The Toronto Post A Consolidated News Source
The show opened with a bang indeed! Nelly Furtado, who’s been out of the spotlight for a while, made a grand return with a mega music montage of all her hits. She seemed comfortable and was clearly enjoying herself on stage.
I was there at the Scotiabank Center, right behind me, to hear the roar as she took to the stage. You could see the smile on her face when she finished performing and introduced herself to Halifax. It was amazing to witness. She was followed by Anne Murray, known for classics like “Snowbird.”
Going from Nelly Furtado to Anne Murray showcased the powerful presence of women in music, a big theme at the Junos this week. Anne Murray, who remembered the first Junos, introduced the category Group of the Year, won by the powerful group of women from Toronto, The Beaches, with their hit “Blame Game.” They accepted the award with a message encouraging young girls to start bands with their best friends.
“This year’s talent is incredibly diverse,” remarked Eli.
“One of the big stories in Canadian music and music worldwide is that borders are coming down, and there are more global sounds on the music charts.” He highlighted Karen Angela, a Canadian Punjabi hip-hop artist who won The Fan Choice Award, showcasing the power of Punjabi music. Eli also noted the representation of indigenous artists in the Canadian music scene, with Jeremy Dutcher, an award-winning songwriter, highlighting the increase in nominees in various categories.
“Tonight’s winners also include Talk for Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Charlotte Cardin for Album of the Year,” Erica Eleniak Glasner reported, clearly enjoying herself at the Junos in Halifax tonight.
