Junos a class act

An award show is usually just an award show, but we can take pride in the presentation offered Sunday night in Vancouver by Canada’s music industry.

Do we dare say the 2018 Juno Awards were a class act?

Beginning with a straight-from-the-heart moment by host Michael Buble, he thanked last year’s hosts for stepping in at the last moment for him, as he took a career hiatus to care for his sick child. Buble then announced that his wife was expecting their third child.

If this was the Golden Globes or Grammys, the opening monologue would have included a Hedley joke. (The band, which voluntarily withdrew its three nominations, was never mentioned.)

Montreal’s Arcade Fire, a band that’s achieved global stardom, is still not too big for the Junos. They kicked off the music with a spirited performance of “Everything Now,” which hit No. 1 on the U.S. Billboards singles chart. (By comparison, when was the last time Justin Bieber popped by the Junos? Video acceptance speeches don’t count.)

The show paid homage to the past with a loving tribute to Gord Downie (posthumously voted Artist of the Year), as well as the future with a duet by newcomers Jessie Reyez and Daniel Caesar, both who were winners, Sunday night.

We were given a lesson on forgiveness by The Barenaked Ladies of all people. Steven Page, who more or less hasn’t spoken with his four former bandmates in nearly a decade, reunited with them and everyone appeared to be having a great time. (Compare this with Peter Cetera, who didn’t show up when Chicago was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, apparently because he was dissatisfied with the proposed set list.)

BNL’s Jim Creeggan thanked all of Canada’s music teachers for inspiring young musicians. (Nice touch.)

It’s also great to see the Junos bring back the comedy category, one they discontinued after Bob and Doug McKenzie’s act became stale.

Once upon a time, the Junos were considered a joke in the industry. Anne Murray won every year and she, like many others, never bothered to show up. Greatest hits packages would win Album of the Year.

Canadian radio stations found it hard to find suitable Can-Con (Canadian content) to fill their mandates.

That’s no longer the case. Canadian pop, rock, folk and country music dominates the airwaves globally — just not here in the great, white north. — Valley editor James Miller