Posted by @coltondaniel on March 27th, 2011

This year’s Golden Globe’s dropped jaws, the Oscar’s received yawns and the Grammys’ only highlight was the Arcade Fire.

And at Sunday night’s 40th Juno Awards, the Montreal-based independent rock band cleaned up again and won four awards including Songwriters of the Year, Group of the Year and Album of the Year.

“Thank you, we are so happy,” Arcade Fire frontman Win Butler told the audience in accepting their first award of the night for Best Group.”I want to just give a shout-out to all the bands that we kind of came up with from Royal City to Hidden Cameras to The Unicorn to Wolf Parade and all the amazing Canadian bands and thank you so much.”

Arcade Fire homecoming victories for ‘The Suburbs” was a followup  to winning Album of the Year at this year’s Grammies and winning Best International Group and Best International Album at this year’s Brit Awards.

“It’s a long way from Sneaky Dees — the first place we played in Toronto,” said Butler as they picked up their second award on Sunday’s show. The only category the band lost was to Daniel Lanois for Producer of the Year for his work on Neil Young’s “Le Noise” won.

That Saturday night win for “Le Noise” was just a prelude to Neil Young’s triumphant evening on Sunday. Representing the old Canadian values, Young was honoured with the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award for his founding both Farm Aid and the Bridge School Benefit concerts.

“What year is this?,” remarked Young after shutting out Justin Bieber for Artist of the Year.  ”I was 16 one time. He’s fantastic. He’s got some moves, doesn’t he?”

Young, who has not attended the Junos gala in 29 or so years, also won Best Adult Alternative Album.

The mighty tour-de-force that is Justin Bieber picked up two trophies via-satellite for Juno Fan Choice Award and Best Pop Album. ”Thank you so much for being so supportive,” said Bieber from Rotterdam, where he is currently on tour. “You guys have been incredible. 2011 has been absolutely crazy.”

Unfortunately, the Juno host and local-rapper Drake who led the list of nominees with six, left with no hardware. He was up for essentially every major category: Album, Fan Choice, Artist, Album, Songwriter, Single and Rap Recording. The latter of the bunch he surprisingly lost to the up-and-coming Toronto artist Shad on Saturday night.

However, the former Degrassi star had a refreshing opening to the show that involved Bieber on Skype exchanging verses on the timeless Sarah McLachlan tune “I Will Remember You”.

“You my friend have the voice of a young rabbi,” said Drake. Afterward, he was joined by pianist Chilly Gonzalez for a lounge medley that included a tribute to Shania Twain.

“You’re from Timmins, I’m from Toronto, you worked at McDonald’s and I eat McDonald’s, we should be together … Man, I’d like to make you feel like a woman baby,” he sang out.

Later in the evening, Bryan Adams presented his friend Twain with the Hall of Fame Award. The montage tribute video of her career included appearances by Anne Murray and Taylor Swift, who both praised her for inspiration.

“This is just a very beautiful moment for me. I’m really so proud of Canada’s talent,” said Twain. “I sit here tonight in the audience and I watch these amazing new artists up here on the stage. I have more pride in what the country has created musically than I am even of my own success. This is a beautiful country. I feel like I should just be wearing the Canadian flag tonight.”

“I love our lakes,” and then Twain dropped what will likely be the joke of headlines tomorrow morning: “I love our bush.”

Another highlight of the evening was the Love Letter to Toronto that featured today’s young and hot artists performing hits of yester-year! That’s likely how the initial concept was explained… It was well executed though. From Sarah Harmer’s angelic rendition of Joni Mitchell’s “Carey” from Blue to Dallas Green’s take on “Old Man” with Young gleaming from front row.

Gordon Lightfoot and the Band were also paid tribute to by Jim Cuddy, Sarah Slean, Kevin Hearn, Serena Ryder, Greg Keelor, the Sadies and Derek Miller.

Other performers on Sunday were Down With Webster, Hedley, Tokyo Police Club, Johnny Reid, Broken Social Scene, Chromeo and Arcade Fire.

Click here for a full list of the 2011 Juno Award Winners.

Tags: 2011 junos, Anne Murray, Arcade Fire, City and Colour, Drake, justin bieber, neil young, Shania Twain, Taylor Swift

Posted by andPOP Staff on August 25th, 2008

On tonight’s episode of Canadian Idol, the last four standing take on Anne Murray songs. Yes, you read that right. Four twenty-something dudes performing Anne Murray songs? If this isn’t the perfect recipe for a disaster, I don’t know what is.

Opening the show, and after a quick breathing lesson by Murray, Mitch MacDonald performs “Cotton Jenny.” “Off the top, I felt you were a little flat. You got to’ figure out how you’re going to find your note,” says Jake. “Breathing has so much to do with the rhythm of the song. I think you totally heeded her advice, great job,” says Sass. “I would still like to see a little more edge and a little more angst,” says Farley. “It reminded me of Perry Como sleeping on a couch in a sweater,” says Zack.

Earl Stevenson is up next with “Killing Me Softly.” But first, Murray rules the rehearsal with her songbird fist, telling Earl he needs to connect more with his audience. “Beautiful eyes, baby,” says Sass. “Wicked,” says Farley. “For me personally, I couldn’t tell where you were coming from. I still think while your movement was more direct to the audience, it still seemed like you were out for a meaningless meander in the backyard,” says Zack. “I thought the singing was good, the performance was great,” says Jake.

And amping up the preposterity of tonight’s show is Drew Wright with “There’s A Hippo in the Bathtub.” Murray tells him he’s trying to do too much and bending notes. “I thought vocally that was your best performance yet. Really good song choice,” says Farley. “I’ve never heard the Teletubbies tune sound so good before,” says Zack. “By far, best singing you’ve ever done on this show by a mile,” says Jake.

With the last of Murray’s songs, Theo Tams sings “You Don’t Know Me.” Theo’s performance is so cheesy, it’s cheddar. “Two things. One, I’d like to replace with everything I’ve said on this show with everything that Anne Murray has said. She is bang on and killing it. That, however, was utterly flavourless,” says Zack. “Your phrasing is outstandingly great,” says Sass. “You become part of the song and I appreciate that,” says Farley.

Now it’s round two, where the guys will sing a song of their choice. Mitch MacDonald is back with “Between the Bars” by Elliott Smith. No doubt, Smith is rolling in his grave. “I think it’s a dynamic issue. For me, there’s not enough dynamics in the way you sing. You gotta’ be more dynamic in your delivery,” says Jake. “What really appealed to me was the contrast of the dark material of the song and this gentle charm that comes out of you,” says Sass. “For me, it’s edge. That’s a dark song, but you gotta’ have some more angst. Push harder,” says Farley. “Abundantly apparent is that you have no clue on how to win Canadian Idol,” says Zack.

Singing Steve Miller’s “Joker” is Earl Stevenson. Appropriately titled, his performance is a total joke. “That was a cool ending. Nice,” says Sass. “I didn’t enjoy the beginning as much as I enjoyed the middle and end. I think you could’ve done a little more with it though,” says Farley. “I like the creative vibe, but it seemed to me a bit like a throwaway and to me, you aren’t,” says Sass. “For a moment there, I actually felt that you didn’t want to be here,” says Jake.

Drew Wright’s back with his version of “Gravity” by John Mayer. “It came off to me a lighter shade of the blues. It was a reasonably good performance,” says Farley. “I thought after last week one of the four of you could demonstrate what makes you a Canadian Idol. It seems like everyone’s got the yips, the world can change with one song but not with that one,” says Zack. “I thought playing a blues number, well, you know, we’ve seen it before. There was a moment there where you sounded like Jim Cuddy and that’s a really good thing,” says Jake.

Closing the show is Theo Tams with “Chariot” by Gavin Degraw. Theo goes for several sappy Star Search moments that include standing on the piano, throwing his hat into the crowd and jumping off the piano in a overdramatic finish. “No question, the performance of the night,” says Zack. “Great way to finish off the night. You’re so consistent. You’re the one who really laid it down tonight,” says Jake. “Yo, yo, Theo! You got on your horse of choice and rode straight to victory,” says Sass.

Tomorrow one of the guys will be heading home on the results show at 8 p.m. EST on CTV. Anne Murray will also perform.

Tags: Anne Murray, canadian idol, Top 4