CALGARY -- Feist won 1-2-3-4-5 Junos last night, sweeping the annual Canadian music awards in her hometown.
The alt-folk-pop singer-songwriter -- who was born in Amherst, N.S., but was raised in Calgary and currently resides in Toronto -- picked up Juno Awards last night in the top categories of album of the year (for The Reminder) and single of the year, for her breakout hit 1234, pronounced 1-2-3-4.
That song became a huge hit last year when the video was used in an iPod Nano commercial, which led to her getting four Grammy Award nominations earlier this year (although she didn't win any of those).
"I'd just like to say that when I lived in Calgary, my band Placebo used to open for The Smalls," Feist said while picking up her single-of-the-year trophy from former Smalls frontman and Albertan Corb Lund. "Corby Lund, everybody! Let's play cards later!"
During last night's ceremonies at the Pengrowth Saddledome -- broadcast live on CTV -- Feist also won for pop album of the year. She grabbed her first two Junos (for best artist and songwriter of the year) on Saturday night, when the majority of awards were handed out at a non-televised ceremony.
"What I really meant to say before is I'm so grateful, I'm very, very grateful," said Feist, who got teary during her second trip to the podium after embracing her mother in their seats. "And I meant to say thank you, I forgot to say that before, and then the nylon-string guitar came in and cut me off. It was terrible."
Feist's full name is Leslie Feist, but professionally she just goes by her last name.
Her five Juno wins meant she slayed her competition. Six-time nominee Celine Dion -- who was absent last night because she's touring -- and five-time nominee Avril Lavigne were both shut out. Lavigne did perform her hit song Girlfriend and arrives in Toronto tonight for a soldout show at the Air Canada Centre.
The other big nominee heading into the weekend was Vancouver crooner Michael Buble, who was up for five Junos but won just one -- the Doritos Juno Fan Choice Award.
"This is huge," Buble said. "I'm so proud to be a Canadian. And I'd like to thank Doritos for making such tasty treats. Sometimes when I eat them, my fingers, they go orange, but it's worth it. This is for all those people that said I couldn't vote for myself enough times to win!"
Backstage, Buble continued the Doritos feeding theme.
"I just learned when you're eating them, you should never watch dirty movies afterwards," he said to laughs from reporters. "I thought something was really wrong with me. That's so disgustingly high class."
There weren't many other multiple winners besides Feist.
Toronto alt-country-pop veterans Blue Rodeo went three-for-three in their categories. Last night they won for group of the year, after winning for best adult alternative album (for Small Miracles) and best video (for C'mon) on Saturday.
Calgary country star Paul Brandt won best country recording for Risk last night, after winning the Allan Walters Humanitarian Award on Saturday night for his work with sick children both at home and abroad.
Buzz band and East Coast indie rockers Wintersleep were named best new group.
Anne Murray was up for two Junos -- her all-star Duets collection was up for both album of the year and pop album -- but Feist won in both of those categories. Murray performed a medley of Duets songs last night with Calgary's Jann Arden and Brit star Sarah Brightman.
Toronto rock trio Triumph was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Backstage, singer-guitarist Rik Emmett half-joked that if they're all still getting along after playing two rock festivals in June and July, they'll consider a North American tour in the fall.
