Nelly Furtado Makes Clean Sweep At Juno Awards

04/02/07 6:00pm

by Steve McLean (CHARTattack)

SASKATOON — Have you had enough of Nelly Furtado yet?

The Victoria-raised, Toronto-based artist was everywhere over the Juno Awards weekend. Not only did she host Sunday night's televised show, she filled more camera time while accepting three awards. She picked up two more on Saturday during the non-televised portion of the two-part ceremony, making a liar out of another five-time nominee, K-OS.

K-OS had earlier told ChartAttack that he was "gonna kick Nelly's ass," but she won in every category that she was nominated in and he had to drown his sorrows empty-handed.

Furtado won the Juno Fan Choice Award, artist of the year and best single prize for "Promiscuous," while Loose was named best album and pop album.

Hard rockers Billy Talent also received five nominations, and took two awards, making them the only other multiple winners. They were named top group and Billy Talent II was chosen as best rock album.

Furtado opened Sunday's telecast while suspended high above the Credit Union Centre's floor. She started singing "I'm Like A Bird," but aborted it after she collided with a streamer and started flailing away until she was awkwardly lowered to the stage. Unfortunately for Furtado, it wasn't her last awkward moment. She giggled frequently throughout the evening and was involved in a few lame comedy bits, including a couple taped segments involving an amorous Michael Buble. Furtado seemed more in her element when performing a medley of the hits from Loose, with Saukrates subbing in for Timbaland on "Promiscuous."

There were no political statements or anything that could be considered controversial during the acceptance speeches, unless you're the type of person to be shocked by the mohawked Haydain Neale thanking his wife for "putting up with so much shit over the years" after Jacksoul won the R&B/soul recording prize for MySoul.

Performance-wise, Billy Talent opened things up with "Devil In A Midnight Mass." K-OS, perhaps sensing that he wouldn't be adding any statuettes to his mantle, smashed his guitar at the end of "Sunday Morning." Bob Rock, who was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame by The Tragically Hip's Gord Downie, joined the band on guitar for their performance of "You're Not The Ocean." City And Colour and Alexisonfire ably pulled off a combined performance.

Other performers included Three Days Grace, Patrick Watson and Gregory Charles, but the most inspiring of all came right at the end of the show when DJ Champion and his band got everybody in the house — including Furtado — dancing as the closing credits came up.

For a complete list of winners, please visit the Canadian Academy Of Recording Arts And Sciences' website. But here are the winners that we think you'll care about most:
Juno Fan Choice Award: Nelly Furtado
Group: Billy Talent
New Artist: Tomi Swick
Single: Nelly Furtado — "Promiscuous"
R&B/Soul Recording: Jacksoul —MySoul
Rock Album: Billy Talent — Billy Talent II
Album: Nelly Furtado — Loose
International Album: Dixie Chicks — Taking The Long Way
Artist: Nelly Furtado
New Group: Mobile
Songwriter: Gordie Sampson
Rap Recording: Swollen Members — Black Magic
Adult Alternative Album: Jim Cuddy — The Light That Guides You Home
Alternative Album: City And Colour — Sometimes
Pop Album: Nelly Furtado — Loose
Dance Recording: Tiga — Sexor
Video: Duplex — "Bridge To Nowhere" (Sam Roberts)
Music DVD: Andy Keen, Sarah Harmer, Patrick Sambrook — Escarpment Blues (Sarah Harmer)