Top Five Reasons I Love The Junos

By Nicole V.

We all know music award shows are boring. They’re too long and too formal, and even though the awards most people don’t care about are presented in the non-televised portion, it still feels like a lot of filler. Still, I always watch portions of both the Grammys and the Canadian version, the Junos, every year.

Ben Mulroney © CTV

As music fans in Canada, we’re subject to being overshadowed by almost everything musically popular in the United States and these dog-and-pony awards shows are no exception. So although the relevance and entertainment value of each show could be argued (or mutually agreed upon as just plain dumb), much is said about the Grammys, and little about the Junos. Since I am a good and loyal Canadian music fan, but dislike awards shows, here are the top five recently-noticed things about the Junos that make them frustrating, but modestly Canadian, and therefore super extra loveable. . . even if by guilt and default.

1. The blissful ignorance to common, repeated absurdities such as the host of the show being the primary award nominee and recipient (Nelly Furtado last year). Or scheduling the obvious Feist and Avril Lavigne (and the confusing Anne Murray) as performers instead of multiple-nominated, much-hyped newcomers Wintersleep, who would have filled a noticeable indie rock void in this year’s performance segments. These are small areas where there is room for taking the road less traveled, yet, the Junos have remained the same show with the same names every year for the past decade.

2. The “International Album of the Year” award (aka, the Popular and High-Charting American album of the Year Award) is always given a more prestigious announcement placement in the ceremony. In other words, they announce Album of the Year (which in Juno-speak is always a Canadian nominee) before International Album of the Year. Basically the Junos are admitting that even though this is a Canadian Award show honoring Canadian artists, they still are not as important as the big time hit makers from the States. Way to shoot yourself in the foot, Junos.

Photo © CBC

3. Alanis Morissette hosted the show in 2004 and they let her do this. I don’t even remember what the “joke” was. I don’t want to.

4. Aside from a songwriting nomination, the shunning of Joel Plaskett for his 2007 release Ashtray Rock is completely unacceptable especially when Anne Murray is performing. Way to break new ground, Junos. No, award shows don’t “matter,” but I refuse to believe there even a small part of you doesn’t feel a parental sort of pride when your favorite artist is nominated or wins. I guess there are always the East Coast Music Awards, which recently awarded Plaskett with six honors. (I know, I know—the ECMAs are the dumb, possibly-inbred cousin of the Junos, and who else were they going to give those awards to? But still, I have a soft spot for Joel Plaskett. Thanks for nothing Junos!)

5. Ben Mulroney on the red carpet. He’s just so. . . orange.

Of course the Grammys have a few advantages that lend themselves to a more professional award show—higher production budgets, bigger selection of popular artists in every category to nominate and honor—but that doesn’t make them better. It’s like a dog pawing at a kitchen cupboard, trying to get a treat: you could watch him struggle and think about how much easier it could be for you to open the door, but it isn’t a question of which of you is better and which of you is worse.

You and the dog, you’re just. . . different.