Instagram/@deadmau5
Unprecedented surprise tribute by deadmau5 and Bryan Adams honored Lights with a Visionary Award at the Billboard Canadian Women In track event. One of the night’s most unforgettable moments arose from such an unprecedented pairing to honor Lights for her cross-genre imprint in Canadian culture. This presentation placed a spotlight on Lights’ cross-genre influence, with her electronic and rock counterparts paying her homage through this award.
Advertisement
An instant wave of awe swept through the audience as deadmau5 and Bryan Adams walked on stage. In a video from the event, deadmau5 said, “I can’t believe I get to stand up here with Bryan Adams!” Adams was his explanation of the Visionary Award: “It is given to artists who see the world differently and don’t follow the trends.”
Before the praises, which followed her tributes, the presenters’ genuine appreciation for Lights was shared at the very special moment. Deadmau5 shared he’d been “a big supporter of Lights since the first time I heard her,” while Adams said he’d just worked with her and had been “completely blown away with her arrangements and her singing.” A shared respect between this triad of Canadian artists gave birth to a powerful moment transcending genres.
Lights was deeply moved by this tribute, who commented on her post afterwards: “Still riding this high honestly. Lemme engrave this interaction on my tomb.” This perspective coming from Lights explains how much such a surprise acknowledgment from two giants of Canadian track must have meant for her.
Observant fans began remarking about the presenters’ chemistry early on, amused by deadmau5’s typical dry humor: referring to Lights as ‘alright’ before Adams hurried to clarify ‘No, she’s amazing!’ One observer summed up the whole exchange perfectly: ‘She’s alright.’ ‘No she’s amazing.’ ‘That’s what I said.’ That brief back-and-forth instantly became the highlight for any fan familiar with deadmau5’s trademark deadpan wit.
Another one pointed out the deeper meaning behind deadmau5’s seemingly casual praise “Those who know deadmau5 know ‘she’s alright’ is a compliment that goes deeper than what people see on the surface.” That deepens already that moment, as it meant a lot for everybody knowing his personality.
The past of lighting and deadmau5 collaborations came up again: one user narrated they were walking to work with the song “When The Summer Dies” playing, featuring vocal contributions from Lighting. Another one said it was their “fave tune by them,” underpinning how past musical collaborations have been well accepted by the audience.
Maybe fans are the greatest advocate calling for the future collabs among the three: “So deadmau5 x Bryan Adams when?” asked one commenter, while another wrote, “I would love a collaboration with Lights, Joel & Bryan.” IC audiences are growingly hungry for more collaborative ventures among these Canadian powerhouses.
Personal stories began to augment the moment, too. According to one fan, deadmau5’s mom supposedly played Bryan Adams on loop throughout all deadmau5 growing years, an acknowledgment of this through the mention of those two artists sharing the stage with Bryan “surreal.”
The spotlight was also put on Lights’ talent, continuing with further comments past the presenter pairing that went to the headlines. “Deserved,” a fan who saw her recently perform wrote, calling it “probably the most legendary vocal performance I’ve ever seen in my life.” Another long-time fan also shared their story of meeting Lights back in 2015 when she was “nice enough to meet me” after waiting backstage at a festival.
As per Adams’ explanation during the presentation, never before had the Visionary Award been given in Canada. This is the first-ever presentation made in Canada to Lights, which only serves to further accentuate her enormous influence on the development of musical theatre in this country bridging between different worlds of track.
This was among the most effective tributes precisely because it combined artists from different generations and genres under the banner of recognizing pure talent. A representative of the very opposite end of modern-day electronic based track with deadmau5, Bryan Adams for rock that has blossomed over many decades, and arguably Lights as the visionary that links these worlds-the essence of that moment has been the embodiment of Canada’s eclectic and cooperative track scene ahead.
Advertisement
Billboard Canada Women in track has brought us several moments to remember; however, the unexpected pairing of deadmau5 and Bryan Adams to pay tribute to Lights will undoubtedly go down as one of its most iconic presentations. It was not just a ceremony for awarding an musician; this was a ceremony representing the past, present, and future of Canadian track, all united on one stage in a powerful tribute to a truly deserving ‘visionary.’ The event also highlighted deadmau5’s late night Toronto vibe, his unforgettable festival set, and his revolutionary connectivity solution.
About the Author
