2011 MMVAs NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

Down with Webster at Bell Celebrity Gala - November 2010

Nominees for the 2011 MuchMusic Video Awards have been announced and tying for the most number of nominations this year are Canadians Fefe Dobson, Down with Webster and Shawn Desman.

With the festivities looming quickly on Sunday, June 19, 2011, several big names also are up for International Awards in categories such as International Video of the Year (Artist), International Video of the Year (Group) and UR Fave International Artist. Eminem, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Selena Gomez & The Scene and Bruno Mars each are tied with two nominations apiece in these categories.

For a full list of Nominees, click here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

FEFE DOBSON - JOY REVIEW

Although she certainly took her time with it, Canadian Pop-Rocker Fefe Dobson finally is releasing her official sophomore disc Joy. The album named no doubt in celebration of finally being able to get some new music out to her many loyal Fans who like me, have waited patiently. Seven-plus years, to be precise.

Although the hard-rocking I Want You surfaced in my Inbox a while back possibly to fetch reactions, what many Fans want to hear most is Dobson being faithful to that youthful brand of Pop Rock they have come to love her for. Joy, thus, is about balancing her own creative integrity with the needs of Fans and Radio Programmers.

The first half of the 13 track-set is where the Hits are situated. First single Ghost which already is a hit in Canada, throws a bit of Electro into the Rock mix - a recipe which Kelly Clarkson, P!nk and Katy Perry seem to have made a staple of. The track sets the tone for a while dwelling on the theme of Infidelity. Thanks for Nothing really should have been chosen as a second single over Stuttering based on catchiness alone, but perhaps you'll have to listen to the album and make that decision yourself. You Bitch well, is one part a warning to that Girl who led Dobson's Boyfriend astray and one part emotional release for her... but all in good fun, of course.

The second half of Joy is marked by the tuning of a Dial and this is where we see the Artist's true colours and anyone with an ear can hear that this is the place she calls Home and really pours it on. Watch Me Move and I Want You, both alarmingly short, have a Punk Rocker's swagger and flare. The album's one Rock Ballad In Your Touch is magical in its hindsight wisdom and those feelings of resentment and anger we heard earlier on the disc somehow get resolved. If you compare this track to her earlier work of the same vein like Everything, it really is quite amazing how far she has progressed both vocally and as a Songwriter. The album's title track is a fitting closer to this labour of love. 

INTERVIEW: FEFE DOBSON | AUTOGRAPH GIVEAWAY FOR "JOY"

Fefe Dobson

She was 15 years-old when she found herself singing in front of then-Island/Def Jam Executive Lyor Cohen who flew in to Toronto specifically for her Showcase. It took only 30 seconds for him to decide her fate. By the age of 16, she was whisked away to New York City, destined for big things. Who would've known that a girl from Scarborough who once recorded Demos on her Karaoke Machine at home, would eventually go on to sell an impressive 307k copies of her debut album in the U.S. and later tour with Justin Timberlake?

Fefe Dobson has been in the Music Business for seven years now in a career which has seen highs and lows. Many will be surprised to know that her forthcoming album Joy is only her second official release, although Fans will know that this actually is her third studio album. Just days before the release of her actual second album Sunday Love in June 2006, she had parted ways with the same record label which saw so much potential in her only a couple years prior. Needless to say, the World never got to hear her collaborations with the likes of Cyndi Lauper, Courtney Love and Joan Jett on that ill-fated Disc. Yet here we are in November 2010 and once again, Dobson has reunited with Island/Def Jam, raring to go in a long-overdue comeback.

I first met Dobson April 2007 at a Benefit at the Opera House in Toronto's east-end. Catching her as she headed Backstage, I presented her my Bootleg Copy of Sunday Love to personalize - Laser Jet-Printed Cover, Sharpie-drawn Font and all - which instantly brought a smile to her face. "Where did you get this? This is fucking awesome!" she exclaimed. The point of course being that she and her Manager at the time weren't so much laughing at my Lo-Fi replica of her CD, but more so they were laughing that at the end of the day a true Fan got to hear her hard work and recognize it. Later that night, Dobson serenaded me from the stage with her hit Everything, reaching out her hand to me clinching my hand tight. In that, I felt her deep appreciation and despite being defeated by the cruel realities of the business, perhaps it was not over. And it wasn't.

BELL CELEBRITY GALA 2010 PHOTOS & RECAP

Supermodel Coco Rocha
& Mr. Will-W.

Canada's leading Telecommunications Company Bell Canada threw yet another superb Celebrity Gala earlier this evening at Metro Convention Centre.  The annual Black Tie Affair unites Canadian Celebrities with fans, this year raising money for Toronto's CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health).  The event in previous years had raised money for Sick Kids' Hospital, although President & COO George Cope had announced earlier this year that he would direct more focus from Bell towards matters of Mental Health, citing that not enough focus is being paid to this issue.  Despite my not feeling so well, I still made it out to show my support for the cause although I'm sure I will pay for it this weekend!

Despite British-American actress Minnie Driver being touted as one of this evening's biggest names, alas she had other obligations and was unable to make it out.  The party still brought out a number of familiar faces whether it be Athletes, Actors, Musicians and Television Personalities.  

Emcees this year included Sportscaster Rod Black and  Canada's favourite Comedian Russell Peters.  CBC's George Stroumboulopoulos also shared in the Hosting duties, doing on-the-spot interviews with some of the more notable guests in attendance like Supermodel Coco Rocha, Eric Roberts, Sofia Milos and many more.  Among this evening's performers were Jully Black, Faber Drive, Fefe Dobson, Kreesha Turner and hot Canadian act Down With Webster who delivered a spirited and well-received performance of Hall & Oates' hit Rich Girl.  Guests also were treated to a Fashion Show featuring work from local designers.

Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven readers will be excited to know that our friend Dobson also signed a few items for you which I will be giving away next month with the release of her long-awaited album Joy.