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Monday Memos: 2015 Grammy Awards Recap
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘Monday Memos’ we are going to talk about the 2015 Grammy Awards (btw we guessed half of the winners correctly this year, yay!). This year the award show was full of unique performances, surprises, and of course, awesome awards. It was truly a night dedicated to music, and all that it represented this past year. The show was once again hosted by rapper/actor LL Cool J, who stated at the top of the show that he wasn’t going to perform an opening monologue so that there would be more time for the music. I thought that it was a really memorable show, and will definitely have us all discussing it the rest of the year. If you missed the show, or just want to relive all the moments again, then please read on as we recap the 2015 Grammy Awards!
Awards:
- Record of The Year: Stay With Me (Darkchild Version) by Sam Smith
- Album of the Year: Morning Phase by Beck
- Best New Artist: Sam Smith
- Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Say Something by A Great Big World feat. Christina Aguilera
Here are the categories we guessed correctly this year:
- Best Country Song: I’m Not Gonna Miss You by Glen Campbell
- Best Country Album: Platinum by Miranda Lambert
- Best Country Duo/Group Performance: Gentle On My Mind by The Band Perry from the Glen Campbell I’ll Be Me Soundtrack EP
- Best Rock Song: Ain’t It Fun by Paramore
*If you want to see the full list of Grammy Award winners then please go to GRAMMY.com | The Official Site of Music’s Biggest Night
Performances:
Now there were a lot of awesome performances this year, but I decided to pick the top 10 must-see performances to discuss with y’all.
10) Eric Church: Eric performed his hit single ‘Give Me Back My Hometown’, which is a fun song that brings out the nostalgia in us all. As always, Eric captivated his audience and never lost their attention. The backdrop of the stage had scenes of a town in a Sepia effect, which just added an air of coolness to the number.
9) Ariana Grande: One number that was really interesting was Ariana Grande’s emotional performance of her song ‘Just a Little Bit of Your Heart’. The emotional ballad had a very intimate vibe that definitely captivated fans. The staging consisted of really dim lighting, purple stage lights, and really cool white smoke that appeared half way through the performance.
8) Pharrell Williams: Pharrell began his number with a spoken word performance of the beginning of his hit song ‘Happy’. The number then changed back to the original arrangement, and included dancers in bright colored clothing & choir robes. Towards the end of the number, the attention shifted over to the small stage in the center of the auditorium, where Hans Zimmermann was showing off his out of this world piano skills. Definitely a number we’d all be happy to see again.
7) Ed Sheeran feat. John Mayer & Questlove/Ed Sheeran & ELO: Ed performed a sweet rendition of his new single ‘Thinking Out Loud’, and was accompanied by John Mayer’s EPIC guitar playing, and Questlove (the drummer of the band The Roots, who are Jimmy Fallon’s house band) on the drums. This was such an awesome pairing that I know we all have our fingers crossed for these artists to collab again soon. After ‘Thinking Out Loud’, Ed switched over to another stage and performed ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ with British rock group, Electric Light Orchestra (aka ELO). This was another unexpected, yet really awesome collab that left us wondering who Ed will work with next (because obviously he can work with anyone and it will sound awesome).
6) Miranda Lambert: Miranda performed her song ‘Little Red Wagon’, and definitely showed that country music can rock. She was in full rock star mode, with a performance that included lots of cool smoke and explosion effects, an interesting red sun decoration in the background, and lots of flashing red lights that definitely raised the energy of the room to full blast.
5) Hosier & Anne Lennox: Hosier started the performance with their hit single ‘Take Me To Church’ & was later joined by Anne Lennox, who also performed her rendition of ‘I Put A Spell on You’ (which was originally by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins). This was another high energy performance that had the audience captivated throughout the number…what can we say, they put a spell on us!
4) Katy Perry: Katy performed a truly angelic rendition of her song ‘By The Grace of God’, complete with a beautiful white gown. The performance followed a PSA by President Barack Obama, and a speech by domestic abuse survivor Brooke Axtell (the PSA and speech were in support of a new program called #ItsOnUs, which is an initiative to end violence against women & girls). This was truly a strong way to deliver this powerful message.
3) Paul McCartney, Rihanna, & Kanye West: The legendary Beatle joined Pop star Rihanna, & Rap star Kanye West for a performance of the trio’s song ‘Four Five Seconds’. This was such an amazing number, that really brought out the true talent of all three artists, and showed the magic that can happen when artists of different genres come together to create something spectacular.
2) Sam Smith & Mary J. Blige: Sam & Mary J. Blige left the room completely speechless with their duet of Sam’s hit song ‘Stay With Me’. The two artists used their amazing vocal talents to deliver a breathtaking performance that was one of the highlights of the night. What made this performance extra cool was the old school soul flair that the artists added to the overall vibe of the show; it definitely left us hoping that they will work together again in the future.
1) Sia feat. Maddie Ziegler & Kristen Wiig: The top spot of the night has to go to Sia for her beautiful performance of her hit single Chandelier. The number took place in a destroyed, dirty room, and showed comedic actress Kristen Wiig & Dance Moms star Maddie Ziegler performing the choreography from the song’s music video together. Although Sia & Kristen were INCREDIBLE, the star of the show was definitely Maddie. Seriously, she’s 12 years old and has already performed at the Grammys, how do you possibly top that!?! With such a HUGE start to 2015, I’m excited to see what this rising star does next.
- All photos and information used in this blog belong to the Grammy Awards, CBS, LL Cool J, Sam Smith, Darkchild, Beck, A Great Big World, Christina Aguilera, Miranda Lambert, Glen Campbell, Paramore, The Band Perry, GRAMMY.com, Eric Church, Ariana Grande, Pharrell Williams, Hans Zimmermann, John Mayer, Questlove, Ed Sheeran, Electric Light Orchestra, Hosier, Anne Lennox, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Katy Perry, Barack Obama, Brooke Axtell, #ItsOnUs, Sam Smith, Paul McCartney, Rihanna, Kanye West, Mary J. Blige, Sia, Maddie Ziegler, Kristen Wiig, Dance Moms, Lifetime, Capitol Records, Sam Smith, James Napier, William Phillips, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Epic Records, Ian Axel, Chad Vacarino, Mike Campbell, Dan Romer, Julian Raymond, John Hartford, RCA Records Nashville, Frank Liddell. Chuck Ainlay, Glenn Worf, Fueled by Ramen, Warner Bros. Records, Hayley Williams, Taylor York, EMI Nashville, Capitol Records Nashville, Luke Laird, Jay Joyce, Rodney Jerkins, Paul “Hotsauce” Dawson, Alicia Renee Williams, I Am Other, Back Lot Music, Columbia Records, Jet Records, Jeff Lynne, Asylum Records, Atlantic Records, Amy Wadge, Jake Gosling, Audra Mae, Joe Ginsberg, Rubyworks Records, Island Records, Andrew Hozier-Byrne, Hozier, Rob Kirwan, Okeh Records, Herb Slotkin, Arnold Matson, Don Was, Mike Stevens, Greg Wells, Roc Nation, Westbury Road, Mike Dean, Tyrone Griffin, Dave Longstreth, Dallas Austin, Elon Rutberg, Noah Goldstein, Monley Puzzle, Sia Furler, Jesse Shatkin, Greg Kurstin, real.com, and all other original owners. I do not own anything in this blog. If any people, corporations, businesses, companies, etc, were not previously given credit for their work, they are given credit now and their previous absence was unintentional. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended.
Monday Memos: 2014 I Heart Music Awards Recap
Hey people of the internet!!! How is your Monday…I know everyone loves Monday!!! (you may now sarcastically laugh…ok that’s enough). On today’s ‘Monday Memos’ we are going to recap what happened at the first ever ‘I Heart Music Awards’…and A LOT happened so let’s get started! Now normally I talk about the host in a separate section, but this award show didn’t really have a single host and instead focused on using several different presenters. I think Pitbull served as the host (I’m not sure if that’s official or not) because he gave a very short monologue at the top of the show (after his performance). He mainly joked about the LA Clipper scandal (which is an NBA team for those of you who don’t know anything about sports…#NoShame). That was about it for the hosting duties…so let’s get the awards (yay!).
Hip-Hop/R&B Song of the Year:
‘Pour it Out’ by Rihanna:
This was definitely a tough category, but if we’re being completely honest, it’s hard for Rihanna to lose anything. Why you ask? Well first of all she’s Rihanna which means she’s awesome, and secondly this year she’s had hit after hit from her latest album ‘Unapologetic’ (which charted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart). So it’s easy to see why Rihanna deserved this award.
Best Collaborations:
‘Timber’ by Pitbull feat. Ke$ha
‘Timber’ was performed at the top of the show (which I will speak about later…get excited!), and was certainly a crowd favorite. But, this is no surprise since it did chart at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart(as well as #1 on numerous other charts all over the world). Ke$ha also has a record of releasing numerous hit singles, so when you get two powerhouses together, you can’t expect anything else but collaboration gold.
Best Lyrics
‘Wrecking Ball’ by Miley Cyrus
Now if there is an artist who has had an intense year, it’s Miley. If you’ve ever listened to ‘Wrecking Ball’, then you know that the song is full of angst and sadness, and the perfect song to cry to while eating a tub of ice cream. I think that any song that can make you think this much definitely contains some AMAZING lyrics.
Best New Artist:
Lorde
She’s 17, won two Grammys for her first single, which she co-wrote…yeah I would say that Lorde is the best new artist. She has also been able to make history in her home country of New Zealand by being the first solo act to get a debut single to chart #1 in the U.S. With all of this early success, I can only imagine what this young artist will achieve next.
Best Fan Army:
Rihanna (Rihanna’s Navy)
It’s no surprise that Rihanna won this award, because in order to have the success that she has had, you have to have a fiercely loyal fanbase. In her career thus far, Rihanna has been able to conquer music, movies, and has become a fashion icon for millions. ‘Rihanna’s Navy’ definitely came through on this one, and proved why they deserve this award.
Instagram Award:
Austin Mahone
With 3,803,044 VERY loyal instagram followers (and that’s just as of May 5, 2014), it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Austin took home this award. This talented young musician has been taking award shows (particularly fan voted award shows) by storm this year, and has proven that he is ready for a mainstream pop career. With the release of his debut album ‘The Secret’ expected to drop later this month, I definitely think that Austin needs to make sure he has plenty of room in his trophy case.
Young Influencer Award:
Ariana Grande
She’s stared in a hit all teen Broadway production, on two hit Nickelodeon TV shows, and has now made her mark on Pop/R&B music (even drawing comparisons to Mariah Carey…yeah that’s intense), so you would think that it would be no surprise that Ariana received this award. However, it’s not only her impossibly perfect talent that has influence her fans, but also the fact that Ariana has cultivated a very intense connection with them, and even admits to becoming friends with some her fans after meeting them on Twitter. With such a close connection to their idol, it’s no surprise that Ariana is a large influence on her fans.
Alternative Rock Song of the Year:
‘Demons’ by Imagine Dragons
Ever since this song dropped on October 22nd, 2013 it has controlled the airwaves, and has continued to launch alternative rock band Imagine Dragons into the spotlight. This band continues to prove that they can release hit after hit (they even won a Grammy last year for their song ‘Radioactive’), so it’s easy to see how ‘Demons’ had a great chance of becoming the mega hit it has become.
Song of the Year:
‘Stay’ by Rihanna feat. Mikky Ekko
Do I really need to explain why this song won? If you own a radio then you know what a huge hit this has been for Rihanna and Mikky Ekko. This track has charted at #1 in numerous countries, and has been acclaimed by critics. Since this track followed up Rihanna’s very popular hit ‘Diamonds’, you know it had to be catchy, relatable, and still hold a bit of that edge that sets Rihanna apart from other radio artists. This song certainly delivers and also proves that Rihanna is more than capable of digging deep and delivering emotionally driven songs with truthfulness and passion.
Best Country Song:
Blake Shelton ‘Boys ‘Round Here’
Country superstar Blake Shelton has certainly had a huge hit with this track. It was a fun direction for Blake, but it also didn’t tray from the sound that has made his fans fall in love with him. The track reached #1 on the ‘U.S Billboard Country Airplay’, and was praised by critics for “taking a chance” with its’ sound.
EDM Song of the Year:
‘Wake Me Up’ by Avicii
If you didn’t know who this Swedish DJ/Producer was before, then you definitely knew who he was after the song was released on June 17th, 2013. This song not only launched Avicii, but also singer/songwriter Aloe Blacc (who co-wrote the track with Avicii). This song has definitely helped Avicii launch himself into the forefront of the rising EDM culture in mainstream music.
Innovative Award:
Pharrell Williams
Until recently you may or not have known who this producer/singer/songwriter is but this year we all relieved a crash course in Pharrell 101. For nearly a decade, Pharrell has produced hits for artists such as: Gwen Stefani, Snoop Dogg, Nelly, Kanye West, Pitbull, Maroon 5, Fall Out Boy, Robin Thicke, Miley Cyrus, Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, etc. Pharrell has been well known for years in the music industry, as an innovator due to his experimentation with different sounds, and his collaborations with artists from very diverse genres. Lately, Pharrell has taken his creativity to a new level, and is now also well known for his vocal ability and onstage showmanship (as well as his famous brown hat from the Grammys…you know which one). With such an established history and bright future, it is obvious that Pharrell will continue to make a lasting impression on the music industry.
Artist of the Year:
Rihanna
I think we’ve gone through all the reasons why Rihanna is the artist of the year. I mean with hit track after hit track, and the deep love of her fans, I don’t think that any other artist could have received this award.
Performances:
Pitbull & G.R.L.:
Pitbull and American/British/Canadian girl group G.R.L. (which was formed by the ‘Pussycat Dolls’ mastermind Robin Antin), performed their new track ‘Wild Wild Love’. The members of G.R.L. wore cool black leather short shorts and some wore fun dresses. Pitbull wore a coral jacket with a peach shirt and white pants. The back screen displayed a brown sky, with small white clouds. The staging also included lots of flashing lights that got the crowd excited. As ‘Wild Wild Love’ ended, Pitbull began performing his hit track ‘Timber’. For this performance, dancers came out and added an energy boost to the already high energy performance. This was definitely a fun way to start the show.
Luke Bryan:
Country superstar kept the energy high by performing his 200 hit ‘My Kinda Night’. Luke kept his outfit casual by wearing skinny jeans, a black t-shirt, and matching black baseball cap. His staging included lots if cool spotlights shooting out throughout the stage. Luke also brought his showmanship to the table by showing off fun dance moves, and interacting with the fans. He’s performance definitely made this our “kinda night”. Good job Luke!
Bastille:
Now if you own a radio and do not live under a rock, you know who Bastille is, and you’re guilty of car singing their hit ‘Pompeii’ one too many times( it’s ok we’ve all done it…and the song is definitely awesome enough to warrant that crazy look random strangers on the road give you as you’re driving). Bastille gave an amazing performance that included lots of cool flashing lights, and the lead singer assisting on the drums at different points of the song. The performance made an impression by being very memorable, and so intriguing that you couldn’t look away. I think that this performance proved that Bastille will become as famous as they want to be (yes it was THAT amazing!).
Ed Sheeran:
Ed Sheeran began his performance with an up tempo version of his 2012 (2011 in the U.K.) hit ‘The A Team’. The performance was shown via satellite from the ‘Hotel Cafe’ in Los Angeles, CA. He followed up this song with his newest hit ‘Sing’, which not only showed off his amazing vocal abilities, but also his guitar skills. It was a very fun performance to watch, and further cemented why Ed’s talent has been able to capture his fans’ hearts.
Ariana Grande:
Ariana began her performance with her breakout hit ‘The Way’ (which you have DEFINITELY had hairbrush karaoke sessions too). Ariana came out wearing a black jazz with knee-high white go-go dancing style boots. She was accompanied by several male dancers who wore white shorts and black dress coats, enter background singers wore black dresses that matched Ariana dress except they wore black boots. The back screen had ‘Ariana’ written in large bright lights. As always, Ariana gave spectacular performance of ‘The Way’. She then changed into a sparkly black dress, her background singers wore black pants and white mid drifts, and her background dancers wore black shirts (some wore white shorts) and no shirts. After changing, Ariana sang her new hit song ‘Problem’, which of course she sang flawlessly, which warranted cheers from the crowd.
Michael Jackson:
The most anticipated performance of the night was definitely the premiere of Michael Jackson’s debut single ‘Love Never Felt so Good’ off of his second posthumous (which means that it was released after his death) album ‘Xscape’. The track features Justin Timberlake, and was previously recorded by Johnny Mathis in 1984. The performance was really intricate, with numerous dancers who were dressed like Michael, and danced along with video of clips of Michael (which were shown on the back screens). Usher came out as the song began and danced along with the other dancers. It was really cool to see all of these talented dancers pay homage to Michael Jackson, and celebrate his work. The performance ended with a large poster falling over the screen, with the cover of Michael’s album on it. This was definitely the crowd favorite performance of the night.
Kendrick Lamar:
Hip-Hop/Rap artist was up next with his track ‘California Love’. He wore a baseball cap, blue jeans, and a cool jacket. Before his performance he did a testimony about seeing a Dr. Dre and Tupac shoot a music video in his hometown of Compton, CA. His song gave off a very 80s meets Run DMC meets Will Smith vibe, and the performer was a lot of fun to watch.
30 Seconds to Mars:
30 Seconds to Mars performed their new song ‘City of Angels’ (I’ll give you one chance to guess which city the song is about…well go on take a guess…you know you know it). The performance included testimonies from celebrities and regular people trying to have a career in LA on the good and bad things about the city (these testimonies were also in the band’s music video for the song). The performance had a very haunting vibe about it, and ended with a superman impersonator saying, “Do I think I’ll make it in the industry? Only if I keep believing”.
Shakira:
Next Shakira performed her new song ‘Empire’. The staging was very elaborate and perfectly matched the vibe of the song. The back screen had images of leaves falling behind a black background that alternated between black, pink, and yellow. Then once the chorus hit, colored smoke was released. Shakiest certainly got really into her performance, which made the crowd go crazy for her. Shakira also brought a very rock and road vibe to her performance at one point, when he grabbed her mic stand, turned it upside down, and sang into it while holding the mic above her head. It was a very fun and unforgettable performance to watch.
Blake Shelton:
Next up was Blake Shelton who performed his new track ‘Doing What She Likes’. The staging was very simple, with a back screen that changed colors from blue to yellow, with the image of a palm tree on the screen. Blake accompanied his band on the guitar, and definitely gave a fun performance that the audience just loved.
Arcade Fire:
Arcade Fire performed their track ‘Normal Person’ (which was shown via video). Their performance included cool purple lights that lit up the stage, and the audience wearing cool foam fingers. This high energy performance was a lot of fun to watch, and continued the high energy trend that ruled the evening.
Pharrell Williams:
The last performance of the night was given by Pharrell Williams who did a medley of several of his hit tracks. He began his performance with his track ‘Come Get it Bae’ off of his album ‘GIRL’. The staging was definitely the most elaborate of the night, and included multiple stages, and numerous dancers who wore very futuristic ‘Jetsons’ style outfits. The next song that was performed was the 2013 hit ‘Blurred Lines’. While singing this song, Pharrell went into the area that the celebrities were sitting, and sang to them. The next song that was performed was another big hit from 2013 entitled ‘Get Lucky’. While this track played, the dancers went into a circle of mirrors and danced to the song. The finally song that was fine was ‘Happy’ (which was included in the ‘Despicable Me’ soundtrack, as well as ‘GIRL’). The dancers reemerge in letterman jackets, which have them a very 50s vibe, and was a nice finishing touch to an amazing number.
Testimonies:
This award show also contained numerous testimonies from artists such as Iggy Azalea, Coldplay, John Legend, Lady Gaga, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Pete Wentz of Fallout Boy, Adam Levine of Maroon 5, Rita Ora, and many more. the artists spoke about their experiences in LA, their first times encountering the city, and the lessons that they’ve learned from their failures and triumphs in the music business.
- All photos and information used in this blog belong to I Heart Music Awards, LA Clippers, all involved with the LA Clippers, Rihanna, Pitbull, Ke$ha, Miley Cyrus, Lorde, Austin Mahone, Instagram, Ariana Grande, Imagine Dragons, Mikky Ekko, Blake Shelton, Avicii, Aloe Blacc, Pharrell Williams, Grammys, Gwen Stefani, Snoop Dogg, Nelly, Kanye West, Pitbull, Maroon 5, Fall Out Boy, Robin Thicke, Miley Cyrus, Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, G.R.L., Luke Bryan, Robin Antin, Bastille, Ed Sheeran, Michael Jackson, Kendrick Lamar, Dr. Dre, Tupac, 30 Seconds to Mars, Shakira, Arcade Fire, Coldplay, John Legend, Lady Gaga, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Pete Wentz, Adam Levine, Fallout Boy, Maroon 5, Rita Ora, anyone involved in any way, shape, or form in the production, planning, or implementation of the I Heart Music Awards, popdust.com, and all other original owners. I do not own anything in this blog. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended.
Monday Memos: 2014 MTV Movie Awards Recap
Hello people of the internet!!! This past Sunday (April 13th, 2014) was the MTV Movie Awards, and as always A LOT of crazy stuff happened. The show was hosted by late night talk show host Conan O’Brien, and he certainly did not disappoint (but more on how he did later…don’t worry it’s worth the wait). Now anyone who has seen the MTV Movie Awards before knows that the award show has a history of crazy things happening, and this year the craziness was in full swing. Although the show was jam packed with fun moments, I picked my ‘Top 3 Unforgettable Moments’.
3) Grumpy Cat:
Yes, the internet phenomenon grumpy cat made her presence known at this year’s movie awards. As the host Conan joked, Grumpy Cat had an even better seat than 98 Degrees star (a popular boy band in the 90’s for anyone too young to know) Nick Lachey (what’s funniest about this joke, is that it was true)…however, in her normal grumpy fashion, Grumpy Cat was not impressed by her star treatment or this joke very funny at all (why so serious Grumpy Cat?!?).
2) Seth Rogen making out with his “mom”:
Yes you read that right, Seth Rogen made out with his mom (hopefully not his real mom because this would give a whole new meaning to the phrase “close relationship”. Now if you didn’t see the show, here is how it went down. Dave Franco, Zac Efron, and Seth Rogen all went on stage and announced that three lucky people had a golden ticket under their seat and because of this would have the opportunity to win a kiss from one of the three of them. First two beautiful young women came down for Dave Zac, and when it was Seth’s turn, he got a big surprise…his mother (or someone playing his mother…we still don’t know). Dave and Zac both kissed their winners, and Seth completely made out with his mother…so it was certainly a moment that will go down in MTV history (and an image that will scar us for the rest of time…anyways moving on).
1) Rita Ora and Zac Efron’s shirtless moment:
First please allow me to speak for everyone reading this when I say THANK YOU RITA ORA!!!!! (oh you know you were thinking it). Ok, here’s what happened! Zac Efron was accepting his award for Best Shirtless scene for the film ‘That Awkward Moment’. When Zac was in mid speech, Rita came up behind him and pulled the shirt he was wearing, so it would unbutton. Then, Zac took off his shirt and everyone screamed (definitely not an awkward moment)…and this is why Rita Ora is now everyone’s favorite human being ever. So as you can see, MTV definitely brought the funny, but this year I have to give an honorable mention to the most adorable Unforgettable moment ever…in the history of the world…ever…seriously this was the cutest thing ever! What is this moment you might ask, well I can sum it up in 3 words…puppies in costumes!!! Yes, during the pre-show we got to see a bunch of adorable puppies dressed up as super heroes and various other characters. In my opinion the puppies definitely stole the show. Why you ask? Because puppies are awesome…yes that is a real reason! So when you combine adorable puppies and put them in cute little costumes, well the result is just off the charts cuteness. (but I do want to put it out there that I don’t want this honorable mention to cause any friction between myself and grumpy cat…you’re cute too Grumpy Cat!!!
I mean look at this face
Adorable!
Host:
Ok, now let’s talk about how Conan O’Brien did hosting the MTV Movie Awards (yay!!!!). The show opened with Conan in a board room talking about how he wanted to break the record for most cameos in an opening sequence. The men in the board room said it could not be done, so Conan said that he would have 50 celebrities do cameos. Then, Conan went on several crazy adventure (and a trip to the nail salon with Taylor Swift), and got 49 celebrities to do cameos. He was very upset until someone informed him that he was the 50th celebrity! This was a really fun skit to watch, and I was impressed by how much work had to have gone into performing such a well put together opening skit (good job Conan! A + work!). After the skit finished, Conan came onto stage as rap music played. He then joked about Grumpy Cat, and showed vines of ‘American Hustle’ and ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ (honestly, summarizing these two films in individual 6 second videos was comedic gold). Conan then gave out two “awards” for ‘Best Product Placement” (a Pepsi machine in ‘The Hobbit’), and ‘Best Kiss Fight’ (where Will Arnett and Conan were performing some really cool matrix like ninja move while fighting by blowing kisses at each other…trust me it was A LOT funnier than it sounds). Lastly, Conan sang a song about how he wasn’t going to sing a song in the opening number. Conan was very serious that he wasn’t going to do a song in the opening number (I mean he even had a backup choir come in…everyone knows that means business!). All in all, I think that Conan did a really great job hosting, and proved just how hilarious and captivating he truly is.
Winners:
Best Musical Moment:
Backstreet Boys, Jay Baruchel, Seth Rogen, and Craig Robinson ‘This is the End’
Ok let me just say that when I saw this scene I had a total fan girl moment (I mean my inner 6 year old was screaming uncontrollably…so needless to say I’m excited that they won). Any scene that has 3 hilarious comedians and THE BACKSTREET BOYS (ahhh!!!!) singing ‘Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) definitely deserves the title of best musical moment.
Best Cameo Performance:
Rihanna ‘This is the End’
Now I didn’t see this movie, but I can only assume that Rihanna was amazing. I mean honestly she can sing, she’s a fashion icon, and she’s already proven that she’s an amazing actress due to her role in the movie ‘Battleship’. Honestly it seems like Rihanna is amazing at anything she is involved in, so I have no doubt that she was outstanding in this role as well (you go Rihanna Coco)
Best Breakout Performance:
Will Poultry ‘We are the Millers’
Honestly, anyone who can work well alongside veterans such as Emma Roberts and Jennifer Aniston (who has created some of the most memorial female comedic roles ever!) is a winner to me. Now you may know Will from his role of Eustace Scrubb in ‘The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader’, as a guest on ‘JacksGap’ (which is the YouTube channel of popular YouTube Vloggers Jack and Finn Harries), or if you’re from the UK, the popular comedy show ‘School of Comedy’. Although Will has an impressive comedic resume (as well as several films that are in post-production), he is still relatively new to American audiences however, I think that his standout performance in ‘We are the Millers’ will certainly catapult him into the A-list of comedy.
Best Transformation:
Jared Leto ‘Dallas Buyers Club’
Ok, since Jared did win several awards this year for his role as Rayon (a transgender woman with AIDS) in ‘Dallas Buyers Club’, it was reasonable to believe that he would win this award. Jared’s portrayal of Rayon has been widely praised by critics and fans alike. With the award season that Jared has had thus far, I definitely do not believe that his winning momentum will stop anytime soon.
Best Comedic Performance:
Jonah Hill ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’
Honestly, if you’re looking to cast an actor that can take on any comedic role, you don’t have to look much further than Jonah Hill. With memorable roles in film such as: ‘Moneyball’, ‘Superbad’, ’21 Jump Street’, ‘This is the End’, and many, many others, he has certainly became one of Hollywood’s favorite comedians. Jonah’s role in ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ didn’t stray from this, and further cemented Jonah’s place in our hearts and DVD collections.
Best Villain:
Mila Kunis ‘Oz the Great and Powerful’
Although Mila has shown before that she has a large and diverse acting range, her role in ‘Oz the Great and Powerful’ certainly cemented this fact. I really love the transformation her character Theodora goes through as she changes from a kind, naïve witch, into the villainous Wicked Witch that we all know and love. To have the ability to translate such a beloved character on screen in a modern film takes real talent, and luckily that’s exactly what Mila has.
Best Shirtless:
Zac Efron ‘That Awkward Moment’
I don’t think the reasoning behind this needs explaining, if you saw the show, look online, or ask about 99% of the people in the world, it’s pretty simple to see why Zac was given this award.
Trailblazer Award:
Channing Tatum
With a career that includes blockbuster such as: ‘Step Up’, ‘˜Dear John’, ‘The Vow’, ’21 Jump Street’, ‘Magic Mike’, ‘She’s the Man’, ‘Coach Carter’, etc. (basically he’s made several films every year since 2005…I know that’s A LOT of movies!), and a successful modeling career in which he worked for clients such as: Emporio Armani, Abercrombie & Fitch, Nautica, Dolce & Gabbana, American Eagle Outfitters, and more. With all of these credits to his name, we can all definitely see how Channing has made it to the top of the A List, with no signs of falling.
Best Kiss:
Emma Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, Will Poultry ‘We are the Millers’
This kiss was definitely very funny, and added to the overall comedic vibe of the film. There was some stiff competition for this category but it’s hard to beat Jennifer Aniston, Emma Roberts, and hilarious newcomer Will Poultry at anything (good job y’all…high five!!!).
Best Male Performance:
Josh Hutcherson ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’
I really couldn’t see how anyone else could possibly win this award. ‘The Hunger Games’ was definitely one of the biggest films of the year, so of course this would make Josh one of the biggest male stars of the year. With another two Hunger Games installments planned, I think that it’s safe to say that Josh should make room on his trophy case for a few more awards.
Best Female Performance:
Jennifer Lawrence ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’
I mean c’mon its Jennifer Lawrence; she has the midis touch in Hollywood right now. Also, she’s one of the main stars of ‘The Hunger Games’ so take everything I said about Josh and apply it here.
Favorite Character:
Tris (Shailene Woodley) ‘Divergent’
Now I think that the fact that ‘Divergent’ just came out in the theaters a few weeks ago speaks volumes about how beloved this character has already become. Personally I love Tris because she’s a strong female character, which is a nice change in Hollywood. I think that Tris’ uniqueness is one of the things that makes her so relatable, and thus gives the character a large fan base. I really hope that films continue this trend, because it has certainly caught on with the public.
Best Fight:
Orlando Bloom ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’
This definitely shouldn’t have come as a surprise due to the fact that ‘The Hobbit’ is an action adventure movie, of course the fight scenes are going to be awesome. Personally I think that any film that has mystical creatures is automatically going to have the best fight scenes (it’s a scientific fact…really it is!).
Generation Award:
Mark Wahlberg
This was probably my favorite award, just because I’m a sucker for entertainers who are honored for their long careers (don’t judge me…#sorrynotsorry). Now Mark Wahlberg has certainly had a PHENOMENAL film career, due to his involvement in movies such as: ‘Boggie Nights’, ‘Planet of the Apes’, ‘Ted’, ‘The Basketball Diaries’, ‘The Lovely Bones’, and so many others (I mean seriously look at this guy’s IMDB page and you’ll be amazed). Now although I know that this is the movie awards, I have to also point out that it would have been EPIC if MTV had played ‘Good Vibrations’ by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch (aka Mark Wahlberg’s hit rap song from the 90s here’s a link for those of you who aren’t familiar with it, or just want to hear it again: Marky Mark And The Funky Bunch – Good Vibrations).
Movie of the Year:
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
It’s THE HUNGER GAMES…enough said. But if you need further proof, the movie has made $864,565,663, is ranked as the tenth highest grossing film at the domestic box office, and is the highest grossing film at the domestic box office of 2013. So, needless to say, ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ was THE movie of 2013.
Performances:
Twenty One Pilots:
Twenty One Pilots performed their newest single ’Car Radio’. The performance began with the band performing on stage with numerous people wearing white ski masks. About midway through the song the lead singer (Tyler Joseph) and the drummer (Josh Dun) also put on white ski masks, and the audience near the stage did too (that’s a lot of masks). I really liked how energetic and fun this performance was, also the addition of the white ski masks made it unique. Twenty One Pilots’’ performance definitely made me want to hear more from them.
Rihanna and Eminem:
I was really excited for this performance, because it was the first time Rihanna and Eminem were going to perform their smash hit ‘The Monster’ live, and let me just say that they DID NOT disappoint. As the track began, red smoke lit up the backscreen, as blue smoke filled the stage. Eminem came out in a very casual black pants, leather jacket, and white T-shirt combo, while Rihanna choose an equally casual outfit, by wearing a white top, skirt, and head wrap. I really loved not only the energy and excitement that Rihanna and Eminem brought to this performance, but also how well they perform together.
Zedd and Ellie Goulding:
DJ/Producer Zedd joined pop star Ellie Goulding on the piano, as she performed her song ‘Bleeding Heart’, from the ‘Divergent’ Soundtrack. I loved how the dark staging and single spotlight gave the performance a very sweet and tender feel, which perfectly complimented the vibe of the track.
Zedd, Matthew Koma, and Miriam Bryant :
The last performance of the night was Zedd once again, who was joined this time by singer/songwriters Matthew Koma, and Miriam Bryant. The trio performed their song ‘Find You’, which is also form the ‘Divergent’ Soundtrack. For this performance, Zedd quickly jumped off of the piano, and began to DJ. Throughout the performance, the backboard flashed some really cool multicolored designs, as well as Zedd’s logo. I really loved how high energy and exciting the performance was, it definitely showed just how talented Zedd, Matthew, and Miriam are, and left the show on the same crazy/fun level that it began on.
- All photos and information used in this blog belong to MTV, all those involved in the MTV Movie Awards, Conan O’Brien, Grumpy Cat, Nick Lachey, Taylor Swift, Backstreet Boys, Jay Baruchel, Seth Rogen, and Craig Robinson, Rihanna, Will Poultry, Jared Leto, Jonah Hill, Mila Kunis, Zac Efron, Channing Tatum, Emma Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, Josh Hutcherson, Jennifer Lawrence, Shailene Woodley, Orlando Bloom, Mark Wahlberg, Twenty One Pilots, Rihanna, Eminem, Zedd, Ellie Goulding, Matthew Koma, Miriam Bryant, all those involved in the following movies: This is the End, We are the Millers, Dallas Buyers Club, Oz The Great and Powerful, That Awkward Moment, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Divergent, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, and all other original owners. I do not own anything in this blog. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended.
YouTube Wednesday: Lexxi Saal, the girl with the big voice, and an even bigger heart!!!
Hello people of the internet!!! In Today’s ‘YouTube Wednesday’, I will introduce you to an extremely talented young performer who is not only an amazing singer/songwriter, actress, but is also passionate philanthropist. I’ve been listening to her various YouTube covers and original songs for some time now, and I have to say that I am constantly impressed by her vocal skills and growth as an artist. Although she already has performance experience that numerous artists would aspire for (and she’s only 16 years old), I believe that she will continue to succeed and will soon be a HUGE star. Please allow me to introduce you to (start the drumroll….) Lexxi Saal.
Lexxi Saal is a singer/songwriter from New York City. At the tender age of 6, Lexxi began acting, and thus ignited her love of entertaining others. She has since performed in numerous plays with the organization ‘Way Off Broadway’. At age 11 Lexxi began singing and discovered a true passion for music. Lexxi’s talent and determination has allowed her to perform on numerous iconic stages, such as: ‘The Apollo Theater’ (which has been the starting place for numerous music legends),’The Cutting Room’, and ‘The Bitter End’. At age 12, Lexxi wrote a song entitled ‘Thank You’, as a tribute for those who have, and continue to serve in the military. The song not only showcases Lexxi’s AMAZING vocals, but also contains inspiring, emotionally conviction, that charged lyrics, that will cause anyone listening to it, to reflect on how much those in the military sacrifice for us. The song is sung A cappella, and is delivered with such conviction and sincerity, that it seems impossible that it was written by a 12 year old girl. I believe that this song is truly a testament to Lexxi’s musicianship and artistry. I would HIGHLY suggest that you check out the video for the song here Tribute to our Troops “Thank You” Lexxi Saal however I will say, when listening to this song you better have your tissues ready. Lexxi has received numerous awards from the military because of this song, and she continues to perform it at military benefits and events.
Lexxi has also opened for numerous artists, and has toured extensively. Some popular artists that Lexxi has opened for include: teen pop star Cody Simpson (who Lexxi opened for on November 19th, 2011 and again on November 10th, 2012, in her home state of New York), later in November of 2012, she opened for teen pop/YouTube star Austin Mahone, as in New York. Lexxi performed extensively in 2013, appearing as a part of the Pop Explosion Tour, OMG Music Fest, Digifest, VidCon, Teen Hoot show, and Fall Jam shows. Lexxi also opened for numerous phenomenal artists in 2013 such as: Connor Maynard (YouTube star/Parlophone Records (a subdivision of Warner Music Group) recording artist , Jillian Jenson ( The X Factor USA season 2 contestant), and Aaron Carter (yeah, I don’t think I need to explain who he is), and numerous other acts. Lexxi was also a featured performer at Sam Pottorff’s (1 of the 6 members of the EXTREMLY popular ‘our2ndlife’ channel on YouTube) 18th Birthday Party Concert. As you can see, 2013 was certainly a HUGE year for Lexxi, and I see 2014 as an even bigger year for the star.
Starting in 2011, Lexxi began posting numerous cover videos of popular songs from artists such as Adele, Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Lorde, and numerous others. Lexxi has proven through these videos that she has the vocal control, soulfulness, and emotional range of numerous well established artists. She has also demonstrated that she has grown immensely as an artist over the years, by perfecting her crafting, and developing her own, unique sound. I have also noticed that Lexxi’s wide range of artists that she chooses to cover, speaks volumes about her various musical influences. It is essential for an artist to be influences by various artists, because it allows them to be well versed in numerous styles of music, thus aiding them in creating a fuller, more diverse sound. Lexxi also proves through her cover videos that she is fully capable of captivating a crowd, simply by using her voice. I definitely suggest that you check out her covers, you will not regret it!
Lexxi has also released numerous original song, which include ‘Just Breath’ ( Lexxi Saal Original “Just Breathe” written by Lexxi Saal, an beautifully written song about longing for another person), ‘Gossip Girl’, ‘Winner’, ‘Soft Ribbon’, Hold on Pain Ends( Lexxi Saal Hold On Pain Ends (H.O.P.E) Lyric Video – YouTube an inspirational, moving song about finding hope in the aftermath of bullying and trauma), ‘Regret’ (a high tempo EDM inspired track that’s a very unexpected yet cool direction for her), and lastly her VERY popular 2012 track ‘Thank You JB’ ( an ode to the obstacles pop star Justin Bieber encountered on his rise to fame, and the way his story has inspired her and other fans. This song can be found on ITunes). Lexxi’s website states that she is preparing to release an EP of original music (judging from the music she has already released, I will definitely purchase her EP…I suggest you do too!!!).
If you thought that Lexxi was just a phenomenal actress, singer/songwriter, then you were wrong! Although Lexxi is extremely busy with her blossoming career, she is also very dedicated to her organization ‘LexxiLoves’. Lexxi founded this organization when she was 8 years old (doesn’t she make you feel like a slacker!?!), the organization’s mission is to donate gifts, raise awareness, and encourage others to aid in supporting and fundraising for children in foster care, and as Lexxi state on the LexxiCare’s website, “Make a Child Smile”. Lexxi has numerous projects that her organization participates in, such as their ‘Sweet Dreams Pillow Project’, which is a program that provides numerous foster children with a pillow case with an inspiration message on it. The ‘Sweet Dreams Pillow Project’ pillowcases are also available for purchase, and all purchases count as donations to LexxiLoves. The organization is also partnered with 1-800 Flower.com, which provide a bouquet of followers to a child in foster care every month. Personally I think that it is so amazing that this young, talented girl is so passionate about helping and inspiring others, so I definitely suggest that you check out and share the link to the Lexxi Loves website lexxiloves : About Lexxi Loves.
As you can see, Lexxi Saal is a phenomenal actress, vocalist, songwriter, who certainly has a long future ahead of her as an entertainer. She has also been gifted with a large heart, and the determination and passion to see her vision through. I can certainly see Lexxi quickly becoming a household name, as well as a constant radio presence. Due to the fact that her vocal abilities exceed traditional genre limitations, and her songwriting skills are very advanced for her age, I can see Lexxi obtaining and maintaining a very diverse fanbase. I also believe that due to Lexxi’s hardworking and meticulous nature, that LexxiLoves will continue to gain ground, and soon have the ability and support to give hope to numerous children in the foster care system. I HIGHLY suggest that you become familiar with Lexxi Saal, because this is a name that you will hear extensively for years to come.
Here’s how to stay connected with Lexxi Saal:
Twitter: LexxiSaal (LexxiSaal) on Twitter
Facebook:Lexxi Saal | Facebook
YouTube:officiallexxisaal
Website: Official Lexxi Saal
LexxiLoves Website: lexxiloves : About Lexxi Loves
Instagram: lexxisaal on Instagram
* All photos and information used in this blog belong to, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Lexxi Saal, LexxiLoves, highlineballroom.com, bellaboobabe.com, rasingceokids.com, officiallexxisaal.com, lexxiloves.org, Cody Simpson, Austin Mahone, Aaron Carter, our2ndlife, Way Off Broadway, The Apollo Theater, The Cutting Edge Room, The Bitter End, Parlophone Records, Warner Music Group, Jullian Jenson, Sam Pottoroff, Aaron Carter, The X Factor USA, Adele, Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Lorde, Digifest, Vidcon, Teen Hoot, OMG Music Fest, pop explosion tour, fall jam, itunes.apple.com, and all other original owners. I do not own anything in this blog. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended.
YouTube Wednesday: Tyler Layne, the future of music has arrived!!!
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘YouTube Wednesday’ blog, I want to introduce you to a phenomenal up and coming pop singer named Tyler Layne. I recently discovered Tyler on Twitter (I really owe you on Twitter!), and he really impressed me. At such a young age, Tyler already has the artistry, musicianship, and natural talent of a professional much older than him. I am really excited to share this artist’s music with you all, and I know that you will quickly become as obsessed with him as I am. I will warn you now, that once you hear Tyler Layne’s voice, you will definitely spend the majority of your time listening to his covers and original music. Ok so are you guys ready to be introduced to your latest musical addiction!?! Ladies and Gentlemen I give you Tyler Lane!!!
Tyler Layne was born in Portsmouth, VA and discovered his love of entertaining at the ripe old age of 4, when he began singing in his church’s choir. By the age of 5, Tyler was a soloist in his choir, and his love of music continued to flourish. Only two years later at the age of 7, Tyler began to astonish crowds at local festivals and community events. At the age of 8, Tyler began professional training in piano, voice, and acting. This training made the already naturally gifted entertainer an even stronger performer, which became a huge asset for Tyler when he became the youngest member of the group RD7, after impressing judges related to Radio Disney. As a part of this group, Tyler was given the opportunity to tour with numerous famous musical acts such as: Raven Symone, The Cheetah Girls, The Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, and American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson. After Tyler’s time as a part of RD7 was completed, Tyler founded other groups called Seven5Seven and Brooke and Tyler. The experience and public recognition that Tyler gained by participating in these groups led him to feel confident enough to continue his career as a solo artist.
On January 18th, 2012 Tyler posted his first YouTube video, which was a cover of Rihanna’s hit track ‘We Found Love’. Tyler had no idea that posting this video would snowball into the opportunity to share his music on a much larger scale. Tyler has continued to post videos of himself singing hit songs from popular artists such as: Katy Perry, Adele, One Direction, Hunter Hayes, Imagine Dragons, Bruno Mars, etc. As if Tyler’s vocal ability was not impressive enough, he has also used his YouTube platform as an opportunity to demonstrate his phenomenal guitar, piano, and songwriting skills. Tyler released his first original song on YouTube, on January 28th, 2012 entitled ‘Dear Julia’. This track is a piano driven ballad, which was certainly an early indicator of Tyler’s advance skills as a writer, which is an increasingly more important commodity for artists to have. Tyler made a music video to accompany this single, and was able to show his acting talent through the video’s emotionally charged lyrical content. Tyler’s next original song was a fun, high energy track which featured pop-rock band Everlife. The video contained numerous photos of Tyler’s performances throughout the years, and really showed just how seasoned the young entertainer was at that point. Tyler has released 3 additional original songs, which are entitled ‘Over the World’, ‘Ms. Perfect’, and his latest single ‘Boom Boom’ (all of these songs are currently available on ITunes, so I would suggest you go pick them up…after you read this blog of course! And for all of you remix lovers out there, ‘Boom Boom’ has been remixed, and it is AMAZING!!!!).
Tyler’s latest two singles (‘Ms. Perfect’ and ‘Boom Boom’), showed an evolution for him as an artist, due to the videos’ production quality, and the videos’ storylines. In ‘Ms. Perfect’, Tyler demonstrates that he can not only sing and act, but can also control a stage, and dance (seriously how can one person be so talented!). Although I love Tyler’s other music videos and his live covers, I feel that the Ms. Perfect video showed the audience his fun personality, which only makes you fall even more in love with his talent. My favorite video is definitely the ‘Boom Boom’ video, just because the song is amazing, and the video itself makes you want to get up and dance (seriously, how do I get invited to a Tyler Layne house party!?!). I can definitely see this song become a huge radio hit, and an infectious summer time song, that will have us dancing for years to come.
Since Tyler posted his first video in early 2012, the young entertainer’s talent as a musician, vocalist, songwriter, actor, and all around amazing entertainer has taken center stage. You can see Tyler’s growth through his videos, and it seems that he has nowhere to go but up. In the past few months, Tyler has had many phenomenal accomplishments, which include becoming a partner with YouTube super channel VEVO (also home to artists such as One Direction, Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, John Legend, and just about any popular artist imaginable. This is also where you can find Tyler’s music video for ‘Boom Boom’). Other accomplishments that Tyler has had are his sponsorships with Peace Tea, Sodiem Clothing, and Giannini Guitars. However, arguably Tyler’s largest accomplishment to date is signing with the record label ‘Blow Me A Bubble Records’. In this day and age, the competition to secure a record deal is cut throat, so for an artist to sign a deal is a HUGE accomplishment. Make sure you catch Tyler on ‘the Fanatics tour’, which began on January 11th, 2014, and continues through July 26th (I believe that Tyler will be performing on all of the tour dates, but make sure you check the website here (the FANatics tour | Showcasing up and coming talent) to see if he is performing in your city…there are also A Lot of other amazing acts on the tour, so I highly suggest that you check it out!).
As for Tyler’s future, I definitely see this shinning light only getting brighter with time. Although Tyler’s original music has been primary pop, I can definitely see him crossing over into music that has a more soul vibe to it. I think that Tyler’s natural vocal talent is very unique, and his determination and persistence to constantly become better at his crafts will certainly set him apart from current mainstream radio artists. I see big things on the horizon for Tyler, and definitely think he will soon become a household name and eventually a worldwide phenomenon. With an entertainer like Tyler, there are no limitations, and I am very excited to see what amazing project this modern day Renaissance man produces next.
Do you want to stay connected with Tyler? Here’s how:
YouTube: Tyler Layne – YouTube
YouTube VEVO: TylerLayneVEVO
Twitter: TylerLayneMusic
Facebook: Tyler Layne Online
Website: tylerlayne
- All photos and information used in this blog belong to Tyler Layne, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, VEVO, Raven Symone, The Cheetah Girls, The Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, American Idol, Kelly Clarkson. Rihanna, Katy Perry, Adele, One Direction, Hunter Hayes, Imagine Dragons, Bruno Mars, Blow Me A Bubble Records, Peace Tea, Sodiem Clothing, and Giannini Guitars, prnewswire.com, and all other original owners. I do not own anything in this blog. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended.
Monday Memos: 2014 AMAs Recap
Hello people of the internet!!! On last night’s (November 24, 2013) AMAs, A LOT of stuff happened. Ok, ready? Let’s get started!
Host:
This year’s AMAs were hosted by Latin rap superstar Pitbull, who certainly seemed to be appreciative of his hosting gig. Pitbull said that it was a miracle that he was hosting the award show, and that he was living the American dream. Although Pitbull’s opening monologue was short, he did make a pop culture reference when he asked several female dancers to come on stage to twerk for the crowd. He also explained that twerking was not a new concept, and stated various names that twerking has been giving, previous to Miley Cyrus adopting the dance.
Winners:
- Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist: Justin Timberlake
With the tremendous success of his latest 2 part album ‘The 20/20 Experience’, it’s obvious why Justin tops pop this year.
- Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist: Rihanna
Once again Rihanna proves why she is an unstoppable force in the music industry, by adding yet another award to her long list of achievements.
- Favorite Country Album: ‘Red’ by Taylor Swift
The golden girl strikes again (and no I was not referring to her hair color) ! The first award that Taylor won last night was so appropriate and well deserved.
- Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Album: ‘The Heist’ by Ryan Lewis & Macklemore
This team has had an iron claw on radio since their song ‘Thrift Shop’ made thrift stores cool (now you know you want to go to a thrift store and just start rapping…yes you do, don’t deny it!). They have had similar success with their numerous other tracks such as ‘Same Love’ and ‘Can’t Hold Us’, so it’s obvious why they would take this award home.
- Favorite Alternative Rock Artist: Imagine Dragons
One thing that keeps this band on top is their constant habit to always evolve musically. Even though they had us hooked when their hit song ‘It’s Time’ first hit the airways, Imagine Dragon has continued to push their musical capabilities with their equally infectious tracks ‘Radioactive’ and ‘Demons’.
- Favorite Latin Music Artist: Marc Anthony
For the past few decades Marc Anthony has been an icon in Latin and mainstream music, so it’s not surprising that fans still love him.
- Favorite Pop/Rock Album: ‘Take Me Home’ by One Direction
C’mon was it ever a question that this super group would win! Since their U.S. debut in 2011 with the smash ‘What Makes You Beautiful’, this boy band has had an iron grip on the hearts of U.S fans. This was One Direction’s first AMA, and as if that wasn’t special enough, they were the only British group of the night to win an American Music Award.
- Favorite New Artist of the Year: Ariana Grande
This powerhouse vocalist has been compared to many iconic female vocalists, and if this year is any indication, she will have a very long and successful career. At only 20 years old, Ariana has had a role on a successful Broadway musical, has been on two highly successful TV shows, and has had a number 1 album. So this is a girl you should definitely keep your eye on, and if you haven’t, pick up her debut album ‘Yours Truly’.
- Icon Award: Rihanna
At the ripe old age of 25, super star Rihanna won the 1st ever Icon Award last night. With many accolades which include: six Grammy Awards, 12 number one singles, and the honor of being Billboard’s highest selling digital artist of the 2000s, it is obvious to see why Rihanna is a musical icon. The award was made extra special because Rihanna’s mother presented the award to her (Ok, everyone say AWWWWWWW!), so last night was a good night to be Rihanna, good job girl!
- Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist: Justin Timberlake
Since 1993, when a fresh faced young boy named Justin Timberlake appeared on ‘The Mickey Mouse Club’, he has had full control of the hearts of fans. From his time as a member of the highly successful boy band N’ Sync, to his even more successful solo career, Justin’s iron grip on the music industry has only tightened with age. And I have to say that it was so funny when Justin won, he walked over to Taylor Swift and started mouthing “Oh my god, oh my god” (yes, my words exactly Justin).
- Favorite Country Female Artist: Taylor Swift
Ok, for 1 minute we’re going to pretend that this was a surprise…ok minute over now back to the blog. Well, Taylor had such a successful night last night, adding 4 more awards to her large collections (Have you ever wondered how many award shelves she must have?).
- Favorite Single of the Year: ‘Cruise’ by Florida Georgia Line Feat. Nelly
This cross-over track has controlled mainstream and country radio for the last year, and has turned country duo Florida Georgia Line into a household name. With all of this considered, it makes perfect sense that this song won the AMAs first ever ‘Single of the Year’ award.
- Favorite Soul/R&B Album: Justin Timberlake
Yes Justin Timberlake won again! (It was a good night to be Justin Timberlake! GO Justin GO Justin! ok my fangirl moment is over).
- Favorite Electronic Dance Music Artist: Avicii
This has been a huge year for electronic dance music, and Avicii’s mega hit ‘Wake Me Up’, featuring vocalist Aloe Blacc, has certainly put him in the fore front of the minds of music lovers.
- Favorite Country Male Artist: Luke Bryan
The country superstar has been burning up the charts, as well as celebrating a very successful year with a lot of awards. It seems that fans just can’t get enough of this rising king of country.
- Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group: One Direction
Now when you say the words ‘favorite’, ‘pop’, ‘group’, you gotta think of One Direction. These guys have gone from reality show contestants to full-fledged pop superstars, and with the release of yet another #1 album, it’s obvious that there is no stopping these talented guys (good job Simon Cowell, we are forever in debt to you!).
- Favorite Country Group: Lady Antebellum
This group has had quite the year, from releasing a successful album, to performing with the legendary Stevie Nicks; this group is truly making their mark on music history.
- Favorite Artist of the Year: Taylor Swift
Just when you think that Taylor can’t do anything else to surprise us, she does something amazing like this. Good job Taylor, after all your success with ‘Red’ you deserve this award (c’mon you know she does…don’t be mean)
The following awards were not presented during the actual award show:
- Favorite Female Artist-Pop/Rock:
This award shows that Taylor’s music has now gone beyond genre restrictions, and that her fans now span an extremely large demographic.
- Favorite Artist-Adult Contemporary:
From their hit 2002 album ‘Songs about Jane’, this rock band has had the hearts and ears of fans worldwide. With front man Adam Levine’s participation on the hit NBC show ‘The Voice’, this band has only gotten more and more popular.
- Favorite Artist-Contemporary Inspirational: Matthew West
This super star has been taking his fans “to church” ever since his award winning 2003 debut album ‘Happy’. Matthew has also written tracks for numerous Christian and mainstream acts (such as Rascal Flatts, Billy Ray Cyrus, and country music legend Vince Gill).
- Top Soundtrack: Pitch Perfect
Ok on the count of three everyone say YESSSSS. Ready? One, two, oh I can’t wait YESSSSS! You know you’ve been spending the past year quoting every line form this movie, and singing every song. So of course it would make sense that this movie is so successful I mean it brought us Fat Amy right?! You may now jump in the air and fangirl…ok time’s up.
Performances:
There were so many amazing performances this year so let’s get started!
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Katy Perry kicked off the show with a performance of her hit song ‘Unconditionally’. The performance had a Japanese theme, complete with Katy and her dancers wearing beautiful, multicolored kimonos, and dancing with fans. The screens behind Katy had visuals of Japanese lanterns rising up, which helped the overall effect of the performance. There was also a Zen garden on the stage, and midway through the performance, Katy danced with an umbrella as strobe lights shined around her. The performance ended with confetti falling from the ceiling, as some of the dancers did acrobatic tricks in the air. Katy then ascended the stairs, a smoke screen emerged, and then Katy disappeared. A very cool way to end a performance if you ask me!
- Next up was the super group of the moment, One Direction. The guys sang the track ‘Story of my Life’ one of the singles off of their latest hit record ‘Midnight Memories’. The staging consisted of several small light bulbs which resembled candles, and gave a very intimate feel to the performance. The guys mostly stood still during their performance, but in typical 1D fashion, they looked as if they were singing to every individual girl in the audience. Such a solid performance by the guys on their big night!
- Ariana Grande was the next performer, and even though she tweeted that she was extremely nervous about her performance, she certainly didn’t show it. Ariana sang a very small portion of her hit song ‘The Way’, and then dove into a full rendition of her 50’s inspired hit ‘Tattooed Heart’. The throwback style performance was made complete with 4 backup singers, who all sang with old school 50’s style mics (you know the one’s that can’t be taken off of their stand, but look really cool. Oh and Ariana also sang with this kind of mic, so it made her performance that much more authentic). When Ariana finished performing, she received a standing ovation, and it was definitely deserved, because her voice was so strong and precise, despite the fact that she has been performing A LOT…don’t you wish you were this amazing? I sure do!
- Imagine Dragons were up next, and they definitely brought the rock and roll with them. Their set started with their newest hit ‘Demons’, which included cool blue lights and a lot of smoke on the stage. They then transitioned into their song ‘Radioactive’, which included red lights and yeah you guessed it smoke! At another part of the performance, all the members of the band had a drum solo, so that was so different and cool!
- The man of the honor was up next…yup you guessed it Pitbull! Pop star Ke$ha joined him on their hit song ‘Timber’ with several dancers on stage with them. The staging consisted of two staircases, and there was a lot of really cool fire shooting all over the stage. The pressure was definitely on for Pitbull to deliver on this performance because of his job as host, and….he delivered. Two thumbs up!
- Justin Timberlake was up next and as always he delivered. JT sang the track ‘Drink You Away’, one of the songs off of his album ‘The 20/20 Experience’. He introduced himself as Justin Timberlake and the Tennessee Kids, and the band included several backup singers, and instrumentalist. Justin also played the guitar during his performance (he sings, dances, acts, writes music, plays guitar, seriously what can this guy not do!). The performance once again proved that this super star isn’t going anywhere!
- Country duo Florida Georgia Line performed their infectious cross-over hit ‘Cruise’ with hip hop star Nelly next. All three guys did an amazing job performing the song, and once the song was completed, they transitioned into singing Nelly’s 2001 hit ‘Ride wit Me’, which was unexpected, but was also a very cool transition. Since Florida Georgia Line and Nelly have been performing this song on award shows all year, it was nice to see them do something different with this performance.
- AMA Icon award .winner Rihanna performed her super hit ‘Diamonds’ next, and she definitely “shined bright like a diamond” (I’m sorry I had to say it). Rihanna wore a beautiful black dress, a pearl chocker, pearl barrettes, and diamond earrings, which made her performance, look very elegant. Between the stunning ensemble that Rihanna wore, and her incredible vocals, Rihanna proved that she is a musical icon!
- Next up was Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, who performed live from Miami via satellite feed (don’t you just love technology!). The two performed their latest hit ‘Can’t Hold Us’, and their staging had lights of various colors, and some of the lyrics appeared on the screen behind them. They brought a lot of energy to their performance (as always!), and proved why they deserved such a great year (because c’mon, 2013 was a very good year for these guys!).
- Multi-talented superstar Jennifer Lopez performed next, with an amazing tribute to late Cuban superstar Celia Cruz. JLo performed a medley of some of the late superstar’s hit songs. Her performance showcased numerous dancers doing many Latin style dances, and JLo (who had 3 quick changes during the performance) proved that her dancing skills haven’t lost a beat during her many years in the industry. She did many difficult dances, including one move at the end of her performance where she was lifted into the air by her partner, and ended in a plank position above his head. This performance was actually my favorite of the night, you gotta love her.
- Great Big World and Christina Aguilera performed their chart topper ‘Say Something’ next, and it was pure magic. My favorite thing about their performance was the fact that the two acts have such distinct voices; however their voices still blend together so perfectly.
- Hip Hop artist Kendrick Lamar performed his hit track ‘Swimming Pools (Drank)’ next and showed that he is one to watch in hip hop. The artist is currently opening for Kanye West, and his performance at the AMAS last night demonstrated that he won’t remain an opening act for very long.
- Country superstar Luke Bryan performed his hit ‘My Kinda Night’ next, and he certainly received a warm welcome form the crowd. The back screen behind Luke had a ring pattern that grew and then collapsed (it sort of reminded me of a screensaver, it was really cool). The staging also consisted of lots of red and white lights, and of course included Luke’s signature dancing. All in all it was a very fun performance, that made you wanna get up and dance.
- Iconic R&B group TLC made a special appearance next, and performed their hit ‘Waterfalls’ with the assistance of rap/hip hop artist Lil’ Mama. The group performed all of the original dance moves from the ‘Waterfalls’ music video, and Lil’ Mama did an excellent job performing the rapping segment of the song. At the end of the performance, the back screen showed a photo of the late Lisa “Left-Eye” Lopes, which was a beautiful touch to the performance. The performance itself was amazing, and showed just how great T-Boz and Chili are, due to the fact that they can still perform the iconic song with such precession and skill, even after all these years.
So all in all, the AMAs were full of exciting moments and amazing musical numbers. The show definitely did not disappoint, and made me excited for next year.
- All photos and information used in this blog belong to all those who have any part of the production, conception, implementation, or are in any other way involved with the AMA awards, Pitbull, Justin Timberlake, all those involved in the production, conception, implementation, or are in any other way involved with the following albums or singles: The 20/20 Experience, Red, The Heist, Take me Home, Songs of Jane, Thrift Shop, It’s Time, Can’t Stop Us, Yours Truly, Same Love, Radioactive, Demons, What Makes You Beautiful, Cruise, Wake Me Up, and Happy, Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Imagine Dragons, Marc Anthony, One Direction, Ariana Grande, The Mickey Mouse Club, N’ Sync, Nelly, Florida Georgia Line, Avicii, Aleo Blacc, Luke Bryan, Simon Cowell, Lady Antebellum, Stevie Nicks, Maroon 5, Adam Levine, Matthew West, Fat Amy, Rascal Flatts, Billy Ray Cyrus, Vince Gill, all of the individuals, labels, and other corporations associated with any and all artists, bands, groups, and individuals mentioned in this blog post, and all other original owners. I do not own anything in this blog. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended.