Nelly Furtado flew through the Juno Awards with gusto as Charlotte Cardin, Talk and the Beaches emerged as notable winners in a night of surprises, breakthroughs and political commentary.
One of the biggest surprises came when Karan Aujla sailed to a fan choice win on the growing popularity of the Punjabi-Canadian music genre, which has seen its profile rise as more listeners gravitate to its fusion of hip-hop, pop and other mainstream sounds.
B次元官网网址淭his is definitely a first one, but not the last one,B次元官网网址� the B次元官网网址淪oftlyB次元官网网址� singer proclaimed Sunday while clutching the only Juno prize voted on by viewers.
B次元官网网址淪ometimes I just canB次元官网网址檛 believe IB次元官网网址檓 the same kid that lost his parents when he was in India, made my way out to Canada, this beautiful country and today IB次元官网网址檓 here.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚f you are dreaming, make sure you dream big.B次元官网网址�
Later in the CBC telecast, Halifax-bred actor Elliot Page denounced recent political policies while presenting the humanitarian award to pop sisters Tegan and Sara, who were honoured for their work with LGBTQ+ youth.
B次元官网网址淲e are at a time in history where the rights of 2SLGBTQ+ people are being revoked, restricted and eliminated throughout the world, and the effects of which are devastating,B次元官网网址� Page said before the sisters specifically called out the Alberta government for moves they said threaten the health of trans youth.
The show started with a cheeky surprise guest.
Anne Murray walked onto the stage to give viewers a hearty East Coast welcome to kick off the show. The Springhill, N.S.-born singer, who also holds a record 25 Juno wins, was met with a rousing cheer from the crowd inside HalifaxB次元官网网址檚 Scotiabank Centre.
B次元官网网址淪eeing that IB次元官网网址檓 a Nova Scotian who lives just up the street, the producers thought IB次元官网网址檇 be just the person to welcome you to Halifax,B次元官网网址� Murray said with a smirk.
B次元官网网址淪o here I am. And welcome to Halifax.B次元官网网址�
Murray then presented the first award of the evening, giving Toronto band the Beaches the group of the year prize.
It was the second win for the female four-piece act, after they picked up rock album of the year at a Saturday pre-telecast ceremony. They excitedly embraced and encouraged other young women to start bands with their friends.
Other winners included Montreal singer-songwriter Cardin whose B次元官网网址�99 NightsB次元官网网址� scored album of the year. It was her second win of the weekend after she landed pop album of the year Saturday.
Ottawa-raised singer Talk was chosen as breakthrough artist for his incredible rise on the back of the hit single B次元官网网址淩un Away to Mars.B次元官网网址�
Meanwhile, Furtado took on a decidedly more composed presence for her second effort hosting the Junos. In 2007, she famously flew into the show wearing a Las Vegas-styled bird outfit in a comedic moment that was largely received with head scratches.
This time, she opted to forgo her wacky side and focus on the musical spark that made her a Canadian favourite. She opened the show with a dizzying medley of her hits while dressed in a silver B次元官网网址淏arbarellaB次元官网网址�-esque space-age outfit.
Furtado, who is planning to release a comeback album sometime soon, reminded viewers of her formidable pop impact as she breezed through one of her latest tracks B次元官网网址淓at Your ManB次元官网网址� and her pop classics B次元官网网址淪ay It Right,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淢aneaterB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 Like a Bird.B次元官网网址�
Also Sunday, Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee Maestro Fresh Wes became the first hip-hop member of the esteemed space.
The B次元官网网址淟et Your Backbone SlideB次元官网网址� rapper, born Wesley Williams, took a moment to reflect on his pioneering history as a Canadian hip-hop performer, which started when he wrote his first rhyme in 1979.
He then thanked family and collaborators who helped elevate his career, including past industry players and TV station MuchMusic.
B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 make records, we make history,B次元官网网址� he proclaimed, clad in a black tailcoat.
B次元官网网址淲e created a backbone and started conducting things andB次元官网网址ow this music we love wonB次元官网网址檛 ever be underestimated.B次元官网网址�
Among the moving highlights of the night was a tribute to late artists Gordon Lightfoot, Robbie Robertson and Karl Tremblay, the lead singer of QuebecB次元官网网址檚 Les Cowboys Fringants.
Allison Russell, Aysanabee and pianist Alexandra Str茅liski started the in-memorium performance before they were joined by Indigenous musicians Logan Staats, Shawnee Kish, Julian Taylor and William Prince to close it out in a nod to RobertsonB次元官网网址檚 heritage, which was Mohawk on his motherB次元官网网址檚 side.
Backstage, some musicians waded into several political conversations of the moment.
Musician Jeremy Dutcher was dressed head-to-toe in Indigenous designers while sporting a decorative necklace emblazoned with B次元官网网址淐ease Fire Now,B次元官网网址� in recognition of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
B次元官网网址淚 thought we might not need it by now,B次元官网网址� he explained of the message while clutching it in his hands.
Tegan and Sara spoke of the recent B次元官网网址渁nti-transgender legislationB次元官网网址� introduced in Alberta and New Brunswick.
Tegan Quin described it as a B次元官网网址渕ovement against trans youth and the Conservative government putting their nose where it doesnB次元官网网址檛 belongB次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲e shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be complacent,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淲e should step upB次元官网网址�. I also think we have a voice to remind our government we should be focused on more important things like climate change, the fentanyl crisis, the housing crisis.B次元官网网址�
Allison Russell suggested there is hope in these dark times and that musicians are part of the solution.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 only one tactic of all fascism, of all bigotry B次元官网网址� and itB次元官网网址檚 divide and conquer,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淗ope is a practice and it requires community.B次元官网网址�
Other Canadian talent picked up multiple awards at a non-televised gala on Saturday. Rapper Tobi, alternative singer Aysanabee and pop star Tate McRae each won two awards for their work.
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