The Weeknd is making a strong comeback as the top Juno nominee this year, with newcomer Tate McRae and pop-punk favorite Avril Lavigne following close behind.
The Toronto author of Blinding Lights and of starboy earns six nominations in some of the main categories of the Juno Awards, an annual celebration of Canadian music. The Weeknd is notably a finalist in the album of the year categories with Dawn FMsong of the year with Sacrifice and artist of the year.
Dawn FM is also nominated for the pop album of the year, while The Weeknd, born Abel Tesfaye, will want to win the title of songwriter of the year and the TikTok public award, given following a viewer votes.
It’s a double for The Weeknd, who topped the list of Juno finalists in 2021 – he then won five trophies. But he didn’t show up for this “hybrid pandemic ceremony,” a mix of taped segments and live appearances.
We do not know if he will be present this time at the Rogers amphitheater in Edmonton, for the gala broadcast on Monday, March 13 on CBC and its Gem platform.
Other top Juno contenders include “pop-punk princess” Avril Lavigne, who will vie for the throne with queen of pop Tate McRae, both five-time finalists. The two singers compete in four of these categories: Songs, Album, Pop Album and People’s Choice.
Up-and-coming pop will be represented by Preston Pablo and Rêve, with three nominations each, as will rapper Nav.
Arcade Fire and Jean-Michel Blais
Finalists for Song of the Year include dick me of the vine, Flowers Need Rain by Pablo, She’s All I Wanna Be by McRae, When You’re Gone by Shawn Mendes and Sacrifice by The Weeknd.
In the category album of the year, The Weeknd will face Who Hurt You? by Ali Gatie, Love Sux of the vine, Demons Protected by Angels of Nav and I Used to Think I Could Fly by McRae.
Arcade Fire is a finalist in the “group of the year” category, which seems to be a vote of support from the Canadian music industry at a troubled time for the Montreal group. The singer, Win Butler, was the target of several allegations of sexual misconduct last year, which he denied.
Taylor Swift, meanwhile, reaffirmed her notoriety by appearing twice in the category “international album of the year”, which establishes its finalists according to the best sales and clicks in digital listening. She is in the running along with Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles and Lil Nas X. The winner is determined by a vote of the Juno Board of Directors.
On the French-speaking side, the album of the year could go to medium pleasure by Ariane Roy, Mercury in May by Daniel Belanger, PICTURA DE IPSE: Direct Music by Hubert Lenoir, Crash praise, or chic disco by Lisa LeBlanc.
The neo-classical record Aubadesby Quebec composer Jean-Michel Blais, is in the running for instrumental album of the year, while the group Le Vent du Nord is a finalist for 20 spring in the “traditional roots album” category.
Pierre Kwenders, who won the Polaris Prize last September, is in the running for the Juno for the “global music album” with his José Louis And The Paradox Of Love. Voivod is there too, for his metal album Synchro Anarchy.
In classical music, Quebec is honored. In the running for “the album of the year, large ensemble”, we find in particular: the Messiah of Händel interpreted by the Ensemble Caprice and the Ensemble Vocal Arts-Québec, with Karina Gauvin, the Metamorphoses of Strauss and the Symphony number 4 by Arvo Pärt, by the ensemble I Musici de Montréal (Jean-Marie Zeitouni), and Viola Borealis of the Agora Orchestra (Nicolas Ellis).
On the “small sets” side, we find: Waves and shadowsof the Collective9, Early Italian Cello Concertos – Elinor Freyat Analekta, and From the court of Louis XIV to Shippagan!including Suzie LeBlanc.
In addition, Montreal virtuoso Bruce Liu is nominated in the “solo classical album” category for the recording of his performances at the prestigious Frédéric-Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw, which he won in 2021.
Jessie Reyez, Alexisonfire and Aysanabee will perform at the gala, which will also host Tenille Townes, Nickelback and AP Dhillon, among others. The evening will be hosted by Canadian actor Simu Liu (the superhero Shang-Chi in the cinema).