Monday, April 22, 2013

THE 42nd ANNUAL JUNO AWARDS ARE HISTORY



Congratulations to Carly Rae Jepsen and Leonard Cohen for winning big at the JUNO Awards in Regina last weekend.  Carly Rae won three JUNO’s and Leonard won won.  To wrap it all up, our final JUNO quiz for 2013 is about various winners over the years.  We won’t go back too far, we’ll keep it within the last 20 years, and once again, they’re multiple choice questions, so really, take a shot if you don’t know the answer.  Chances are you’ll be correct a third of the time (and maybe even more, hey I’m not a mathematician for gosh sake).   

QUESTIONS:

1. The 42nd annual JUNO Awards were held in Regina, Saskatchewan.  Which member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame was born in the province of Saskatchewan?  Is it:  
a. Joni Mitchell  b. Carly Rae Jepsen  c. Buffy Sainte-Marie 

2.  The 2013 JUNO Award for Group of the Year went to Marianas Trench.  But which group won this honour in 2009?  Was it:   a. Arcade Fire  b. Nickelback  c. Blue Rodeo         

3.  Carly Rae Jepsen won 3 JUNO Awards this year – ‘Album of the Year’ and ‘Pop Album of the Year’ for “Kiss” as well as ‘Single of the Year’ for “Call Me Maybe”.  Since 2003, when the ‘Pop Album of the Year’ JUNO award was introduced, which of these three JUNO winning performers have also won ‘Album of the Year’, ‘Pop Album of the Album’ and ‘Single of the Year’ in the same year?  Is it: a. Avril Lavigne  b. Feist  c. Michael Buble

4.  Legendary singer/songwriter/poet Leonard Cohen, who won JUNO’s for ‘Songwriter of the Year’ and ‘Artist of the Year’ was born in Montreal.  Which other famous Canadian musicians were born there?  Is it:  a. Andy Kim  b. Gino Vanelli  c. Oscar Peterson  

5.  k.d lang was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame by her musical hero, Anne Murray.  In 1993, Anne was inducted into that very same Hall of Fame in 1993.  Which Canadian performer went in the following year (1994)?  Was it:  a. Rush b. Bruce Cockburn  c. Tom Cochrane    

ANSWERS

1.  That would be c. Buffy Sainte-Marie who was born on the Cree Indian reserve in the Qu’Appelle Valley in Saskatchewan.  Joni Mitchell was born in Alberta and raised in Saskatchewan and Carly Rae Jepsen hails from Mission, British Columbia.       

2.  The JUNO for ‘Group of the Year’ in 2009 went to b. Nickelback.  Blue Rodeo won it the previous year (2008) and Arcade Fire took home the ‘Group of the Year’ JUNO in 2011.

3.  First trick question of the week.  All three of those performers have won ‘Album of the Year’, ‘Pop Album of the Year’ and ‘Single of the Year’ in the same year.  In 2003, Avil Lavigne won ‘Pop Album’ and ‘Album of the Year’ for “Let’s Go”.  She won ‘Single of the Year’ in 2003 for “Complicated”.  Feist won all three in 2008 when she won “Album’ and ‘Pop Album of the Year’ for “The Reminder” and ‘Single of the Year’ for “1-2-3-4”.  Michael Buble, that little overachiever, has won all 3 JUNO Awards twice.  The first time was in 2006.  ‘Album’ and ‘Pop Album of the Year’ went to “It’s Time” and 2006’s ‘Single of the Year’ JUNO was for Michael Buble’s “Home”.  His second time happened in 2010.  Michael’s “Crazy Love” won ‘Album’ and ‘Pop Album of the Year’.  Mr. Bubles’ “Haven’t Met You Yet” won the 2010 JUNO for ‘Single of the Year’.

4.  Aha!  Yet another trick question.  All three were born in Montreal.      

5.  OK, I promise no more trick questions.  Anne Murray was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1993.  Folk duo Ian & Sylvia went in the previous year (1992) and a. the members of Rush (Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart) were inducted the following year (1994).  Rush was inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 18th this year.  Bruce Cockburn went into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2001 and Tom Cochrane received his honours in 2003.  

Monday, April 15, 2013

THE JUNO AWARDS ARE THIS WEEKEND



The JUNO Awards are on CTV Sunday from Regina, so to get you prepared for the big event, our questions this week will be about this years’ nominees or special award winners.  If you paid attention to our last column and/or listened to the radio regularly, these should all be easy, peasy. Plus, they’re multiple choice questions, so you’ve got a 33 1/3 chance of getting it right if you’re guessing.  OK, here we go.   

QUESTIONS:

1. Who is the host of the JUNO Awards this year?  Is it:                                                                                    a. Justin Beiber  b. Carly Rae Jepsen  c. Michael Buble 

2.  Which Canadian musical icon is being inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame this year?  Is it:   a. Leonard Cohen  b. k.d. lang  c. Rush         

3.  Saskatoon rockers The Sheepdogs are nominated in several JUNO categories this year, including ‘Single of the Year’ for “The Way It Is”, ‘Rock Album of the Year’ for “The Sheepdogs” as well as ‘Group of the Year’.  In 2011, they became the first unsigned band to be featured on the cover of what famous U.S. magazine?  Was it:     a. People Magazine  b. Rolling Stone Magazine  c.  Musician Magazine 

4.  Which 2013 JUNO nominated singer placed third on CTV’s “Canadian Idol” in 2007?  Was it:  a. Justin Beiber  b. Serena Ryder  c. Carly Rae Jepsen  

5.  Bob Ezrin is a legendary Canadian record producer (KISS, Alice Cooper, Pink Floyd, Lou Reed, Peter Gabriel, Hanoi Rocks) who’s nominated this year for the ‘Jack Richardson Producer of the Year’ JUNO award.  Which Pink Floyd album did Bob Ezrin produce?  Was it:  a. The Wall  b. A Momentary Lapse of Reason  c. Division Bell    

ANSWERS

1.  The correct answer is c. Michael Buble.  Michael has won 11 JUNO Awards thus far in his career.  Carly Rae Jepsen is nominated in several categories and Justin Beiber is way too busy putting his foot in his mouth to host.     

2.  Leonard Cohen was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1991.  Rush in 1994, so that would mean that c. Alberta born k.d. lang is the correct answer.  Kathy Dawn Lang has also been honoured with the Order of Canada in 1997.  She was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2008.

3.  The Sheepdogs (who won 3 JUNO Awards last year for ‘New Group of the Year’, ‘Sing of the Year’ and ‘Rock Album of the Year’) appeared on the cover of b. Rolling Stone Magazine on August 18, 2011.  The group won an international ‘Choose The Cover’ competition, beating out 15 other performers.                

4.  c. 27 year old Carly Rae Jepsen from Mission, British Columbia is the correct answer.  Jepsen, who’s nominated for the most JUNO Awards this year (that would be 5, count ‘em, 5, ‘Single of the Year’, ‘Album of the Year’, ‘JUNO Fan Choice’, ‘Artist of the Year’ and ‘Pop Album of the Year’), came in third on the fifth season of “Canadian Idol”.  Carly Rae also participated in the subsequent “Canadian Idol” Top 3 concert tour.   

5.  OK, it’s a trick question because Bob Ezrin produced ALL THREE of those Pink Floyd albums, so whichever one you chose, you were correct.  Congratulations and enjoy the JUNO Awards.

Monday, April 1, 2013

JUNO THE AWARDS ARE COMING SOON DON’T CHA?



Happy April everyone.  April means the annual JUNO Awards will soon be here.  The celebration of all things in Canadian music happens on Sunday April 21st.  Regina Saskatchewan is JUNO headquarters this year and for 2013, k.d. lang will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.  The Hall was established in 1978 and honours Canadians musical artists who have achieved commercial success while having a positive impact on the Canadian music scene in Canada and around the world.  So, for the next few weeks, our questions will be about Canadian musicians and the JUNO Awards.  This week, we’ll see how good your memory is as we explore PREVIOUS inductees into the JUNO Hall of Fame.   

QUESTIONS:

1. Kicking off our quiz this week is a singer/songwriter who knew from an early age what he wanted to do.  He’s been performing since the 1950’s and shows no sign of slowing down.  He’s a native of Ottawa – his autobiography is out this month.  Throughout his career, he did it all ‘his way’.  The controversy with feminists over his 70’s hit, “You’re Having My Baby”brought him even more fame and fortune.  What’s the name of this singer/songwriter?     

2.  This Canadian power trio went into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1994.  This year, they’ll be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the U.S.  Their lead singer sang on Bob & Doug McKenzie’s (aka SCTV’s Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas) 1982 novelty hit “Take Off”.  If you look “Closer To The Heart”, you’ll find the answer.  You’ll triumph if you know the name of this legendary Canadian band.  So what is it?         

3.  This Canadian singer lost her parents in a car crash when she was 21 and had to take care of her siblings while trying to work to bring in an income.  Her most famous Canadian gig was as a singer at the Deerhurst Inn in northern Ontario.  After moving to Nashville and an unscuccessful first album, she met and then co-wrote some of her hits with her former first husband Robert John ‘Mutt’ Lange.  Her real name is Eileen Edwards, but her worldwide success only happened after she changed it.  Three of her Top Ten hits are: “You’re Still The One”, “From This Moment On” and “That Don’t Impress Me Much”.  So c’mon impress me much, who is this amazing singer who was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2011?     

4.  In 1996, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences inducted 5 Canadian musical legends – Zal Yanovsky (The Lovin’ Spoonful), Domenic Troiano (The Guess Who, Bush), Denny Doherty (The Mamas & The Papas), John Kay (Steppenwolf) and this performer.  He had a troubled youth and was in and out of reform school and prison.  He cleaned up his act with music and scored several Canadian hits, such as “Boom Boom” and “Brainwashed” in the mid 1960’s before moving to New York, where he became the lead singer for a jazz rock fusion band that became world famous as Blood, Sweat & Tears.  Can you name this singer/songwriter?   


5.  She hails from Springhill, Nova Scotia and was one of Elvis Presley’s favourite singers.  This performer will be inducting k.d. lang into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame later this month.  Her start was on a CBC TV program out of Halifax called “Singalong Jubilee”.  After moving to Toronto, she had her first Top Ten North American chart hit with “Snowbird”.  Many other hits followed, including “You Needed Me’, a # 1 song in 1976.  She was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1993.  Who is she? 

ANSWERS

1.  That Ottawa native is Paul Anka, who was the fourth artist inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1980.  Anka’s first charted hit on Billboard in 1957 was also his first # 1 – “Diana”.  Since then, Paul has scored two more # 1’s, 1959’s “Lonely Boy” and “You’re Having My Baby” in 1974, although he has charted 53 songs.  Paul wrote Buddy Holly’s 1959  hit, “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore”, 1971’s “She’s A  Lady” for Tom Jones and Paul w rote the English lyrics to a French melody that became the classic, “My Way”.  For those who remember the theme music from “The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson”, Paul wrote that as well.     

2.  I threw the name Triumph in the last line of the question to throw you off, but you weren’t fooled at all were you?  Rush were huge in Canada before they made it big in the U.S.   Their hits included “Closer To The Heart” (1977), “The Spirit of Radio” (1980), “Tom Sawyer” (1981) and “New World Man” (1982).  We congratulate Geddy Lee, Neil Peart and Alex Lifeson on their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this month.   

3.  Eileen Rogers changed her name to Shania Twain and never looked back.  The albums that Shania and her then husband, ‘Mutt’ Lange made together made country music history.  “The Woman In Me”, their second collaboration, sold nearly 20 million copies, making Shania the best selling country female artist of all time.  Twain and Lange were divorced in 200.  Three years later, Shania married 
Swiss businessman Frederic Thiebaud.                 

4.  David Clayton-Thomas first hit the Canadian record charts in 1964 with his version of the John Lee Hooker song, “Boom Boom”.  “Walk That Walk” followed, then “Take Me Back”, “Out of The Sunshine” and David’s only Canadian Top Ten hit, “Brainwashed”.  After moving to New York to work with Blood, Sweat & Tears, worldwide success followed with hits such as “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy”, “Spinning Wheel”, “And When I Die” and “Hi-De-Ho”.  David moved back to Toronto several years ago and still performs occasionally.    

5.  Anne Murray is the lady in question and she’s done it all.  Had hit records, hit TV specials and sold out tours.  She liked to perform on stage barefoot.  Some of her hits on Billboards’ Hot 100 chart include: “Danny’s Song” (# 7 in 1973), “You Won’t See Me” (# 8 in 1974), “Broken Hearted Me” (# 12 in 1979) and “Daydream Believer” (#12 in 1980).  Anne has retired from performing, but her autobiography, “All of Me” was released by Random House in 2010.