TORONTO, ON (AP) — Canadian indie band Arcade Fire followed their huge victories at the Grammys and Brit awards by capturing four Juno awards including album of the year for "The Suburbs" and group of the year at the Canadian music awards ceremony Sunday night.
After the rockers' surprise Grammy for best album of the year and Brit award win for best international album, it would have been shocking if the critic darlings didn't snag a Juno for the success of their album in the country they call home and where they initially built their fan base.
"We're truly overwhelmed," said the band's gangly multi-instrumentalist, Richard Reed Parry in Toronto's Air Canada Center where the Junos were held. "Thank you everybody. Thank you to Montreal, our home where we all live, and thanks to Toronto."
"Toronto is one of the first places we had, like, really exciting shows and felt like something crazy might be about to happen. And something did. So thanks for being there with us."
The rock outfit also won best alternative album of the year and songwriter of the year, leaving them short of just one win out of their five nominations.
"The Suburbs" beat out pint-sized pop star Justin Bieber's "My World 2.0," Drake's "Thank Me Later," Hedley's "The Show Must Go On," and "A Place Called Love."
But the side-swept coifed Bieber did not go home empty-handed. The 17-year-old teen-pop titan won the first two Juno awards of his career for pop album of the year and the Juno fan choice award.
Unfortunately for millions of his tween devotees watching the televised show, the platinum-selling, pop crooner from Ontario couldn't appear in person to collect his trophies due to a scheduling demand overseas.
"I want to thank everybody so much for believing in me," said Bieber, via a video message. "Most of all, I want to thank my mom for raising me in Canada."
But the news wasn't as good for 24-year-old rapper and Juno host Drake, who entered the weekend with a leading six nominations, but wound up heading home empty-handed. In a surprise win, Canadian hip-hop artist Shad took the prize for best rap recording of the year for his album "TSOL," beating out internationally renowned Drake.
"Wow. I'm very surprised. This is like the Emmy going to Theo's friend Cockroach or something," said Shad, making a funny "Cosby Show" reference.
The Junos, which celebrated its 40th anniversary, gave a significant shout out to veteran artist Neil Young, 65, who claimed the prize for artist of the year, adult alternative album of the year for "Le Noise" and a humanitarian award. Young won his first Grammy this year for his music for best rock song for "An Angry World."
"It's just totally incomprehensible that I'm here. But it's a great honor. Thank you very much everybody. I really appreciate it. O Canada!" said the rock legend in reference the country's national anthem.
Beloved country-pop singer Shania Twain, 45, also received a significant pat on the back as she was ushered into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame with an introduction speech from Bryan Adams, who called Twain a "Canadian treasure," and video testimonials from Taylor Swift and Anne Murray.
"Thank you so much," said the singer, clad in a sparkling sleeveless gown. "I really am turning into such a sap. But this is just a very beautiful moment for me. I'm really so proud of Canada's talent."
2011 Juno Award Winners
ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR
The Suburbs Arcade Fire Sonovox*F.A.B.
INTERNATIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Teenage Dream Katy Perry Capitol*EMI
NEW GROUP OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY FACTOR AND RADIO STARMAKER FUND)
Said The Whale Hidden Pony*EMI
COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY COUNTRY STYLE)
A Place Called Love Johnny Reid Johnny Mac*EMI
ADULT ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY GALAXIE, YOUR MUSICAL UNIVERSE)
Le Noise Neil Young Reprise*Warner
ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY RECORDING ARTISTS’ COLLECTING SOCIETY – A DIVISION OF
ACTRA)
Vancouver Matthew Good Universal
VOCAL JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY CRYSTAL SENSATIONS)
Nina Kellylee Evans Plus Loin*SRI
CONTEMPORARY JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY WORLD VISION ARTIST ASSOCIATES)
Treelines Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra Justin Time*EMI
TRADITIONAL JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Our First Set John MacLeod’s Rex Hotel Orchestra Exquisite
INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Continent & Western Fond of Tigers Drip Audio*Fontana North
FRANCOPHONE ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Les chemins de verre Karkwa Audiogram*Select
CHILDREN’S ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Proud Like a Mountain Peter Lenton Two Heartbeats
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: SOLO OR CHAMBER ENSEMBLE
Beethoven : Piano Trios Op. 70 No. 1, Ghost & No. 2: Op 11 Gryphon Trio Analekta* Select
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: LARGE ENSEMBLE OR SOLOIST(S) WITH LARGE
ENSEMBLE ACCOMPANIMENT
Mozart: Scott and Lara St. John/The Knights Lara St. John Ancalagon*Allegro
CLASSICAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: VOCAL OR CHORAL PERFORMANCE
Great Operatic Arias Gerald Finley Chandos*SRI
CLASSICAL COMPOSITION OF THE YEAR
Duo For Violin And Piano R. Murray Schafer WILD BIRD Centrediscs*CMC
RAP RECORDING OF THE YEAR
TSOL Shad Black Box*Fontana North2011 JUNO AWARD WINNERS – Non Broadcast
DANCE RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Sofi Needs a Ladder Deadmau5 Ultra*EMI
R&B/SOUL RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Stars Quanteisha Independent
REGGAE RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Likkle But Mi Tallawah Elaine Lil’Bit Shepherd D’Maestro Music*Independent
ABORIGINAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY ABORIGINAL PEOPLES TELEVISION NETWORK)
CerAmony CerAmony Independent
ROOTS & TRADITIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: SOLO
My Hands Are On Fire and Other Love Songs Old Man Luedecke Black Hen*Fontana North
ROOTS & TRADITIONAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: GROUP
La part du feu Le Vent du Nord Borealis*Universal
BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Everywhere West Jim Byrnes Black Hen*Fontana North
CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN/GOSPEL ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Love & the Lack Thereof Greg Sczebel Soultone*Fontana North
WORLD MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY CANADA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS)
Aksil Élage Diouf Tacca*Unidisc
JACK RICHARDSON PRODUCER OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY SLAIGHT MUSIC)
Daniel Lanois “Hitchhiker” LE NOISE -Neil Young Reprise*Warner | “I Believe in You” BLACK DUB – Black Dub
Jive*Sony
RECORDING ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
Kevin Churko “Let It Die” | “Life Won’t Wait” SCREAM – Ozzy Osbourne Epic*Sony
RECORDING PACKAGE OF THE YEAR
Justin Peroff, Charles Spearin, Robyn Kotyk & Joe McKay (Art Directors/Designers); Jimmy Collins &
Elisabeth Chicoine (Photographers)
Forgiveness Rock Record Vinyl Box Set BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE Arts & Crafts*EMI
VIDEO OF THE YEAR (SPONSORED BY VEVO)
Perfect Kyle Davison HEDLEY Universal
MUSIC DVD OF THE YEAR
Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage Scot McFadyen, Sam Dunn, Pegi Cecconi, Noah Segal, Shelley Nott, John
Virant RUSH Alliance
ELECTRONIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Swim Caribou Merge*F.A.B.
