Because of the unique nature of the CD as a medium for providing emotional support for people touched by cancer, there has been a very positive response to the album. The enthusiastic feedback has not only come from those affected by cancer, but also from health care professionals, musicians, and journalists. Here are some of their comments:
“The music went right to my heart and touched me in a very special way because cancer has affected many of my relatives and friends. It also inspired me to help cancer patients through kindness and charity.”
- Bess Faierman, Spouse of cancer victim
“For patients who are going through hard times and feel alone in their struggle, this CD provides comfort, inspiration and support. It helps you feel connected with others. Great work!”
- Caroline Zilkha, M.A., MFT, Psychologist
“Along with a variety of musical styles, this CD contains a powerful message to people who have been touched by cancer. Inspirational lyrics and uplifting tunes combine to make a wonderful selection of songs that anyone can listen to. Having lost someone close to this disease, it would have been great to have this CD out sooner. It's a must for those who crave great music with a deeper message. I highly recommend this CD to everyone out there.”
- Spiros Damianos, Musician
“It’s rare for a CD to keep generating media attention some two years after its release, but that has been happening with The Colour’s Coming Back. That testifies to both the important and timeless nature of the project, and the determination of its creators. The album is a collection of original songs dealing with the theme of people living with cancer. The songs are based on real-life stories, resulting in material that is by turns poignant and uplifting.”
- Kerry Doyle, SOCAN Website Feature Article Autumn 2007
“The Colour’s Coming Back is a heartfelt lovely way for people to connect with others who have cancer. The styles are eclectic and the lyrics refreshingly honest. The music is soothing and empowering, the voices polished … It was cathartic and surprisingly effective in connecting me to my innermost feelings about those we have lost through this rampant disease.”
- Nancy Snipper, The Chronicle West End Edition, July 6, 2005
The Colour’s Coming Back and Cancer Support
When most people think about cancer treatment, they focus on a variety of medical procedures. However, psychological support is an extremely important aspect of cancer treatment that has recently been shown to have a significant effect on the well-being of patients and their loved ones. This is no surprise considering the wide range of feelings that people go though when faced with this difficult illness.
Music is a medium that can be very therapeutic since it touches people on a deep emotional level. The Colour's Coming Back is an album of original songs for people living with cancer and their families and friends. Each song deals with a different aspect of the cancer experience. Most are based on true stories, and therefore, speak to listeners in a very meaningful way. The Colour's Coming Back offers patients and their friends and families a unique kind of cancer treatment that brings hope and healing.
The songs on The Colour’s Coming Back range in musical style from pop and rock to Latin and blues. As a result, they appeal to a variety of tastes. They also cover a wide range of topics, including:
- Healing from loss
- Discovering one’s inner strengths
- Existential questions, such as “Why me?”
- Feeling hopeful because someone cares
- Saying good-bye
- Finding meaning in life
- Encouraging developments in cancer research
- Spirituality
- Relaxation
- Quitting smoking.
Because of this, they can be very useful in cancer support groups as a springboard for discussion. They can also be beneficial in experiential workshops for health care professionals and cancer care volunteers.
Support for Hospitals and Cancer Charities
In addition to inspiring listeners with our music, we have established a non-profit foundation. One of the aims of our foundation is to support cancer prevention, research, treatment and wellness through proceeds from CD sales. We are very pleased to have benefited hospitals and cancer charities since we released the album, and we hope to be able to contribute more.
The Writers
The Colour’s Coming Back songwriters (L-R): Daniel Zigman, Sharon Zigman, Mary Cowan and Sarita Benchimol
The idea of creating an album of this nature was developed by psychologist/musician, Sharon Zigman, and musician/composer, Mary Cowan. The two co-wrote 10 of the songs on the CD. Dr. Daniel Zigman, psychiatry resident and rock musician, and Sarita Benchimol, assistant to the Director of McGill University’s Goodman Cancer Research Centre, were also part of the writing team.
Finding Cancer Support Online Through Meaningful Songs on Benefit Album
Anyone who is looking for cancer support online can find it in the album called The Colour’s Coming Back. The CD offers cancer support online both through meaningful messages conveyed in the 14 original songs, and also through proceeds donated for cancer prevention, research, treatment, and wellness by the non-profit record label, Zigman Creative Projects Foundation. This unique album is uplifting for those living with cancer and their families and friends.
How Can You Get the Album, Download the Songs, and Be Inspired by Cancer Support Online? It’s simple.
Just click here
- To purchase a hard copy of the CD, including the lyrics booklet
- To download the entire album
- To download individual songs
How Can Your Organization Benefit from Cancer Support Online?
Several charitable organizations and hospitals use this album to promote cancer support online and raise money for their endeavours. Among them are: the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre of McGill University, the Jewish General Hospital, the Princess Margaret Hospital, Young Adult Cancer Canada, the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada, and the Bon Ami Foundation. The list keeps expanding and so does the potential for cancer support online. If you would like your organization to benefit as well, our foundation would be happy to collaborate with you. Please click here to contact us.
Some Background About the Songs
The musical vision for The Colour’s Coming Back was developed by a dedicated team of talented individuals - Mary Cowan, Sharon Zigman, Daniel Zigman, and Sarita Benchimol. When they originally created the CD, they did not realize the extent to which they could reach out to so many individuals affected by this difficult illness through cancer support online. Now people from all over the world can be encouraged by their songs of hope and healing.
Musician/composer, Mary Cowan, herself a cancer survivor, composed the music for twelve songs on this momentous album. Close to her heart is the song, Just Wanna Hold You, that she wrote as a special message to her sister who was going through cancer treatment. This song was the inspiration for The Colour’s Coming Back. Like many others who have been challenged by this illness, a question Cowan often asked herself was, “Why me?” Why Me? became one of the songs on the album. Writing music for the CD became part of her healing journey, and now, connecting with others through cancer support online gives her experience special meaning.
Psychologist and musician, Sharon Zigman, wrote the lyrics for twelve songs. While working at Gilda’s Club Montreal, a cancer wellness centre, she realized the potential for music to provide comfort and strength to those with cancer. She interviewed people whose lives had been affected by the illness and told their stories as lyrics. For example, the title song, The Colour’s Coming Back, is about a woman who lost her husband to cancer and started to heal from her grief by painting. Of all Zigman’s lyrics, those for A Gift are the most poignant. In this song, a dad loses his son to cancer and learns how important it is to cherish the moments spent with those we love. In listening to Zigman’s words, individuals seeking cancer support online can find relief in knowing that others have been through similar experiences and that they are not alone.
Psychiatry resident and rock guitarist, Dr. Daniel Zigman collaborated with his lyricist mom, Sharon, by composing music for two songs. One of them, At a Crossroads, helps smokers of all ages strengthen their resolve to quit; and the other, I Feel Your Sunshine, highlights the healing power of empathy and support.
Sarita Benchimol, assistant to the director of the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre, dedicated her life to cancer research after she lost her sister to a rare form of the disease over 25 years ago. In the song, Monique (her sister’s name), she wrote moving lyrics in French (her mother tongue), expressing her pain in seeing her sister suffer and her admiration for Monique’s courage. She also shares good news - that due to encouraging developments in cancer research, many people can now do well.
Among the 14 songs on the CD is Gilda’s Song, a track that celebrates the spirit of the one and only, Gilda Radner, of Saturday Night Live fame. The comedienne and wife of actor, Gene Wilder, passed away from ovarian cancer in 1989. After her death, Wilder created Gilda’s Club, a wellness community where those affected by cancer are encouraged to live a full life.
Can’t Catch Me, I’m Houdini is a catchy tune that captures the undaunted spirit of Barry D. Stein, president of the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada. Stein was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer in the mid 1990s. Though his cancer spread to his lungs and his liver, he was not about to take his condition lying down. After going through nine major surgeries and participating in a novel vaccine trial, he successfully fought the disease. Committed to winning the battle against this all too prevalent cancer, he became the president of the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada.
Another song that now contributes to this cancer support online effort is My Quiet Place. This song is a hypnosis script (written by Sharon Zigman) that helps listeners disengage from their everyday stress and find serenity. Cowan added a bossa nova score to give the piece a tropical island feel, and Zigman played drum brushes timed to slow breathing and sounding like ocean waves to convey a non-verbal message to relax.
Seven singers on the Montreal scene were chosen for the project. Everyone seeking cancer support online can enjoy the excellent vocal talents of Josee Brault, Vivienne Deane, Ilona Eliakim, Monique Fauteux, Janice Greenberg, Joe Meffe, and Stephen Scott.
