The Glitz, The Glamour, and the winner is...FEIST

By: Kindah Mardam Bey 

Held in Calgary, Alberta the 2008 Juno Awards brought out Canadian Music Talent such as Michael Buble, Hedley, Ann Murray, Jann Arden and Avril Lavigne. Self-culturally deprecating comedienne Russell Peters hosted the event with ease, aside from the swath of cowboys in his presence. Russell and Jann Arden did a hilarious pre-recorded shtick about hosting the Juno awards (as Jann did so two years ago, and Calgary is Jann Arden's hometown). Peters pointed out that he is a typical Canadian and has never watched the Junos before. The night awarded the rock band Triumph from the 1970s and 1980s a Lifetime Achievement Award and Calgarian country-singer Paul Brandt received the Humanitarian Award for the evening.  

Even though Buble was getting a huge amount of flack from the rockers in attendance at the Juno Fanfare the previous day, Michael Buble's celebrity is undeniable, and his performance of his newest hit song ‘Everything' was delightful and the most. Other performances were by Hedley, Jully Black, Ann Murray with Sarah Brightman and Jann Arden, Paul Brandt, Feist, Finger Eleven, Avril Lavigne, Shane Yellowbird, Johnny Reid, Aaron Lines, Gord Bamford, and Measha Brueggergosman. 

The Pengrowth Saddledome, a place I grew up going to as a concert goer, got a facelift as the stage was a new-age styled collection of shiny oil drums. The big winner of the night was my high school alumni Feist, as she took home all awards in all categories she was nominated in. Aside from Feist being Calgarian, her successful album that has garnered international acclaim received  well-deserved awards for Best Single, Artist Of The Year, Album Of The Year, Pop Album Of The Year, and Best Songwriter for her IPod commercial smash hit "1234." Feist gave a wonderfully recouped performance after her heartbreaking performance on the Grammy's, she stole the stage this time around with the Nina Simone cover "Sealion." 

It was a sad showing for the likes of bigger artists who have crossed the Canadian-US border in fame as Avril Lavigne, Michael Buble (except for fan choice), and Anne Murray. Celine Dion, not in attendence, also did not win, even though she was nominated in five categories. The funniest moment of the night came from Michael Buble after his fan choice win, jokingly expressing that the award was for all those people who didn't believe he could win the award by voting for himself enough! Overall, the evening was pleasant enough, with Canadian celebrities galore, but Russell Peters does pose an interesting question as to why Canadians aren't as interested in their own music as they are in international music?
 

New Group Of The Year: Wintersleep
Alternative Album Of The Year: Blue Rodeo "Small Miracles"
Alternative Album Of The Year: Arcade Fire "Neon Bible"
Artist Of The Year: Feist
New Artist Of The Year: Serena Ryder
Songwriter Of The Year: Feist
Rock Album of the Year -- Them Vs You Vs Me -- Finger Eleven
Vocal Jazz Album of the Year -- Make Someone Happy -- Sophie Milman
Album Of The Year: Feist
Single Of The Year: Feist "1234"
Juno Fan Choice - Michael Buble
Group Of The Year - Blue Rodeo
Pop Album Of The Year: Feist "The Reminder"