Justin Bieber may still be angry about not being nominated for a Grammy, but he need not worry when it comes to being a JUNO awards nominee. He got plenty.
The 2013 JUNO Awards nominees were announced today (Feb. 19). The 42nd annual awards show celebrates the best of Canadian music. This year’s awards are stacked with many Canadian talents including Bieber (who has four nominations), The Weeknd, Billy Talent and Carley Rae Jepsen. Other Canadian artists you’d stereotypically expect to be included are Celine Dion, Michael Buble, K.D. Lang and Diana Krall.
Jepsen, who jumped from obscurity to superstardom last year with her hit ‘Call Me Maybe,’ tops off the list with five nominations. She’s also (not surprisingly) going to perform at the awards show. Toronto punk-rockers Billy Talent, Vancouver rockers Marianas Trench and host Michael Buble will perform as well.
Now, without further ado, here’s a short list of this year’s most contested JUNO Awards nominees:
Artist of the Year
Carly Rae Jepsen, Deadmau5, Johnny Reid, Justin Bieber, Leonard Cohen
No Canadian artist had a bigger break through year than Carly Ray Jepsen. As much of a legend as Leonard Cohen is and as popular as Deadmau5 proves to be, Carly Rae will most likely take the award on the power of that damn single.
Album of the Year
Carly Rae Jepsen: Kiss, Celine Dion: Sans Attendre, Hedley: Storms, Justin Bieber: Believe, Marianas Trench: Ever After
The Album of the Year category has some Canadian heavy hitters squaring off. It also features the youth versus the veterans. Realistically speaking, Celine Dion doesn’t stand a chance against the young guns. The kids love their Hedley, Bieber and Jepsen. Expect one of the young artists to take the trophy. Maybe the Junos will stick it to the Grammys and give Bieber the honours. Imagine that.
Single of the Year
Billy Talent Warner: Viking Death March, Carly Rae Jepsen: Call Me Maybe, Hedley: Kiss You Inside Out, Serena Ryder: Stompa, The Sheepdogs: The Way It Is
The Single of the Year category seems to be a jumble of genres. Comparing the Sheepdogs to Carly Rae Jepsen and Hedley is a tough feat. If the category is judged on popularity and sales, Carly Rae should be taking the stage to collect the hardware.
Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Cold Specks, Elisapie, Grimes, Arbutus, Kira Isabella, The Weeknd
A very cool category with a lot of Polaris Prize nominees. One of the indier categories for the Junos and one to look forward to. The Weeknd or Grimes deserve this one.
Group of the Year
Billy Talent, Marianas Trench, Metric, Rush, The Sheepdogs
Group of the year is an interesting category. A battle of the rock bands. If we’re choosing the winner of this award strictly on merit and how solid of an album they put out as a group, Metric should win. If the kids have their way, Marianas Trench will get it.
Breakthrough Group of the Year
Hey Ocean!, Monster Truck, The Pack a.d., Walk Off the Earth, Yukon Blonde
To be honest, the talent is a little thin for Breakthrough Canadian Group. Walk off the Earth and the hype over their Gotye cover will most likely battle Yukon Blonde for the trophy.
Pop Album of the Year
Carly Rae Jepsen: Kiss, Justin Bieber: Believe, Kristina Maria: Tell The World, Nelly Furtado: The Spirit Indestructible, Victoria Duffield: Shut Up and Dance
Best Canadian pop album should see label buddies Justin Bieber and Carly Rae Jepsen going neck-and-neck. At the end of the night, a Bieber triumph will most definitely occur.
Country Album of the Year
Chad Brownlee: Love Me Or Leave Me, Dallas Smith: Jumped Right In, Dean Brody: Dirt, Emerson Drive: Roll, Johnny Reid: Fire It Up
Yeehaw! Nobody loses in the best Canadian country album of the year award right? Right?
JUNO Fan Choice Award
Carly Rae Jepsen, Celine Dion, Drake, Hedley, Justin Bieber, Leonard Cohen, Marianas, Trench, Metric, Michael Buble, Nickelback
The Fan Choice Award seems to be a hodgepodge of the biggest names Canada had to offer over the past year. It seems a little bit confusing when trying to compare the artists and decipher who should win. Most talented? Biggest year? Best sales? It’s safe to assume that it will be a popularity contest that Bieber will inevitably win.
As always, the Juno Awards should be an interesting evening for Canadian music fans. The awards show will air on April 21.
Who are your favourites to win? Be sure to Tweet or Facebook us with your guesses.
