All the best things we overheard at the 2019 Juno Awards

One of the best things about a big awards weekend filled with famous faces is what we overhear every day. Whether in a crowd, backstage, in the bathrooms, hanging around outside the venues or when nobody thinks anybody else is listening, our ears are fed some of the funniest or most memorable things.

We'll be posting our favourite things we hear and overhear throughout Juno week in London, Ont., which runs from Thursday, March 14, through the big broadcast of the Juno Awards on Sunday, March 17. The post will be updated daily, so keep checking back for all the best quotes and overheards, the things you're not supposed to know, and all the whispers that become a roar.  

Thursday, March 14, 2019

"I've felt like a winner all my life." — Afie Jurvanen being interviewed during q Live at the Junos.

"I got to shed the burden of being Ireland's only lesbian." — writer Emma Donoghue on the benefits of moving to London, Ont., from her native Ireland, at q Live at the Junos.

"I'm sorry say that again? You talk awfully fast." — Jim Cuddy to Tom Power at q Live at the Junos.

"My boyfriend died in a pantsuit fire when I was born this gay." — Chanty Marostica at q Live at the Junos.

"Am I playing hockey tomorrow? Look at me. I'm cut like a bag of milk." — Tom Power during downtime onstage at q Live at the Junos.

Friday, March 15, 2019

"For me, I'm such a metrosexual male. I cry all the time." — Stephan Moccio during his JunoFest show at Aeolian Hall.

"Improvise!" — attendee waiting for the JunoFest Jazz showcase to begin.

"I didn't test drive this outfit so wish me luck." — Laila Biali at CBC Music Presents JunoFest Jazz showcase.

"I hope you guys are having a good time. My pants are, they want to come off." — Haviah Mighty during her JunoFest show at Rum Runners. 

Saturday, March 16, 2019

Juno Fan Fare volunteer: "You look like you're looking for somebody." 

Fan Fare attendee: "My kids keep disappearing." 

"If anyone can tell me what my name is, you can go to the red carpet." — Odario Williams at the Juno Fan Fare.

"He just got a picture with Johnny Orlando's dad!" — fan at the Juno Fan Fare. 

"Do you know Tyler Shaw? He's here at the mall." — fan speaking to someone on the phone at the Juno Fan Fare.

"Equal rights for others doesn't mean less rights for you. It's not pie!" — Denise Donlon at the Allies in Action panel.

"As of this week I can tell you that this year's Polaris jury will be 50 per cent women." — Steve Jordan, Polaris Prize founder, at the Allies in Action panel.

"She smells amazing." — violinist Blake Pouliot, at the JunoFest Classical Showcase, on meeting Diana Ross.

"It's important to become efficient at reed-making so you can have a life." — Sarah Jeffrey, oboist, at the Junofest Classical Showcase.

"I'm kind of a professional sleeper." — Joyce El Khoury, soprano, at the Junofest Classical Showcase.

"Often the [male] gatekeepers can't see who's standing at the gate because [they're] always working.... Hold them accountable. Feel empowered to do that." — Rookz, guest panelist on Stories from the Studio, giving advice on how women can make space for themselves in the music industry. 

"[I said] no one is going to buy the soundtrack of a family movie about a circus; it's the biggest album worldwide of 2018." — producer Greg Wells on what he replied when asked what his cut should be for The Greatest Showman soundtrack. 

"The number 1 thing to becoming a producer is to have your own band fail." — producer Thomas D'Arcy, nominated this year for work with the Sheepdogs and Yukon Blonde, at the Stories from the Studio panel.

"The experience of trusting to polish a turd has taught me a lot of things." — producer Steve Bays, nominated this year for work with Dear Rouge and Said the Whale, at the Stories from the Studio panel.

"Men are idiots and we need more women involved." — Greg Wells, when asked about more female representation behind the scenes in music at the Stories from the Studio panel.

"Did he kiss Bahamas?" — CBC Music producer, watching Hubert Lenoir's Juno Gala and Dinner performance.

"If you hear some music playing as you get to the end of your speech, that means time's up and we don't care." — Juno Gala and Dinner host Ben Kowalewicz of Billy Talent, setting some acceptance-speech rules before the awards are given out.

"Part song, part me, part puppet." — Ali Eisner on winning their Juno for Bahamas' "No Depression" video.

"Did you just say the Jonas Brothers are the biggest band in the world? Did you just say that?" — David Foster to ET Canada in the media room.

"We don't do that anymore!" — Loud Luxury in the Junos media room, on sharing a bedroom when they first moved to L.A.

"When it comes to generosity, there's generosity, and then there's David." — Michael Bublé presenting David Foster with the Humanitarian Award.

"I know I'm getting long-winded, but when am I going to get another Humanitarian Award? It's like my funeral when I'm alive." — David Foster

"Holly Cole, if you're here tonight, I love you." — Laila Biali during her Juno Award speech.

"We totally did not expect this. Holy cow I'm sorry mom that you didn't come, I love you. It's way too expensive, I love you." — Katie Munshaw from Dizzy after the band won its first Juno for its debut album.

"It's a real honour to be part of your bedtime routines." — Taes Leavitt of Splash'N Boots after winning the Juno for children's album of the year.

"Our music is not niche. It is viable. Our music does deserve to be on these stages." — Jeremy Dutcher on Indigenous representation at the Junos.

"I don't think so!" — Shawn Everett, when asked if he's a fan of country music now (he just won a Juno for engineering Kacey Musgraves' Golden Hour).

"I'm about to name a lot of French names very fast." — Loud after winning his Juno for francophone album of the year, warning the crowd that he's about to thank everyone who worked on the album.

"I really expected to win that songwriter award." — Bahamas winning for adult alternative album of the year (and not songwriter)

"I never sold records until streaming existed." — Donovan Woods in the Junos media room.

"To my manager, I'm sorry I have joined the Arkells. They have a better rider." — Jeremy Dutcher after Arkells gave him their Junos speech time because his was cut off earlier.

Question in the media room: "Has anyone ever told you you look like Maggie Rogers?"

Katie Munshaw of Dizzy: "Like every day."

Sunday, March 17, 2019

Juno Songwriters' Circle co-host, Tom Power: "Two Newfoundlanders onstage Alan, we're taking over."

Juno Songwriters' Circle co-host, Alan Doyle: "We've got you surrounded, Canada."

"Ah the glowing optimism of youth." — Alan Doyle to Tyler Shaw at the Juno Songwriters' Circle.

"When I sing this song I think of all of my wife's ex-boyfriends." — Tyler Shaw, explaining his song "To the Man Who Let Her Go" at the Juno Songwriters' Circle.

"I have to acknowledge and also celebrate these singer-songwriters." — Elisapie, before singing Willie Thrasher's "Wolves Don't Live by the Rules" at the Juno Songwriters' Circle.

"This is St. Patrick's Day not Valentine's Day." — Alan Doyle to Tyler Shaw after Shaw dedicated a second song to his wife at the Juno Songwriters' Circle.

"He looks like a European soccer star who moonlights as an underwear model in the summer times." — Alan Doyle on Tyler Shaw at the Juno Songwriters' Circle.

"Take all the time you want in the entire world. We're going to cancel the awards tonight." — Tom Power to David Foster at the Juno Songwriters' Circle. 

"They didn't even finish the lyrics and they won the Oscar." — David Foster, on losing the best original song Oscar to the Top Gun song "Take My Breath Away."  

"Can you sing the chorus to that song?" — David Foster asking Elisapie to sing Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing" at the Juno Songwriters' Circle.

"You gave her a standing ovation, great, but I wrote that song." — David Foster, after Elisapie's performance of "I Have Nothing." 

RED CARPET

"I'm sorry I'm not more famous. If you squint real hard I could be Shawn Mendes." — Tom Power to screaming fans on the street as he got out of the car for the red carpet. 

"Don't make records, make history." — Maestro Fresh Wes on the Junos red carpet.

"My freckles are from Newfoundland" — Elisapie on the Junos red carpet.

"Crawling out of a cemetery was dope." — Jessie Reyez on working with Eminem.

"Relax about your hair. It looks fine." — Donovan Woods' advice to his 18-year-old self.

"Have advocates who aren't just females.... When men are aware that when women move forward we all move forward."  — Jessie Reyez on how to combat sexism on the production side and reduce barriers for women.

THE JUNO AWARDS BROADCAST

"I think, maybe, people have the impression that I spend all my time sitting in the dark, watching Handmaid's Tale, reading Sylvia Plath, thinking up new ways to make people cry, or saving stray dogs and cats. OK, maybe I do do some of those things but I'm a very happy person!" — Sarah McLachlan in her opening monologue at the 2019 Juno Awards.

"We forget that we do so much as Indigenous people, we have to be teachers constantly. When we are in a society [where] they have information. Just go to Google, for example. Just maybe start getting to know the First Nations or Inuit around your area. Just that acknowledgement is very huge for us because it's still not natural for Canadians or Quebecois to say, 'Hey, who's here? Which land are we on?'" — Elisapie in the Juno Awards media room.

"The Shawn Mendes fans were very polite to us." — Bahamas in the Junos media room.

"I met Sting, I had to burp really bad, I had to tune my guitar because Sting told me to." — Tyler Shaw on what happened in the moments leading up to his performance at the 2019 Junos.

"This is my town and this is my rink." — Olympic figure skater Tessa Virtue during the 2019 Juno Awards.

"What happens when our languages disappear? Do we disappear? Not a chance." Tanya Talaga talking about the disappearance of Indigenous languages before introducing Jeremy Dutcher's performance at the 2019 Junos.

"We're kind of a big deal." Coeur de pirate, jokingly in the media room, about her and Loud.

"This cape is a representation of the relationship between land and language ... it says, 'We will succeed in Cree.'" — Jeremy Dutcher in the media room talking about his cape, which was made by Edmonton designer Luxx and which has Cree syllabics printed on the inside.

"I just spent a lot of money. This is Alexander McQueen, not nearly as impressive or amazing [as Dutcher's outfit]." — Blake Pouliot, Juno classical nominee, who performed with Jeremy Dutcher, in the media room.

"It feels like possibility. I didn't have this when I was growing. Representation. These bodies onstage, you know? I didn't see that. So it gives me hope for what's to come, right? 'Cause kids now can go and see queerness, can see Indigeneity, can see all these beautiful, diverse things on a stage? What kind of possibility does that breathe into their life?" — Jeremy Dutcher in the media room.

"I'm the first classical nominee in over two decades to play on the stage for the main concert." — Blake Pouliot in the media room.

"Can I borrow some tape — and a knife?" — Hubert Lenoir backstage at the Junos.

"I think they named me well by calling me Hart because I'm too f--king sensitive." — Corey Hart in the media room.