Single of the Year

Avril Lavigne, ''GIRLFRIEND''

For her third album, ''The Best Damn Thing,'' the multimillion selling, singer-songwriter and guitarist had one clear goal in mind - to make it fun. While touring in 2004 for her last album, ''Under My Skin,'' the pop-rock dynamo found that her favourite songs to play were faster and more up-tempo, prompting her to make a record that captured that kind of high spirit. (J/RCA*SONY BMG)

Feist, ''1234''

This has been Leslie Feist's year, with the catchy ''1234'' landing in an iPod commercial and becoming a smash download, her performance on Saturday Night Live and impressive worldwide sales of her latest album, ''The Reminder.'' (Arts&Crafts*EMI)

Finger Eleven, ''PARALYZER''

When the rock group Finger Eleven released 2003's self-titled disc, the five-piece band could never have imagined that the ballad ''One Thing'' would hit No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and help propel the CD to gold status in the United States. (Wind-Up*Warner)

Jully Black, ''SEVEN DAY FOOL''

From her astounding debut album, ''This Is Me,'' to her role in the theatre production ''Da Kink In My Hair,'' and writing for such artists as Nas and Destiny's Child, Jully Black is one of the most well respected singer-songwriters in Canda. (Jully Black Entertainment*Universal)

Michael Buble, ''EVERYTHING''

The Vancouver-based crooner has sold more than 11 million albums worldwide and won five JUNO Awards to date. His grandfather, who would play everyone from Sinatra to Ella, introduced him to swing music. (Reprise*Warner)