Furtado, Barenaked Ladies Lead Canadian Awards

January 25

The 2001 Juno Awards — the prize that proves Canada produces more than beer and hockey players — announced its list of nominees Wednesday, with pop singer Nelly Furtado and quirky rockers the Barenaked Ladies leading the way as the nation's top acts.

Furtado, who is up for Best New Solo Artist, also landed five other nominations, including Best Pop Album for her debut, Whoa, Nelly!, and Best Single for "I'm Like a Bird."

The Barenaked Ladies (who are also up for a Grammy Award next month, for their hit "Pinch Me") received five nods on the back of September's Maroon, while the Tragically Hip, the Matthew Good Band, Jesse Cook, Isabelle Boulay, and pop crew soulDecision landed three apiece.

Furtado, soulDecision, and reunited rock act the Guess Who (whose biggest hit, ironically, was 1970's "American Woman") are scheduled to perform at the awards ceremony, which marks the 30th anniversary of the Junos, on March 4 at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario.

Partial list of Juno nominees:

Best Single Treble Charger, "American Psycho" Jacksoul, "Can't Stop" soulDecision, "Faded" Nelly Furtado, "I'm Like a Bird" Barenaked Ladies, "Pinch Me"

Best Album

Matthew Good Band, Beautiful Midnight Barenaked Ladies, Maroon The Tragically Hip, Music @ Work soulDecision, No One Does It Better Our Lady Peace, Happiness … Is Not a Fish That You Can Catch

Best Female Artist

Jann Arden Isabelle Boulay Terri Clark Lara Fabian Lynda Lemay

Best Male Artist Nicola Ciccone Jesse Cook Sylvain Cossette Snow Neil Young

Best Group

Barenaked Ladies Blue Rodeo The Moffatts soulDecision The Tragically Hip

Best New Solo Artist

J. Englishman Nelly Furtado Adam Gregory Sarah Harmer Amanda Stott

Best New Group

b4-4 Kittie Nickelback Sum 41 Templar

Best Pop Album

Barenaked Ladies, Maroon Snow, Mind On The Moon The Moffatts, Submodalities Nelly Furtado, Whoa, Nelly! Sarah Harmer, You Were Here

Best Rock Album

54-40, Casual Viewin' Finger Eleven, The Greyest of Blue Skies The Tragically Hip, Music @ Work Wide Mouth, Mason Stew Treble Charger, Wide Awake Bored

Best Alternative Album

Kid Koala, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Ramasutra, The East Infection The Weakerthans, Left & Leaving The New Pornographers, Mass Romantic King Cobb, Steelie Mayday

Best R&B/Soul Recording

Tamia, "A Nu Day" D-Cru, "I Will Be Waiting" The Philosopher Kings, "If I Ever Lose This Heaven" Baby Blue Soundcrew Featuring Glenn Lewis, "Only Be in Love" Jacksoul, "Sleepless"

Best Rap Recording

Swollen Members, "Balance" DJ Serious, "Dim Sum" Kardinal Offishall, "Husslin' " Brass Munk, "Live Ordeal" Baby Blue Soundcrew Featuring Kardinal Offishall, Sean Paul, & Jully Black, "Money Jane"

For a full list of nominees, visit the Juno Awards Web site, www.juno-awards.ca.