The Canadian Press
CALGARY—International superstar the Weeknd is going to need a bigger trophy shelf.
The Toronto-born hit-maker won five Juno awards this weekend—three at a gala event held in Calgary on Saturday night and another two handed out during last night’s televised show.
The album of the year trophy for “Beauty Behind the Madness” and single of the year award for “Can’t Feel My Face” bring his career total to nine Junos.
The crowd rose to their feet as the R&B singer, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, accepted his second award of the night.
“I want to thank the fans,” he said after taking a moment to survey the crowd at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
“Without you I wouldn’t be here.
“And, of course, I want to thank my mom,” he added.
“Thank you for putting up with all my, uh, all my bull for so long.”
Among the other big winners was Justin Bieber, who won the fan choice and pop album of the year awards.
Bieber had other plans during the Junos: he was in L.A. yesterday to perform on the iHeartRadio Music Awards.
Bieber did send a 15-second video clip of himself sparring in a gym and briefly saying thanks for the award.
“Thank you to all my fans for all your support,” he said.
“You guys are awesome. I love you.”
The short clip didn’t appear to sit well with his fans, though. Boos rang out inside the auditorium after the perfunctory video was played.
Pop newcomer Alessia Cara won breakthrough artist of the year after opening the show with her hit “Here” and new single “Wild Things.”
“I was just telling my mom it really doesn’t feel like it’s happening,” Cara told reporters after the show.
“It hasn’t processed in my brain.”
Dean Brody’s “Gypsy Road” won country album of the year while Walk off the Earth collected the group of the year award.
Burton Cummings received a long, rousing standing ovation as he was honoured for his induction into the Canadian Hall of Fame for his solo work.
The former Guess Who frontman dedicated the award to Winnipeg—his hometown—shortly before returning to the stage as part of a tribute performance that also featured Jann Arden, Shawn Hook, and the Tenors.
After the show, Cummings said he was grateful for the performance and for kudos received from fellow musicians at the bash.
“I’d never met Nickelback before and now I think we’re actually pals,” he said from the media room, wearing a black button-up shirt emblazoned with a small Superman logo.
The fast-paced show featured performances from a number of established and rising Canadian artists who helped make 2015 a standout year on the charts for Canadian music.
The Weeknd, Shawn Mendes, and Bryan Adams were among the marquee performers.
The show began with a feisty monologue from co-hosts Arden and Jon Montgomery.
The singer and Olympic gold-medallist fired jokes back and forth about their memories of Calgary, where Arden was born.
Arden, as a second-time Juno host, also took a moment to draw links between the Olympics and the music business, highlighting at least one thing they don’t have in common.
“Thankfully in music, there is no drug testing or there wouldn’t be a single soul here tonight,” she said to cheers from the audience.
