Juno Awards 2022: Live music and Simu Liu guide ceremony to safe landing

Juno Awards 2022: Live music and Simu Liu guide ceremony to safe landing

The 51st Juno Awards brought the new music again to a stay audience on Sunday and marked a triumphant return for the beleaguered ceremony celebrating Canadian talent.

Organizers put on a restricted and extraordinary entertainment showcase in Toronto from the start off, and managed to not only retain every thing jogging, but also to hold it interesting — no signify feat for a production years removed from its previous are living edition.

On Sunday evening, Montreal’s Charlotte Cardin capped a stellar demonstrating as this year’s major winner, Ontario’s Arkells nabbed best team for a historic fifth time in the span of a decade, and stay new music reigned as soon as again.

With high-energy performances by everybody from Avril Lavigne to Arkells, it was a definitive return for are living tunes at the yearly function. Held virtually the past two a long time (immediately after 2020’s event in Saskatoon was cancelled) due to COVID-19, this year’s ceremony marked the very first in-human being exhibit due to the fact 2019. 

It was also the first-at any time Junos show held outdoor, a strategy organizers hoped would let the night to go in advance no make a difference what, if any, pandemic restrictions have been introduced. 

Observe | Juno Awards 2022: Stars strike the purple carpet:

Juno Awards 2022: Stars strike the red carpet

Singers Shawn Mendes, Avril Lavigne and more walked the crimson carpet at the 2022 Juno Awards.

That plan finished up yielding an extraordinary selection of performances from some of the biggest names in Canadian new music. Pop-punk legend Lavigne done a medley of old songs from her initial album Let Go as perfectly as new kinds, singing hits Difficult, Girlfriend, Sk8er Boi and I am With You, 20 years after the album debuted and 19 decades just after her very first Juno nomination.

From there, the night switched back again and forth among awards, and pretty much way too many performances to count. That included the prior night’s winner for alternative album of the yr, Mustafa, offering a choir-backed edition of his stripped-down, acoustic track Keep Alive, Haviah Mighty belting a mashup of her tracks So So and Protest, Arcade Hearth undertaking their new tune Unconditional I (Lookout Child), and Saskatchewan’s Tesher even managing to rope Junos host Simu Liu into dancing along to his TikTok smash Jalebi Child.

View | Simu Liu opens 2022 Juno Awards: ‘I am Canadian’:

Simu Liu opens 2022 Juno Awards: ‘I am Canadian’

Host Simu Liu opened the 2022 Juno Awards with a extremely Canadian monologue, shelling out tribute to coming property.

But Liu’s involvement was no afterthought. The Shang-Chi superhero brought again are living internet hosting to the Junos in a massive way — top what Junos president and CEO Allan Reid known as a single of the most effective shows they have ever set on.

Liu started the night time with a sketch along with his outdated Kim’s Ease co-star Andrew Phung, just before relocating to jokes about Canadianisms (“It is pronounced bubble tea, Ok, not boba, bubble tea Goddammit!”), the pandemic (“Some nuts power Toronto — it can be nearly as if you have been cooped up for two many years straight”) and even Will Smith’s new moment at the Oscars. 

Soon after welcoming audiences to Toronto’s Budweiser Phase, Liu noted the exhibit was being broadcast stay, “So if everyone has at any time preferred to go viral … now’s your probability,” he challenged, mockingly tapping his cheek. “Occur on.”

Charlotte Cardin qualified prospects Juno winners

But instead of indignant actors, audiences have been taken care of to grateful musicians.

Charlotte Cardin cemented her frontrunner standing by taking dwelling album of the year for Phoenix. After winning solitary of the 12 months, pop album of the 12 months (also for Phoenix) and artist of the calendar year at a Gala occasion on Saturday, Sunday’s gain still left the Montreal singer-songwriter with four whole trophies — the most of any artist.

Charlotte Cardin retains an award statue for the duration of the 51st Juno Awards in Toronto. The Montreal singer-songwriter gained four Junos, which includes album of the yr. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

Arkells previously took property the award for group of the yr in 2021, 2019, 2015 and 2012 — all soon after profitable best new group in 2010. At the similar time, British Columbia’s Jessia rode a wave of recognition that began on TikTok to get the 2022 breakthrough artist of the calendar year (beating out other TikTok occur-ups 347aidan and Tesher) while Shawn Mendes received fan alternative — his fourth time undertaking so.

Haviah Mighty received most effective rap album/EP, an honour developed this year after the rap recording award was break up into two categories. Following Toronto’s Charmaine took house rap solitary on Saturday for her keep track of Bold, the two turned the very first women of all ages to get in the group previously dominated by males.

“For those people who have not heard of Haviah Mighty, I am going to be back again on the phase to show you why,” she mentioned after her rap album get, and only soon before returning for her effectiveness. “This a person is for girls in hip hop.”

Haviah Mighty performs at the Junos. The Toronto rapper won in the ideal rap Album/EP of the yr group. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

There was more to the night than the primary awards, however.

Toronto-born Deborah Cox was inducted into the Canadian New music Hall of Fame early in the evening, an accomplishment she explained as bittersweet in a pink carpet job interview with CBC, as it essential her to first journey outside Canada to discover fame and recognition.

Even even now, she claimed acquiring the honour — and starting to be the initial Black woman in the Canadian Audio Hall of Fame — was an critical stage forward. 

Deborah Cox was inducted into the Canadian Tunes Corridor of Fame for the duration of the Junos. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

“I’m truly motivated that this minute is just heading to springboard and inspire far more people today,” she explained. “Little women like me that did not have illustration to just get into this business, and have the very same option as any one else,” 

Mendes also took household a recognition — the Junos’ International Achievement Award.

In spite of getting a multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated singer, he sent an emotional acceptance speech about understanding to believe in himself. 

Watch | Shawn Mendes wins Worldwide Accomplishment Award:

Shawn Mendes wins International Achievement Award

The Pickering, Ont. singer talks about “becoming adequate” in his job.

“When I was youthful, I utilised to imagine — I definitely, actually thought — If I could just compose a single massive, strike tune, persons would like me, and then I would be plenty of,” he explained. 

“One thing that I know to be correct now is that I was enough before anyone understood my title. I am not standing right here to notify you to give up on your dreams, I’m just right here to inform you that although you are chasing them, really don’t forget about to get pleasure from the process. And don’t forget, you are by now enough.”

Snubs, surprises

Sunday’s function did see some stunning shutouts.

Together with the other TikTok stars, Mother Mom unsuccessful to get for group of the 12 months despite becoming catapulted back into the highlight by the app, almost 20 years next the launch of its first album. 

Toronto rapper Pressa — one of the primary nominees, up for 4 types — unsuccessful to choose property an award from the two types for which he was qualified Sunday: rap album or enthusiast preference.

Meanwhile, international star Justin Bieber was shut out the two nights. He was in the jogging for five awards — in the precise exact types as 2021. He missed out for admirer option — a group he has gained 5 moments in the earlier — and his album Justice misplaced to Cardin’s Phoenix.