Category Archives: 2014 Awards
2014 JUNO Awards Viewership at 1.4 Million
Preliminary reports state that 1.4 million people watched the JUNO Awards on CTV last Sunday. Since CTV took over the broadcast reins from CBC in 2002, viewership has been up and down from year to year. The lowest was in 2007 with under a million (912,000) and the highest was in 2011 with 2.4 million people watching. The avergage viewership of the 13 years is 1.54 million which was matched in the 2012 show hosted by William Shatner. Speculating as to what causes higher or lower viewership in any given year is futile as there are so many factors influencing: the host, the performers, the nominees, which superstars will be attending, what other shows are airing at the same time, whether or not people are watching TV at all that particular night, how well the JUNOs were advertised, etc, etc. Lower viewership in 2007, for example, was blamed on its competing with a special two-hour episode of The Amazing Race, a ratings juggernaut in Canada. Below is a chart comparing the number of viewers each year from 2002 to 2014. (Click to enlarge). Which JUNO year was your favourite broadcast?
Surrender to the Music of George Leach
The Canadian Music Blog wishes to take this opportunity to offer a huge congratulations to George Leach on winning the JUNO for Aboriginal Album of the Year for Surrender which is an amazing piece of work. While containing some fabulous rock tunes, ballad “Intent” is one of the most beautiful songs we’ve ever heard. George released his first album in 2000 and is from Lillooet, BC. He is St’at’imc which belongs to the Interior Salish peoples. He is also an actor having appeared in a number of television movies and series. We have embedded below an interview with George Leach from JUNO TV which is very inspiring as you will see. What a wonderful man. Surrender is available on iTunes and on CD. We highly reccomend it.
The JUNOs 2014: Gala Summary
“When we asked our parents if we could play music instead of go to university, they were really mad at us. And they agreed to let us do that for a couple of years. And somewhere in all that we signed a record deal with Neil Young and Elliot Roberts. And Elliot Roberts told us that when we were in our 30s we’d write good music, but that our 20s were for exploring the world and experiencing heartbreak.”
—Tegan Quin
HOST CITY WINNIPEG
Ah, Winnipeg. One of Canada’s largest cities. You can go there and see all the towering skyscrapers. … All right, so there aren’t any skyscrapers. Well, Winnipeg is responsible for a number of important creations. British author A. A. Milne named Winnie the Pooh after a Canadian bear brought to the London Zoo by Winnipeg’s Lt. Colebourn. Publishing company Harlequin, famous for its romance novels, was founded in Winnipeg. Winnipeg polyethylene specialist Harry Wasylyk invented the first plastic garbage bags. Winnie the Pooh, Harlequin romances, plastic garbage bags … for those of you who think Winnipeg concoctions are lame, consider that the best the Brits could come up with were fish & chips, the mini, and forest-dwelling archers in green tights.
IRONIES
The 2014 JUNO Awards was filled with ironies. The Canadian Minister of Official Languages presented at a national event that excluded any Francophone performance. The gala that was originally created to promote Canadian music in the Dominion of Canada did include, however, a performance by a foreign act that has the word Republic in its name. Statements were made about the role of music in preventing youth from being pulled into iniquities during an event that was itself sponsored largely by casinos and alcoholic beverage companies. Music fans vocally denigrated the one they themselves chose for an award … in a country with an international reputation for being polite.
HIGHLIGHTS
The big winners at the 2014 JUNOs? Calgary-reared, former teen stars Tegan and Sara, the only act to win three awards. Heartthrob, Pop Album of the Year winner, was our favourite album of 2013. Slickly produced, well-written, exciting, catchy, with retro undercurrents, it was 100% world class. The twin sisters also won Group of the Year, and the album’s first-released track “Closer” was named Single of the Year.
Aboriginal artists shone at this year’s JUNOs which is a very good thing. The previous night, George Leach won Aboriginal Album of the Year for his rock jewel, Surrender. A Tribe Called Red took the trophy for Breakthrough Group of the Year for its innovative powwow EDM. Songwriter of the Year was given to Serena Ryder who in her acceptance speech defended Justin Bieber from those who have chosen to ape the behaviour of a press bent upon profiteering via illegal defamation.
Canadian Olympic champions were involved in the proceedings: skier Dara Howell and the women’s curling team. We found this very inspiring. The curlers appeared in humorous prerecorded sketches involving The Sheepdogs and Johnny Reid. Our Lady Peace’s Raine Maida and Winnipeg’s own Chantal Kreviazuk, one of Canada’s musical power couples, presented the Album of the Year award. It went to Montréal’s Arcade Fire. While the band was not able to attend, a pre-taped video of their thank you from South America aired.
Bachman-Turner Overdrive was ushered into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame by astronaut Commander Chris Hadfield, and the band performed together apparently for the first time in 20 years. Legend Randy Bachman said, “If you have a dream, stick to your dream, Plan A. There is no plan B. Plan B is stick to plan A.”
Plan A of the Canadian Music Blog is to support Canadian recording artists regardless of genre whether they are Anglophone, Francophone, or Allophone, whether they are seasoned or teenagers, male or female, bands or solo artists, Aboriginal or naturalized, of European, Asian, or African descent, and whether their name is Avril or Anvil, Bachman or Bieber. For us, there is no Plan B. Congratulations to the JUNO Awards host committee for their hard work in organizing another wonderful show.
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List of nominees and winners: Part 1 Part 2
You can watch the JUNOs online here.
Also check out MuchMusic’s funny and insightful questions about the JUNO gala here.
2014 JUNO Award Winners Part 2
The televised, formal JUNO gala tonight was hosted by Serena Ryder, Classified, and Johnny Reid and handed out the final six awards (most of them were given out at the casual gala last night). The event included performances by Serena, Classified, Walk Off the Earth, Matt Mays, Sarah McLachlan, Tegan & Sara, Dean Brody, Brett Kissel, Gord Bamford, The Sheepdogs, Travis Good of The Sadies, Tim Hicks, and Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Presenting awards were Small Town Pistols, a Tribe Called Red, the Olympic Women’s curling team gold medalists, Minister of Heritage and Official Languages Shelly Glover, The Sadies, Olympic ski champion Dara Howell, Astronaut Commander Hadfield, Shad, July Talk, Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Maida.
Below is a list of all nominees by category for which awards were handed out at tonight’s gala. The winners are identified by the word JUNO in red. As well, we have assigned ordinals to the wins indicating how many JUNOs the artist has obtained to date. The big winners at the JUNOs this year were Calgary’s Tegan and Sara, the only ones to win three awards: Pop Album of the Year, Group of the Year, and Single of the Year.
JUNO Awards from the casual gala last night can be found here. A summary of the main gala proceedings is here.
JUNO FAN CHOICE AWARD
Arcade Fire
Avril Lavigne
Céline Dion
Drake
Hedley
Justin Bieber JUNO, 5th
Michael Bublé
Robin Thicke
Serena Ryder
Walk Off the Earth
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Reflektor, Arcade Fire JUNO, 8th
Loved Me Back to Life, Céline Dion
Nothing Was the Same, Drake
To Be Loved, Michael Bublé
Harmony, Serena Ryder
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Reflektor, Arcade Fire
Inner Ninja, Classified ft. David Myles
It’s a Beautiful Day, Michael Bublé
What I Wouldn’t Do, Serena Ryder
Closer, Tegan and Sara JUNO, 2nd
GROUP OF THE YEAR
Arcade Fire
Blue Rodeo
Hedley
Tegan and Sara JUNO, 3rd
Walk Off the Earth
BREAKTHROUGH GROUP OF THE YEAR
A Tribe Called Red JUNO, 1st
Autumn Hill
Born Ruffians
Courage My Love
July Talk
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Arcade Fire
Henry “Cirkut” Walter
Ron Sexsmith
Serena Ryder JUNO, 6th
Tegan and Sara Quin
MUSIC HALL OF FAME
Bachman-Turner Overdrive
2014 JUNO Award Winners Part 1
The first of two JUNO galas took place in Winnipeg last night to hand out the bulk of the awards at a dinner emceed by the CBC’s Jian Ghomeshi. The event was attended by high-profile Canadians including the Premier of Manitoba, the Minister of Canadian Heritage & Official Languages, and CARAS, JUNO Awards, and MusiCounts President Melanie Berry. The casual gala precedes the formal gala tonight televised on CTV when the awards for Fan Choice, Album, Single, Group, Breakthrough Group, and Songwriter of the Year will be announced. Below is a list of all nominees by category for which awards were handed out at the casual gala. The winners are identified by the word JUNO in red. As well, we have assigned ordinals to the wins indicating how many JUNOs the artist has obtained to date. An amazing 26 artists were first-time JUNO winners! The only artist to win more than one JUNO was classical musician James Ehnes. He now has nine JUNO trophies.
Update: Awards given out at the main televised gala can be found here.
ELITE AWARDS
ABORIGINAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Keep a Fire, Amanda Rheaume
Small Town Stories, Desiree Dorion
Surrender, George Leach JUNO, 1st
Burn Me Down, Inez Jasper
Road Renditions, Nathan Cunningham
FRANCOPHONE ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Himalaya mon amour, Alex Nevsky
Omniprésent, Damien Robitaille
Chic de ville, Daniel Bélanger
Fox, Karim Ouellet JUNO, 1st
Punkt, Pierre Lapointe
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Céline Dion
Drake
Michael Bublé
Robin Thicke
Serena Ryder JUNO, 5th
BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Brett Kissel JUNO, 1st
Florence K
Tim Hicks
Tyler Shaw
Wake Owl
ALLAN WATERS HUMANITARIAN AWARD
Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Maida
WALT GREALIS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Frank Davies
POPULAR ROCK AWARDS
POP ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Wild Life, Hedley
To Be Loved, Michael Bublé
Blurred Lines, Robin Thicke
Heartthrob, Tegan and Sara JUNO, 1st
R.E.V.O., Walk Off the Earth
DANCE RECORDING OF THE YEAR
This is What it Feels, Like Armin van Buuren & Trevor Guthrie JUNO, 1st
Album Title Goes Here, deadmau5
Tsunami, DVBBS & Borgeous
Locked Down, Jacynthe
Heartbreaker, Mia Martina
ADULT CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
In My Head, Alysha Brilla
Loved Me Back To Life, Céline Dion
Dream Catcher, Chloe Albert
The Year He Drove Me Crazy, Coral Egan
A Christmas Gift To You, Johnny Reid JUNO, 4th
ADULT ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Shut Down the Streets, A.C. Newman
Tall Tall Shadow, Basia Bulat
Us Alone, Hayden
Forever Endeavour, Ron Sexsmith JUNO, 3rd
Internal Sounds, The Sadies
ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Reflektor, Arcade Fire JUNO, 7th
The Poet’s Dead, Rah Rah
Today We’re Believers, Royal Canoe
Warring, The Darcys
Uzu, Yamantaka//Sonic Titan
ELECTRONIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Nation II Nation, A Tribe Called Red
Untogether, Blue Hawaii
Graze, Graze
Third Culture, Noah Pred
Guilt Trips, Ryan Hemsworth JUNO, 1st
ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Love + Fury, Headstones
Coyote, Matt Mays JUNO, 1st
Arrows of Desire, Matthew Good
Furiosity, Monster Truck
Transit of Venus, Three Days Grace
METAL/HARD MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Heart of Oak, Anciients
Colored Sands, Gorguts
Entrench, KEN Mode
Volition, Protest the Hero JUNO, 1st
Dead Language, The Flatliners
INTERNATIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Unorthodox Jukebox, Bruno Mars JUNO, 1st
The Marshall Mathers LP 2, Eminem
Night Visions, Imagine Dragons
Take Me Home, One Direction
The Truth About Love, P!nk
URBAN / ISLAND MUSIC AWARDS
RAP RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Classified, Classified
Nothing Was the Same, Drake JUNO, 4th
In My Opinion, Rich Kidd
Flying Colours, Shad
Everywhere We Go, SonReal
R&B / SOUL RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Kaleidoscope, Joanna Borromeo
Can’t Choose, JRDN (ft. Kardinal Offishall) JUNO, 1st
There’s Only One, Kim Davis
Gone, Melanie Durrant
Kiss Land, The Weeknd
REGGAE RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Mandela, Akustix
Baby It’s You, Ammoye
Love Collision, Dru
Rebel Massive, Dubmatix
Strive, Exco Levi & Kabaka Pyramid JUNO, 3rd
COUNTRY / ROOTS AWARDS
COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Started With a Song, Brett Kissel
Crop Circles, Dean Brody JUNO, 1st
Country Junkie, Gord Bamford
Small Town Pistols, Small Town Pistols
Throw Down, Tim Hicks
ROOTS & TRADITIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: SOLO
Come Cry With Me, Daniel Romano
So Say We All, David Francey
Don’t Get Too Grand, Donovan Woods
Valleyheart, Justin Rutledge JUNO, 1st
Tin Star, Lindi Ortega
ROOTS & TRADITIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: GROUP
The Folk Sinner, Lee Harvey Osmond
Bison Ranch Recording Sessions, Little Miss Higgins & The Winnipeg Five
Volume One, The Devin Cuddy Band
We Still Move On Dance Floors, The Strumbellas JUNO, 1st
Island of Echoes, The Wilderness of Manitoba
BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Come on Down, David Gogo
Can You Hear the Music, Downchild JUNO, 1st
Soulscape, Harrison Kennedy
My Guitar’s My Only Friend, James Buddy Rogers
All Frequencies, MonkeyJunk
JAZZ AWARDS
VOCAL JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Stealing Genius, Amy McConnell & William Sperandei
Courage, My Love; Erin Propp with Larry Roy
My Funny Valentine – The Chet Baker Songbook, Matt Dusk
Notes On Montréal ft. Sienna Dahlen, Mike Rud JUNO, 1st
Triades; Sonia Johnson, Charles Biddle Jr. & Annie Poulain
CONTEMPORARY JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Gratitude, Brandi Disterheft
Habitat, Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra JUNO, 2nd
Brooklyn Babylon, Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society
Mirror of the Mind, Earl MacDonald
Le refuge, Trifolia
TRADITIONAL JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Nine, Carn Davidson 9
The Ian McDougall 12tet LIVE, Ian McDougall 12-tet
Our Second Set, John MacLeod & His Rex Hotel Orchestra
Ripple Effect, Mike Downes JUNO, 1st
Look for the Silver Lining, Phil Dwyer and Don Thompson
CLASSICAL MUSIC AWARDS
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: SOLO OR CHAMBER ENSEMBLE
Prokofiev Complete Works for Violin, James Ehnes JUNO, 8th (see below)
Chopin: Études Op. 10 & 25, Jan Lisiecki
Mozart: Concertos Nos. 13 & 14, Janina Fialkowska / The Chamber Players of Canada
Liszt at The Opera, Louis Lortie
Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas, Stewart Goodyear
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: LARGE ENSEMBLE
Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 17 & 27, Angela Hewitt
Britten & Shostakovich: Violin Concerti, James Ehnes JUNO, 9th (see above)
Canadian Concerto Project, Volume One, Nadina Mackie Jackson and Guy Few with Group of 27
House of Dreams, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances & Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring, Toronto Symphony Orchestra
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: VOCAL OR CHORAL
Berlioz: Les nuits d’été – Palej : The Poet & the War – Rorate Coeli; Group of 27, Eric Paetkau –
Conductor, Shannon Mercer – Soprano
Ravel, Sayat-Nova & Kradjian: Troubadour & the Nightingale; Isabel Bayrakdarian
Lettres de Madame Roy à sa fille Gabrielle, Marie-Nicole Lemieux & André Gagnon JUNO, 1st/4th
Handel: Orlando, HWV 31; Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Alexander Weimann, Owen Willets, Karina
Gauvin, Allyson McHardy, Amanda Forsythe, Nathan Berg
A Quiet Place: Music for Healing III, Vancouver Chamber Choir
CLASSICAL COMPOSITION OF THE YEAR
Field Notes, Allan Gordon Bell GRAVITY AND GRACE JUNO, 1st
Isomorphia for Orchestra and Electronics, James O’Callaghan MAHLER SYMPHONY 9
Quatuors à cordes No. 12, R. Murray Schafer QUATUOR MOLINARI
Magnificat, Stephen Chatman MAGNIFICAT: SONGS OF REFLECTION
Atacama: Symphonie No. 3, Tim Brady ATACAMA: Symphonie No. 3
SPECIALIST AWARDS
CHILDREN’S ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Sing As We Go!, Charlie Hope Little
What’s the Big Idea?!?, Gary Rasberry
Colour It, Helen Austin JUNO, 1st
Mon coffret à surprises, Marie-Claude
Coconuts Don’t Fall Far From the Tree, Splash’N Boots
WORLD MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Sabor A Café, Adonis Puentes
Lamentation of Swans – A Journey Towards Silence, Azam Ali and Loga R.Torkian
Walk to the Sea, David Buchbinder & Odessa/Havana JUNO, 1st
Jumbie in the Jukebox, Kobo Town
Lume, Lume; Lemon Bucket Orkestra
INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
New History Warfare Vol.3: To See More Light, Colin Stetson
Dalmak, Esmerine JUNO, 1st
Senna, Mahogany Frog
Down Home, Petr Cancura
Invitation, The Peggy Lee Band
CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN/GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Search the Heavens, Fraser Campbell
Jordan Raycroft, Jordan Raycroft
Heart, The City Harmonic
Lost & Undone: A Gospel Bluegrass Companion, The High Bar Gang
Trees, Tim Neufeld JUNO, 1st
PRODUCTION AWARDS
JACK RICHARDSON PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Brian Howes and Jacob Hoggard: “Anything”, “Crazy for You” WILD LIFE – Hedley
Eric Ratz: “Sweet Mountain River”, “The Lion” – FURIOSITY – Monster Truck
Henry “Cirkut” Walter (co-producer Luke Gottwald): “Wrecking Ball” BANGERZ – Miley Cyrus; “Give It 2 U” BLURRED LINES – Robin Thicke JUNO, 1st
Ryan Guldemond and Ben Kaplan: “Let’s Fall in Love”, “Bit by Bit” THE STICKS – Mother Mother
Thomas “Tawgs” Salter: “This is the Best” ADVANCED BASICS – USS; “Red Hands” (co-producer Gianni “Luminati” Nicassio) R.E.V.O. – Walk Off the Earth
RECORDING ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
David Travers-Smith “Dancing In the Dark” THESE WILDER THINGS – Ruth Moody; “Flabbergasp” (co-engineer Jaron Freeman-Fox) THE OPPOSITE OF EVERYTHING – Jaron Freeman-Fox
Eric Ratz “Sweet Mountain River”, “The Lion” – FURIOSITY – Monster Truck JUNO, 1st
Howie Beck “Robotic” (co-engineer Graham Walsh) HANNAH GEORGAS – Hannah Georgas; “Red Hands” R.E.V.O. – Walk Off the Earth
Kevin Churko (co-engineer Kane Churko) “The Wrong Side of Heaven” THE WRONG SIDE OF HEAVEN AND THE RIGHTEOUS SIDE OF HELL, VOLUME 1 – Five Finger Death Punch; “Stardust” LUX – Gemini Syndrome
Randy Staub “Hollow” THE DEVIL PUT DINOSAURS HERE – Alice in Chains; “Be My Baby” TO BE LOVED – Michael Bublé
RECORDING PACKAGE OF THE YEAR
Ian Grais and Chris Staples (Art Directors), Sofia Pona, Kim Ridgewell, Lisa Nakamura (Designers), Ben Tour (Illustrator) Bones BODHI JONES
Jayme L. Spinks (Art Director/Designer), Janet Kimber (Photographer) Lullabies and Wake-Up Calls DINAH THORPE
Menno Versteeg (Art Director), Anne Douris (Designer), Annie Murphy (Photographer) White Paint HOLLERADO
Robyn Kotyk (Art Director/Designers/Illustrator), Petra Cuschieri, Justin Peroff (Designers) Arts & Crafts: 2003-2013 ARTS & CRAFTS – VARIOUS ARTISTS JUNO, 2nd/1st/2nd
Vincent Lévesque and Alex Ortiz (Art Director/Designer/ Illustrator/Photographer) La Mort Pop Club WE ARE WOLVES
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Je t’aime comme tu es, Agathe Bray-Bourret DANIEL BÉLANGER
Friend of Mine, Briin ‘Briin?’ Bernstein & Daniel AM Rosenberg D-SISIVE
Anything, John Poliquin HEDLEY
King and Lionheart, WeWereMonkeys OF MONSTERS AND MEN
Feeling Good, Matt Barnes THE SHEEPDOGS JUNO, 1st
Ice Conduit to the 2014 JUNOs: Single of the Year Nominees
Fact #1: All nominees in the category are from different provinces.
Fact #2: One of the five nominees has never won a JUNO award.
Fact #3: All five singles were Top 20 hits (Billboard Canadian Hot 100) and four made the year-end Top 100 of 2013.
“Reflektor” by Arcade Fire (Montréal, QC)
After all the international awards, plus six JUNO wins, and multiplatinum sales of the band’s albums, the last hurdle to overcome was to score a hit single. Title-track off album Reflektor achieved this spending 14 weeks on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 from September to December 2013, peaking at #20. Although it did not make the year-end Top 100 or achieve gold/platinum certification, it gave the group its first Top 40 hit. The least successful of the singles here, Arcade Fire has been industry favourites and therefore may take the award.
“Inner Ninja” by Classified ft. David Myles (Enfield, NS)
Simply put, this is one of the most successful Canadian singles of the digital era, achieving quadruple platinum sales. It spent 38 weeks on the charts from November 2012 to August 2013, peaking at #5. It was the overall 17th biggest hit of the year. At the 2013 JUNOs, “Inner Ninja” won Rap Recording of the Year giving rapper Classified his first award. If the industry were to give the award in this category to the most successful single, this would take it; however, having already won a JUNO, they may give the Best Single award to one of the other tunes.
“It’s a Beautiful Day” by Michael Bublé (Burnaby, BC)
Michael is without a doubt one of the JUNO favourites, having won 11 awards already. This song was a chart topper on adult contemporary radio. It graced the Canadian Hot 100 for 20 weeks from March to July 2013 peaking at #20. It also made the year-end chart at #86. It did not, however, receive a gold/platinum award. When it comes to the Burnaby crooner, though, fans prefer to buy his albums than his singles. To Be Loved, the album which showcases the song (up for an album of the year JUNO) has attained double platinum status.
“What I Wouldn’t Do” by Serena Ryder (Millbrook, ON)
This was the second single released from Serena’s 2012 JUNO-award winning album Harmony. First single, triple platinum “Stompa”, was up for this same award at last year’s JUNOs, losing naturally to Carly Rae Jepsen’s mega hit. Serena has won four JUNO awards to date. “What I Wouldn’t Do” charted for 30 weeks from May to December 2013, peaking at #8 and was the 30th biggest song of the year. It was certified a platinum single by Music Canada. Because “Stompa” was unable to win last year, the industry may want to reward this song in 2014.
“Closer” by Tegan and Sara (Calgary, AB)
This synth pop tune enjoyed a chart run of 32 weeks from October 2012 to May 2013, peaking at #13. It also made the year-end Top 100 of the year at #46 and has achieved platinum certification. Tegan and Sara have never won a JUNO award, though the twin sister duo has received nine nominations since debuting in 1999. Because of this, plus the international acclaim garnered by album Heartthrob, and breakout chart success from its singles, including this one, they are expected to win this year at the JUNOs, whether in this category or another.
Ice Conduit to the 2014 JUNOs: Album of the Year Nominees
Reflektor by Arcade Fire (Montréal, QC)
Known for creative workmanship, the organic quality of their music, and half-whispered vocals, the 6-time JUNO award winners from Canada’s second biggest metropolis have also won Grammy and BRIT awards, one of the few Canadian acts ever to do so. This, the sextet’s fourth studio LP, and a double album, has the group becoming more electronic in sound. Legendary British icon David Bowie is featured on the refreshingly bilingual title track which became the band’s first Top 40 hit single and sported a flashy music video.
Loved Me Back to Life by Céline Dion (Charlemagne, QC)
Like all superstars who manage to continue their popularity, the most successful Canadian recording artist of all-time is able to keep up with the changing trends in musical style while never losing her foothold on the foundation of her persona. This was 2013’s best-selling album at quadruple platinum sales. The vocal excellence is a given, but here Céline pulls off a surprisingly masterful handling of genuine modern pop music while at the same time never losing sight of her AC roots, and giving the R&B tracks first-rate class. She has won 20 JUNO awards.
Nothing Was the Same by Drake (Toronto, ON)
The “Drizzy” one is without a doubt the most successful Canadian rapper both within and without the country. He has won three JUNOs to date. His platinum, third album, Nothing Was The Same, once again offers his introspective, nasally discourse, mood swings, and occasional singing, atop lavish percussion, ghostly loops, and melancholic-claustrophobic soundscapes. At times, he pours some vibrant new wave and off-kilter R&B into the mix broadening the music’s appeal. Guests appearing on the work include Jay Z, 2 Chainz, Detail, Big Sean, Majid Jordan, and Jhene Aiko.
To Be Loved by Michael Bublé (Burnaby, BC)
Working with Bob Rock (who co-produced his previous two albums), the production on Bublé’s latest studio album is crisp and slick. There are 10 covers and four originals, recorded in Vancouver and Los Angeles. It contains hit single “It’s a Beautiful Day” as well as collaborations with Jann Arden and Bryan Adams. While the album marks familiar Bublé territory—swinging jazz-pop—some peppering with soulful Motown and rock have served to broaden its appeal. This became a double platinum album. Michael has seen 11 previous JUNO wins and has five nominations this year.
Harmony by Serena Ryder (Millbrook, ON)
This platinum album already won a JUNO: Adult Alternative Album of the Year in 2013. Serena has won 4 JUNO awards in total to date. With Harmony, she switched from her previous introspective folk to boot-stomping, upbeat popular rock, and the album has spawned three Top 40 hit singles: “Stompa”, “What I Wouldn’t Do”, and “Fall”. The first, at triple platinum certification, is one of the most domestically successful digital singles in history from a Canadian artist. Although Serena has seen success since her debut in 1999, Harmony launched her into major stardom.
2014 JUNO Awards Host Announced
It all goes down in Winnipeg on March 30 – Canada’s biggest night in music. Most recent hosts of the party have been Michael Bublé, William Shatner, Drake, and Russell Peters. This year, there will be three co-hosts of the JUNO Awards: Serena Ryder, Classified, and Johnny Reid. It is the first time in a while that the hosts are not massive names internationally (which may be the point). The three represent diverse genres of music. Serena Ryder performs popular rock, Classified rap, and Johnny Reid is a soul singer who immigrated to Canada from the United Kingdom when he was 13. All three are JUNO-winning, multiplatinum artists.
Brett Kissel, Dean Brody, Gord Bamford, Matt Mays, Robin Thicke, The Sheepdogs, Tegan and Sara, and Walk Off The Earth will be performing, and presenters will include Sarah McLachlan and the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games Gold Medalists in Women’s Curling. You can read more about the big night HERE.
Ice Conduit to the 2014 JUNOs: Pop Album of the Year Nominees
Wild Life by Hedley (Abbotsford, BC)
Hedley’s fifth LP has been certified gold. Musically, the band has ridden well the wave of movement away from the pop punk fascination of the last decade to the dance pop trends of today. The album offers well-constructed, on-the-mark CHR tunes. It contains the band’s cheeky hit single “Anything”, the falsetto and rhythm guitar combo “Crazy For You”, smooth ballad “Pocket Full of Dreams”, guitar twangy “Mexico” , folk pop “Heaven in Our Headlights”, and ethereal keyboard moody “Wild Life”. Hedley has enjoyed two previous JUNO wins; it has three nominations this year.
To Be Loved by Michael Bublé (Burnaby, BC)
Working with Bob Rock (who co-produced his previous two albums), the production on Bublé’s latest studio album is crisp and slick. There are 10 covers and four originals, recorded in Vancouver and Los Angeles. It contains hit single “It’s a Beautiful Day” as well as collaborations with Jann Arden and Bryan Adams. While the album marks familiar Bublé territory—swinging jazz-pop—some peppering with soulful Motown and rock have served to broaden its appeal. This became a double platinum album. Michael has seen 11 previous JUNO wins and has five nominations this year.
Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke (Los Angeles, USA)
This Americanadian, son of actor Alan Thicke, has been recording soul and R&B music for more than 10 years; this is his sixth studio album. Robin is highly respected for his songwriting prowess. Although his second album was his best-selling to date at 1.5 million copies in the United States, Blurred Lines spawned his most successful single (the title-track), which topped the charts globally, as well as followup hit “Give It 2 U”. Robin received a previous JUNO nomination in 2012 and this year is nominated for three.
Heartthrob by Tegan and Sara (Calgary, AB)
Certified gold, spawning three hit singles to date, one of which went platinum, this album was praised by both indie lovers and pop enthusiasts as well as fellow professional musicians including British band Keane. It was named Album of the Year (2013) by The Canadian Music Blog. This is the Calgarian twin sisters’ seventh studio album, a smoothly produced, electronic pop work with a subtle 80s alternative vibe. Emotion is expressed through the music rather than the Vulcan cool vocals giving it a twist. Tegan and Sara have garnered five previous JUNO nominations; they have four this year.
REVO by Walk Off the Earth (Burlington, ON)
This gold album opens with its banjo plucked, boom-throbbing title track. “Gang of Rhythm” makes use of contrast between low-key tinkering on the verses followed by vigorous choruses. “Speeches” does the opposite with its quick-fire storytelling followed by a laid-back groove. “Shake” feels like relaxed reflections uttered while kicking back on a hot, sunny beach. “Summer Vibe” is a perfectly executed reggae number, converting “day-o” into the Canadian language (“eh-o”). Walk Off the Earth has one previous JUNO nomination; they have three this year.
Ice Conduit to the 2014 JUNOs: Dance Recording of the Year Nominees
Fact #1: One of the nominations is an album; the rest are singles.
Fact #2: Only one of the nominees has previously won at the JUNOs
This Is What It Feels Like ft. Trevor Guthrie (North Vancouver, BC)
As a soloist, this is Trevor’s first JUNO nomination. Platinum band soulDecision which he previously fronted received three in 2001. The band eventually folded as, for whatever reason, it received little support from the Canadian music industry. Hooking up with renowned Dutch EDM master Armin van Buuren, Trevor wrote and sings this song about his neighbour who had a brain tumour. Making it up to #6 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100, it was certified double platinum and finished the year as its 19th biggest hit.
Album Title Goes Here by deadmau5 (Niagara Falls, ON)
Platinum EDM force Joel Zimmerman, as deadmau5, is one of the top Canadians on social media and has already won four JUNO awards. He became the first Canadian to sell out the Rogers Centre in Toronto. This is his sixth studio album and the only LP nominated in the Dance Recording category this year. It peaked at #2 on the Canadian Albums Chart and has been certified gold. Two charting singles were spawned from the album, the most successful of which, “The Veldt”, reached #24 on the Canadian Hot 100.
Tsunami by DVBBS (Orangeville, ON)
A successful marketing scheme hyped this song by keeping the artist a secret. Many assumed it was the product of a major artist. In the end, the world was surprised to learn that the mystery track was created by Canada’s obscure DVBBS. The outfit had been releasing excellent tunes over the last few years but success had eluded them. The release of “Tsunami” however went to #1 on Beatport, made the Billboard Canadian Hot 100, and became an even bigger hit in Europe. This is DVBBS’ first JUNO nomination.
Locked Down by Jacynthe (Québec City, QC)
When she was just 19 years old, Jacynthe became Canada’s Madonna making the best dance music north of the 49th. Her 1998 debut album I Got What It Takes was JUNO-nominated with its “Give It Up” reaching #27 on the charts. In 2000, “Listen to My Heart” became her second Top 40 hit. With Canada swept up in punk music in the noughties decade, Jacynthe was nudged over to the edge of the spotlight. Now into the 2010s, however, with dance pop and EDM ruling the airwaves, she is making a significant comeback. Being fluent in French (she has also recorded songs in Italian), she was featured in the bilingual version of Victoria Duffield’s “Feel”. “Locked Down” is Jacynthe’s first JUNO nomination in 15 years!
Heartbreaker by Mia Martina (St. Ignace, NB)
New Brunswick’s Mia Martina gained tremendous mileage from her album Devotion including gold singles and JUNO nominations. She and her team have delivered some breathtaking music videos. Moreover, she is one Canadian, nay international, artist who can sing well in both official languages; she sounds exquisite in English and fabulous in French. She has also recorded material in Spanish. “Heartbreaker” was Mia’s first new single after the Devotion era. It spent 17 weeks on the Canadian Hot 100 peaking at #44. This is Mia’s third JUNO nomination.
Ice Conduit to the 2014 JUNOs: Francophone Album of the Year Nominees
Canadian Music Blog 
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