Nickelback, Sam Roberts kings of Junos at Sunday’s awards
EDMONTON (CP) – Juno fever hit an oil gusher Sunday with a record number of fans to witness Alanis Morissette disrobe – sort of – and Sam Roberts, Sarah McLachlan and Nickelback pick up their hardware.
Morissette, who was host for the music awards show, shocked viewers when she dropped a white robe to reveal a nude-coloured body suit with pasties covering her breasts. “I’m overjoyed to be back in my homeland, the true north, strong and censor-free,” she said, apparently referring to the aftermath caused by Janet Jackson’s nipple exposure at the Super Bowl in January.
A few weeks later, the outspoken Morissette was asked by U.S. radio stations to change a word in the first verse of her new single Everything. In Canada, radio stations are playing the original version with the word “asshole.” She performed the song – with the questionable word – to close the show.
“Any repression of acceptance of the human body has a cause and effect . . . everything you see from eating disorders to pornography and rape,” she explained backstage.
“These are all manifestations of what happens when we repress acceptance of not only our body but our sexuality.”
With three statuettes – all in major categories – Roberts was the biggest winner of the night. The Montrealer won every category he was nominated in, including the top prize of artist of the year.
His debut record We Were Born in a Flame, which included the hit songs Brother Down and Don’t Walk Away Eileen, took album of the year and rock album of the year.
“What an award represents to me more than anything is a life in music and for that I am very, very, very thankful,” said Roberts, who looked ever the rock star with shaggy hair, blue jeans and a white T-shirt.
“The second album all of a sudden feels as heavy as the ring on poor Frodo’s shoulders. I don’t really know what we’re going to do from here.”
Backstage Roberts was giddy with excitement, howling to friends and nearly knocking over a wall where media were working.
Nickelback, originally formed in Hanna, Alta., about 200 kilometres northeast of Calgary, was welcomed home with statuettes for group of the year and fan’s choice award.
“These always feel so incredible but it feels so much more to receive one of these at home,” said frontman Chad Kroeger.
McLachlan had the happy task of making room in her suitcase for the songwriter of the year trophy alongside the award for best pop album, which she collected Saturday at a pre-Juno ceremony where the majority of awards were announced.
“I’ve been gone a quite a long time . . . to come back and have this kind of love it feels really, really amazing,” she told the audience.
The show was stuffed full of live music, including Kathleen Edwards, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Avril Lavigne, the Barenaked Ladies and Aaron Lines.
Nelly Furtado gave the best performance of the night with a melody of Try and Powerless. She was accompanied by aboriginal group Whitefish Juniors while more than 100 extras carrying placards reading “spirit” paraded through the audience.
This year’s Juno marked the 10th anniversary of an aboriginal music category. Singer Susan Aglukark took the prize this year.
“I try to follow my heart. You have the power to say something, you might as well do it in a cool way,” Furtado said backstage. “It was really important to have an aboriginal drum group because it was part of the inspiration for the song Powerless.”
An appearance by leather-clad Alice Cooper sent the audience into a frenzy. The shock rocker inducted Bob Ezrin, who produced Cooper’s albums, into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
“I met Bob over 30 years ago. We were just five guys from Detroit wearing our girlfriend’s dresses looking for a record deal and a producer,” said Cooper.
Furtado’s Powerless was named single of the year, while rock outfit Billy Talent from Toronto was crowned best new group.
The government city with a reputation for being a little staid compared to honky-tonk Calgary was whipped into a frenzy by the Juno festival, which turned bars and restaurants across town into standing-room-only concert venues. Parties raged late into the night Friday and Saturday.
Sunny skies and mild temperatures made it easy for fans on the prowl for celebrity sightings. Tour buses and limos crowded streets near downtown hotels and along trendy Whyte Avenue’s popular eateries and shops.
Juno buzz grew all week and prompted fans to snap up a remaining thousand tickets for the show at the 16,000-seat Rexall Place, despite a high price tag of between $57 and $91.50.
The support wowed Juno organizers who reported it was the largest crowd in the show’s 33-year history.
In addition to international superstars, political figures were in town to take advantage of the hipster scene, including Prime Minister Paul Martin, NDP Leader Jack Layton and Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan, who is an Edmonton MP.
In all, 38 Junos were awarded over two nights of awards. During a four-hour dinner and ceremony Saturday, Shania Twain’s Up! was named best country recording. Michael Buble won best new artist, while Buck 65 was awarded best alternative album of the year.
Holly Cole took home best vocal jazz album for Shade. Her technicians Mike Haas, Dylan Heming and Jeff Wolpert were named recording engineers of the year.
Winnipeg will play host to next year’s fest.
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