Drake Leads Canadian Grammy Winners

By FYI Staff

Nominated for seven Grammy Awards this year, Drake did not go home empty-handed, winning the Best Rap Song category for "God's Plan," his fourth-ever Grammy. A surprise attendee at the show, he observed that "we play in an opinion-based sport, not a factual-based sport. It is not the NBA… This is a business where sometimes it is up to a bunch of people that might not understand what a mixed race kid from Canada has to say… or a brother from Houston right there, my brother Travis. 

"You’ve already won if you have people who are singing your songs word for word, if you are a hero in your hometown. If there is people who have regular jobs who are coming out in the rain, in the snow, spending their hard-earned money to buy tickets to come to your shows, you don’t need this right here, I promise you, you already won.” The ending of his speech appeared to be cut short, sparking further controversy. Sharing the Award with Drake were his co-writers, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Ron LaTour, Matthew Samuels, and Noah Shebib.

Other Canadians were involved in Grammy wins. Daniel Caesar is featured on "Best Part," by H.E.R., a track that earned her a win for Best R&B Performance, while James Ehnes, along with Ludovic Morlot and Seattle Symphony, was cited in the Best Contemporary Classical Composition category, awarded to composer Aaron Jay Kernis for “Kernis: Violin Concerto."

Music producer Greg Wells was part of the production team who created the soundtrack to The Greatest Showman, a Grammy winner for Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media.

Montrealer Willo Perron earned the Best Recording Package Grammy for his work on singer St. Vincent's 2017 album Masseduction, and Canadian-American violinist Lili Haydn won as part of the quartet Opium Moon, winners of the Best New Age album Grammy for a self-titled 2018 album.

Canadian Shawn Everett mixed Kacey Musgraves' Golden Hour, winner as Album of the Year and Best Country Album, and songwriter David Francey has one of his compositions, "Borderline," featured on the Best Bluegrass Album winner, the self-titled release by The Travelin' McCourys.

Dual nominee Shawn Mendes went home empty-handed, but would have made new fans with a strong performance of his hit "In My Blood," boosted by a strong duet assist from Miley Cyrus.

Canadian content made a welcome appearance in a tribute to Dolly Parton when Dolly and guests performed Neil Young's classic "After The Goldrush," albeit with a few lyric changes.

A Grammy winner last year, Alessia Cara returned to present (along with Bob Newhart) the Best New Artist award, to Dua Lipa.

See the full list of Grammy award winners here. Sources: Variety, CP