Juno Awards 2016: 5 key moments
Mix of rising stars, music legends shine at 45th edition of Junos
With powerful performances, playful banter, touching tributes and funny Canadian commercials, Canadian talent was on full display Sunday for the 2016 Juno Awards.
The Weekndsteals the show
It was a hell of a night forToronto'sAbel Tesfaye, a.k.a. The Weeknd.
During Sunday's big show, he walked away with Single of the Year for hit songI Can't Feel My Face and Album of the Year fortop-sellingand critically acclaimed Beauty Behind the Madness. The latter was presented by a giddyCalgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi.
.@nenshi just presented Album of the Year to @theweeknd. #JUNOS pic.twitter.com/m0zRtSmbaz
—@outloudyyc
He also nabbed three Junos at Saturday night's untelevisedevent Artist of the Year,Songwriter of the Year andR&B/Soul Recording of the Year.
To top it all off, he thrilled the crowd withelectriclive performance ofAcquaintedandMight Not,featuring a guest appearance byPalestinian-CanadianJuno Award-winningrapper Belly.
Wow. The media room's pretty far from the #JUNOS stage but people are going CRAZY for @theweeknd. So loud! pic.twitter.com/IXtnX6RAbS
—@chrisdelatorre
Boom! Bam! @theweeknd brought musical and literal fireworks to the #JUNOS pic.twitter.com/m4GD4uM1MM
—@TaliaSchlanger
BuffySainte-Marie'sspoken-word poetry jam
BuffySainte-Mariekickedoff the show with a powerfulspoken-word poetry version of her songCarry It Onfrom Power In The Blood.
The legendary singer-songwriter took home twoJunosthe previous eveningContemporary Roots Album andAborginalAlbum of the Yearof the YearforPower in the Blood.
JusReign,Offishallbanter about country music
YouTube comedian JusReign and rapper/producer Kardinal Offishall neither of whom are known for their country music expertise teamed up to present the Country Music Album Award toDean Brody for Gypsy Road.
Those dudes @JusReign & @KardinalO just killed that. #JUNOS
—@tompowercbc
"When we wereaskedtopresent the award for Country Music Album of the Year, we were like, of course!" said Reign.
"You can tell obviouslyby looking at us that country music has been a huge part of ourlives," Offishalquipped, adding: "Who can deny the cultural impact of Straight Outta Camrose?"
Burton Cummings honoured
The Guess Who frontman Burton Cummings, whowas inducted into into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame duringa Juno event on Friday, was honoured with an emotional tribute.
Alberta's ownNicklebacktook the stage to introduce the legendary Winnipeg singer, whose music left an indelible mark on frontman Chad Kroeger. "My mother is such a fan of Cummings, she wanted to name me Burton," he said.
After a video montage that outlined hisillustrious career, Cummings walked onto thestage to a standing ovation that left him with tears in his eyes.
He dedicated his award to Winnipeg before paying tribute to his late mother, who died two years ago.
"I think she's up there looking down.Look, mom! Look what I got," Cummings said.
Cummings closed out the show with an energetic performance of his greatest hits.
The commercials
Much like the Super Bowl, the Junos garneredalmost as much attention for its commercials as forthe show itself.
Specifically, a series ofGoogle Play ads showing funny montages of everyday Canadians singing along to hits like The Weeknd's I Can't Feel My Face and Bryan Adams' Summer of 69.
These people in the Google Play commercial are better than any of the performers so far tonight #JUNOS
—@Dale_Robertson
The Google Play #JUNOS commercials are hilarious!!! Love impromptu fist pump solos!
—@ScarlettKol
Love the Google Play Music ad featuring people singing @theweeknd's song! #JUNOS
—@CanBlogHouse