Juno Awards 2021: The Weeknd emerges as big winner at virtual closing night

And when rapper The Weeknd emerged as the major winner, his achievement wasn’t the only noteworthy moment. Presenters from actor Will Arnett to Shania Twain came collectively for a mostly glitch-absolutely free showcase that observed outstanding productions and surprising wins. And in some conditions, a surprise in who we did not see at all. 

The Weeknd’s sweep

Coming into the awards with the most nominations, R&B singer The Weeknd cemented his location as chief. But even with his triumphant night, the artist was a no-clearly show. A lot of other stars accepted their awards by movie feed, but the singer was remarkably absent, and didn’t make an physical appearance for either of his wins, including artist of the year and album of the year for Right after Hours.

Which includes his wins from the ceremony’s opening night on Friday, The Weeknd ultimately came away with five wins out of six nominations. The only award he dropped was viewers-voted fan selection, which went to Shawn Mendes. Not only was it a thrilling sweep for the musician who was entirely shut out of the 2021 Grammys, he is the only act at this year’s Junos to get extra than a solitary award. 

That signifies a handful of artists, Justin Bieber, Jessie Reyez and JP Saxe, who all trailed The Weeknd with 5 nominations, arrived away with just one earn every single. It was a bit of a disappointment for Saxe, who impressively garnered people nominations in his first year at the ceremony.

Saxe beat out restricted competitiveness in the classification he won — breakthrough artist of the 12 months — as TikTok superstars Tate McRae, Powfu and Curtis Waters had been in the jogging. They have all viewed large results in the two streams and album profits, which account for 50 for each cent of the final decision-making to decide a winner in the classification.

Massive title performances

The ceremonies kicked off with a functionality by Justin Bieber singing Any individual from his new album Justice. It was his initially visual appearance at the present since he and Drake played a rendition of Little one at the 2010 Juno Awards. But, like The Weeknd, the singer did not make an appearance to acknowledge his Juno for pop album of the year. 

Bieber’s performance helped get started the present off on a fantastic foot, and established the tone for what was to occur. By award-show benchmarks, Sunday’s Junos included very few types: most of the trophies ended up handed out Friday night time, so that by Sunday, just seven of the show’s 44 main awards remained.

That gave the more than two hour-long show enough time for its significant title — though pre-taped — mini-live shows.  

Look at | Justin Bieber performes Any individual at 50th Once-a-year Juno Awards:

Justin Bieber performs “Anyone” at the 2021 Juno Awards. It really is his very first efficiency at the awards because his 2010 effectiveness of “Newborn.” 2:59

Lots of of individuals performances took location at outstanding Canadian venues, a clearly show component that experienced been in issue in the lead-up to the awards due to Ontario’s restriction on indoor performances. In the close, the really developed reveals have been permitted and took position in areas this sort of as Rebel nightclub in Toronto and the Countrywide Songs Centre in Calgary.

Other musicians who took to the stage for Sunday’s display included breakthrough artist winner JP Saxe, Canadian New music Corridor of Fame inductee Jann Arden, TikTok stars Ali Gatie and Tate McRae and more.

And closing out the night was a bombshell crew-up among Feist and The Tragically Hip, playing the song It is really a Fantastic Life If You You should not Weaken. It was the group’s first televised overall performance because the death of frontman Gord Downie.

Observe | The Tragically Hip and Feist complete It is a Excellent Life If You Really don’t Weaken:

The Tragically Hip’s Paul Langlois, Rob Baker, Gord Sinclair and Johnny Fay are joined by Feist at Toronto’s historic Massey Hall for a performance of their song “It is really a Superior Live If You Don’t Weaken” at the 2021 Juno Awards. 4:58

A hip-hop celebration for 30 many years of rap

1 of those seven performances experienced a bit more girth than the other individuals. In a tribute to the 30th anniversary of the rap recording group at the Junos, Canadian hip-hop royalty assembled for a celebration of how the genre has grown. 

Maestro Refreshing Wes, Jully Black, NAV, Kardinal Offishall and more arrived together for the segment, even though it was not all totally beneficial. 

From the Rebel nightclub in Toronto, section performer Kardinal Offishall observed the challenges rap artists have confronted in Canada — complications that, to some extent, persist currently. 

View | Hip-hop artists execute tribute for 30th anniversary of rap recording classification at the Juno Awards:

Michie Mee introduces a tribute to Canadian hip hop that includes Kardinal Offishall, DJ Starting from Scratch, Jully Black, Maestro New Wes, NAV, and Haviah Mighty at the 2021 Juno Awards. It is the 30th anniversary of the rap classification at the Junos. 7:48

“Irrespective of the deficiency of infrastructure to support rap songs in our personal yard, the Rascalz — along with Checkmate, Thrust, Choclaire and myself — found some elegance in the battle,” Offishall said between performances.

“Despite the issues we faced as rappers, we succeeded in bringing our up-North model to the rest of the earth.”

Grief and acknowledgements 

On Sunday, singer-songwriter Buffy Saint-Marie opened the show by asking for compassion following the the latest harrowing announcement by the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc To start with Country.

“It really is stunning to some persons and a revelation, but it really is not information to Indigenous people,” she mentioned, referring to the announcement that preliminary results from a study conducted by a specialist in floor-penetrating radar indicated the remains of what could be 215 little ones buried on the site of a former household faculty in Kamloops, B.C.

Look at | ‘The genocide standard to this country’s delivery is ongoing,’ says Buffy Sainte-Marie:

“The genocide basic to this country’s delivery is ongoing, and we need to experience it collectively. And I ask for your compassion,” Buffy Sainte-Marie explained all through the opening of the 2021 Juno Awards. She shipped a land acknowledgement as properly as a contact for truth of the matter and reconciliation when it will come to the record of household educational facilities in Canada. 1:22

“The genocide essential to this country’s birth is ongoing,” she continued. “We will need to encounter it together and I ask for your compassion.”

Later on in the display, singer-songwriter Susan Aglukark also described the Kamloops discovery, and acknowledged those who had lost their family customers.  

“We grieve with you, and we want you to know that they will not be forgotten,” she mentioned.

The Junos at first planned to take place months ago, but had been beset by delays because of to the pandemic. Before settling into the current day, they were postponed twice — first shifting from mid-March to May perhaps 16 because of to a spike in COVID-19 circumstances, and then yet again to June. 

At the opening night of the awards, Junos president Allan Reid declared upcoming year’s ceremonies will just take place in Toronto for an “in-individual” demonstrate. 

Assistance is readily available for any one affected by their encounter at residential schools and those people who are activated by the most up-to-date experiences.

A countrywide Indian Household College Crisis Line has been set up to provide assistance for former pupils and people afflicted. Persons can access emotional and crisis referral services by contacting the 24-hour countrywide crisis line: 1-866-925-4419.