All the best, weirdest, wildest, funniest things we overheard at the 2018 Junos

'I laugh at the colonizer! Buckle up!' — JB the First Lady

Image | JB the First Lady

Caption: (Andrea Warner)

One of the best things about a big, splashy week of awards, celebrity and famous folks is what we hear in the crowd, backstage, in the bathrooms, hanging around outside the venues and when nobody thinks anybody else is listening.
We'll be posting our favourite things we hear and overhear throughout Juno week in Vancouver, which runs from Wednesday, March 21, through the big broadcast of the Juno Awards on Sunday, March 25. 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.

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Image | JB the First Lady

Caption: JB the First Lady performing at the Hip-hop in Colors showcase. (Andrea Warner)

"I laugh at the colonizer! Buckle up!" — JB the First Lady(external link) at the Hip-hop in Colors showcase at Red Room

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Image | Rose Cousins

Caption: Rose Cousins is nominated for a Juno Award for songwriter of the year. (Vivan Tabar)

"Can you put on the Beyoncé filter?" — Rose Cousins, getting ready for her on-camera interview in the CBC Music media lounge.

Image | Tom Power, Jann Arden and Bob Rock

Caption: Jann Arden and Bob Rock on stage with Tom Power at q Live. (Jennifer Van Evra, CBC)

"Gene 'Tongue' Simmons taught you that beautiful technique?" — Jann Arden about how Bob Rock's advice made her a better singer on q Live.
"Oh, look, there's Mango!" — a woman upon spotting Dan Mangan on the sidewalk after the q Live show.

Friday, March 23, 2018

"Can I curse?" — Lou Phelps, mid-interview, in the CBC Music media lounge.

Image | Lou Phelps

Caption: Rapper Lou Phelps is nominated for his first Juno Award. (Andrea Warner, CBC Music)

"We were drunk on mimosas by noon yesterday." — anonymous group of women.
"I never left grinding." — Max Kerman from Arkells, out of context, in the CBC Music media lounge.
"It's not my favourite band, but it's my favourite show?! I'm so excited to see them again!" — anonymous during the break while waiting for Weaves to come out.

Saturday, March 24, 2018

CBC Music: Who would you collaborate with?
James Ungalaq (Northern Haze): Broken Social Scene.
CBC Music: What would you like to do with them?
James Ungalaq (Northern Haze): Break their social scene.

Image | James Ungalaq

Caption: James Ungalaq plays in the Nunavut-based band Northern Haze. (Andrea Warner)

Person 1: "I like your style!"
Person 2: "No, I like YOUR style!"
(This exchange has happened many times so far during Junos week.)
"Bruce Allen used to scare the hell out of me. He still does. But Sam Feldman, you were always nice to me. Thank you." — Allan Reid, making friends and taking names, in his Junos welcome speech

Image | Allan Reid

Caption: Allan Reid is the President & CEO of CARAS, The JUNO Awards and MusiCounts. (Christine Lieu)

"Tonight is where I believe the true heart of the Junos resides." — gala host Tom Power
"I've been co-producing for a while… and I'm over the moon to be acknowledged as producer of the year… I didn't expect this. Thank you, thank you, thank you." — Diana Krall
"We think k-os is here somewhere — we hope." — Kim Stockwood, who was supposed to co-present the 2018 Humanitarian Award with the rapper, but he wasn't around. (He showed up later to give the award directly to Gary Slaight.)
"There's a few cheap pricks out there." — Gary Slaight to George Stroumboulopoulos about the crowd in attendance at the Juno Awards gala
"Money talks. So I want to thank Gary for all the money he's given to me." — k-os

Image | Gary Slaight

Caption: Gary Slaight in the media room at the 2018 Juno Awards. (Andrea Warner)

"Oh my god, he looks so fresh!" — overheard in the media room upon seeing Maestro Fresh Wes come out to present the award for video of the year.

Image | Maestro Fresh Wes

Caption: Maestro Fresh Wes in the media room. (Andrea Warner)

"This win isn't just for me; it's for the whole culture." — Kirk Diamond on his win for reggae recording of the year
"He's doing his best trying to do what he does, in what we do normally." — Kirk Diamond on Drake.

Image | Kirk Diamond

Caption: Kirk Diamond in the media room. (Andrea Warner)

"The last people to win this award were Bob and Doug McKenzie — and Ruth B has no idea who they are." — Ivan Decker on the return of the comedy album of the year category after a 34-year hiatus
"Last time [the award] was given away, I wasn't even born." — Ivan Decker

Image | Ivan Decker

Caption: Ivan Decker in the media room. (Andrea Warner)

"I wish I was this charming during the speech, I was just so f--king nervous." — Do Make Say Think

Image | Do Make Say Think

Caption: Do Make Say Think backstage in the media room. (Andrea Warner)

"Oh, there are stairs. I didn't see stairs!" — Jim Cuddy after leaping up onstage in the media room

Image | Jim Cuddy

Caption: Jim Cuddy in the media room. (Andrea Warner)

Jim Cuddy to a CBC producer: "You changed the way I thought of Drake."
"We've been screaming a lot." — The Beaches on winning their Juno

Image | The Beaches

Caption: The Beaches in the media room. (Andrea Warner)

"I remember the first time I saw Feist playing the guitar, she was just so much better than me." — Win Butler, Arcade Fire
"I think borders are f--king bullshit. We [Canadians] are the rich, stingy people at the table; we need to give more, as much as we possibly can." — Win Butler, Arcade Fire

Image | Arcade Fire

Caption: Arcade Fire in the media room. (Andrea Warner)

"Never underestimate your ability to make a difference in the life of a child." — Fred Penner
"I'm not getting older, I'm getting better." — Fred Penner

Image | Fred Penner

Caption: Fred Penner in the media room. (Andrea Warner)

"I'm proud to know that I'm the second woman out of 34 winners of this award." — Denise Donlon on winning the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award
"My mom is 91 years old and she's watching it live streamed because that's the way she rolls!" — Denise Donlon
"To all the men who pledge to champion and support women, stand up… There they are ladies, look at them, because they are your allies on the march toward gender parity." — Denise Donlon

Image | Denise Donlon

Caption: Denise Donlon in the media room. (Andrea Warner)

"Did Fred Penner just say 'friggin'?" — Anonymous
"That was our best interview ever." — Arcade Fire to CBC Music

Image | Arcade Fire

Caption: Arcade Fire backstage at the Juno Awards. (Andrea Gin)

"With Indigenous issues, Gord Downie reached people who would never listen to me. And I reach people who would never get a chance to hear Gord. There's a lot of that in the world. I think that we need to get better." — Buffy Sainte-Marie

Image | Buffy Sainte-Marie

Caption: Buffy Sainte-Marie in the media room. (Andrea Warner)

"There's a lot of material that he was doing all along, a lot of material that he created after he found out he was going to die, and just a lot of archival material. There's just a lot of Gord to keep going. That's what we're here to do. To keep promoting this artist who left a lot behind." — Patrick and Mike Downie

Image | Patrick and Mike Downie

Caption: Gord Downie's brothers in the media room. (Andrea Warner)

"Don't keep me a secret, I'm not into being unknown." — Clairmont The Second performing at JunoFest.

Image | Clairmont The Second

Caption: Clairmont The Second performing at JunoFest. (Andrea Warner)

"Don't make a record make history." — Maestro Fresh Wes performing at JunoFest.

Image | Maestro Fresh Wes

Caption: Maestro Fresh Wes performing at JunoFest. (Andrea Warner)

Sunday, March 25, 2018

Songwriters' Circle

Image | Rose Cousins

Caption: Rose Cousins performing at the Songwriters Circle. (Andrea Warner)

"I'm not five." — Scott Helman
"You're gonna sing that song for the rest of your life ... I have some experience with that." — Jann Arden giving advice to Scott Helman
"I told you I had a story.... Turns out we're related! Hi, Dad!" — IsKwé to Bob Rock (the two are actually distant cousins).

Image | Songwriters' Circle

Caption: Alex Mak, IsKwé, Scott Helman, Jann Arden, and Bob Rock. (Andrea Warner)

"We got a record deal on one song, which is pretty extraordinary. But the problem was we only had one song." — Bob Rock on the beginning of the Payolas
"I don't write well when I'm happy … I should be listened to alone in a van ... or laying alone on a bathroom floor." — Jann Arden on her music
"I've had a whole weekend of very unusual restraint and I'm looking forward to that being over." — Jim Cuddy
The Juno Awards
"No, it's not Jim Cuddy's baby." — Michael Bublé announcing that he and his wife are expecting their third child.
"I promise you, within four years, those young acts will be the international megastars who won't come home and do the Junos." — Michael Bublé

Image | Jasmyn Burke

Caption: Jasmyn Burke in the media room. (Andrea Warner)

"We weren't expecting this… This is a lot. I'm sorry. I'm frazzled right now." — Daniel Caesar on winning the award for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year.
"Artists should never have to choose between a safe environment and a successful career." — Jasmyn Burke
Michael Bublé: "How old do you think I am?"
Little kid: "Eighty."
"It's time for change. It's time for women to be recognized for our accomplishments and our value to this industry." — Buffy Sainte-Marie
​"What I believe flies under the radar with these musicians is what effin' great musicians they are." — Geddy Lee, introducing Barenaked Ladies.
"It's kind of a love fest. Three little fangirls get to worship each other." — Buffy Sainte-Marie on her relationship with Grimes and Lights.

Image | Lights, Buffy Sainte-Marie and Grimes

Caption: The three artists posed on the red carpet together. (Andrea Gin)

"We bum-rushed the Junos, that's what we did." — Kardinal Offishall in the media room with Northern Touch All-Stars
"My instagram pinger is going off." — Choclair
"We want to make sure there's a proper bridge between the OGs and the next generation." — Kardinal Offishall

Image | Northern Touch All-Stars

Caption: The hip-hop supergroup backstage at the Junos. (Andrea Gin)

"I'm not crying, you're crying. Thank you for letting me make music with you for 20 years." — Steven Page
"Thanks to the guys for sticking by me while I fought through cancer twice." — Kevin Hearn
"To any kids out there with a dream, this can happen, so drop out of school! This can happen!" — Ed Robertson

Image | Barenaked Ladies and Steven Page

Caption: Barenaked Ladies and Steven Page backstage at the Juno Awards. (Screen grab)

"I think I'm out of body right now. I don't know who you're talking to right now. This is a voicemail." — Jessie Reyez

Image | Jessie Reyez

Caption: Jessie Reyez in the media room. (Christine Lieu)

"I've been creeping around them all night, four feet behind them." — Ria Mae on her love for Barenaked Ladies (her first concert), and her shadowing skills during the Junos.

Image | Ria Mae

Caption: Ria Mae in the media room. (Andrea Warner)

"Indigenous people have amazing talent and it's about time that they're being recognized and shown to the world." — Nancy Mike of the Jerry Cans.
"We heard 'no' all the f--king time because our music was in Inuktitut." — Andrew Morrison of the Jerry Cans.
​Wherever you are in the world, you can watch the 2018 Juno Awards broadcast live from the Rogers Arena in Vancouver this Sunday, March 25, at cbcmusic.ca/junos(external link).