The JUNOS is always a particularly exciting time for me because it’s a time where our country gets together to celebrate accomplishments – not only musical too. This year the JUNOS were held in our capital, Ottawa, the show was hosted by Brampton’s very own Russel Peters and the legendary Bryan Adams.
Highlights:
The performances are always the highlights. Alessia Cara blew everyone way with her vocals while singing her hit “Scars to Your Beautiful” and Shawn Menedes performed “Mercy”. Both of these beautiful, young artists picked up awards too and Alessia Cara even hinted to a new album in the making saying, “I can be anywhere…On a bus or a plane — or even in my room in the middle of the night. I’ll just wake up, sing something into my phone and get some time to flesh it out on my guitar.” YES. We can’t wait!
The big winners of the night were The Strumbellas, who took home ‘Single of the Year’ with their hit song, ‘Spirits’, beating out the favourite Drake and his mega-hit ‘One Dance’. Shocked? They were too. Their lead singer Simon Ward accepted the award without any shoes on because he was so sure they wouldn’t win. But, Drake did not leave empty handed (even though he did not physically attend the JUNOS). Drake picked up the International Achievement Award and The Weeknd picked up ‘R&B/Soul Recording of the Year’ for his hit song, ‘Starboy’.
The only downside to the JUNOS were Russel Peters jokes. I love his stand up comedy, but I’m sorry, they were just not funny.
Top Red Carpet Looks:
A full list of winners:
Album Of The Year: Leonard Cohen, You Want it Darker.
Group Of The Year: The Tragically Hip, Man Machine Poem.
Breakthrough Artist: Ruth B.
Songwriter Of The year: Gord Downie for “The Stranger,” “The Only Place to Be” and “Son” from Secret Path.
Pop Album Of the Year: Alessia Cara, Know-It-All.
Country Album Of The Year: Jess Moskaluke, Kiss Me Quiet.
Fan Choice Award: Shawn Mendes
Artist Of The Year: Leonard Cohen.
Single Of The Year: The Strumbellas, “Spirits.”
Breakthrough Group Of The Year: The Dirty Nil.
Adult Alternative Album Of The Year: Gord Downie, Secret Path.
Alternative Album Of The Year: July Talk, Touch.
Rock Album Of The Year: The Tragically Hip, Man Machine Poem.
Rap Recording Of The Year: Jazz Cartier, “Hotel Paranoia.”
Dance Recording Of The Year: Bit Funk Featuring Shae Jacobs, “Off The Ground.”
R&B/Soul Recording Of The Year: The Weeknd, “Starboy”
Reggae Recording Of The Year: Exco Levi, Siren.
Indigenous Music Album Of The Year: Quantum Tangle, Tiny Hands.
Contemporary Roots Album Of The Year: William Prince, Earthly Days.
Traditional Roots Album Of The Year: The East Pointers, Secret Victory.
Blues Album Of The Year: Paul Reddick, Ride The One.
Vocal Jazz Album Of The Year: Bria Skonberg, Bria.
Jazz Album Of The Year — Solo: Renée Rosnes, Written In The Rocks.
Jazz Album Of The Year — Group: Metalwood, Twenty.
Instrumental Album Of The Year: The Fretless, Bird’s Nest.
Francophone Album Of The Year: Laurence Nerbonne, Xo.
Children’s Album Of The Year: Diana Panton, I Believe In Little Things.
Classical Album Of The Year — Solo Or Chamber: New Orford String Quartet, Brahms: String Quartets, Op. 51, Nos. 1 & 2.
Classical Album Of The Year — Large Ensemble: Steve Wood And The Northern Cree Singers And Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Going Home Star — Truth And Reconciliation.
Jack Richardson Producer Of The Year: A Tribe Called Red, “R.E.D.” (Featuring Yasiin Bey, Narcy And Black Bear) And “Sila” (Featuring Tanya Tagaq) From We Are The Hallucination.
Recording Engineer Of The Year: Jason Dufour For “Push + Pull” And “Beck + Call” From July Talk’s Touch.
Recording Package Of The Year: Gord Downie, Secret Path — Jonathan Shedletzky (Art Director), Isis Essery (Designer) And Jeff Lemaire (Illustrator).
Video Of The Year: Grimes, “Kill V. Maim” (Director: Claire Boucher).
Electronic Album Of The Year: Kaytranada, 99.9%.
Metal/Hard Music Album Of The Year: Mandroid Echostar, i.
Adult Contemporary Album Of The Year: Sarah Mclachlan, Wonderland.
International Album Of The Year: Coldplay, A Head Full Of Dreams
If you didn’t catch the JUNOs, they program has been on replay on the MuchMusic channel for a while. Support Canadian music and musicians!
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