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Even five-time Juno nominee/performer Michael Buble admits the album of the year race at this year's awards in Halifax tomorrow night, (CTV, 7 p.m.) isn't representative of the best Canadian music had to offer in the last year.
The Vancouver crooner's It's Time is in the running against Diana's Krall's Christmas Songs, Nickelback's rawking All The Right Reasons and debut discs from Canadian Idols' Kalan Porter and Rex Goudie despite yet another banner year for indie rock and pop in our country. But the best album category is decided by sales not critical acclaim.
"No I do not think it's representative," Buble told the Sun earlier this week. "But I don't know that even if you pull out the people you don't feel are representative will it ever be representative. Because at some point, someone who is deserving, who had a great record, is left out. I mean I'm just a nerd from Vancouver, but I don't know if the Junos should be so self-congratulatory or who actually wins or who's nominated. It should be about helping Canadian music grow.
"Listen, I think Diana Krall is one of the greatest things that has come out of Canada," he continued. "No one is a bigger fan than me. I think she's a big reason why I had a space to do what I'm doing, but I was shocked that a Christmas record was (in the running). It's quite bizarre but it doesn't mean that it's not a beautiful record or that it's not deserving. And how the hell do you compare Diana Krall to Nickelback or Michael Buble to Kalan Porter?"
Still, Buble whose other nominations are for best pop album, single (Home), artist, and the Juno fan choice award, says he does think the Junos are getting "more and more relevant," particularly the broadcast itself.
"The last few years, for my taste, I thought they were better than the Grammys," he said during an earlier teleconference interview with Canadian reporters. "But I do absolutely understand what you mean about smaller or independent bands not getting the recognition and I think that, man, that's a tough line, because I was one of those independent, small (artists) for 12 years and I probably felt a little peeved sometimes that I was never even looked at it. I think that something has to be done."
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The other divisive issue at this year's Junos is the fact that such high-profile non-Canadian acts as Coldplay and Black Eyed Peas, who are both up for International album of the year, are performing on the Juno broadcast.
But Buble, who won best new artist at the 2004 Junos, doesn't understand what the fuss is about.
"I know some people aren't happy about that," said Buble during the teleconference interview. "But personally I kind of wonder why these Junos should be divisive at all. I even think it's great you have the Black Eyed Peas and Coldplay. Someone asked if I thought it was right that there were non-Canadians playing at the Junos and I sort of asked the question that perhaps then I shouldn't have been nominated for a Grammy because I'm Canadian."
Buble, whose five Juno nominations are tied with Krall's tally and is second only to Nickelback's leading six nods, has been having a banner year himself.
He was nominated for his first Grammy earlier this year for best traditional pop album but lost out to one of his heroes Tony Bennett. He also got to perform during the non-telecast Grammy awards.
Meanwhile, It's Time has sold 4.5 million worldwide and features one of his own compositions, Home.
He's already written another new song for his next album, which he hopes to record in the summer with frequent Canadian producer/arranger David Foster and others, and he's excited about the fact that his fans seem to be getting younger. He's even mulling over covering a Madonna tune -- "a timeless classic," is all he would say -- for his new disc.
"The year has been great and it's really great to be recognized like that," Buble told the teleconference. "The Grammy nomination was a wonderful thing for me and I was very proud to get it. And you know I'm Canadian and I grew up watching my idols on the Junos, so it's huge for me."
Buble, who is still touring the U.S., arrives in Halifax today to rehearse his Juno performance -- "a new and cool arrangement of Home," -- after playing in Minneapolis last night.
His Juno date will be British actress Emily Blunt (My Summer Of Love), "a beautiful young woman," he's been seeing for the last 10 months.
So, what does he think his Junos chances are?
"I hope I have a shot," Buble told the Sun. "I think it's a good record. I mean, should I lie to you and be falsely modest and say, 'You know I'm just happy to be nominated?'"