Carly Rae Jepsen dominates Junos
No maybes about it — Carly Rae Jepsen was the big winner at unday’s Juno awards.
The pop star, who had garnered five nominations, took home three trophies, including best album for Kiss and best single for her uber-hit, Call Me Maybe.
“I’m moved beyond words,” said Jepsen backstage. “It’s an incredible feeling. Being at home and being recognized in a country that made me it’s the greatest feeling ever.”
The Mission, B.C., native also won best pop album Saturday night at a non-televised gala ceremony.
Jepsen, 27, was stopped in her tracks for a sweep by none-other-than 78-year-old Leonard Cohen who picked up artist of the year on Saturday, along with songwriter of the year during the TV broadcast.
Cohen, who had a show in St. John’s Sunday night, had his trophy picked up by presenter son Adam Cohen who joked: “I feel so used.”
In the fan choice of the year category, Jepsen lost to superstar Justin Bieber. That was the only award the 19-year-old hitmaker snagged, despite four nominations.
The Biebs — who’s been having a rough time on his European tour — also lost to Cohen for artist of the year and to Jepsen for best pop album and best album.
Jepsen’s reaction to beating Bieber in three categories?
“It’s a shared thing for us for the fact that he has really been my main supporter,” said Jepsen, who said she will undertake her first Canadian headlining tour this summer.
“He signed me with Scooter Braun to School Boy Records and because of that I was able to make the record Kiss … So I have nothing to say to him other than thank you and I know that’s he’s been rooting for me as much as for his own self. It’s more of a shared triumph.”
Group of the year honours went to Vancouver pop-punk act Marianas Trench, besting the likes of prog-rock trio Rush who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this week.
Rush, however, didn’t go home empty-handed, winning best rock album Saturday night for Clockwork Angels.
Monster Truck was named best breakthrough group, trumping such acts as Walk Off the Earth, who became YouTube sensations last year with their version of Gotye’s Somebody That I Used To Know.
Mumford & Sons picked up the prize for international album of the year for Babel.
Toronto-based singer-songwriter Serena Ryder’s Harmony won adult alternative album of the year over critical faves like Kathleen Edwards’ Voyageur and Bahamas’ Barchords.
“I’m almost started crying before I left my seat, that’s not cool,” said Ryder when she got on stage.
Besides Cohen the only other double Juno winner was Toronto R&B star The Weeknd, who won best breakthrough artist and best r&b-soul recording for Trilogy.
Also with reason to celebrate? Indie rockers Metric, whose Synthetica won best alternative album. Band member James Shaw won the Jack Richardson producer of the year award and Justin Broadbent won best recording package, both for their work on Synthetica.
Also Saturday night, East coast rapper Classified took home hardware for best rap recording for Inner Ninja featuring David Myles, Vancouver artist Grimes won electronic album of the year for Visions, and the team responsible for The Tragically Hip’s Bobcaygeon won music DVD of the year.
The Juno broadcast saw performances by host Michael Buble, Jepsen, Metric, Hannah Georgas, Ryder, Billy Talent, Marianas Trench, The Sheepdogs and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee k.d. lang.
Lang was inducted by presenter Anne Murray saying of the Snowbird singer: “I had the biggest crush on her – I still do.”
“I think the fact that I’m standing here receiving this award actually says more about Canada than it does about me,” she continued. “‘Cause only in Canada could there be such a freak as k.d. lang receiving this award. … Only in Canada could there be people like Stompin’ Tom Connors and Rita MacNeil … It is OK to let your freak flags fly and embrace the quirkmeister that is in all of us.”