption, QC @ Bistro L'Ange Cornu
Aug. 9 St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, QC @ Place Publique du Vieux St-Jean
Aug. 12 Pointe-Au-Tremble, QC @ Parc Marcel-Leger
Aug. 16 Port-Cartier, QC @ Cafe-Theatre Graffiti
Aug. 17 Sept-Iles, QC @ Salle Jean-Marc Dion
Aug, 19 Matane, QC @ Centre D'Art Le Barachois
Aug. 20 New Richmond, QC @ Cabaret De La Pointe Taylor
Aug. 21 Gaspe, QC @ La Petite Eglize
Aug. 22 Petite-Vallee, QC @ Theatre De La Vieille Forge
Aug. 24 Lotbiniere, QC @ Moulin Du Portage
Aug. 25 St-Pierre-De-l'Ile-d'Orleans, QC @ Espace Felix-LeClerc
Aug. 26 Tadoussac, QC @ Salle Bord De L'Eau
Aug. 27 Peribonka, QC @ Aubere Ile Du Repos
Aug. 28 Levis, QC @ L'Anglicane
Sept. 4 Drummondville, QC @ Festival De La Poutine
Sept. 18 St-Jerome, QC @ Salle Anthony-Lessard
Sept. 24-25 Iles-De-La-Madeleine, QC @ Aux Pas Perdus
Sept. 26 Sorel, QC @ Cafe Theatre Les Beaux Instants
Sept. 28 Pierrefonds, QC @ Centre Culturel De Pierrefonds
Oct. 6 Paris, France @ La Cigale
Oct. 8 Grenoble, France @ Le Ciel
Oct. 9 Bourg En Bresse, France @ Theatre Municipal
Oct. 10 Cluses, France @ L'Atelier
Oct. 13 Rouen, France @ Le 106
Oct. 14 Brussels, Belgium @ Orangerie Du Botanique
Oct. 15 Lille, France @ Aeronef Club
Oct. 16 Bethune, France @ Theatre De Poche
Oct. 17 Vaureal, France @ Le Forum
Oct. 29 Sherbrooke, QC @ Theatre Granada
Nov. 5 Strasbourg, France @ Laiterie
Nov. 6 Cebazat, France @ Theatre
Nov. 12 Saint-Lo, France @ Normandy
Nov. 13 Laval, France @ 6 Par 4
Nov. 14 Cognac, France @ West Rock
Nov. 18 Londres, France @ The Luminaire
Nov. 20-21 Gatineau, QC @ La Basoche
Nov. 26 Saint-Hyacinthe, QC @ Espace Rona
Nov. 27 Sainte-Therese, QC @ Eglise Sacre-Coeur
Nov. 28 Lachine, QC @ L'Entrepot
Dec. 3 Trois-Rivieres, QC @ Salle Anais Allard Rousseau
Dec. 4 Chateauguay QC @ Salle Jean Pierre Houde
Dec. 5 Saint-Romuald, QC @ Au Vieux Bureau De Poste