Nelly Furtado flew through the Juno Awards with gusto as Charlotte Cardin, Talk and the Beaches emerged as notable winners in a night of surprises, breakthroughs and political commentary.
One of the biggest surprises came when Karan Aujla sailed to a fan choice win on the growing popularity of the Punjabi-Canadian music genre, which has seen its profile rise as more listeners gravitate to its fusion of hip-hop, pop and other mainstream sounds.
91裸聊视频淭his is definitely a first one, but not the last one,91裸聊视频� the 91裸聊视频淪oftly91裸聊视频� singer proclaimed Sunday while clutching the only Juno prize voted on by viewers.
91裸聊视频淪ometimes I just can91裸聊视频檛 believe I91裸聊视频檓 the same kid that lost his parents when he was in India, made my way out to Canada, this beautiful country and today I91裸聊视频檓 here.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚f you are dreaming, make sure you dream big.91裸聊视频�
Later in the CBC telecast, Halifax-bred actor Elliot Page denounced recent political policies while presenting the humanitarian award to pop sisters Tegan and Sara, who were honoured for their work with LGBTQ+ youth.
91裸聊视频淲e are at a time in history where the rights of 2SLGBTQ+ people are being revoked, restricted and eliminated throughout the world, and the effects of which are devastating,91裸聊视频� Page said before the sisters specifically called out the Alberta government for moves they said threaten the health of trans youth.
The show started with a cheeky surprise guest.
Anne Murray walked onto the stage to give viewers a hearty East Coast welcome to kick off the show. The Springhill, N.S.-born singer, who also holds a record 25 Juno wins, was met with a rousing cheer from the crowd inside Halifax91裸聊视频檚 Scotiabank Centre.
91裸聊视频淪eeing that I91裸聊视频檓 a Nova Scotian who lives just up the street, the producers thought I91裸聊视频檇 be just the person to welcome you to Halifax,91裸聊视频� Murray said with a smirk.
91裸聊视频淪o here I am. And welcome to Halifax.91裸聊视频�
Murray then presented the first award of the evening, giving Toronto band the Beaches the group of the year prize.
It was the second win for the female four-piece act, after they picked up rock album of the year at a Saturday pre-telecast ceremony. They excitedly embraced and encouraged other young women to start bands with their friends.
Other winners included Montreal singer-songwriter Cardin whose 91裸聊视频�99 Nights91裸聊视频� scored album of the year. It was her second win of the weekend after she landed pop album of the year Saturday.
Ottawa-raised singer Talk was chosen as breakthrough artist for his incredible rise on the back of the hit single 91裸聊视频淩un Away to Mars.91裸聊视频�
Meanwhile, Furtado took on a decidedly more composed presence for her second effort hosting the Junos. In 2007, she famously flew into the show wearing a Las Vegas-styled bird outfit in a comedic moment that was largely received with head scratches.
This time, she opted to forgo her wacky side and focus on the musical spark that made her a Canadian favourite. She opened the show with a dizzying medley of her hits while dressed in a silver 91裸聊视频淏arbarella91裸聊视频�-esque space-age outfit.
Furtado, who is planning to release a comeback album sometime soon, reminded viewers of her formidable pop impact as she breezed through one of her latest tracks 91裸聊视频淓at Your Man91裸聊视频� and her pop classics 91裸聊视频淪ay It Right,91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频淢aneater91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 Like a Bird.91裸聊视频�
Also Sunday, Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee Maestro Fresh Wes became the first hip-hop member of the esteemed space.
The 91裸聊视频淟et Your Backbone Slide91裸聊视频� rapper, born Wesley Williams, took a moment to reflect on his pioneering history as a Canadian hip-hop performer, which started when he wrote his first rhyme in 1979.
He then thanked family and collaborators who helped elevate his career, including past industry players and TV station MuchMusic.
91裸聊视频淲e don91裸聊视频檛 make records, we make history,91裸聊视频� he proclaimed, clad in a black tailcoat.
91裸聊视频淲e created a backbone and started conducting things and91裸聊视频ow this music we love won91裸聊视频檛 ever be underestimated.91裸聊视频�
Among the moving highlights of the night was a tribute to late artists Gordon Lightfoot, Robbie Robertson and Karl Tremblay, the lead singer of Quebec91裸聊视频檚 Les Cowboys Fringants.
Allison Russell, Aysanabee and pianist Alexandra Str茅liski started the in-memorium performance before they were joined by Indigenous musicians Logan Staats, Shawnee Kish, Julian Taylor and William Prince to close it out in a nod to Robertson91裸聊视频檚 heritage, which was Mohawk on his mother91裸聊视频檚 side.
Backstage, some musicians waded into several political conversations of the moment.
Musician Jeremy Dutcher was dressed head-to-toe in Indigenous designers while sporting a decorative necklace emblazoned with 91裸聊视频淐ease Fire Now,91裸聊视频� in recognition of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
91裸聊视频淚 thought we might not need it by now,91裸聊视频� he explained of the message while clutching it in his hands.
Tegan and Sara spoke of the recent 91裸聊视频渁nti-transgender legislation91裸聊视频� introduced in Alberta and New Brunswick.
Tegan Quin described it as a 91裸聊视频渕ovement against trans youth and the Conservative government putting their nose where it doesn91裸聊视频檛 belong91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淲e shouldn91裸聊视频檛 be complacent,91裸聊视频� she said.
91裸聊视频淲e should step up91裸聊视频�. I also think we have a voice to remind our government we should be focused on more important things like climate change, the fentanyl crisis, the housing crisis.91裸聊视频�
Allison Russell suggested there is hope in these dark times and that musicians are part of the solution.
91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 only one tactic of all fascism, of all bigotry 91裸聊视频� and it91裸聊视频檚 divide and conquer,91裸聊视频� she said.
91裸聊视频淗ope is a practice and it requires community.91裸聊视频�
Other Canadian talent picked up multiple awards at a non-televised gala on Saturday. Rapper Tobi, alternative singer Aysanabee and pop star Tate McRae each won two awards for their work.
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