JUSTIN BIEBER, ADELE, DRAGONETTE, DRAKE & THE SHEEPDOGS AMONG WINNERS AT 2012 JUNO AWARDS

Justin Bieber in Toronto - December 2011

Congratulations to Justin Bieber for being voted 2012 JUNO Fan Choice Award Winner!  Taking place in Ottawa this year at Scotiabank Theatre and hosted by William Shatner, there was an eclectic mix of Winners this year especially.  The Sheepdogs lead the tally with three wins including Single of the Year (I Don't Know), New Group of the Year and Rock Album of the Year (Leave & Burn). 

Other big Winners tonight included Martin Solveig & Dragonette (Dance Recording of the Year - Hello), Drake (Rap Recording of the Year - Take Care), Hedley (Pop Album of the Year - Storms), Arkells (Group of the Year), Adele (International Album of the Year - 21), Michael Bublé (Album of the Year - Christmas) and more.  

Click here for a complete list of Winners.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

JIMMY FALLON & MICHAEL BUBLÉ ON "SNL"

Michael Bublé & Jimmy Fallon on SNL

Jimmy Fallon returned to his Saturday Night Live roots last night and absolutely knocked it out of the Ballpark for that Christmas Episode, featuring Michael Bublé as Musical Guest. SNL Alumni Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Rachel Dratch and more popped by to show their support too! 

You must watch this mock Michael Bublé Christmas Duets Fauxmercial which will have you rolling on the floor with some pretty dead-on impressions of Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, M.I.A., Ke$ha, Russell Brand, Scotty McCreery, Sting, Kanye West and Thom Yorke. Amaze.  Bublé also is quite funny reacting to these little disastrous Duets.

This ridiculous War Horse Parody also cannot be missed where they make a complete mockery of the TONY Award-winning Play with Fallon playing the Horse, Joey.

"A RUSSELL PETERS CHRISTMAS" PREMIERE ANNOUNCED

Still from A Russell Peters Christmas

Remember when we spotted Pamela Anderson arriving in Toronto last month? Well now we can see what she was up to when CTV airs A Russell Peters Christmas on Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 9:00 PM EST. The Comedy Network will be airing it Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 10:00 PM EST. The Special will feature Special Appearances from Michael Bublé, Pamela Anderson, Ted Lange, Faizon Love, Jon Lovitz, Goapele and Scott Thompson.

Don't forget to tune-in to what should be a epically hilarious Special!

I'll be seeing the Brampton Funnyman this Saturday at It's Always Something in support of Gilda's Club Toronto. Also attending the Event at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts will be SCTV Alumni Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara and Martin Short, plus Fred Willard and Paul Shaffer.

(Photo credit: CTV)

MICHAEL BUBLÉ: CHRISTMAS - REVIEW

You pretty know what to expect with a Michael Bublé Disc and if like myself you are a Fan among the many millions, this is a good thing. The Canadian Crooner teams-up again with David Foster, Humberto Gatica and Bob Rock for fifteen tracks of festive cheer - a release which perhaps has been too long overdue.
 
Bublé combines old school Big Band charm with contemporary sensibility and production on Holiday Classics like It's Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Jingle Bells (ft. The Puppini Sisters), the wittily-updated Santa Buddy (a masculine accompaniment to Santa Baby) and personal favourite, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.  Results consistently are good.

Most surprisingly, he manages to coax a long-absent Shania Twain whose voice seems to have returned, lending her talents on White Christmas -  a big treat.  Bublé also ambitiously takes-on Mariah Carey's modern classic All I Want for Christmas is You, giving it a condensed Ballad treatment with mixed results. A take on U2's Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) is highly listenable, taking a bit more of a laid-back approach compared to its Original.  He even tries his hand at Latin in choir-backed Ave Maria and Spanish too with the help of Latin American Superstar Thalia on Feliz Navidad, showing a bit more versatility.

PAMELA ANDERSON IN TORONTO FOR "A RUSSELL PETERS CHRISTMAS"

Pamela Anderson in Toronto - October 2011

Surprise!  Actress/Model/Bombshell Pamela Anderson is back in Toronto. Anderson flew in from Los Angeles this evening under the careful watch of a Handler, who ensured Fans couldn't get Photos with her. She had donned a thick pair of black Sunglasses to mask her identity, but to many Onlookers it was rather obvious who she was, as many whispered amongst themselves.  She will be making a special appearance on The Comedy Network's A Russell Peters Christmas which currently is filming in and around Toronto.  Jon Lovitz and Michael Bublé also have been tapped to appear in the Special.

Despite signing an array of Photos for Fans - including some topless ones - she declined Fan Photos stating, "Sorry, I look terrible!" - as if that is possible for her- then hiding her face in her hair and then rushing into her SUV with her Entourage.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

TONY BENNETT - DUETS II REVIEW

Tony Bennett - Duets II

Mr. Tony Bennett's Epic Opus 2011, aka Duets II brings together some of the most unlikely collaborations - a true testament to the Crooner's influence on so many of the Vocalists who have sold out Arenas and won Grammys after him. At 85 years of age, Bennett recently became the oldest living Artist to have achieved the distinction of debuting atop the U.S. Billboard Hot 200 Album Chart and he did it with some help from his Friends. Some really famous and talented Friends.

Jam-packed with 17 Classics, Duets II isn't necessarily about breaking new ground or necessarily about High Art. It's about celebrating an Icon and how Bennett's Voice and Music have inspired others and also connecting a new Audience who grew-up not having had Jazz Music on their radars. The phrasing, the range, the stylization - there is only one Tony Bennett and this Collection pays tribute to that front and center.

There are some fabulous moments on the Disc like the fun and flirtatious The Lady is a Tramp (ft. Lady Gaga), One for my Baby (ft. John Mayer), a perfect reunion in Blue Velvet (ft. k.d. lang), Don't Get Around Much Anymore (ft. Michael Bublé) ...obviously, Yesterday I Heard the Rain (ft. Alejandro Sanz) and perhaps a true showcase that he's (and she's) definitely still got it, How Do You Keep the Music Playing (ft. Aretha Franklin).

JUSTIN BIEBER & MICHAEL BUBLÉ RECORD "ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU" BY MARIAH CAREY

Official Artwork for Under the Mistletoe

In the process of Justin Bieber being ready to release his Christmas Album Under the Mistletoe in a month, it seems somehow they've forgotten that he is due to release a proper second studio Album eventually!  My World 2.0 was released in what seems like ages ago, back in January 2010.

Although there's been a bit of speculation, it also has been confirmed subtly by Mariah Carey that indeed she has re-recorded her Holiday Classic, All I Want for Christmas is You along with Bieber for his Disc, due November 1, 2011 via Universal Music Canada. Bieber had Tweeted, "http://t.co/cUbr03xD - well like I said...#UnderTheMistletoe is not your normal christmas album. right @mariahcarey . #NOV1st", earlier today that same Tweet was Re-Tweeted by Carey.

The Pop Sensation however isn't the only Canadian Crooner to have been inspired by The Diva herself for the Holidays, but Michael Bublé also is doing a version of All I Want for Christmas is You for his Holiday Disc, Christmas, out on October 24, 2011 via Warner Music Canada.  Bublé will be in Toronto on October 11 to promote the Disc doing appearances on The Marilyn Denis Show and George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight, among others. 

Will we be seeing a similar strategy from Bieber perhaps to return home for a bit of promotion?

TONY BENNETT TO RELEASE "DUETS II" FEATURING AMY WINEHOUSE, LADY GAGA, MARIAH CAREY & MORE

Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga

With 100 Albums released, 15 Grammy Awards including the coveted Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, legendary Crooner Tony Bennett is showing no signs of stopping. In fact, Bennett turns 85 years-old today and to celebrate this important milestone, he releases Duets II, a follow-up to 2006's Duets which was his best-selling Album ever.

What you need to know is the roster of talent he gathered for this Disc including several of my favourites. Lady Gaga. Mariah Carey. Aretha Franklin. Sheryl Crow. Andrea Bocelli. Josh Groban. Michael Bublé. John Mayer. Queen Latifah. AMY WINEHOUSE. Yes, you read correctly. The Disc features one of Winehouse's final recordings before her untimely passing.

Duets II is in stores September 20, 2011 via Sony Music Canada and the complete Track List is as follows:

2011 GRAMMYS RECAP

Lady Gaga at the 2011 Grammys

The Grammys tonight were all about Lady Gaga and her egg-hatching and eye-catching debut performance of Born this Way.  It is reported that a Prop malfunction had occurred during her Red Carpet arrival, preventing her from making a planned grand entrance for the Paparazzi out of a Cocoon/Egg-like structure, as she was carried-in by scantily-clad Men and Women.  Gaga went on to win Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for Bad Romance and also Best Pop Vocal Album for The Fame Monster.

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance went to newcomer Bruno Mars' Just the Way You Are.

Other big Winners tonight include Canadians Arcade Fire for Album of the Year, The Suburbs.  The Award is considered the most coveted of all.  Michael Bublé also represented Canada well in winning Best Traditional Male Pop Vocal Album for Crazy Love and Neil Young finally nabbed his first Grammy for Best Rock Song with Angry World. Our Justin Bieber didn't fare so well as Best New Artist, losing out to Esperanza Spalding.

MICHAEL BUBLÉ TORONTO CRAZY LOVE CONCERT REVIEW

Playing to a sold-out crowd on the second night of his Crazy Love Tour at Toronto's Air Canada Centre, Crooner/Funnyman Michael Bublé played to a warm reception from his fellow Canadians.  "Promise me you won't be 'too cool for school' Toronto, since you're the Center of the Universe" he asked of the audience, hoping they'd dance for him in the show's up-tempo latter part.

Tonight was my second time seeing the two-time Grammy winner perform live and perhaps the show's biggest challenge was making a large venue with an audience of 14,000, seem as intimate as a small theatre show.  Let's face it - Dancers, Pyro-technics and flashing LED Screens just aren't him. I saw Bublé back in 2005 at Sony Theatre and that smaller venue was just perfect, but considering the circumstances, he made the most of the situation tonight chatting much with the audience about growing up as a proud Canadian Boy.  He confessed that Michael Jackson was his biggest influence as a child (which always surprises people), going on to tell us his Mother got him an outift similar to that worn by that one in his legendary Beat It video. Bublé went on to perform a snippet of Billy Jean for amusement's sake, drawing cheers from the audience.  He'd occasionally joke about how the boyfriends of the audience must think he's Gay, to which he added that he'd be proud about his sexuality if that were the case.

MICHAEL BUBLÉ ARRIVES IN TORONTO EARLY FOR PAUL MCCARTNEY CONCERT

And that handsome guy to the left would be Canada's Darling Crooner Michael Bublé, returning from a wonderful time at Paul McCartney's Up and Coming Tour show at Air Canada Centre.  The two-time Grammy winner who hails from Burnaby, kept telling a group of us, "Guys, that show was amazing!  You have to go see it!". And it appears he was v. excited about the show, arriving in-town three days prior to his own back-to-back shows at the same venue later this week.

As expected, Bublé is genuine and a man of his word, coming over to greet me with his Security Guard as promised after I flagged him down.  He signed a couple autographs and took time to pose for a handful of photographs, despite having been reported denying some fans Photo Opportunities earlier today, when he was seen in Yorkville grabbing a late lunch at Subway.  

Of course, I am super-stoked about seeing him in-concert later this week, as he puts on a good show consistently.  Review and photos will follow - check back Thursday!  In the meantime, you can fawn over that mesmerizing Brown Eyes below:

MICHAEL BUBLÉ CLEANS UP AT THE JUNOS

Handsome crooner Michael Bublé cleaned up at the Juno Awards held at the Mile One Centre in St. John's, Newfoundland tonight.   The annual ceremony honours the very best in Canadian music, moving its venue from city to city each year.  In addition to winning the much-hyped Pepsi Junos Fan Choice Award, Bublé also won Single of the Year for Haven't Met You Yet, Pop Album of the Year for Crazy Love and the evening's most coveted award, Album of the Year.  While accepting his Fan Choice Award, he thanked his fans "black, white, gay or straight" for their loyalty.  It's always refreshing seeing him humbly pay proper tribute to his Canadian roots and fans despite having experienced massive international success.  He is a true class act who chooses to live in Canada even though he could afford to be anywhere he wants to be.

Up-and-coming rapper Drake who is already doing extremely well south of the border also, won the important Best New Artist Award, beating out his stiffest competition, teen sensation Justin Bieber who requested specifically to be seated beside him this evening.  Drake commended Bieber for his hard work and dedicated his award to him, before winning Best Rap Recording of the Year for his EP So Far Gone.

Canadian dance sensation Deadmau5 who showed up at the event in mouse headgear, won Best Dance Recording for his album For Lack of A Better Name.  Rapper K'naan who has raised his profile significantly since his single Wavin' Flag was covered as a charity single by some of Canada's biggest acts in aid of Haiti, won Artist of the Year no doubt based on his recent publicity.  Kings of Leon won Best International Album for Only By The Night although they were not in attendance tonight.

For a complete list of winners, visit CTV's Juno website.  (Photo credit: Canadian Press)

NEW MUSIC - HELPING HAITI: EVERYBODY HURTS 2010

Equally as star-studded as the forthcoming We Are The World remake, Simon Cowell has put together a stellar line-up of artists for this charity cover of REM's 1993 hit Everybody Hurts.  All proceeds from digital and CD sales will be going to aid Haiti.

Among those featured on this version are Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue, Mariah Carey, Miley Cyrus, Susan Boyle, James Blunt, Leona Lewis, Jon Bon Jovi, Mika, Michael Bublé and many, many more of our favourites.  

The Everybody Hurts single will be released on February 16, 2010.  Although already great, it would've given it that extra punch to have all the artists together at the end in a series of big repeated choruses, don't you think?

Listen to Everybody Hurts by Various Artists Helping Haiti (courtesy of Sony Music) in full below:

JENNIFER HUDSON AND MICHAEL BUBLÉ: HEATING UP YOUR HOLIDAYS

ABC aired Grammy and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson's hour-long Christmas special I'll Be Home For Christmas tonight, documenting her return to her hometown of Chicago. The program followed Hudson as she went back to her former high school and church, reuniting with friends and family along the way. More notably, she delivered some very soulful renditions of This Christmas, O Come All Ye Faithful, The Christmas Song and Silent Night and we could sense her nervousness in singing alongside some local mentors she looked up to growing up. She remains humble despite having earned her place alongside them.

Although the special didn't necessarily connect us to any deep emotional level with her, America like Hudson, has had a tough run over the past while. Seeing her be strong enough to overcome it all is fitting in these times of hope and change.

During the special, Hudson did a duet medley of Baby, It's Cold Outside and Let It Snow with Canada's beloved Michael Bublé. Hudson made him a first choice to collaborate with in this special, stating that his voice perfectly exemplifies for her the meaning of Christmas. The two playfully bantered back and forth and if you do a search on YouTube, you just might be able to find the performances online.

Bublé also just announced the launch of his Crazy Love Tour, with its American leg kicking off March 10th in Orlando, Florida and wrapping up April 9th in Los Angeles, California. The European leg of his tour begins May 6th also in Sheffield, England, although there are no Canadian dates announced yet. For a full list of tour dates, visit the handsome crooner's official tour site.

As an interesting aside, Bublé revealed to MR. WILL-W.: POP MAVEN readers that he finds much joy in eating some of his favourite comfort foods which include: his Grandmother's homemade Risotto, Velveeta Mac and Cheese, Beef Jerky, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (my Mavenati in Australia don't know what they're missing!) and Cheetos. He also let us know that his most essential item of clothing to bring along while touring is his favourite pair of jeans, which he has had repaired four times apparently. Perhaps, he'll be on Santa's Nice List this year and get a gift card to his tailor.

Don't forget to check out my review of Bublé's Crazy Love album here. Watch a teaser for the Crazy Love Tour below:

*I took the above photo of Hudson during her 2008 visit to Toronto during TIFF. The photo of Bublé was taken 2006 at his Sony Centre show in Toronto.

REVIEW: MICHAEL BUBLÉ - CRAZY LOVE

I wish I had all the time in the world to obsess about love all day like Michael Bublé apparently does. Like many of us, I don't and this is why I resort to escapist means of getting my fix. The Vancouver native's fourth studio album Crazy Love from Warner Music oddly was released on a Friday (October 9, 2009) and like his previous albums, we know pretty much what to expect of him. That sultry baritone, silky smooth runs and licks, cover versions, luscious David Foster arrangements and as indicated earlier - love, love, love. This album treads absolutely no new territory, but then again you probably should've gotten that memo by now with three prior albums' worth (20 million sold worldwide) of forewarning.

Crazy Love starts off on a dramatic note with Arthur Hamilton-penned classic Cry Me a River just like his 2005 album It's Time did with Feelin' Good. Bublé has a go at Georgia on My Mind made most popular by Ray Charles, but his version is very understated and doesn't necessarily take the song to a new level. The album's title track, originally by Van Morrison, is full of warmth and has a place on Adult Contemporary radio alongside previous hit Home; surely this will be a single off the album. Current single I Haven't Met You Met has already broken airplay records in the Canadian Adult Contemporary radio format, debuting in the Top Five; he co-wrote the track with Alan Chang and Amy Foster-Gilles (Foster's daughter). Not bad, but not great.

The second half of the album picks up after a few lulls earlier on. Its finest moment is saved mid-sequence with Hold On, a track showcasing Bublé not just as a crooner but also a great songwriter. Its climax is magical. A pleasant surprise on this collection was a big band interpretation of The Eagles' Heartache Tonight, dead-aimed at Bublé's primary fan base with alarming precision. Tear-inducing At This Moment by Billy Vera & The Beaters is one of my favourite ballads of all time and I was thrilled to hear its inclusion here also. Stardust showcases Bublé's wide emotional range and features beautiful vocal arrangement. The listener is sent-off with a bonus track, a Bossa duet version of Whatever It Takes with Canadian great Rox Sexsmith. Very satisfying.

Listen to the track Crazy Love (courtesy of Warner Music Canada) in full below:

Crazy Love is available in both Standard and Special Editions. The latter includes a second disc of remixes - a very wise marketing move and proof of Bublé's widespread popularity among various demographics. Grade: A-