DID JUNO THOSE CANADIAN MUSIC AWARDS WILL SOON BE HERE?

Yep, it’s that time of year again.  Spring is just around the corner and with it comes the annual JUNO Awards on CTV Sunday March 30^th.  This year, the JUNOS will be broadcast from the MTS Centre in Winnipeg.  Many talented Canadian singers, performers, songwriters, rappers and producers are nominated. 

For the next few weeks, we’ll be celebrating the JUNO Awards with our usual round of questions.  So wrap yourself up in the Canadian flag (even if you’re not from Canada, go ahead and do it.  C’mon, what could it hurt?), take a swig of genuine Quebec maple syrup (mmm, delicious) and take your best shot at the following 5 questions, you hoser you.    

                   

QUESTIONS

1.  Celine Dion, Drake, Michael Buble, Robin Thicke and Serena Ryder are JUNO nominees for the 2014 ‘Artist of the Year’.  Last years’ JUNO winner in that category is an oldie, but a goodie.  Born and raised in Montreal, he went on to world fame first as an author and poet, then as a songwriter when performers such as Noel Harrison, Judy Collins, Tom Cochrane and Jennifer Warnes successfully recorded his songs.  All the while, recording as a solo artist.  He even had an album produced by convicted murderer Phil Spector.  Who is this Canadian icon?      

      

2.  Nominated for a 2014 JUNO in the ‘Pop Album of the Year’ category are Hedley for “Wild Life”; Michael Buble for “To Be Loved”; “Blurred Lines” from Robin Thicke; Tegan and Sara for Heartthrob”; and Walk Off The Earth for “R.E.V.O.”.  Last years’ winner is currently on Broadway in “Cinderella”.  What is her name?                 

                

3.  This years’ JUNO nominees for ‘Country Album of the Year’ are “Started With A Song” from Brett Kissel; “Crop Circles” from Dean Brody; “Country Junkie” from Gord Bamford; “Small Town Pistols” from Small Town Pistols; and “Throw Down” from Tim Hicks.  This award has only been around since 2010 and for three of those years, Johnny Reid took home the JUNO (2010/2011/2013).  The only female winner (2012) was raised in Medicine Hat, Alberta (although she was born in Montreal).  She’s lived in Nashville, Tennessee for many years and joined the Grand Ole Opry in 2004.  She’s released a dozen CDs during her career so far (that include several ‘Greatest Hits’ packages).  This might be a little tough if you don’t know country music all that well, but can you name this award winning singer/songwriter?     

                 

4.  The ‘Group of the Year’ JUNO nominees for this year are Arcade Fire, Blue Rodeo, Tegan and Sara, Hedley and Walk Off The Earth.  One of the groups in this category won this JUNO three years in a row.  What group was it?                   

    

5.  There are 10 nominees in the category of ‘JUNO Fan Choice Favourite’ and they are:  Arcade Fire, Avril Lavigne, Celine Dion, Drake, Hedley, Justin Bieber, Michael Buble, Robin Thicke, Serena Ryder and Walk Off The Earth.  The winner of the 2013 JUNO in this category is among this years’ nominees and is in a whole heap o’ trouble with the law in both Canada and the U.S.  You know him (although you may not love him).  Who is this guy?     

ANSWERS

1.  Leonard Cohen not only won the JUNO for ‘Artist of the Year’ in 2013, he also took home an additional award for ‘Songwriter of the Year’.  Leonard was inducted into the JUNO Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1991 and won two JUNOs in 1993 for ‘Male Vocalist of the Year’ and ‘Best Video’ for “Closing Time”.  The following year (1994), he won his first ‘Songwriter of the Year’ JUNO.  In 1977, Phil Spector produced Leonard’s album, “Death Of A Ladies Man”.  Jennifer Warnes recorded an entire album of Cohen songs in 1987 titled, “Famous Blue Raincoat”.  Warnes had toured and sang back up for Cohen in 1972 and 1979.  Leonard Cohen was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1991.  In the Spring of 2013, Leonard toured North America, then toured Europe that summer.            

2.  Carly Rae Jepsen is a three time JUNO Award winner (so far anyway).  All of her awards came at last years’ JUNOs ceremony in Regina.  Carly took home JUNOS for ‘Album of the Year’ and ’Pop Album of the Year’ for “Kiss” as well as ‘Single of the Year’ for “Call Me Maybe”.  Her Broadway debut in “Cinderella” began on February 4^th for 12 weeks.                                              

    

3.  That would be Alberta raised Terri Clark.  Her “Roots and Wings” album won the 2012 JUNO for ‘Country Album of the Year’.  In 1997, Terry won her first JUNO for ‘Best New Solo Artist’.  She won again in 2001 for ‘Best Country Female Artist’.  Her latest album, “Classic” was released in November of 2012.      

4.  Blue Rodeo won ‘Group of the Year’ honours in 1989, 1990 and 1991.  They also won again in 1996.  You’ll have to watch the JUNO Awards on March 30^th to see if they can take home a fifth trophy in this category.        

    

5.  Oh, that wacky Justin Bieber, what’ll he get up to next?  He’s got charges to answer for in Los Angeles, Miami and Toronto.  His body guard is in legal hot water in Atlanta (where Justin temporarily resides).  Hopefully, his lawyers will keep him out of jail.  We’ve seen enough of his jail cell pushups and peeing.  At least Justin can console himself with his four JUNO awards.  In 2011, he won his first two – ‘The JUNO Fan Choice Award’ and ‘Pop Album of the Year’ for “My World 2.0”.  He repeated and three-peated ‘The JUNO Fan Choice Award’ in 2012 and 2013.  Will he win this year?  Will he accept his award from jail?  Will I ever stop asking questions?  Actually, no I won’t.  As for the Biebs, we’ll just have to wait and see what happens next.  One thing’s for sure, he’s put an end to the ‘boring Canadian’ myth that many Americans seem to have.  Of course, over 250,000 of those same Americans have signed a petition that was sent to President Obama at the White House to have Justin deported back to Canada.