A shocking admittance

I like to watch award shows.

I'm mildly interested in the ones for movies but I really dig the music award shows - the Grammys, the American Music Awards, the Country Music Awards, etc. I remember as a kid, exchanging a nap the following day for being able to stay up later on a school night to watch these.

On Monday night, I caught the Canadian Country Music Award show. I probably wouldn't have known it was on if my love for a certain Canadian country singer hadn't been reignited thanks to his newly released CD. "Paul Brandt is going to be the host?!?" That is must see TV. Over the last couple of years, I have had the privilege of catching the music award shows from other countries. The Brits was one fascinating show. English people going on stage and admitting to farting, really new music. It was great. Very unlike the traditional staid US version where everyone begins their acceptance speech by thanking God. And then there are the Canadians.

While watching the show on Monday, the 'This is a really weird show' kept running through my head. Their country stars have names like Corb Lund or George Canyon whom I've never heard of outside of this awards show. Even my beloved Paul Brandt has fallen out of favor with the US country music fans since he is now relegated to an independent music label and moved back to Calgary from Nashville (but I still love him and have befriended him in the world of MySpace). The setting didn't help any. It was held in a city that rhymes with 'vagina' (although Paul Brandt and his deep voice did make 'Saskatchewan' sound sexy. I never knew that was possible) in an auditorium where the seats on the floor looked like they were taken from the nearby Knights of Columbus Hall. I'm sure the organizers of the show were thankful that there weren't any wedding receptions that night or else it could have been one of those 'bring your own chair' parties.

I jest but I know that the next time I come across an award show on CBC, I will set the remote down and watch it and continue to think that Canada is such an odd little country. I think I would fit in there when I move.