Bublé tops the Juno Awards

Here is good news for all the local fans of Michael Bublé. He was the top winner at this year’s Juno Awards. Held last April 1 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the Canadian counterpart of the Grammys gave the ecstatic Bublé the Single of the Year for his very own composition Home, Pop Album of the Year for his It’s Time and also Artist of the Year. These are Bublé’s first major wins in his career. He also got his first Grammy nomination for In Time last year.

Michael Bublé is one foreign artist that Pinoys feel very possessive about. Despite his youth, Bublé harks back to the likes of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin for his style and suckers for sentiments like us instantly found him irresistible. Truth to tell, we took the Canadian crooner to our hearts long before other countries, including the US acknowledged his existence. It is then quite a joy watching him reap success after success. Now his worldwide popularity and those Junos are additional proofs that we know a true music star the moment we hear one. And he is now truly a big, big star.

In Time is Bublé’s second full-length studio album. It contains Feeling Good, A Foggy Day in London Town, You Don’t Know Me, Quando Quando Quando with Nelly Furtado, Home, Can’t Buy Me Love, The More I See You, Save the Last Dance for Me, Try a Little Tenderness, How Sweet It is, Song for You with trumpet wiz Chris Botti, I"ve Got You Under My Skin and You and I.

The Juno Awards is limited to Canadian acts. This year’s other winners were Simple Plan for the Fan Choice Award, Broken Social Scene for the Alternative Album of the Year, Bedouin Soundclash as Best New Group, Arcade Fire as Songwriter of the Year for Wake Up, Rebellion (Lies) and Neighborhood #3 (Power Out).

Nickelback won for Rock Album of the Year and Group of the Year. Christmas Songs by Diana Krall was Jazz Album of the Year and Prairie Wind by Neil Young was Adult Alternative Album of the Year. The International Album of the Year is the only category that honors foreign artists. The trophy went to Monkey Business by the Black Eyed Peas.

Gene Pitney, 65

From a joyous piece of news, we now hear a sad note: ‘60s singer/songwriter Gene Pitney died last April 5, in Cardiff, Wales. Pitney was on a tour of Britain, when he was found dead in his hotel room in Wales. There was no sign of foul play. Pitney was 65 years old and thanks to the current nostalgia craze was enjoying a second wind in his career.

Now, although very talented, Pitney never made it to pop idol status. I am sure that only a few people hereabouts remember him. I thought that his vocals in his big seller Town Without Pity was great. I also recall being totally amused by his tales of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa. Also big hits for him were I Wanna Love My Life Away, Only Love Can Break a Heart, It Hurts to be in Love and She’s a Heartbreaker. He also wrote songs for other artists, one of which was Hello Marylou, Goodbye Heart for Ricky Nelson.

Reader’s wish list

From the mail: Tony Macon Jr. of Bulacan, wrote in with a wish list of groups from the ‘60s whom he wishes local promoters would book for performances in the Philippines.

"Time is of the essence in this case," he wrote. "I believe that we should be given the chance to watch these great groups perform live before they decide to retire or worse, go elsewhere." Here goes:

Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons Rag Doll, Walk Like a Man; The Righteous Brothers’ You are My Soul and Inspiration, Unchained Melody; The Animals’ House of the Rising Sun; The Dave Clark Five Because, Glad All Over; Gerry and the Pacemakers’ Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying, Ferry Across the Mersey; The Hollies’ Bus Stop; The Kinks’ You Really Got Me; The Searchers’ Needles and Pins, Love Potion No. 9; The Byrds’ Mr. Tamborine Man; The Lovin’ Spoonful Do You Believe in Magic; Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs’ Wooly Bully; The Association Cherish; The Monkees’ I Wanna be Free, Daydream Believer and what he calls his ultimate fantasy The Rolling Stones.