Imagine the raw fire of James Brown belting out “I feel good!”

Then imagine the same tune delivered by someone about four times older, with white, or no hair, perhaps using a walker.

Laugh, if you want.

Then, if you can skip over what is lost and tune in to what remains and is enriched in this imaginary metamorphosis, you’ll have before you the pulsating life force that is music. And it’ll feel good, guaranteed.

For one night only, within the framework of the Just for Laughs Festival, The Young@Heart Chorus will ignite the stage with songs you may have heard, by Jimi Hendrix, Sonic Youth, Nirvana, The Clash and more.

Much of the repertoire is a recent discovery to the singers themselves, since they range in age from 73 to 89 and most say they love opera. And by the time the Rolling Stones hit the airwaves, many were too busy to listen to the radio.

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When former Quebec premier Lucien Bouchard spoke out about Quebec sovereignists facing up to reality and abandoning their separatist aspirations, veteran political journalist William Johnson was asked by the Globe and Mail to pen an opinion piece.

“Not bad for an old has-been,” says Johnson, whose uncompromising stance on unity made him one of the most reviled political figures among Quebec separatists.

“Pit Bill” Johnson’s leadership of Alliance Quebec is remembered as the most turbulent period in the history of the now-defunct anglo-rights lobby group.

There’s no slowing down this bicycling enthusiast and resident of Gatineau.

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