Carly Rae Jepsen Scores a Hat Trick at the 2013 JUNOs

The week leading up to the JUNO Awards’ main gala on Sunday April 21, 2013, saw a few events make the news. In the United Kingdom, fierce debates ensued over the question of Scottish separation.  Never underestimate the power of the kilt? In the United States, they were occupied with their Boston Marathon bombing and aftermath, the avaricious press making a fortune off of the story (though nowhere near as much as they have made off stories about Canadian pop stars). In Ottawa, future rehab attendees were busy attempting to remodel Parliament Hill after Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. But while all these shenanigans were going on, in Regina, they were throwing the finest party of the year, a two-hour celebration of the past year of Canadian music, hosted by multi-platinum, Burnaby-raised crooner Michael Bublé.

Most of the awards had been presented the night before with seven given out at the main gala, a night filled with skits, humour, and live performances.

The show opened with a pre-recorded sketch of Bublé wheeling his luggage down a London hotel corridor and running into comedian Russell Peters who offered his suggestion that the JUNOs be hosted by a real man’s man with a chiselled jaw like Blue Rodeo’s Jim Cuddy. Next, Bublé appeared in New York with American chat show hostess Kelly Ripa who said she loved Canadian music and expressed her desire to sing Céline Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” hand-in-hand with Michael. He then appeared in a Hollywood piano bar where Scottish actor Gerard Butler, surrounded by a bevy of beauties, patronizingly tossed some coins into a glass bowl atop the piano and commanded Bublé to play but “whatever you do, don’t sing”, to which the girls giggled. Bublé finally appeared laying on a chesterfield getting his woes off his chest to therapist Dr. Phil who told him to man up, get out there and host. When Michael departed, Phil commented, “They should have got Jim Cuddy.”

To a cheering crowd, a Miami Vice bearded Michael Bublé entered the stage in black trousers, white collared shirt, black bowtie, and burgundy jacket with peaked lapel. The camera zoomed in on a grinning Jim Cuddy seated among the packed arena’s audience. “Ah, Regina, the city that rhymes with fun,” our host exclaimed. Capping off his opening remarks, Bublé linked his hat-tip to the Riders with the first performer, Serena Ryder, who performed her Top 10 hit, “Stompa”.

Singer-songwriter Adam Cohen (Leonard Cohen’s son), rapper JD Era, and country artist Dean Brody took the stage to present the first award of the night—Songwriter of the Year. The JUNO went to Leonard Cohen (his 6th JUNO win). Leonard was absent from the JUNOs this year. His son delivered a speech and accepted the award on his behalf, joking, “I feel so used.”

What followed was a performance by Saskatoon’s retro boogie rockers, The Sheepdogs and then Bahamas and Kathleen Edwards (the latter singing the Jeopardy theme song) presented the award for Breakthrough Group of the Year. The JUNO went to Monster Truck. This was their 1st JUNO win. They poked fun at the madness of being a little over the hill for the category, “Breakthrough group of the year when you’re 30 years old is nothing to scoff at.”

Michael Bublé returned appearing very nervous and lost for words, mimicking the laugh and lingo of a teenage girl obsessed with British boy band One Direction. The band appeared from Manchester via satellite, “How are you Canada?” A jittery Bublé asked, “So, do you guys like … stuff?” “We love stuff,” they answered. Bublé bashfully replied, “Me too. Stuff’s awesome. So cool.” One Direction introduced the next act, “People of Canada, this is Carly Rae Jepsen.” Carly, surrounded by a squadron of female dancers, performed “Call Me Maybe” and “Tonight I’m Getting Over You” in medley format.

West coast rapper Madchild and electropoppers Dragonette presented the award for Group of the Year.  The award went to Marianas Trench, the best-selling of the nominated bunch last year. Believe it or not, this was the popular band’s first JUNO win.

Bublé who had changed into a white jacket with shawl lapel commented on the beauty of Canadian female singers like Serena Ryder, Metric’s Emily Haines, and Carly Rae Jepsen. “I don’t know if you just saw Carly Rae,” he quipped, “But she was so hot. Like, did you see those little shorts? They looked good on her, but they’d look better crumpled up on my bedroom floor, if you know what I mean.” He gazed out toward the crowd, “Oh, and it’s my pregnant wife.” The camera panned over to Michael’s wife sitting in the stands giving him a stern look. She pointed at him and then ran her finger across her neck in a throat slitting gesture.

The Tenors performed “Forever Young” and talked about the musical education work of MusicCounts, which was elaborated on by Shania Twain from Las Vegas. Marianas Trench performed next. Canada’s godfather of rap Maestro Fresh Wes and Blue Rodeo’s Jim Cuddy presented the award for Single of the Year. The JUNO was awarded to Carly Rae Jepsen for “Call Me Maybe”, the all-time best-selling single in Canada by a Canadian artist. Incidentally, it was the best-selling song on iTunes worldwide in 2012. The host Michael Bublé performed his latest single “It’s a Beautiful Day”.

Canadian icon, winner of 24 JUNO awards, Anne Murray, introduced the latest inductee into the Music Hall of Fame, k.d. lang. “She went on to prove that a great voice can sing just about anything it wants,” Anne said of k.d. A brief biographical video was shown including tributes to the Albertan from Tony Bennett, Jian Ghomeshi, Leonard Cohen, and Shania Twain. Before the backdrop of a standing-o, a tearful and grateful k.d. lang mounted the stage to accept her award and delivered a powerhouse speech.

“I think the fact that I’m standing here receiving this award actually says more about Canada than it says about me, because 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. So I am here to tell you my friends and my countrymen, it is okay to be you. It is okay to let your freak flags fly and embrace the quirkmeister that’s inside of all of us.”

Billy Talent rocked the stage with Serna Ryder before Bublé on skates and hockey gear at the rink got boarded by two Vancouver Canucks. He then appeared backstage in a Riders’ shirt where The Sheepdogs were engaged in a discussion about tuna sandwiches. They questioned the Riders’ shirt given that he is from BC. He brushed them off and congratulated their making the cover of the United States’ Rolling Stone magazine saying that he had been on the cover too. They questioned him again, “I don’t remember you being on the cover.” Bublé pulled out a magazine with a photo cut out of his face pasted on the cover.

Atlantic Canadians Classified and David Myles performed their Top 5 hit “Inner Ninja” before presenting the JUNO Fan Choice award which went to Justin Bieber, his third consecutive win in the category and 4th JUNO award. He was not able to attend. Both Bieber and Leonard Cohen were fulfilling their busy touring schedules set out for them by their respective employers. The next performance was by Hannah Georgas.

Victoria Duffield, Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew, and Regina-born actress Tatiana Maslany presented the award for Adult Alternative Album of the Year. The Canadian Music Blog is not sure what the term “adult alternative” music means, but it does not sound G-rated. The award went to Serena Ryder for her album Harmony. Metric followed, performing “Synthetica”.

Tom Cochrane and Regina’s Colin James presented the final and biggest award of the night, Album of the Year. They commented that they remembered when vinyl was used to make albums … and pants. The JUNO was awarded to Kiss by Carly Rae Jepsen. She was congratulated by Hedley’s Jacob Hoggard on her way to the platform. Obviously surprised at the win, she was speechless and nearly in tears. Carly had scored a hat trick at the JUNOs: Pop Album of the Year and the two biggest awards, Single of the Year and Album of the Year. 

The newest inductee into the Music Hall of Fame, k.d. lang, performed next. Michael Bublé closed the show by singing his song “Home” with a little help from the crowd. Aside from the lack of a much-needed Francophone performance, this was a fabulous show and serves as a true standard for how the Grammy and BRIT Awards ought to conduct themselves. Canadian music is the best in the world and will continue to get even better, so, as k.d. lang so Canadianly put it, “Go, team, go!”

To view a list of all JUNO nominees and winners this year, click HERE.
To view the entire broadcast of the main gala, click HERE.
To view pictures from the gala, click HERE.

2013 JUNO Award Winners, Part 2

The main gala of the 2013 JUNO awards was hosted by Michael Bublé and took place on April 21 in Regina.  The bulk of the awards were handed out at the non-televized show last night (Part 1).  Below were the awards presented tonight (in orange) along with all nominees in their categories.  And in case you missed the broadcast, it can be viewed online in full at CTV (Link).

Songwriter of the Year

Afie Jurvanen, “Be My Witness”, “Caught Me Thinkin”, “Lost in the Light” BARCHORDS – Bahamas
Arkells, “Michigan Left”, “On Paper”, “Whistleblower” MICHIGAN LEFT – Arkells
Hannah Georgas, “Enemies”, “Robotic” – co-songwriter Ryan Guldemond, “Somebody” – HANNAH GEORGAS – Hannah Georgas
Kathleen Edwards, “A Soft Place to Land”– co-songwriter John Roderick, “Chameleon/Comedian”, “Change the Sheets” VOYAGEUR – Kathleen Edwards
Leonard Cohen, “Amen”, “Going Home”– co-songwriter Patrick Leonard, “Show Me the Place” – co-songwriter Patrick Leonard OLD IDEAS – Leonard Cohen (6th JUNO win)

Breakthrough Group of the Year

Hey Ocean!
Monster Truck (1st JUNO win)
The Pack a.d.
Walk Off the Earth
Yukon Blonde

Group of the Year

Billy Talent
Marianas Trench (1st JUNO win)
Metric
Rush
The Sheepdogs

Single of the Year

Billy Talent, Viking Death March
Carly Rae Jepsen, Call Me Maybe (2nd JUNO win)
Hedley, Kiss You Inside Out
Serena Ryder, Stompa
The Sheepdogs, The Way It Is

Canadian Music Hall of Fame

k.d. Lang

JUNO Fan Choice Award

Carly Rae Jepsen
Céline Dion
Drake
Hedley
Justin Bieber (4th JUNO win)
Leonard Cohen
Marianas Trench
Metric
Michael Bublé
Nickelback

Adult Alternative Album of the Year

Bahamas, Barchords
Kathleen Edwards, Voyageur
Royal Wood, We Were Born To Glory
Serena Ryder, Harmony (4th JUNO win)
The Barr Brothers, The Barr Brothers

Album of the Year

Carly Rae Jepsen, Kiss (3rd JUNO win)
Céline Dion, Sans Attendre
Hedley, Storms
Justin Bieber, Believe
Marianas Trench, Ever After

2013 JUNO Award Winners, Part 1

The untelevized portion of the 2013 JUNOs in Regina was held Saturday night, April 20, and hosted by the CBCs Jian Ghomeshi. Most of the awards were given out tonight with the remainder to be at the main gala tomorrow evening.  Last year, the awards presented at the main gala were the JUNO Fan Choice Award, Songwriter of the Year, Single of the Year, Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, Dance Recording of the Year, and New Artist of the Year. The latter three categories were presented tonight meaning that tomorrow night’s main gala will see awards presented to the first four categories above plus Group of the Year, Breakthrough Group of the Year, and Adult Alternative Album. Below is a list of nominees of categories awarded tonight with the JUNO award winner in orange.  Part 2

Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year
Cancer Bats, Dead Set On Living
Castle, Blacklands
Devin Townsend Project, Epicloud
Ex Deo, Caligvla
Woods of Ypres, Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light (1st JUNO win)

International Album of the Year
Maroon 5, Overexposed
Mumford & Sons, Babel (1st JUNO win)
One Direction, Up All Night
Rod Stewart, Merry Christmas, Baby
Taylor Swift, Red

Instrumental Album of the Year
Five Alarm Funk, Rock The Sky
Hugh Sicotte/Jon Ballantyne, Twenty Accident Free Work Days
Ian McDougall, The Very Thought Of You
Pugs & Crows, Fantastic Pictures (1st JUNO win)
Ratchet Orchestra, Hemlock

Francophone Album of the Year
Amylie Audiogram, Le Royaume
Avec pas d’casque, Astronomie
Lisa LeBlanc, Lisa LeBlanc
Louis-Jean Cormier, Le treizième étage (1st JUNO win as a soloist)
Marie-Pierre Arthur, Aux alentours

Blues Album of the Year
Colin James, FIFTEEN
Jack de Keyzer, Electric Love
Shakura S’Aida, Time
Steve Hill, Solo Recordings Volume One
Steve Strongman, A Natural Fact (1st JUNO win)

Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Cold Specks
Grimes
Kira Isabella
Shawn Hook
The Weeknd (1st JUNO win)

Rap Recording of the Year
Classified, Inner Ninja ft. David Myles (1st JUNO win)
JD Era, No Handouts
Madchild, Dope Sick
Maestro Fresh Wes, Black Tuxedo
Rich Kidd/SonReal, The Closers

Classical Album of the Year: Solo or Chamber Ensemble
Amici Chamber Ensemble, Levant (2nd JUNO win)
Angela Hewitt Hyperion, Debussy: Solo Piano Music
Canadian Brass, Canadian Brass Takes Flight
James Ehnes, Bartók : Works for Violin and Piano, Vol. 1
Triple Forte, Ravel, Shostakovich, Ives: Piano Trio

Classical Album of the Year: Large Ensemble or Soloist(s) with Large Ensemble Accompaniment
Antonio Peruch/Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Logos Futura
Bramwell Tovey/Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Fugitive Colours
James Ehnes, Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto (7th JUNO win)
Jan Lisiecki, Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 20 & 21
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, The Galileo Project

Music DVD of the Year
Andy Keen, Bernie Breen, Patrick Sambrook, Shawn Marino, The Tragically Hip, Bobcaygeon (2nd JUNO win)
Ben Knechtel, Ten Second Epic, Better Off
Pierre Lamoureux, François Lamoureux, Pat Metheny, The Orchestrion Project: Pat Metheny
Scot McFadyen, Roy Weisman, Kevin Shirley, Joe Bonamassa, Joe Bonamassa Live From New York: Beacon Theatre
Tim Martin, W. Tom Berry, Michael Kaeshammer, KAESHAMMERLIVE!

Video of the Year
Director X, HYFR – DRAKE (1st JUNO win)
Margaret Malandruccolo, Testify – ALAN DOYLE
Margaret Malandruccolo, Fire It Up – JOHNNY REID
Sean Wainsteim, Little Boxes – WALK OFF THE EARTH
WeWereMonkeys, Little Talks – OF MONSTERS AND MEN

World Music Album of the Year
Alex Cuba, Ruido en el Sistema
Danny Michel with The Garifuna Collective, Black Birds Are Dancing Over Me
Jaffa Road, Where The Light Gets In
Lorraine Klaasen, Tribute to Miriam Makeba (1st JUNO win)
The Souljazz Orchestra, Solidarity

Adult Contemporary Album of the Year
Adam Cohen, Like A Man
Barlow, Burning Days
Céline Dion, Sans Attendre
Raylene Rankin, All The Diamonds
The Tenors, Lead With Your Heart (1st JUNO win)

Country Album of the Year
Chad Brownlee, Love Me Or Leave Me
Dallas Smith, Jumped Right In
Dean Brody, Dirt
Emerson Drive, Roll
Johnny Reid, Fire It Up (3rd JUNO win)

Rock Album of the Year
Big Wreck, Albatross
Billy Talent, Dead Silence
Rush, Clockwork Angels (9th JUNO win)
The Sheepdogs, The Sheepdogs
The Tragically Hip, Now For Plan A

Recording Engineer of the Year
Eric Ratz, “Albatross” ALBATROSS – Big Wreck | “Surprise Surprise” DEAD SILENCE – Billy Talent
Joby Baker, “Suspiro en Falsete”, “Ruido en el Sistema” – RUIDO EN EL SISTEMA – Alex Cuba
Kevin Churko (co-engineer Kane Churko), “Blood” BLOOD – In This Moment | “Coming Down” AMERICAN CAPITALIST – Five Finger Death Punch (4th JUNO win)
Mike Plotnikoff, “Start of Something Good” BREAK THE SPELL – Daughtry | “Breaking Your Own Heart” STRONGER – Kelly Clarkson
Randy Staub, “When We Stand Together” HERE AND NOW – Nickelback | “What You Want” EVANESCENCE – Evanescence

Aboriginal Album of the Year
BURNT-Project 1, The Black List
Crystal Shawanda, Just Like You (1st JUNO win)
Don Amero, Heart On My Sleeve
Donny Parenteau, Bring It On
Janet Panic, Samples

Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award
Larry LeBlanc

Vocal Jazz Album of the Year
Carol Welsman, Journey
Diana Krall, Glad Rag Doll
Diana Panton, Christmas Kiss
Elizabeth Shepherd, Rewind
Emilie-Claire Barlow, Seule ce Soir (1st JUNO win)

Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year
Alex Goodman Quintet, Bridges
Allison Au Quartet, The Sky Was Pale Blue, Then Grey
François Houle 5+1, Genera
Joel Miller, Swim (1st JUNO win)
Rafael Zaldivar, Drawing

Traditional Jazz Album of the Year
Brian Dickinson Quartet, Other Places
Cory Weeds Quartet, Up A Step
Dave Young/Terry Promane Octet, Volume One
Murley, Bickert & Wallace, Test of Time (3rd JUNO win for Murley)
Shirantha Beddage, Identity

Classical Album of the Year: Vocal or Choral Performance
Elora Festival Singers, I Saw Eternity
Gerald Finley, Schumann: Liederkreis
Karina Gauvin, Prima Donna (2nd JUNO win)
Marie-Nicole Lemieux, Opera Arias
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir, Handel Messiah

Classical Composition of the Year
Alexina Louie, Echoes of Time
Denis Gougeon, Mutation
Howard Shore, The Lord of the Rings Symphony: Six Movements for Orchestra & Chorus
R. Murray Schafer, Trio for Violin, Viola and Cello
Vivian Fung, Violin Concerto (1st JUNO win)

Children’s Album of the Year
Emilie Mover, The Stella and Sam Album, ft. Emilie Mover (1st JUNO win)
Helen Austin, Always Be A Unicorn
Henri Godon, Chansons pour toutes sortes d’enfants
Jennifer Gasoi, Throw a Penny in the Wishing Well
Marlowe & the MiX, One Dancefloor

Jack Richardson Producer of the Year
Bob Ezrin, “Forever Young” LEAD WITH YOUR HEART – The Tenors
Gavin Brown, “At Transformation”, “About this Map” NOW FOR PLAN A – The Tragically Hip
James Shaw, “Youth Without Youth”, “Breathing Underwater” SYNTHETICA – Metric (1st JUNO win as an individual)
Josh Ramsay, “Call Me Maybe” KISS – Carly Rae Jepsen | “Fallout” EVER AFTER – Marianas Trench
Kevin Churko (co-producer Kane Churko), “Blood”, “Adrenalize” BLOOD – In This Moment

Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year
Colin Bernard, Hold On
Manafest, Fighter
Newworldson, Rebel Transmission
The City Harmonic, I Have A Dream (It Feels Like Home) (1st JUNO win)
Thousand Foot Krutch, The End Is Where We Begin

Reggae Recording of the Year
Ammoye, Radio
Elaine Lil’Bit Shepherd, Move Ya’
Exco Levi, Storms of Life (2nd JUNO win)
Makeshift Innocence, Yours To Keep
Melanie Durrant, Made For Love

Allan Waters Humanitarian Award
Tom Cochrane

Recording Package of the Year
Andy Dixon (Art Director/Designer/Photographer), Jonathan Taggart (Photographer), Little Mountain – SAID THE WHALE
Justin Broadbent (Art Director/Designer/Photographer), Synthetica – METRIC (1st JUNO win)
Marianne Chevalier and Atelier Tricorne (Art Directors/Designers/Photographers), À l’aube du printemps – MES AÏEUX
Mathieu Houde (Art Director), Philippe Allard (Designer/Photographer), Marie-Pier Daigle (Designer), Le Québec est mort, Vive le Québec! – LOCO LOCASS
Susan Michalek and Simon Paul (Art Directors/Designers), Andrew B. Myers (Photographer), Now For Plan A – THE TRAGICALLY HIP

Electronic Album of the Year
Crystal Castles, (III)
Daphni, Jiaolong
Grimes, Visions (1st JUNO win)
Purity Ring, Shrines
Trust, TRST

Dance Recording of the Year
Anjulie, You and I (1st JUNO win)
Dragonette, Bodyparts
Felix Cartal, Don’t Turn On The Lights ft. Polina
Tricky Moreira, Hello Hello Hello
Vita Chambers, Fix You

Alternative Album of the Year
Hannah Georgas, Hannah Georgas
Japandroids, Celebration Rock
Metric, Synthetica (3rd JUNO win)
Said The Whale, Little Mountain
Stars, The North

R&B/Soul Recording of the Year
Jully Black, Fugitive
Kreesha Turner, Tropic Electric
Melanie Fiona, Change the Record
Shawn Desman, Nobody Does It Like You
The Weeknd, Trilogy (2nd JUNO win after the win above)

Roots & Traditional Album of the Year: Solo
Amelia Curran, Spectators
Annabelle Chvostek, Rise
Corb Lund, Cabin Fever
Old Man Luedecke, Tender Is The Night
Rose Cousins, We Have Made A Spark (1st JUNO win)

Roots & Traditional Album of the Year: Group
Elliott BROOD, Days Into Years (1st JUNO win)
Great Lake Swimmers, New Wild Everywhere
Le Vent du Nord, Tromper le temps
The Strumbellas, My Father and The Hunter
The Wooden Sky, Every Child A Daughter, Every Moon A Sun

Artist of the Year
Carly Rae Jepsen
Deadmau5
Johnny Reid
Justin Bieber
Leonard Cohen (5th JUNO win)

Pop Album of the Year
Carly Rae Jepsen, Kiss (1st JUNO win)
Justin Bieber, Believe
Kristina Maria, Tell The World
Nelly Furtado, The Spirit Indestructible
Victoria Duffield, Shut Up and Dance

The JUNOs Are Set to Dazzle from Regina

Canada’s premier music awards gala (in our opinion the world’s finest) is just five days away.

Presenters at the JUNO Awards’ main gala, hosted by Michael Bublé, have been announced and will include the following Canadian music icons.

The Presenters

•  Legendary diamond-selling rocker Tom Cochrane
•  Multi-platinum classical pop vocalists The Tenors
•  Triple-threat (i.e. singer, dancer, actor) dance pop dynamo Victoria Duffield
•  Electronic dance trio Dragonette
•  The godfather of Canadian rap Maestro Fresh Wes
•  East coast’s Classified, West coast’s Madchild, and central’s JD Era rappers
•  Singer-songwriters Kathleen Edwards and Adam Cohen
•  Blues rock specialist Colin James
•  Country music marvel Dean Brody
•  Indie roots sensation The Bahamas

24-time JUNO Award winner Anne Murray will be inducting k.d. lang into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

The Performers

•  International pop princess Carly Rae Jepsen
•  Multi-platinum punk rockers Billy Talent
•  Progressive rock whiz Hannah Georgas
•  Electronic rock wonders Metric
•  The ever-versatile k.d. lang
•  Canada’s Mr. Entertainment Michael Bublé
•  Popular west coast band Marianas Trench
•  Lovable songstress Serena Ryder
•  Saskatchewan boogie rockers The Sheepdogs

Ice Conduit to the 2013 JUNOs: ALBUM OF THE YEAR Nominees

Normally, the JUNOs honour democracy by giving this award to the best-selling album. Last year, Michael Bublé’s Christmas took the award. It was the second best-selling album in the world, outsold only by Adele’s 21. The best-selling Canadian album in the world last year was Justin Bieber’s Believe, while domestically, it was Céline Dion’s Sans Attendre. It would certainly be fabulous to see either the work of a youth or a Francophone album nab the award. Hedley’s Storms which continued to sell well last year won the Pop Album award last year. New to the international scene, Carly Rae Jepsen is up for the award for her second LP Kiss as is Marianas Trench for Ever After. Below are some tidbits about the artists and the albums.

Carly Rae Jepsen, Kiss

Mission, BC’s pop princess is up for five JUNO awards this year, adding to her two nominations from 2010. Kiss is her second full-length album, the first being Tug of War. In-between the two, she released her EP Curiosity. Kiss was named by Allmusic.com as 2012’s tenth best album in the world and has achieved gold certification in Canada. It contains the best-selling Canadian single of all-time domestically, “Call Me Maybe” (7x platinum), a re-mix of her Top 20 gold hit “Curiosity”, #1 hit “Good Time” with Owl City, Top 40 collaboration with Justin Bieber, “Beautiful”, Top 30 hit “This Kiss”, and her current charting single “Tonight I’m Getting Over You”.

Céline Dion, Sans Attendre

The Charlemagne, Québec native is the best-selling Canadian recording artist of all-time worldwide. Currently, having sold 114 million records, she ranks 11th in the world. The album title, literally meaning “without waiting”, was the only triple platinum Canadian release in 2012. Sans Attendre contains three duets with prominent singers: legendary Canadian Jean-Pierre Ferland, Johnny Hallyday (best-selling French recording artist of all-time), and Caribbean singer Henri Salvador. As the latter is no longer with us, this is a virtual duet. The first single from the album “Parler à mon père” peaked at #53 on the Canadian Hot 100, a respectable feat for a Francophone tune. It was the year’s 77th biggest song in France. “Les Petits Pieds de Lea” made it to #80 on the Canadian Hot 100. Dion has won 20 JUNO awards.

Hedley, Storms

The BC band’s 4th studio album won the JUNO for Pop Album of the Year last year. It has since attained platinum certification. The album spawned hit single “Invincible”, a Top 10 hit, and “One Life”, a Top 20 hit. Both songs made the year-end charts. Hedley released “Kiss You Inside Out” as a separate single later on. It became the band’s best-selling single, peaking at #2 and finishing 2012 as the 2nd biggest Canadian song of the year. Due to its success, Hedley re-released Storms to include the single. The band has so far won two JUNO awards.

Justin Bieber, Believe

Stratford, Ontario’s 19-year-old Justin Bieber has won 3 JUNOs thus far including one for Pop Album of the Year in 2011 (for My World 2.0). Believe was the world’s best-selling album from a Canadian artist in 2012 and a double-platinum release at home. It debuted at #1 in 30 countries and sold 57,000 copies domestically in its first week of release. Bieber has sold a million records in Canada so far. Believe spawned five Top 20 hit singles: “Boyfriend” (#1), “Die in Your Arms” (#14), “All Around the World” (#10), “As Long as You Love Me” (#9), and “Beauty and a Beat” (#4). It title track also made the Canadian Hot 100.

Marianas Trench, Ever After

The Trench have yet to win a JUNO award. Prior to this year, they had received two nominations. This year they are up for three. Ever After is the Vancouver band’s 3rd album and has been certified platinum. The album has spawned four hit singles: “Haven’t Had Enough” (#9), “Fallout” (#26), “Desperate Measures” (#20), and “Stutter” (#28). The first three all made the year-end Top 100, and the fourth is their current hit. Ever After is a concept album the songs of which are like chapters of a continuous fairy tale type story. There are no pauses between the individual tracks.

Comparing the Albums

TITLE	CERTIFICATION	LP CHRONOLOGY	HIT SINGLES*
KISS	Gold	2nd	6
SANS ATTENDRE	3x Platinum	25th	2
STORMS	Platinum	4th	3
BELIEVE	2x Platinum	3rd	6
EVER AFTER	Platinum	3rd	4

* Tracks from the album that have to date made the Canadian Hot 100.

Comparing the Artists

ARTIST	JUNO AWARDS TO DATE	HIGHEST CERTIFICATION ON A RECORD
Carly Rae Jepsen	0	7x Platinum
Céline Dion	20	Diamond
Hedley	2	3x Platinum
Justin Bieber	3	3x Platinum
Marianas Trench	0	2x Platinum

Ice Conduit to the 2013 JUNOs: SINGLE OF THE YEAR Nominees

Unlike Album of the Year, The JUNOs do not necessarily grant the Single of the Year award to the most successful recording, as last year the award went to “I Don’t Know” by the Sheepdogs. The five nominees this year range from a #69 hit to a #1 hit. In the spotlight are a romantic car crash in Vancouver, a steamy carwash in Mission with a plot-twist finale, a baseball game in NHL-snubbed Saskatoon, handclaps and boot stomps in Millbrook, and a death march rant of corporate greed in Canada’s manufacturing capital.

Billy Talent, “Viking Death March”

This song debuted on the Canadian Hot 100 on 8 June 2012 at #69, its peak position. It spent a total of 6 weeks on the chart. Although not awarded with any certifications, it helped the album Dead Silence achieve gold status in 2013. “Viking Death March” did not chart internationally; however, its sister single “Surprise Surprise” saw some success in Germany. Billy Talent is a punk band from Mississauga. They have thus far won seven JUNO awards. Great lyrics on this: “Stop, punch in the clock / Punch it with all of your rage. Put the men in office / For a minimum wage / Rats fighting for scraps / Siphon the gas from your tank / Left your pockets empty / As they laughed to the bank”.

Music Video

Carly Rae Jepsen, “Call Me Maybe”

At 7x platinum, “Call Me Maybe” is the most successful Canadian single of all time domestically. It began its chart run on 14 October 2011 debuting at #97 on the Canadian Hot 100. The song reached #1 on 3 February 2012 spending four weeks at top spot. It finished its chart run on 6 March 2013 giving it a total of 74 weeks on the chart. Internationally, it reached #1 in some 20 countries. It entered the British charts at #1 and spent nine weeks on top of the U.S. charts. It was the second biggest hit overall of 2012 in Canada, the United States, and United Kingdom. It was the biggest hit of the year in Australia and New Zealand. Carly Rae Jepsen is from Mission, BC. Outside of the success of “Call Me Maybe”, to date, she has scored three gold singles and one gold album. She was a finalist on Canadian Idol and in 2012 was signed by American heavyweight manager Scooter Braun.

Music Video 

Hedley, “Kiss You Inside Out”

This was the second most successful single of 2012 after “Call Me Maybe”. It entered the charts at #35 on 1 June 2012 and peaked at #2 on August 15. The song spent a total of 41 weeks on the Hot 100. “Kiss You Inside Out” was certified a triple platinum single, making it the band’s most successful. A bilingual version was recorded with Star Academie finalist Andrée-Anne Leclerc. The song was not a hit internationally and was the 19th biggest song of the year domestically. Hedley is from Vancouver. Jacob Hoggard, the band’s lead singer was a finalist on Canadian Idol. They have won two JUNO awards to date.

Music Video

 Serena Ryder, “Stompa”

This is the only song among the batch that is still on the charts. It debuted on the Canadian Hot 100 on October 17, 2012, at #87. It reached its peak position of #8 on January 30, 2013, and has thus far spent 21 weeks on the charts. “Stompa” has gone gold as has the album on which it appears (Harmony). Serena Ryder is from Millbrook, Ontario which is near Peterborough. She has won three JUNO awards to date. “Stompa” cannot be considered an international hit. Her “All for Love”, though, saw some success south of the border a few years ago.

Music Video

The Sheepdogs, “The Way It Is”

This song spent a total of 16 weeks on the Hot 100, from July 25 to November 7, 2012. It peaked at #59 on September 12. Though not achieving any certifications, the album on which it appears went gold in 2013. The Sheepdogs are a four-member rock band from Saskatoon who play a kind of early 1970s style “boogie rock”. Their winning a contest led to a deal with Atlantic Records. The band won three JUNO awards last year including one in this very category. The music video for “The Way It Is” (not to be confused with Bruce Hornsby’s number) showcases a baseball game. It did not chart internationally, though their current single is gaining ground in the U.S.

Music Video

Comparing the Singles

TITLE	WKS ON CHART	PEAK POS	YR-END	MV VIEWS	CERT
Viking Death March	6	69	–	1.9 million	–
Call Me Maybe	74	1	2	437.1 million	7x Platinum
Kiss You Inside Out	41	2	19	3.5 million**	3x Platinum
Stompa	21+	8	N/A*	548,000	Gold
The Way It Is	16	59	–	251,000	–

* “Stompa” will likely appear on the year-end Top 100 of 2013.
** Includes views of bilingual version.

Comparing the Artists

ARTIST	JUNO AWARDS TO DATE	HIGHEST CERTIFICATION ON A RECORD
Billy Talent	7	3x Platinum
Carly Rae Jepsen	0	7x Platinum
Hedley	2	3x Platinum
Serena Ryder	3	Gold
The Sheepdogs	3	Platinum

Predicting the Winner

Predicting the winner in this category is extremely difficult. Carly Rae Jepsen’s song was the most successful by far, both domestically and internationally, and given she has not yet won a JUNO, they will want to give her one this year (she’s up for five). Billy Talent are a favourite of the JUNOs, however, having won the most of the five artists here. The Sheepdogs are on a roll, having won this category last year. The JUNOs are being held in their province this year and are wanting to encourage the province in developing more musical talent. Serena’s song is still hot, on the charts, and fresh in the minds of the judges. It’s style offers a nice bridge between pop and rock realms. As for Hedley, their album Storms won Pop Album last year and is up for Album of the Year this year. This is their best-selling single and they took the time to release a true Canadian bilingual version.

Which song do you think will win the JUNO for Single of the Year?

Ice Conduit to the 2013 JUNOs: ABORIGINAL ALBUM Nominees

BURNT-Project 1, The Black List

This is an amazing 11-member band from Winnipeg founded in 2001 by David Boulanger. Their culturally rich music incorporates elements of rock, reggae, traditional First Nations, funk, jazz even using big band horns, African and Latin beats, and Middle Eastern rhythms. Their second album, Hometown, won the JUNO for Aboriginal Recording in 2006. A few years ago, the CBC commissioned Boulanger to write a song dedicated to the survivors of residential schools. The Black List was several years in the making, released last year.

The Black List on iTunes     BURNT-Project 1’s Website

Crystal Shawanda, Just Like You

Crystal was born in the Wikwemikong Native Reservation which is situated on Manitoulin Island (Lake Huron, southwest of Sudbury). She is a dynamo of country music, signed in 2007 to RCA Records/Sony Music Nashville. Who can forget her debut single “You Can Let Go” which became the fastest rising single in Canadian BDS history, a top 5 hit on the country charts and Top 20 in the U.S.? Crystal’s 2008 album, Dawn of a New Day, was Billboard’s highest charting album of all-time by a First Nations artist and sold 400,000 copies. She toured with Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, and Reba McEntire. Just Like You gives Crystal her third JUNO nomination.

Just Like You on iTunes     Crystal Shawanda’s Website 

Don Amero, Heart On My Sleeve

Although gifted independent folk artist Don Amero has won a host of awards over the past few years, this is his first JUNO nomination. He launched his music career after working as a hardwood floor installer in Winnipeg. His style has broad-spectrum appeal as it showcases his soothing voice, exciting guitar playing, beautiful uplifting arrangements, and intriguing storytelling. Diligent Don has toured coast to coast, played with the symphony, and has made appearances on national television. Heart On My Sleeve is his fourth album and its music is heavenly.

Heart On My Sleeve on iTunes     Don Amero’s Website 

Donny Parenteau, Bring It On

Donny’s from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, and this is his third JUNO nomination. He holds the record for the most nominations and wins at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards and has also received Canadian Country Music Award nominations. He has performed for Canada Day on Parliament Hill and been on CTV’s Canada AM. His new album Bring It On features collaborations with Jully Black and legendary rock band Streetheart. Donny learned the violin, er fiddle, in his teens and then mastered guitar and mandolin. Aside from a soloist, he is also one of the musicians in Neal McCoy’s band.

Bring It On on iTunes     Donny Parenteau’s Website  

Janet Panic, Samples

This alternative artist was born in Brockville, Ontario but moved around the country a lot including stints in Calgary, Montreal, and Vancouver. Janet is a Metis artist, has been involved in a few bands, worked as a producer and broadcast journalist, and operated Vancouver club The Comedy Store which closed after her business partner left to work on Canadian sitcom Corner Gas. She has been described as a “female cross between Lou Reed and Leonard Cohen” and her “entirely trippy pop music” as “drop-dead sexy”. Janet won best folk album at the Aboriginal People’s Choice Music Awards last year for this very album. This is her first JUNO nomination.

Listen to/download Samples at Bandcamp     Janet Panic’s Website

Ice Conduit to the 2013 JUNOs: ALTERNATIVE ALBUM Nominees

Hannah Georgas, Hannah Georgas

Though musically based in Vancouver, Hannah Georgas grew up in Newmarket, ON (where Jim Carrey is from). She was in a high school rock band with Tim Oxford who ended up forming The Arkells. Georgas’ first LP came out in 2010, This is Good, which garnered 2 JUNO nominations in 2011 (songwriter and new artist of the year). This is her second album, a mishmash of funky electronic beats, pulsating guitars, and shimmering synthesizers. Her voice sounds as if it is coming up the pipes from a factory’s boiler room along with puffs of dream steam. Hannah is recognized for being one of our best songwriters and certainly the arrangements on this little gem give her artistic credibility as well.

Hannah Georgas on iTunes     Hannah Georgas’ Website

Japandroids, Celebration Rock

Based in Vancouver, this duo’s 2009 debut album was nominated in this very JUNO category. Celebration Rock is their second album. Their style of punky, spirited, vitamin potent tunes is guaranteed not to put you to rest. Their critical acclaim and popularity came in the nick of time as Brian King and David Prowse were about to call it quits. They went all out on this album crashing up the drums and revving up the guitars for a joy ride from Grouse Mountain to Mount Fuji on the back of a supercharged android gone berserk.

Celebration Rock on iTunes     Japandroids’ Website

Metric, Synthetica

Toronto’s electronic rockers Metric won a pair of JUNOs in 2010, one for this very category. They have managed to score a pair of platinum albums and one gold. Synthetica is their fifth studio album and debuted at #2 on the Billboard Canadian albums chart. Singles “Youth Without Youth” and “Breathing Underwater” both made the Hot 100 proving the height of Metric’s success cannot be measured in feet and inches. Less ethereal than their previous work Fantasies, the band made music for this album encompassing the spectrum of moulds through all previous works. The result is an album that packs a brass knuckle punch of spicy anthems that leave you breathless.

Synthetica on iTunes     Metric’s Website

Said The Whale, Little Mountain

Vancouver’s five-piece ensemble Said the Whale kicked things off in 2007 and won the JUNO in 2011 for New Group of the Year. They have released a number of EPs. Little Mountain is their third full-length studio album. Rolling drums, earnest yet theatrical vocals, and punctuated keyboards conjure up an image of a beached whale floundering on the sand in the pangs of heartbreak. Essentially this is indie rock with touches of new wave and sunny pop thrown into the mix. The songs come waltzing down at you from a little mountain and are varied in fragrance like a sonic potpourri making the ears perk up in an unpredictable listen.

Little Mountain on iTunes     Said The Whale’s Website

Stars, The North

This five-member, twinkling, progressive rock band from Montréal has been working hard; this is their sixth studio album which managed an impressive #5 position on the Billboard Canadian albums chart. Previously, two of their LPs have been nominated in this very category, including Set Yourself on Fire, a gold-certified work. Stroll by the Habitat 67 complex and you may hear music from The North emanating from some of those cubical apartments complete with its funky bass lines, scintillating synths and soft, eloquent male/female vocals.

The North iTunes     Stars’ Website

Ice Conduit to the 2013 JUNOs: ROCK ALBUM Nominees

 Below are the five best rock albums of last year, nominated for the JUNO for Rock Album of the Year.  Which one is your favourite?

Albatross by Big Wreck

This band, led by the genius of Toronto’s Ian Thornley who pulled a 180 after a run at a solo career, has released its first album in over a decade. Their 1997 debut effort, In Loving Memory of, mined its way into double-platinum certification. This, their third, has secured for the crew its first JUNO nomination. The music is like a diesel-powered snowblower ploughing through the snow and transforms at times into a melodic ice-dancing Zamboni. Albatross peaked at #5 on the Billboard Albums chart, won two CASBY awards, and spawned two hit singles, the title track and “Wolves”. It gets your heart pumping, adrenaline flowing, and energizes you enough to clear snow from a football field in Quebec City in the time it takes it to dissolve on a Vancouver street corner.

Albatross on iTunes     Big Wreck’s Website 

Dead Silence by Billy Talent

This Mississauga band has already brought dead silence to critics with seven JUNO awards, three multi-platinum albums, and over a million thumbs up on Facebook, tucked under their punkabilly belts. Though internet trolls may beg to differ, in the Great White North, Billy is not the name of a goat, at least not since 2003 when the band’s success burgeoned. Two cuts off the disc, “Viking Death March” and “Surprise Surprise” did just what they were intended to do: march up the Canadian Hot 100. But those of us who recognize talent, were not surprised at all. This was their first album not to be graced by a roman numeral, and they seemed to hit their stride on this release, creating a perfect blend of super potent espresso that moshes into the pit of the heart and gets you pumped up ready to tackle every sociopolitical problem the world dishes out.

Dead Silence on iTunes     Billy Talent’s Website

Clockwork Angels by Rush

The trio from Toronto has been inducted into the Music Hall of Fame, five of their songs have made the Songwriters Hall of Fame, they’ve won eight JUNOs of 43 nominations, and, last year, they released their 19th studio album. This concept album is about a man struggling to follow his dreams in a world of anarchists, pirates, and his arch nemesis Watchmaker. The rock is more progressive than the band’s last release though not as much as their quadruple platinum album Moving Pictures. While their sound has bounced around with different styles over the years, the centerpiece of Rush’s music has always been Neil Peart’s dazzlingly complex rock drumming. The music, as a whole, on Clockwork Angels is highly detailed and dynamic which makes it one of their most exciting works in a while.

Clockwork Angels on iTunes     Rush’s Website

The Sheepdogs by The Sheepdogs

This band from Saskatoon that plays early 1970s style won three JUNO awards last year, and this is their 4th studio album. It has been certified gold. The Sheepdogs’ style has been dubbed “boogie rock”, the kind of stuff that got played off dashboard mounted 8-track tape decks by dudes in pickup trucks wearing jean jackets, metal rimmed glasses, hair below the ear lobes, and mood rings. There is an organic and wholesome quality to the music giving it a more universal appeal. The band is not attempting to formulate a statement; they are letting it happen. As the first track suggests, this is an album to play when in laid back mode as if making some moves at the roller arena or pinball arcade.

The Sheepdogs on iTunes     The Sheepdogs’ Website

Now For Plan A by The Tragically Hip

This Kingston, Ontario band has a pair of diamond-certified albums, something that none of these other nominated groups can boast. They have also won the most JUNOs of the bunch, with 13. They have a star on the Walk of Fame and have been inducted into the Music Hall of Fame. Now For Plan A, The Tragically Hip’s 13th album, was certified gold, proving the band is still … hip, and spawned the hit single “In Transformation”. A touch of psychedelics underscores their characteristic grunge sound and Gord Sinclair’s usual twangy vocals, making us feel we have hitched a ride within a rock band’s garage hitting the streets in an ultraviolet repo-man Chevy Malibu with something mysterious in the trunk.

Now for Plan A on iTunes     The Tragically Hip’s Website

Ice Conduit to the 2013 JUNOs: POP ALBUM Nominees

Kiss by Carly Rae Jepsen

Mission, BC’s pop princess is up for five JUNO awards this year, adding to her two nominations from 2010. Kiss is her second full-length album, the first being Tug of War. In-between the two, she released her EP Curiosity. Kiss was named by Allmusic.com as 2012’s tenth best album in the world and has achieved gold certification in Canada. It contains the best-selling Canadian single of all-time domestically, “Call Me Maybe” (7x platinum), a re-mix of her Top 20 gold hit “Curiosity”, Top 40 collaboration with Justin Bieber, “Beautiful”, Top 30 hit “This Kiss”, and her current charting single “Tonight I’m Getting Over You”.

Kiss on iTunes     Carly Rae Jepsen’s Website

Believe by Justin Bieber

Stratford, Ontario’s Justin Bieber has won 3 JUNOs thus far including one for Pop Album of the Year in 2011 (for My World 2.0). Believe was the world’s best-selling album from a Canadian artist in 2012 and a double-platinum release at home. It debuted at #1 in 30 countries and sold 57,000 copies domestically in its first week of release. Bieber has sold a million records in Canada so far. Believe spawned five Top 20 hit singles: “Boyfriend” (#1), “Die in Your Arms” (#14), “All Around the World” (#10), “As Long as You Love Me” (#9), and “Beauty and a Beat” (#4).

Believe on iTunes     Justin Bieber’s Website

Tell the World by Kristina Maria

Ottawa’s, Kristina Maria so impressed Céline Dion’s producer Vito Luprano, he came out of retirement to help her launch her career. She was featured on CBC’s The National and released her debut album last year co-writing songs with big names around the world. Tell the World contains three gold singles: “Let’s Play”, “Our Song Comes On”, and “Co-Pilot” as well as her current smash, “Karma”. This is Kristina’s first JUNO nomination, and she has also received Canadian Radio Music Award nominations including SOCAN Song of the Year for her hit single “Let’s Play”.

Tell the World on iTunes     Kristina Maria’s Website

The Spirit Indestructible by Nelly Furtado

This was one of the most anticipated releases of the year, as Victoria, BC’s multi-platinum songstress Nelly Furtado has already snatched up 10 JUNO awards. As well, she was the only Canadian artist through the first decade of the new millennium to win a BRIT award. She has also won Grammy awards (U.S.) and has a star on our Walk of Fame. The Spirit Indestructible, her 5th studio album, continues her legacy of creating culturally rich fusion pop and spawned her Top 30 hit “Big Hoops” after her internationally successful collaboration with K’Naan (“Is Anybody Out There”).

The Spirit Indestructible on iTunes     Nelly Furtado’s Website

Shut Up and Dance by Victoria Duffield

The Canadian Music Blog chose this as 2012’s Album of the Year and is the teen star’s first full-length album. She is from Abbotsford, BC. Besides a successful recording artist, Victoria is also a superb dancer and actress. She appeared on YTV’s The Next Star, was signed to Warner Music, teamed up with hit-maker Ryan Stewart, and released platinum single “Shut Up and Dance”. She topped the Billboard Year-End Emerging Canadian Artists Chart for 2012. “Feel” and “Break My Heart” were Top 40 hits, and the album contains her collaboration with Cody Simpson, “They Don’t Know About Us”. This is Victoria’s first JUNO nomination. She is also up for three Canadian Radio Music Awards.

Shut Up and Dance on iTunes     Victoria Duffield’s Website

Ice Conduit to the 2013 JUNOs: DANCE RECORDING Nominees

Last year, Dragonette broke Deadmau5’s winning streak in this category, thanks to their addictive smash “Hello”, a collaboration with France’s Martin Solveig. Dragonette has received a nomination this year for their album Bodyparts. All other entries in the category are singles by Anjulie, Felix Cartal, Tricky Moreira, and Vita Chambers.

You and I by Anjulie

This is the Oakville native’s second JUNO nomination. She was nominated last year in the same category for her platinum single “Brand New Chick”. “You and I” is produced by Italy’s Benny Benassi who was ranked by DJ Magazine as one of the Top 30 DJs in the world. It debuted on the Canadian Hot 100 on September 26, 2012, and spent 21 weeks on the chart (until February 13, 2013). It reached its peak position at #25 on December 12. “You and I” pays homage to 1970s dance music while still remaining distinctively fresh and modern. It begins in a simple vein on acoustic guitar strums and builds into a star-soaring, beat thumping chorus, complete with revving keyboard riffs. This was one of 2012′s precious treasures, named by the Canadian Music Blog as one of the 20 best tunes of the year.

Music Video     iTunes     Anjulie’s Website 

Bodyparts by Dragonette

The Torontonian three-piece outfit won the JUNO in the same category last year for their appearance in Martin Solveig’s “Hello”. Bodyparts is the only album appearing is this JUNO category this year, the rest being singles, and is the band’s third studio album. Prior to its release, “Let It Go” was a #23 hit single. Following the album’s release, “Live in This City” was a single that made it to #67 on the Canadian Hot 100. Martina Sorbara, Dan Kurtz, and Joel Stouffer are experts at creating summery optimistic tunes that lift your spirits and get your feet shuffling. This is party music at its best.

Bodyparts’ “Live in This City” MV     iTunes     Dragonette’s Website  

Don’t Turn on the Lights by Felix Cartal ft. Polina

This is the Vancouver DJ/producer’s first JUNO nomination. He is associated with Dim Mak Records and began his professional career by remixing songs by the likes of Dragonette and Britney Spears. Prior to that, he played bass in his New Westminster high school punk/hardcore band, Dysfunctional. “Don’t Turn on the Lights” is a track off his album Different Faces which made the Top 10 of iTunes electronic charts. The song mustered its way up to #86 on the Hot 100 on November 14, 2012. Polina is a Russian-American singer who has vocalized tracks for a number of DJs including Tiesto and Kaskade.

Music Video     iTunes     Felix Cartal’s Website

Hello Hello Hello by Tricky Moreira

This is the Toronto DJ’s first JUNO nomination, though he has won a number of other prestigious awards, including one for his remix of Jully Black’s Top 20 hit “Sweat of Your Brow”. Moreira is one of the hardest working in the business, playing at grassroots and national events all over the world: Canada, U.S., the Caribbean, Asia, and Europe. He also hosts his own radio show called This House which is broadcast internationally. Tricky is also the founder of Blue Elephant Recordings. “Hello Hello Hello” is a soulful house track and contains a rap segment.

Music Video      iTunes      Tricky Moreira’s Website

Fix You by Vita Chambers

Vita Chambers was born in Vancouver and spent part of her youth growing up in Barbados. This is her first JUNO nomination. By posting performances of some songs she had written on YouTube, her powerful voice and composition skills attracted the attention of New York’s SRP Records production company who signed her and she was onboard with Universal Motown in 2009 (later Universal Republic). Her first single “Young Money” appeared in 2010 followed by 5-track EP, The Get Go. Vita toured with Justin Bieber the same year. In mid-December 2012, Chambers released the song “Fix You” while working on her debut album. The MV hit YouTube on Jan 10, 2013 and has garnered over 450,000 views to date. “Fix You” entered the Hot 100 on February 27, 2013, and is currently moving up the charts.

Music Video     iTunes     Vita Chambers’ Website

Ice Conduit to the 2013 JUNOs: FRANCOPHONE ALBUM Nominees

In 2012, progressive rock band Malajube took home the JUNO for Francophone Album of the Year thanks to their splendid album La Caverne. This year, five amazing works are nominated in the category. None of the artists below has ever been nominated for a JUNO award, although Cormier won one with the band Karkwa. Give each of these a listen via the provided iTunes links and let us know which one is your favourite.

Le royaume by Amylie

Amylie is from Mascouche, QC which is just north of Montréal. This is her second album and her first JUNO nomination. Le royame is a work of art, a rich, energetic 60s-style jazz-pop carried by Amylie’s bright soulful voice. At times the music is curt and playful like a Henri Mancini charade, at others soulful and bluesy with pockets of dreamy sensuality appearing throughout. This album is dedicated to the springtime kingdom of flowering greenery, and like the spring, it swings out of the cold with breezes of warmth, life, and brilliance. Beautiful album.

iTunes 

Astronomie by Avec pas d’casque

Avec pas d’casque is a quartet from Montréal. They released their first (independent) album in 2004 and began being nominated for Félix awards in subsequent years. They won a pair last year (2012) with the release of this highly acclaimed fourth album Astronomie. It won the Félix for Critics’ Choice album of the year and the band won for songwriters of the year. The album dazzled the folks behind the Polaris Music Prize as well. The music is dark, morose, and soothing like riding a trotting mule along the low-gravity dust fields on the dark side of the moon with the path being lit only by the stars. This is the band’s first JUNO nomination.

iTunes

Lisa Leblanc

Having grown up in a small village in New Brunswick called Rosaireville, with a population of only 40, Lisa LeBlanc released her debut album last year which achieved GOLD certification. The style of music, filled with delicious Acadian slang and humour, is called “folk trash” in French, a mishmash of folk, country, and rock. She delivers the tracks on banjo and guitar with gusto, charisma, and joie de vivre and has been compared to an early Janis Joplin. This album has also been nominated at the East Coast Music Awards. Lisa won the Félix award last year for Best New Artist. This is her first JUNO nomination.

iTunes

Le treizième étage by Louis-Jean Cormier

Louis-Jean Cormier, front man of JUNO winning indie band from Montréal, Karkwa, released this solo album last year. It is melancholy, reflective, introspective, and at times psychedelic, centered on acoustic guitar with some electric jolts and electronic ambiance. Cormier’s singing style of half-whispered determined calm is a perfect match for the soft strums of the guitar that seem to come at you as if from the no-zone space of the thirteenth floor. We named this as our 11th favourite album of 2012. This is Cormier’s first JUNO nomination as a soloist.

iTunes

Aux alentours by Marie-Pierre Arthur

This album and its author received a few Félix nominations last year. It offers a more pop-rock flavour than the above works with heavy doses of psychedelics that make you feel as if ghosts are emerging from the speakers and swimming around the room. Marie-Pierre is from Grande-Vallée, QC which is in the Gaspé region. This is her first JUNO nomination. She released her first album in 2009 and song “Pourquoi” won a SOCAN award. This is her sophomore album and has been released in France. Arthur’s style has been compared to George Harrison.

iTunes

Ice Conduit to the 2013 JUNOs: ELECTRONIC ALBUM Nominees

Electronic music seems too broad to be a genre in itself. It is like having a category called “acoustic music” which could include a symphony orchestra, a jazz ensemble, a gospel choir, a honkytonk pianist, a Caribbean steel drum band, or a yodeller on a banjo. Similarly, electronic music would encompass the classical cinematic style of Vangelis, the techno dance vibes of deadmau5, the industrial sounds of Nine Inch Nails, the jazzy Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, the pop sensibilities of The Human League, the lounge flavourings of Air, or the trip hop of Tricky. But, because there are relatively less Canadian musicians keying the synths, it does make sense for now to round them all up under one umbrella. Below are the five 2013 JUNO-nominated works for Electronic Album of the Year.

Crystal Castles III

Toronto’s Crystal Castles is an experimental electronic duo consisting of Alice Glass and Ethan Krath. This is their third JUNO nomination. This work, their third album, was recorded in Warsaw and mixed in London, England. The album is all about the concept of oppression which one can tell from a cursory glance at the song titles. Crystal Castles began their musical odyssey by converting classic video game sounds to song. Their new album takes us on a night visit to the damp, cobweb-laden corridors of Dr. Frankenstein’s castle. Glass’ scream-wailing singing sounds as if it’s echoing out from a dungeon behind a wall of synthesizers possessed by ghosts. A good, solid album. But beware: crankin’ it up just may shatter any crystal you’ve got at home.

iTunes

Jiaolong by Daphni

The man behind JUNO award winning Caribou, Dan Snaith, has vectored out a beat-oriented side project called Daphni, and this is the first album to shake up the dance floor under that moniker. Dan is from the Hamilton suburb of Dundas and holds a PhD in mathematics. Thus, technically, we should be calling him Dr. Snaith. If electronic music could be “stripped down”, a term overused in so-called unplugged music, Jiaolong (Chinese for dragon), does just that. Daphni gets down to basics focussing on samples, beats, grooves, and synth riffs, the common unifier being repetition delivered with mathematical precision. You will need a set of subwoofers to give this album its just desserts.

iTunes 

Visions by Grimes

Allmusic named this as the #1 album in the world of 2012, and it was shortlisted by Canada’s Polaris Prize group. Former ballerina Claire Boucher is a Vancouverite of French Canadian descent and launched her music career while studying Russian literature and neuroscience at McGill University in Montréal. Inspired by the Cocteau Twins and concerts put on by local musicians at Lab Synthèse, an abandoned textile factory, she began experimenting with musical cocktails like a mad scientist mixing chemicals beamed down to earth from an alien planet. Grimes has released four albums in the past two years. Visions was released in early 2012. Her vocals are as ethereal as the soundscapes but add ambient newage priestess panache to the heavy gothic darkwave synths generating the music. The result is weird and brilliant.

iTunes

Shrines by Purity Ring

Purity Ring is a duo from Edmonton consisting of vocalist Megan James and Corin Roddick. The band formed in 2010 and released several singles leading up to the launch of debut album Shrines in 2012. Each song emphasizes a full spread of sounds and effects more than melody. Their sound is crisp, clear, experimental, bright, playful, and airy with pockets of both warmth and chill. Shrines includes their debut single from January 2011, “Ungirthed”, as well as what is perhaps their signature song “Fineshrine”. I would love to walk into a trendy late night restaurant with black and neon lights and hear this playing at a volume just high enough to drown out conversation. This is a delightful work of art.

iTunes

TRST by Trust

This is our favourite of the batch and we ranked it as the 3rd best album of 2012. Their sound is dark and atmospheric, dreamy and hypnotic, sombre and intense, with sparkles of space dust from some eerie planet on a collision course with Earth. This is gothic electronic rock at its very best with synth grunts, blips, and pulses, and melodies taking on unexpected twists and turns on a joy ride to the edge of the unknown. Put this record on and you will instantly enter a cave lit with torches and neon lights, a flying saucer half buried in a wall, and a secret chamber at the back containing a stargate. JUNO-nominated Toronto band Austra’s Maya Postepski met Winnipeg’s Robert Alfons in 2009, and they experienced musical chemistry. They began writing songs and formed the band Trust the following year. TRST is the duo’s debut LP.

iTunes

JUNO Awards 2013 Nominee Compilation Album

Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Canada, and Warner Music Canada, the major music distributors, have teamed up in a joint venture to release a compilation album featuring 17 of the finest tunes of the past year from artists nominated for a JUNO award in 2013.

This exquisite JUNO Awards 2013 Nominee Compilation album will be released on March 19 and is already available for pre-order on iTunes. It is a non-profit project with proceeds streaming directly to Canadian charity MusiCounts which is dedicated to keeping music education alive in Canadian schools by helping facilities and students acquire musical instruments and offers scholarships.

Music, perhaps more than anything else, helps train and develop all aspects of the mind: creativity, analysis, dexterity, hand-eye-ear coordination, language skills, memory, attention to detail, creative writing, self-confidence, and an attraction to harmony and beauty. Music is both an art and a science. It uplifts the heart, removes stress, and makes life enjoyable and worth living. Teaching music to children unlocks latent talents within them and serves as an advantageous means of self-expression offering a powerful, healthy alternative to prevalent destructive forms of self-exploration.

The JUNO Awards 2013 Nominee Compilation album on iTunes.

2013 JUNO Award Nominations

JUNO Nominations were announced today for the year’s biggest night in music. Due to their success last year, two albums from 2011 were nominated for album of the year along with domestically multi-platinum works released in 2012 from Celine Dion and Justin Bieber. Highly acclaimed albums have been nominated for Francophone album of the year including Lisa LeBlanc’s debut and Louis-Jean Cormier’s first solo album. Both major and minor hits have been nominated for Single of the Year ranging from the sweetness of “Call Me Maybe” and “Kiss You Inside Out” to the harder “Viking Death March” and “The Way It Is”.  Serena Ryder’s “Stompa”, enjoying its chart success as of late, is nominated as well.

The JUNO Awards gala will take place at the Brandt Centre in Regina on April 21, will be televised on CTV, and will be hosted by Burnaby, BC’s Michael Bublé. Performers will include Carly Rae Jepsen, Billy Talent, Marianas Trench, and the host himself, Michael Bublé.

For your convenience we have listed nominations in selected categories below. To view the entire list, go to the JUNO website, HERE.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Carly Rae Jepsen, Kiss
Céline Dion, Sans Attendre
Hedley, Storms
Justin Bieber, Believe
Marianas Trench, Ever After

FRANCOPHONE ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Amylie, Le Royaume
Avec pas d’casque, Astronomie
Lisa Leblanc, Lisa Leblanc
Louis-Jean Cormier, Le treizième étage
Marie-Pierre Arthur, Aux alentours

ABORIGINAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
BURNT-Project 1, The Black List
Crystal Shawanda, Just Like You
Don Amero, Heart On My Sleeve
Donny Parenteau, Bring It On
Janet Panic, Samples

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Billy Talent, “Viking Death March”
Carly Rae Jepsen, “Call Me Maybe”
Hedley, “Kiss You Inside Out”
 Serena Ryder, “Stompa”
The Sheepdogs, “The Way It Is”

JUNO FAN CHOICE AWARD
Carly Rae Jepsen
 Céline Dion
Drake
Hedley
Justin Bieber
Leonard Cohen
Marianas Trench
Metric
 Michael Bublé
Nickelback

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Carly Rae Jepsen
 Deadmau5
Johnny Reid
Justin Bieber
Leonard Cohen

GROUP OF THE YEAR
Billy Talent
Marianas Trench
Metric
Rush
The Sheepdogs

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Cold Specks
 Elisapie
Grimes
Kira Isabella
 The Weeknd

BREAKTHROUGH GROUP OF THE YEAR
Hey Ocean!
Monster Truck
The Pack a.d.
Walk Off the Earth
Yukon Blonde

COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Chad Brownlee, Love Me Or Leave Me
Dallas Smith, Jumped Right In
Dean Brody, Dirt
Emerson Drive, Roll
Johnny Reid, Fire It Up

ADULT ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR
 Bahamas, Barchords
 Kathleen Edwards, Voyageur
Royal Wood, We Were Born To Glory
Serena Ryder, Harmony
The Barr Brothers, The Barr Brothers

ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR
 Hannah Georgas, Hannah Georgas
 Japandroids, Celebration Rock
 Metric, Synthetica
Said The Whale, Little Mountain
Stars, The North

POP ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Carly Rae Jepsen, Kiss
Justin Bieber, Believe
Kristina Maria, Tell The World
Nelly Furtado, The Spirit Indestructible
Victoria Duffield, Shut Up and Dance

ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Big Wreck, Albatross
Billy Talent, Dead Silence
Rush, Clockwork Angels
The Sheepdogs, The Sheepdogs
The Tragically Hip, Now For Plan A

DANCE RECORDING OF THE YEAR
 Anjulie, You and I
 Dragonette, Bodyparts
 Felix Cartal ft. Polina, Don’t Turn On The Lights
 Tricky Moreira, Hello Hello Hello
Vita Chambers, Fix You

R&B/SOUL RECORDING OF THE YEAR
 Jully Black, Fugitive
 Kreesha Turner, Tropic Electric
Melanie Fiona, Change the Record
 Shawn Desman, Nobody Does It Like You
 The Weeknd, Trilogy

ELECTRONIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Crystal Castles, (III)
 Daphni, Jiaolong
Grimes, Visions
Purity Ring, Shrines
 Trust, TRST

ADULT CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Adam Cohen, Like A Man
Barlow, Burning Days
 Céline Dion, Sans Attendre
 Raylene Rankin, All The Diamonds
The Tenors, Lead With Your Heart

CANADIAN MUSIC HALL OF FAME
k.d. Lang

WALT GREALIS SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
 Larry LeBlanc