2007 Juno nominations list

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This article was published 06/02/2007 (6998 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TORONTO (CP) – Hip-shaking songstress Nelly Furtado will not only be hosting this year’s Juno Awards – she’ll also have a shot at winning five trophies.

Furtado, the British Columbia-raised singer who has had a remarkable career resurgence this year with her chart-topping album “Loose,” led the list of nominees announced Tuesday along with rockers Billy Talent and hip-hop star k-os, who also received five nods apiece.

“Nelly Furtado is going to show a side of herself that no one has seen before,” said John Brunton, the “Canadian Idol” executive producer who will also helm this year’s Juno show.

“Strap your seatbelts on. It’s going to be sexier than you’ve ever seen her before.”

Triple nominees include Sarah Harmer, Quebec recording star Gregory Charles, francophone band Malajube, and Hedley – the hard-driving outfit fronted by former “Idol” contestant Jacob Hoggard.

Hoggard was not the only Idol alum nominated Tuesday. Eva Avila, who won last year’s edition of the televised singing contest, and 2005 winner Melissa O’Neil are both up for new artist of the year.

Alberta rockers Nickelback received nods for songwriter of the year and the fan choice award.

The 2007 Juno Awards will be staged April 1 at Saskatoon’s Credit Union Centre and broadcast live on CTV.

In recent years, the awards have been held in various locations across Canada, including Ottawa, Edmonton, Winnipeg and – last year – Halifax. The strategy to take the show on the road has been a resounding success, generating fan buzz in the host cities.

This year that trend will no doubt continue with Furtado as host. The singer, after all, began her career in 2001 as a Juno darling, taking home a slew of trophies for her debut album, “Whoa, Nelly.”

Her subsequent release, “Folklore,” did not have the same success, prompting some to wonder if Furtado was a flash in the pan. But the singer re-emerged with a vengeance earlier this year with “Loose” and a new sexed-up image that surprised many of her fans.

In Saskatoon, “Promiscuous” – her smash hit featuring Timbaland – will vie for single of the year. Furtado is also up for album of the year, artist of the year, pop album of the year and for a fan’s choice award.

Jim Cuddy, the Blue Rodeo front man who was nominated Tuesday for single of the year for “Pull Me Through” and adult alternative album of the year for “The Light That Guides You Home,” said moving the show around the country is “the best thing the Junos ever did.”

“When it was too Toronto-centric, I think musicians from the West and the East thought ‘What’s the point? Why would we go all the way to Toronto?’ ” he said.

K-os is no stranger to the Junos, with nine previous nominations and a handful of trophies. This time around he got nods for single of the year, songwriter of the year, pop album of the year and video of the year. He’s also nominated for a producing award.

Billy Talent, meanwhile, has three previous Juno wins. The Toronto-based band is nominated for single of the year for “Devil in a Midnight Mass,” album of the year, group of the year, rock album of the year and video of the year.

While previous Juno nominee lists have left some critics scratching their heads, CBC Radio personality Jian Ghomeshi had praise for this year’s roster of finalists.

“It’s a pretty eclectic list. There are names that are good to see there – Patrick Watson (a nominee for new artist of the year), Malajube, newer bands that I think people should get to know. Good to see Billy Talent, who put out a great record, getting recognized for that. K-os put out a good record, getting recognized for that.”

The nominees are selected based on a combination of sales and votes from members of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

The academy also announced Tuesday that producer Bob Rock will be this year’s inductee to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

Some of the key categories in the 2007 Juno nominations announced Tuesday:

Artist of the Year: Diana Krall; Gregory Charles; Loreena McKennitt; Nelly Furtado; Pierre Lapointe.

Group of the Year: Alexisonfire; Billy Talent; Hedley; the Tragically Hip; Three Days Grace.

Single of the Year: “Devil in a Midnight Mass,” Billy Talent; “All I Can Do,” Chantal Kreviazuk; “Pull Me Through,” Jim Cuddy; “Sunday Morning,” k-os; “Promiscuous,” Nelly Furtado (featuring Timbaland).

Album of the Year: “Billy Talent II,” Billy Talent; “I Think of You,” Gregory Charles; “Hedley,” Hedley; “Loose,” Nelly Furtado; “ONE-X,” Three Days Grace.

New Artist of the Year: Eva Avila; Melissa O’Neil; Neverending White Lights; Patrick Watson; Tomi Swick.

New Group of the Year: Evans Blue; Idle Sons; Jets Overhead; Mobile; Stabilo.

Rock Album of the Year: “Billy Talent II,” Billy Talent; “Tomorrow Starts Today,” Mobile; “Chemical City,” Sam Roberts; “Never Hear the End of It,” Sloan; “World Container,” the Tragically Hip.

Country Recording of the Year: “Big Wheel,” Aaron Pritchett; “Love & Negotiation,” Carolyn Dawn Johnson; “Doc Walker,” Doc Walker; “Countrified,” Emerson Drive; “Somebody Wrote Love,” George Canyon.

Rap Recording of the Year: “The Frenzy of Renown,” Arabesque; “Hitch Hikin’ Music,” Classified; “Organic Music for a Digital World,” DL Incognito; “The Answer,” Rich London; “Black Magic,” Swollen Members.

Adult Alternative Album of the Year: “The Light That Guides You Home,” Jim Cuddy; “When the Angels Make Contact,” Matt Mays; “Living With War,” Neil Young; “Time Being,” Ron Sexsmith; “I’m a Mountain,” Sarah Harmer.

Alternative Album of the Year: “Skelliconnection,” Chad VanGaalen; “Sometimes,” City and Colour; “Return to the Sea,” Islands; “Trompe-l’Oeil,” Malajube; “Not Saying/Just Saying,” Shout Out Out Out Out.

Pop Album of the Year: “Ghost Stories,” Chantal Kreviazuk; “Atlantis: Hymns for Disco,” k-os; “Loose,” Nelly Furtado; “Wintersong,” Sarah McLachlan; “Stalled Out in the Doorway,” Tomi Swick.

International Album of the Year: “Taking the Long Way,” Dixie Chicks; “Ancora,” Il Divo; “FutureSex/LoveSounds,” Justin Timberlake; “Confessions on a Dance Floor,” Madonna; “Stadium Arcadium,” Red Hot Chili Peppers.

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A full list of nominees can be found at www.junoawards.ca.