The 2014 Juno Awards are in the books, and this year’s darlings were Calgary-bred twin-sisters Tegan and Sara – three-time winners in a year when the indie duo finally “broke through” or “crossed over” in a major way with their pop album, Heartthrob.
Near-universal appreciation for the sisters aside, it’s hard for most Canadian music journalists to contain their snark during the annual broadcast (see Twitter), and that’s because the Junos – held this year in Winnipeg – have some very real problems, two that seem the most immediately problematic.
The first is that if you watched them with the sound off, you really would not know what year you were in. Serena Ryder won Junos last year Serena Ryder won Junos this year (she also co-hosted). Classified performed at the Junos last year, and there he is performing (and hosting) again this year. There’s Sarah McLachlan at the piano and there’s Kardinal Offishall making a special appearance. There’s Justin Bieber winning the fan choice award. The Junos, more than most awards shows, seem to get stuck on familiar faces and deny new, exciting artists the opportunity to perform or present in favour of people that were relevant two decades ago (the Raine Maidas) or buzz-worthy three years ago (the Sheepdogs).
The second is the appalling lack of diversity. Again, like last year, there were only white performers. Is CTV afraid that channel-surfing Canadians will flip away from a non-white face? Uncomfortable question, but one that the Junos forces us to ask year after year.
But, despite the bad and questionable, there were moments, as always, that inspired us and reminded us why we love Canadian music so much. Here, our top 5 moments from Junos 2014.
1. A Tribe Called Red wins breakthrough group of the year
The Ottawa trio has had a hell of a run the past year and a half or so. Two excellent albums, two appearances on the Polaris Prize shortlist, a Now magazine cover. And, it actually didn’t take the Junos too, too long to catch on. The Ottawa electronic, pow-wow-step musicians are always diplomatically political, and their acceptance speech last night was no different. Said Deejay NDN, “To Native youth everywhere…this moment right here is proof that whatever moments you strive for in life are completely attainable.”
Such a shame they weren’t asked to perform.
2. Drake vs. Shad, round 2
It’s beyond me that in 2014 they still don’t announce rap recording of the year on the Sunday night show. And even more perplexing that songs are pitted against albums in a strange apples vs. oranges, impossible-to-adjudicate fashion. But, this year’s outcome was at least satisfying. Three years after Shad upset Drake for the win (the night Drizzy hosted, no less), Drake finally won the category for September’s Nothing Was The Same. We loved Shad’s Flying Colours just as much, but this makes for a fun and healthy rivalry, no? To Drake and Shad: keep releasing albums the same year, please.
3. Serena Ryder’s impassioned Bieber defence
Artist of the year winner Serena Ryder had kind words to say about Justin Bieber after he was booed for winning the fan choice award (Bieber was not there.) “I really think that Justin Bieber is an amazing musician and he deserved every bit of that award because he’s been working his ass off his entire life and we need to support how awesome he is,” she said. Well, we’re not totally sure about that. And maybe Ryder was just trying to sway some of those Beliebers into her camp (can you blame her?). But we are sure that booing someone who you consider immature is equally immature. And it was very cool of Ryder to say the hard, unpopular thing in that moment.
4. BTO tribute
The Sheep Dogs, Matt Mays and Travis Good from the Sadies performed a nice Let It Ride tribute to Bachman-Turner Overdrive earlier in the show, but it was way cooler when BTO themselves closed the show with Takin’ Care of Business.
5. Tegan and Sara & Choir! Choir! Choir!
After being shut out of five previous career Juno nominations, Tegan and Sara finally took home the hardware – for pop album, single and group of the year. Even better than their heartfelt speeches and solid comedic sketches, though, was the duo’s performance of their hit, Closer, with Toronto’s Choir! Choir! Choir!, who joined them onstage and added some Glee-ish oomph to the hit single.
Here is the fully list of 2014 Junos winners:
JUNO FAN CHOICE AWARD (PRESENTED BY TD)
Arcade Fire
Avril Lavigne
Céline Dion
Drake Cash
Hedley
WINNER Justin Bieber
Michael Bublé
Robin Thicke
Serena Ryder
Walk Off the Earth
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Reflektor, Arcade Fire
Inner Ninja, Classified
It’s a Beautiful Day, Michael Bublé
What I Wouldn’t Do, Serena Ryder
WINNER Closer, Tegan and Sara
INTERNATIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
WINNER Unorthodox Jukebox, Bruno Mars
The Marshall Mathers LP 2, Eminem
Night Visions, Imagine Dragons
Take Me Home, One Direction
The Truth About Love, P!nk
ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY MUSIC CANADA)
WINNER Reflektor, Arcade Fire
Loved Me Back to Life, Céline Dion
Nothing Was the Same, Drake
To Be Loved, Michael Bublé
Harmony, Serena Ryder
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Céline Dion
Drake
Michael Bublé
Robin Thicke
WINNER Serena Ryder
GROUP OF THE YEAR
Arcade Fire
Blue Rodeo
Hedley
WINNER Tegan and Sara
Walk Off the Earth
BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY FACTOR AND RADIO STARMAKER FUND)
WINNER Brett Kissel
Florence K
Tim Hicks
Tyler Shaw
Wake Owl
BREAKTHROUGH GROUP OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY FACTOR AND RADIO STARMAKER FUND)
WINNER A Tribe Called Red
Autumn Hill
Born Ruffians
Courage My Love
July Talk
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY SIRIUSXM CANADA)
Arcade Fire
Henry “Cirkut” Walter
Ron Sexsmith
WINNER Serena Ryder
Tegan and Sara Quin
COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Started With a Song, Brett Kissel
WINNER Crop Circles, Dean Brody
Country Junkie, Gord Bamford
Small Town Pistols, Small Town Pistols
Throw Down, Tim Hicks
ADULT ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Shut Down the Streets, A.C. Newman
Tall Tall Shadow, Basia Bulat
Us Alone, Hayden
WINNER Forever Endeavour, Ron Sexsmith
Internal Sounds, The Sadies
ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY LONG & MCQUADE)
WINNER Reflektor, Arcade Fire
The Poet’s Dead, Rah Rah
Today We’re Believers, Royal Canoe
Warring, The Darcys
Uzu, Yamantaka//Sonic Titan
POP ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY TD)
Wild Life, Hedley
To Be Loved, Michael Bublé
Blurred Lines, Robin Thicke
WINNER Heartthrob, Tegan and Sara
R.E.V.O., Walk Off the Earth
ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY MUSICIANS’ RIGHTS ORGANIZATION CANADA)
Love + Fury, Headstones
WINNER Coyote, Matt Mays
Arrows of Desire, Matthew Good
Furiosity, Monster Truck
Transit of Venus, Three Days Grace
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
WINNER Notes On Montréal ft. Sienna Dahlen Mike Rud
Triades, Sonia Johnson, Charles Biddle Jr. & Annie Poulain
CONTEMPORARY JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Gratitude, Brandi Disterheft
WINNER Habitat, Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra
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
The Ian McDougall 12tet LIVE, Ian McDougall 12-tet
Our Second Set, John MacLeod & His Rex Hotel Orchestra
WINNER Ripple Effect, Mike Downes
Look for the Silver Lining, Phil Dwyer and Don Thompson Triplet
INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
New History Warfare Vol.3: To See More Light, Colin Stetson
WINNER Dalmak, Esmerine
Senna, Mahogany Frog
Down Home, Petr Cancura
Invitation, The Peggy Lee Band
FRANCOPHONE ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY FESTIVAL DU VOYAGEUR)
Himalaya mon amour, Alex Nevsky
Omniprésent, Damien Robitaille
Chic de ville, Daniel Bélanger
WINNER Fox, Karim Ouellet
Punkt, Pierre Lapointe
CHILDREN’S ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Sing As We Go! Charlie Hope Little
What’s the Big Idea?!? Gary Rasberry
WINNER Colour It, Helen Austin
Mon coffret à surprises, Marie-Claude
Coconuts Don’t Fall Far From the Tree, Splash’N Boots
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: SOLO OR CHAMBER ENSEMBLE
WINNER Prokofiev Complete Works for Violin, James Ehnes
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 OR SOLOIST(S) WITH LARGE ENSEMBLE ACCOMPANIMENT
Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 17 & 27, Angela Hewitt
WINNER Britten & Shostakovich: Violin Concerti, James Ehnes
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 PERFORMANCE
Berlioz: Les nuits d’été – Palej : The Poet & the War – Rorate Coeli Group of 27, Eric Paetkau –
Conductor, Shannon Mercer – Soprano Centaur*Naxos
Ravel, Sayat-Nova & Kradjian: Troubadour & the Nightingale Isabel Bayrakdarian MCO*HM
WINNER Lettres de Madame Roy à sa fille Gabrielle Marie-Nicole Lemieux & André Gagnon Audiogram*Select
Handel: Orlando, HWV 31 Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Alexander Weimann, Owen Willets, Karina
Gauvin, Allyson McHardy, Amanda Forsythe, Nathan Berg ATMA*Naxos
A Quiet Place: Music for Healing III Vancouver Chamber Choir Grouse*Independent
CLASSICAL COMPOSITION OF THE YEAR
WINNER Field Notes Allan Gordon Bell GRAVITY AND GRACE
Isomorphia for Orchestra and Electronics James O’Callaghan MAHLER SYMPHONY 9
Quatuors à cordes No. 12 R. Murray Schafer QUATUOR MOLINARI ATMA
Magnificat Stephen Chatman MAGNIFICAT: SONGS OF REFLECTION
Atacama: Symphonie No. 3 Tim Brady ATACAMA: Symphonie No. 3 ATMA
RAP RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Classified, Classified
WINNER Nothing Was the Same, Drake
In My Opinion, Rich Kidd
Flying Colours, Shad
Everywhere We Go, SonReal
DANCE RECORDING OF THE YEAR
WINNER This is What it Feels Like, Armin van Buuren & Trevor Guthrie Armada*Sony
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Tsunami, DVBBS & Borgeous
Locked Down, Jacynthe
Heartbreaker, Mia Martina
R&B/SOUL RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Kaleidoscope, Joanna Borromeo
WINNER Can’t Choose, JRDN ft. Kardinal Offishall
There’s Only One, Kim Davis
Gone, Melanie Durrant
Kiss Land, The Weeknd
REGGAE RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Mandela Akustix, Independent
Baby It’s You, Ammoye Flava
Love Collision, Dru
Rebel Massive, Dubmatix
WINNER Strive, Exco Levi & Kabaka Pyramid
ABORIGINAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY ABORIGINAL PEOPLES TELEVISION NETWORK)
Keep a Fire, Amanda Rheaume
Small Town Stories, Desiree Dorion
WINNER Surrender, George Leach
Burn Me Down, Inez Jasper
Road Renditions, Nathan Cunningham
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
WINNER Valleyheart, Justin Rutledge
Tin Star, Lindi Ortega
ROOTS & TRADITIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: GROUP (SPONSORED BY WINNIPEG FOLK FESTIVAL)
The Folk Sinner, Lee Harvey Osmond
Bison Ranch Recording Sessions, Little Miss Higgins & The Winnipeg Five
Volume One, The Devin Cuddy Band
WINNER We Still Move On Dance Floors, The Strumbellas
Island of Echoes, The Wilderness of Manitoba
BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY GALAXIE, YOUR MUSICAL UNIVERSE)
Come on Down, David Gogo
WINNER Can You Hear the Music
Soulscape, Harrison Kennedy
My Guitar’s My Only Friend, James Buddy
All Frequencies, MonkeyJunk
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
WINNER Trees, Tim Neufeld
WORLD MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY CANADA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS)
Sabor A Café Adonis Puentes Tumba
Lamentation of Swans – A Journey Towards Silence Azam Ali and Loga R.Torkian
WINNER Walk to the Sea David Buchbinder & Odessa/Havana
Jumbie in the Jukebox Kobo Town
Lume, Lume Lemon Bucket Orkestra
JACK RICHARDSON PRODUCER OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY SLAIGHT MUSIC)
Brian Howes and Jacob Hoggard
Eric Ratz
WINNER Henry “Cirkut” Walter
Ryan Guldemond and Ben Kaplan
Thomas “Tawgs” Salter
RECORDING ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
David Travers-Smith
WINNER Eric Ratz
Kevin Churko (co-engineer Kane Churko)
Randy Staub
RECORDING PACKAGE OF THE YEAR
Bones, Bodhi Jones
Lullabies and Wake-Up Calls, Dinah Thorpe
White Paint, Hollerado
WINNER Arts & Crafts: 2003-2013
La Mort Pop Club, We Are Wolves
VIDEO OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY MUCHFACT, EXCLUSIVELY FUNDED BY BELL MEDIA)
Je t’aime comme tu es, Agathe Bray-Bourret (Daniel Belanger)
Friend of Mine, Briin ‘Briin?’ Bernstein & Daniel AM Rosenberg (D-Sisive)
Anything, John Poliquin (Hedley)
King and Lionheart, WeWereMonkeys (Of Monsters and Men)
WINNER Feeling Good, Matt Barnes (The Sheepdogs)
ELECTRONIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY ROLAND)
Nation II Nation, A Tribe Called Red
Untogether, Blue Hawaii
Graze, Graze
Third Culture, Noah Pred
WINNER Guilt Trips, Ryan Hemsworth
METAL/HARD MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Heart of Oak, Anciients
Colored Sands, Gorguts
Entrench, KEN Mode
WINNER Volition, Protest the Hero
Dead Language, The Flatliners
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
WINNER A Christmas Gift To You, Johnny Reid
