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Feist, Bublé Big Juno Winners
Indie-rock songstress Leslie Feist took home a Juno for Artist of the Year oand jazz crooner Michael Buble’s holiday-themed Christmas claimed the prize for Album of the Year at the 41st annual Canadian music awards ceremony April 1.
Feist, best known for her whimsical 2007 song 1234, which became an international hit after it was featured in an iPod nano commercial, might have surprised some with Sunday night’s win since her contemplative fourth disc, Metals, wasn’t nominated for Album of the Year.
Feist’s big win brought her Juno tally to three for the weekend, and 11 for her career.
“I just need a second,’’ she marveled as she stepped to the microphone, shaking her head from side to side, looking stunned, as well as stunning in a red, lace dress.
“I’m just in shock. … I guess all I can really do is try to express some genuine gratitude. I can’t believe I’m standing here.’’
Bublé, who couldn’t attend the glitzy ceremony, also likely surprised some by winning Album of the Year for his yuletide album, which beat out Drake’s wildly popular Take Care, Avril Lavigne’s Goodbye Lullabye, Justin Bieber’s Under the Mistletoe and Nickelback’s Here and Now.
Although Bublé has won the prize twice in the past, in 2006 for It’s Time and 2010 for Crazy Love, and his latest disc’s retro fireside vibe warmed millions of family gatherings this past holiday season, pre-show speculation put the winning finger on Drake’s Take Care.
Another of the night’s winners was no surprise: Eighteen-year-old teen-pop sensation Justin Bieber claimed the Juno Fan Choice award, a prize he claimed at last year’s Junos.
“What’s up everybody? This is Justin,’’ he said in a prerecorded message. “Fan choice. As we all know I have the best fans in the world, so this award is basically for all my fans. This is just yours.’’
Vancouver, British Columbia, singer-songwriter Dan Mangan was named Best Newcomer.
“I feel like there’s a certain amount of chatter around the best new artist award every year going to … artists on their second or maybe third albums,’’ said Mangan, whose “Oh Fortune’’ was, yes, his third album.
Dance recording of the year went to Toronto’s Dragonette and French DJ Martin Solveig for the catchy tune “Hello,’’ not anticipated favorite Deadmau5—who had won the category four years in a row. As a result Deadmau5 went without a Juno this year despite three nominations.
City and Colour’s Dallas Green won Songwriter of the Year, beating out Feist, Dan Mangan and Jim Cuddy.