Nickelback maintains death grip on Canrock
Teen screamers, eat your heart out. The MuchMusic Video Award nominees were announced yesterday, and love-them/ hate-them band Nickelback and R&B newcomer Danny Fernandes are leading the charge with five nominations each. The awards show, to be held at MuchMusic headquarters in Toronto on June 21, will be hosted by Disney pop sensations the Jonas Brothers.
Fernandes, a former Toronto Raptors Dance Pak performer, is nominated for video of the year and pop video of the year for his runaway hit Private Dancer, and his Fantasy is up for awards in the "UR Fave" (formerly People's Choice), best new artist and video of the year categories.
One of the most successful, if critically reviled, Canadian bands in recent history, Alberta rockers Nickelback also came up big yesterday, with their hit Gotta Be Somebody nominated in four categories, and If Today Was Your Last Day up in the somewhat arcane category of best international video of the year by a Canadian.
Newbie Vancouver rockers Marianas Trench also topped the list with four nominations for their song Cross My Heart, which hit No. 1 on the MuchMusic Countdown in March. They are joined in the best new artist category by Lights, Shiloh, The Midway State, Karl Wolf and Fernandes.
Rapper Classified has been recording since the early '90s, and this year the Haligonian was nominated in three categories. His song Anybody Listening is nominated for hip-hop video of the year, and also won nods for direction and post-production. The Toronto band The Midway State picked up three nominations, as did past winner and veteran Toronto rapper k-os.
In the international categories, the usual chart-toppers were recognized, with nominees including Britney Spears, Beyonce, Coldplay, Green Day and Lil' Wayne. Fans can also look forward to a live performance by Lady Gaga, pictured, with more performers to be announced in the weeks to come.