Bubl scores Juno triumph in St. John's

The Juno Awards showed Michael Bubl some love in St. John's on the weekend, crowning the B.C. crooner with four trophies.

Bubl picked up a trio of awards during the Juno Awards telecast Sunday evening, scoring trophies for best single, best album and the Juno Fan Choice Award.

"This is the best one," he said of the publicly voted Fan Choice Award, amid screams and cheers from the audience at the Mile One Centre in St. John's.

"The fans, without you, none of this happens I love you from the West Coast to the East, black, white, rich, poor gay, straight, thanks for the support. I love you."

Bubl's Crazy Love was named both album of the year and, on Saturday, best pop album. His chart-topping track Haven't Met You Yet which he performed at the beginning of the telecast won best single.

"I would like to thank Canadian radio for playing the heck out of this thing and all of you for listening," he said onstage.

The singer's four wins this weekend bring his total Juno tally to 10 trophies.

Toronto-based indie rock band Metric was also among the early winners Sunday night, when they were named group of the year. The trophy adds to the band's win on Saturday, when their fourth album Fantasies was named alternative album of the year.

Squeals greet Drake, Bieber

Toronto rap newcomer Drake beat out Stratford, Ont., teen sensation Justin Bieber for the title of best new artist, but acknowledged his fellow nominee in his speech (after thanking his mother).

The young rap star also picked up the rap recording award for So Far Gone.

"I do this because I believe in all forms of music that come from Canada. When I'm in the U.S.,I just let them know about the all hip-hop talent we have up here in Canada," Drake said when accepting the rap category, as he extended a shout-out to fellow nominees K'naan and Classified.

Drake, whoperformed solo near the end of theprogram, drew high-pitched squeals from female fans in St. John's earlier Sunday night when he teamed up withBieber and offered a rap interlude during an acoustic performance of the latter's ubiquitous song Baby.

K'naan rounded out Sunday night's winner's circle, adding the Juno for songwriter of the year to the artist of the year trophy he picked up at a non-televised gala Saturday night, when the majority of the Juno trophies were awarded.

"It's a real honour, a real pleasure," the Somali-born, Toronto-raised hip-hop artist said onstage.

"Last night I won one of these things and I'm just as baffled asI was then. Honestly, there is no greater dream than the one that comes true in the way of a song.I feel like you couldn't really write my story any better."

Performance-packed telecast

Nova Scotian rapper Classified kicked off Sunday night's Juno gala with an energetic outdoor performance of his hit Oh Canada that paved the way for a music-packed telecast that reflected some of Canada's top successes of the past year.

Many of this year's main nominees were on the performance bill, including Metric, Billy Talent, Great Lake Swimmers, Johnny Reid and Blue Rodeo.

Sunday night's gala is the culmination of nearly a week of Juno-related festivities in St. John's, from a myriad of concerts and artist appearances to the annual Juno Cup hockey game that pits musiciansagainst former NHLers.

The eveningalso included a tribute to Canadian rockers April Wine, the latest inductees into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. After acknowledging April Wine members past and present, frontman Myles Goodwyn thanked fans for "their love, their respect and their unwavering support."

K'naan, whose popular song Wavin' Flag was rerecorded to raise funds for Haitian relief, led a tribute to Bryan Adams, the 2010 winner of the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award. Adams spoke by satellite from London, where he was stranded because of volcanic ash from the Icelandic volcano eruption.

"It's a bit odd for me to be recognized for what countless people around the world do every day," he said, likening his high-profile charitable efforts to the people who raise funds for hospitals or donate to underprivileged children.

"I'd like to accept this award in your honour and for all those who don't have a voice the unsung heroes across the country."

The Juno Awards will celebrate its 40th anniversary edition in Toronto on March 27, 2011.