Two Canadian legends are three places apart on the charts this week.
Celine Dion and Avril Lavigne both have new debuts on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart. Dion reaches No. 68 for her new documentary soundtrack, I am: Celine Dion, chronicling her struggles with Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS). Lavigne enters at No. 71 with Greatest Hitsher new collection of fan favorites.
While neither is a blockbuster debut, both chart placements show that two of Canada's biggest stars of the 2000s are still going strong. Dion's soundtrack includes many of her biggest hits, including “My Heart Will Go On” and “Pour que tu m'aimes encore,” as well as a score by Redi Hasa.
Lavigne isn't as decorated as Dion, but the Napanee, Ont., pop-punk singer has entered a new echelon of Canadian legends lately, with recognition from Canada's Walk of Fame, as well as a recent appointment to the Order of Canada. Greatest Hits it comes alongside a tour of the same name, which has just seen Lavigne play Glastonbury to one of the UK's biggest festival crowds this year. – Rosie Long Decter
Gilles Godard of Anthem Music Publishing is inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall Of Fame
The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) announced Gilles Godard as a 2024 Canadian Country Music Hall Of Fame inductee Stan Klees Builder. Both Godard and newly named fellow Hall Of Fame artist kd lang will be honored and celebrated at an induction ceremony during Country Music Week 2024, taking place in Edmonton from September 11-14.
Originally from Cornwall, Ontario, Godard boasts over five decades of experience in the music industry and currently serves as president of Anthem Music Publishing Nashville. He began his career with Anthem (formerly known as ole) as a writer, rising to various key positions. Godard oversees Anthem's extensive roster of country songwriters, including Canadians Meghan Patrick, Chris Buck, Jimmy Thow and Patricia Conroy.
An accomplished writer, publisher, artist and producer, Godard's talents have earned him two CCMA Awards, two BMI Awards, four SOCAN Awards, including an International Songwriter Award, a Felix Award and multiple JUNO Award nominations. Over 400 of his songs have been recorded, including such artists as Terri Clark, Patty Loveless, Anne Murray, Ricky Skaggs, Tommy Hunter, Blackhawk, Tracy Byrd, The Road Hammers, Colleen Peterson and Ronnie Prophet. – Kerry Dull
Karan Aujla becomes the first Punjabi artist to be featured on Apple Music's Up Next program
Karan Aujla continues to break new ground this year.
The Punjabi-Canadian musician became the first artist of Punjabi origin to win a Juno Fan Choice Award in March and is now the first Punjabi musician to be featured as part of Apple Music's global Up Next initiative.
The program spotlights rising stars, devoting Apple Music's editorial resources to spotlight featured artists through original short films, interviews with Apple Music radio hosts and more. Aujla's short film finds him visiting his favorite spots in Vancouver, like Eddy's Barber Shop, and reflecting on his musical aspirations.
“I feel like my music has helped a lot of people who don't know my language,” he says in the film. “There doesn't need to be any barriers around it, like, 'Oh, this is a Punjabi song. I can't hear this. I don't think it's right. I listen to Spanish music all the time. I don't know a word of Spanish.”
Aujla hopes Punjabi music will have its own “Despacito” moment, he says, referring to the international appeal of Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee's song, as the Punjabi wave continues to grow rapidly in markets outside India.
Aujla started out as a lyricist in Vancouver, working with Punjabi artists like Diljit Dosanjh, but has since made a name for himself as an artist, reaching No. 5 on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart last year with Making memorieshis collaborative album with producer Ikky.
Aujla also has a new EP, Four Me, as he prepares to embark on his first Canadian tour this summer that will take him to three arenas across the country. – RLD
