Sure, sometimes I refer to it as "Canadia," but I’ve never been much of one for mocking our neighbors to the north. First of all, they’re so nice. Second, it just seemed too easy, giggling about "toques" and saying "eh?" and pretending not to understand hockey and whatever. I am from Texas. We shouldn’t throw stones. Thus, I have always given Canada the benefit of the doubt.
That ends today.
The annual Juno Awards nominations came out this morning, celebrating the best that Canadian music has to offer. That "best"? Nickelback! Yes, by nominating them in five categories, Canada has pretty much anointed Chad Kroeger the next Celine Dion. Though Celine Dion got a bunch of nominations, too, as did Simple Plan. Is this a joke? What, no Alanis Morissette? Just kidding, she got a songwriting nomination! The more I look at the list, the more enjoyable it gets: The Barenaked Ladies are there, naturally, as is Michael Bublé. There are crazy ethnic categories, like "Francophone Album" (makes sense!) and "Aboriginal Album" (come again?). [UPDATE: Thanks to commenter Tim Lade, I now know this is referring to Native Americans. Oh, them!] AC/DC, Coldplay, Gn’R, Jack Johnson, and Metallica are the choices for "International Album," a list that puts Nickelback perfectly into perspective. And Bryan Adams? Up for Artist of the Year. Of course he is.
Look, Canada, I am not trying to be hating. I’m glad to see you nominated Feist in the fan choice category (though 2007 was really more her year), and that Kathleen Edwards, F*cked Up, and The Stills are all represented somehow. I will check out these Lost Fingers you seem to enjoy so much. As for the rest? We can agree to disagree. Who am I to judge what sounds awesome to ears located so close to mouths that enjoy poutine? Partial list of nominees after the jump…and would anyone from up yonder care to weigh in and defend your people?
[UPDATED AGAIN: Dear irate Canadians! Due to your very strong reaction to this post, we here at PopWatch are giving YOU the chance to pick YOUR best Canadian albums and artists! Let your voices be heard at the Official EW Juno Recount Post! Stick it to the man! And to America!]
JUNO FAN CHOICE AWARD (PRESENTED BY PEPSI)
Céline Dion
Feist
Hedley
Nickelback
The Lost Fingers
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
"Taking Chances" – Céline Dion
"Lay It On The Line" – Divine Brown
"Dangerous" – Kardinal Offishall
"Lost" – Michael Bublé
"Gotta Be Somebody" – Nickelback
EMI INTERNATIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Black Ice AC/DC
Viva La Vida Coldplay
Chinese Democracy Guns N’ Roses
Sleep Through The Static Jack Johnson
Death Magnetic Metallica
ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY CANADIAN RECORDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION)
Famous Last Words Hedley
Dark Horse Nickelback
Simple Plan Simple Plan
70′s Volume 2 Sylvain Cossette
Lost In The 80′s The Lost Fingers
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Bryan Adams
City and Colour
k.d. lang
Sam Roberts
Serena Ryder
EMI GROUP OF THE YEAR
Great Big Sea
Nickelback
Simple Plan
The Trews
Tokyo Police Club
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY FACTOR AND CANADA’S PRIVATE RADIOBROADCASTERS)
Crystal Shawanda
Jessie Farrell
Kreesha Turner
Lights Underground
Nikki Yanofsky
NEW GROUP OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY FACTOR AND CANADA’S PRIVATE RADIO BROADCASTERS)
Beast
Cancer Bats
Crystal Castles
Plants and Animals
The Stills
Whitney don’t get me wrong, I love you, but how can you have no clue what Aborigianl means? Let me spell it out for you. N-A-T-I-V-E A-M-E-R-I-C-A-N! Gotta represent to an important part of our history. P.S. I hate Nickelback!
Nobody pays much attention to the Junos. And it isn’t like the Grammy’s pick the cream of the crop of American music either.
Typical american…I wouldn’t be proud to be from Texas if I were you redneck.
Can’t stand Nickelback. And, ever since Anchorman, I have to fight the urge to say Canadia as well. I just know it’s going to tumble out at some really inopportune time, like a key business meeting or in front of my sisters (who would mock me about it until I die).
Hmm…I’m pretty sure Whit there was referring to the randomness of having Aboriginal as a category at all. Aren’t the Aborigines from down under?
And Marc JEEZ I’m from Texas and I’m basically the opposite of a redneck. Sure, there are plenty of those down here…out in the country…
I’m Canadian, and looking through this list, I’ve gotta say…meh. Seriously, sitting at work everyday has become an exercise in tedium, having to hear ‘Canadian Content’ every third song…namely Nickleback.
Definitely stoked to see Sam Roberts and Tokyo Police Club get love yet saddened at the lack of a reasonable Canadian voice in this comments section.
At least the Canadian awards show has Canadian artists to recognize, and a diverse group at that. If this year’s Grammys were limited to American artists it would be a very lonely affair. There is not one American nominated this year for Record of the Year (They are all British) and only two nominated for Album of the year (Lil Wayne and Ne-Yo, both hip hop artists). Oh, I apologize, the Jonas Brothers are also up for a Grammy. Now there’s some music to be proud of.
The Juno nominations are kinda bizarre, as always.
The Lost Fingers thing is insane — the album is weird tongue-in-cheek jazz covers (with vocals) of pop songs from the 80s like Pump Up the Jam and You Give Love a Bad Name. Super cheesy, in my book.
As for Nickelback, say what you will about them, but they’ve been one of the most commercially successful bands of the decade — all over the world. And they do put on a solid live show.
But seriously? You don’t know the meaning of “Aboriginal?” Do you guys use the term “First Nations” at all? See, “Native American” doesn’t really work here because we’re not in America…
I know the meaning of “aboriginal,” yes. I just couldn’t figure out what it could be referring to in a Canadian context. I am not a total idiot, though it is apparently easy to jump to that conclusion. Meanwhile, Keith Fraser: touché.
as a Canadian I have to say the Junos are a joke – EVERYONE I know HATES Nickelback. That being said, the Grammys are AWFUL and just as off-the-ball.
Proud Canadian, but don’t 100% agree with the Juno nods. Keep in mind it’s a tricky balance: have to be Canadian nominees, but also have to cater to the masses a little bit. There are some pretty wicked artists on there, and many more wicked artists who didn’t have any new material this year. I’m happy to see Kreesha Turner, The Trews and City and Color on there.
(Whitney, as a fellow country music fan, you would probably like a lot of our artists who you don’t see here….Aaron Pritchett, Corb Lund Band, George Canyon, Blue Rodeo….just if you’re looking for something new….)
I’m Canadian and I freakin’ HATE Nickelback. Every dang song sounds the same and believe me, most Canadians hate Nickelback as much as I do.
This year’s Juno nominations are a mixed bag at best. Canada has a lot of great musical talent, yet 2008 wasn’t the strongest year. I agree, most of the nominations are pretty uninspired. Nice to see Sam Roberts, Serena Ryder, and City & Colour get noms. But Bryan Adams for entertainer of the year? Now no offense, but Adams 2008 album “11″ was not a major hit in Canada, so I don’t see how he can even be considered this year. And I say that as someone who owns several of Adams CD’s (in the 80′s it was a Canadian law to buy them). Celine’s “Taking Chances” as single of the year? Not in any year. Again, Celine can sing, but the song was a dud. No offence Ms.Dion. I really think the Juno nominating committee needs to shake things up a bit. As for Nickelback, well sometimes you gotta live in Canada to understand why some things are just so uniquely Canadian!
Just one remark… Milli Vanilli received a Grammy, and as they themselves put it so eloquently, Girl You Know Its True!!! Way to go, Eh!!!!