Junos show love for Buble
ST. JOHN’S, NFLD. ó Michael Buble got some crazy love from this year’s Junos.
The Canadian crooner, who was nominated for six awards, waltzed away with four trophies over the weekend. His fourth album Crazy Love took album of the year and pop album honours, while the song Haven’t Met You Yet snagged the trophy for single. Buble also won the fan choice award, beating out last year’s winners Nickelback.
“I’m nervous,” the ever-personable Buble said while accepting the single prize, which was handed to him moments after he performed Haven’t Met You Yet while strolling through the crowd. “I don’t get nervous, usually … I was nominated against incredible songs and I really didn’t expect to take this.”
Of all the awards, he said the fan choice award was “the best one … we don’t talk about you (fans) enough.
“I love you from the West Coast to the East ó black, white, rich, poor, gay, straight; thanks for the support.”
Buble wasn’t the only multiple winner at Sunday’s televised ceremony, held at a sold-out Mile One Centre in St. John’s and featuring a who’s who of Canadian artists as presenters and performers instead of a single host. After being shut out at this year’s Grammys, Toronto rapper Drake snagged two Junos ó the new artist trophy and rap recording honours for the song So Far Gone ó even though his debut album Thank Me Later isn’t due until June.
The former Degrassi star took rap recording prize away from Classified’s Self Explanatory, k-os’s Yes!, K’Naan’s Troubadour and his own Still Fly, recorded with Big Page and U.G.O. Crew.
“Oh man, this is too much,” he enthused. “It’s too much for one night.”
Earlier, he won new artist honours over Carly Rae Jepsen, Danny Fernandes, Shiloh and his main competitor, teen heartthrob Justin Bieber.
“You work really hard, man,” Drake said to Bieber. “I want to share this with you.”
He also shared the award with his mom.
“I wanna dedicate this award to my mother. She’s responsible not only for the artist I am, but the man I am.”
Drake wasn’t the only one-named winner.
Earlier in the broadcast, Somali-born singer-songwriter K’Naan, whose song Wavin’ Flag has become an anthem for Canada’s Haitian relief efforts and the FIFA World Cup, was named songwriter of the year. He claimed the prize from Michael Buble, Metric’s Emily Haines and James Shaw, Joel Plaskett, and Carly Rae Jepsen and Ryan Stewart.
It was his second win of the weekend. At Saturday’s non-televised awards gala, the Torontonian was named artist of the year.
“Last night I won one of these things,” K’Naan said, “and I’m just as bashful as I was then. There is no greater dream than one that comes true in the form of a song.”
K’Naan won Sunday’s prize over Diana Krall, Jann Arden, Johnny Reid and Michael Buble.
But Buble is hardly going home emptyhanded. The Canadian crooner is the early leader at the awards, with two trophies in his pocket. He took the fan choice award over Maxime Landry, Johnny Reid, Ginette Reno and last year’s winner Nickelback. And his hit Haven’t Met You Yet grabbed the single of the year prize, triumphing over Classified’s Anybody Listening, Drake’s Best I Ever Had, Tragically Hip’s Love is a First and Billy Talent’s Rusted from the Rain.
“Pepsi tastes great in a glass,” Buble said, giving a nod to the award’s sponsor. “But in a Slurpee it completes me.”
He also dubbed the fan-based award “the best one … we don’t talk about you (fans) enough.
“I love you from the West Coast to the East ó black, white, rich, poor, gay, straight; thanks for the support.”
The fan choice prize was his third trophy of the weekend. At Saturday’s non-televised awards gala, the Vancouver crooner’s CD Crazy Love snagged the pop album trophy, while producer Bob Rock also won a prize for his work on the disc. The personable Buble, who already has a six-pack of Junos at home, is also in the running for album and songwriter of the year.
Metric, the Toronto rockers fronted by Emily Haines won group of the year, snatching the prize from Billy Talent, Blue Rodeo, Hedley and Tragically Hip. It was their second trophy of the weekend. On Saturday, their fourth album Fantasies captured the alternative album prize.
“All you fans have been incredible for us,” said guitarist James Shaw during the band’s acceptance speech. “It’s been an incredible 10-year ride for us, and this last year has really put us over the top.”
Seven awards ó top album, new artist, songwriter, rap recording, group and single, along with the fan choice ó are being handed out during the two-hour ceremony, held at a sold-out Mile One Centre in St. John’s.
The broadcast opened with nominated rapper Classified spitting his tune Oh … Canada ó complete with new lyrics about Canadian artists and fellow nominees ó outside the arena on hard-partying George Street, the hub of the city’s party district. Buble performed his award-winning tune while strolling through the Mile One crowd. Teen sensation Justin Bieber, who sparked waves of pandemonium among teenage fans both inside the arena and on the red carpet, melted young hearts with a unplugged performance of his single Baby with a quartet of background vocalists and a cameo from fellow nominee Drake. Rising country star Johnny Reid crooned Dance With Me, the title cut on his Juno-winning album. And rockers Billy Talent cranked out Saint Veronica from their third self-titled disc, this year’s top rock album. Toronto folk-rockers Great Lake Swimmers played Pulling on a Line from their fourth album Lost Channels. Metric delivered Gimme Sympathy off their fourth disc Fantasies, which earned the Toronto outfit their first Junos. Country-rock icons Blue Rodeo showcased One Light Left in Heaven from their latest album Things We Left Behind. The show closed with K’Naan leading an all-star cast through Wavin’ Flag.
Vancouver singer-songwriter Bryan Adams was given the Allan Waters humanitarian award for his long record of fundraising efforts and charity work on behalf of causes such as breast cancer research and Ethiopian famine relief. The 50-year-old singer-guitarist accepted his award via satellite from London after being unable to fly across the Atlantic because of volcanic ash clouds covering Europe.
Halifax rockers April Wine ó fronted by singer-guitarist Myles Goodwyn ó were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
Instead of a single host, the show featured a rotating cast of presenters such as Barenaked Ladies, Dallas Green, Shiloh and Stereos.
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