Canadian Cover Content #7: Juno Weekend, Part II

As it turns out almost all of the Juno awards were given out last night at a gala dinner except for the 7 major awards in the televised portion, which is on tonight hosted by comedian Russell Peters. Feist already claimed two Junos for Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. She's also up for three more tonight. Blue Rodeo was the other double-winner for Adult Alternative Album and Best Video. The Arcade Fire's Neon Bible won for Best Alternative Album. I was rooting for Serena Ryder and she did in fact win for New Artist of the Year. Way to go! There's too many to mention, but a PDF of the non-broadcast winners can be looked at here.

Serena Ryder - Good Morning Sunshine (remix) [originally from the musical Hair (MacDermot/Rado/Ragni)]
The music of Hair was written by Montréal-born Galt MacDermot with lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni. I wouldn't have realized the Canadian connection without this cover from Serena Ryder's collection of covers by Canadian songwriters If Your Memory Serves You Well. The alternate mix of Good Morning Starshine is a hidden track on the album.

Boy Kill Boy - Maneater [originally by Nelly Furtado]
Panic! at the Disco - Maneater [originally by Nelly Furtado]
Richard Clapton - I'm Like a Bird [originally by Nelly Furtado]
Nelly Furtado - Crazy [originally by Gnarls Barkley]
Last year, Nelly Furtado hosted the Junos and ended up sweeping all 5 of her nominations. This year the only category she's up for is the Fan Choice Award, though she is a "friend" on the multi-nominated Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends.

Rufus Wainwright - Puttin' on the Ritz [originally by Irving Berlin]
Rufus was up for Adult Alternative Album and Songwriter of the Year, going home empty-handed after last night's ceremony. This cover is from his Rufus Does Judy At Carnegie Hall live album where he re-created Judy Garland's 1961 Carnegie Hall concert backed by an orchestra with special guests, including a duet with Judy's daughter Lorna Luft.

Relient K - Manic Monday [originally by The Bangles; written by Prince]
I didn't know Relient K were Canadian... and they're not really. Lead singer/songwriter Matthew Thiessen was born in Ontario before moving to Ohio at an early age, meeting best friends and future band mates Matt Hoopes and Brian Pittman in elementary school. So I guess there's enough Canadian blood in the band to satisfy Juno criteria. They were up for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year, which was won by Brian Doerksen. This is from a Punk Goes 80's compilation.

Holly Cole with Bob Belden - Purple Rain [originally by Prince]
From the jazz tribute album Blue Note Plays Prince. Holly Cole was up for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year, which was won by Sophie Milman.

Jake Shimabukuro - My Heart Will Go On [originally by Celine Dion]
Celine Dion - I Wish [originally by Stevie Wonder]
Universally loved and hated, I debated about including some Celine, but she is Canadian and she does lead all nominees with 6 nominations. I'm a fan of ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro so if you've been looking for a palatable version of the Titanic theme, here you go. Plus, her Stevie Wonder cover gives you the rare opportunity to hear Celine Dion reminisce about her days as a "nappy-headed boy".

Tegan and Sara - Rebel Rebel (featuring Grace Nocturnal) [originally by David Bowie]
Tegan and Sara were in a tough category for Alternative Album of the Year with Arcade Fire (who won), Holy Fuck, Patrick Watson, and Wintersleep rounding out the nominees. This Bowie cover is from all-girls The Spiders From Venus compilation released by the soon-to-be-defunct label Skipping Discs, though it's still available on CD Baby.

The Arcade Fire - Five Years [originally by David Bowie]
While we're on the topic of The Arcade Fire, Bowie, and compilations... here's The Arcade Fire's live cover of Five Years from the 2-disc Bowie cover compilation .2 Contamination.