Corey Hart delivers tearful speech at Junos
LONDON, Ont. — Corey Hart didn’t call it a comeback, but at the Juno Awards on Sunday the 1980s hitmaker proved his lengthy break from performing hasn’t stalled his stage presence.
The “Sunglasses at Night” singer-songwriter delivered an emotional speech as he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
“I believe music and love are the most enduring and powerful forces of good in the world,” Hart told the crowd after throwing his fist in the air as he stepped onto the Junos stage in London, Ont., with tears in his eyes.
“Without you my songs would have no home, and they would ultimately be unrequited and empty.”
Hart then closed out the Junos with a performance straight out of a retro playlist. He started with his ballad “Never Surrender” on piano, before jumping behind a microphone stand — and sliding on his shades — for a vibrant take on his timeless pop hit.
The performance capped off a diverse showcase of Canadian talent hosted by Sarah McLachlan that saw a list of marquee winners.
Pop superstar Shawn Mendes picked up album of the year, but he wasn’t able to attend the event because he’s on tour.
However, Mendes didn’t sit out the show entirely.
The Junos included a pre-recorded performance of “In My Blood” taped in Amsterdam on March 4, where he jokingly told the European audience to “try to sound Canadian.”
Hamilton-founded rock act Arkells won group of the year before hitting the stage to sing their rousing track “Hand Me Downs” amid a steady rain of confetti.
German-Canadian pop singer Bulow was named breakthrough artist, while Avril Lavigne picked up the fan choice award that’s voted on by viewers.
The Junos broadcast opened with Loud Luxury, the DJ pair who met at the city’s Western University. They welcomed the school’s marching band and cheerleaders to kick off the show with a bombastic performance of their dance hit “Body.”
Jeremy Dutcher performed “Sakomawit” from his album “Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa,” after winning the Indigenous music album award at a Saturday pre-telecast gala.
Last year’s breakthrough artist Jessie Reyez took home her second Juno for R&B/soul recording of the year.
A message of unity and love carried throughout the broadcast after host Sarah McLachlan opened the show at Budweiser Gardens with a subtle jab at U.S. President Donald Trump.
“You know when you live someplace peaceful and beautiful, and then you get a crazy neighbour?” McLachlan asked the crowd.
“And they start causing all sorts of trouble, like putting up weird walls, picking fights with all the other neighbours, telling your daughters how they should behave? All the while saying they’re making the area great again — and you just watch feeling helpless?”
McLachlan added that she hoped that neighbour would be gone by 2020, and conversation to a lighter place saying that music is “reminding us that we’re all in this together.”
Backstage, Dutcher spoke about the thrilling experience of performing in the Wolastoq language of his ancestors on national television.
“It feels like possibility,” he said. “Representation. These bodies on stage. I didn’t see that (growing up), so it gives me hope for what’s to come. Because kids now can go and see queerness, see Indigeneity, can see all of these beautiful diverse things on a stage — what kind of possibilities does that breathe into a life?”
Juno winners: Album of the Year: Shawn Mendes Group of the Year: Arkells Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Bulow Country Album of the Year: “We Were That Song” by Brett Kissel
R&B/Soul Recording of the Year: “Being Human in Public” by Jessie Reyez
Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee: Corey Hart
Fan Choice: Avril Lavigne