There was no dearth of fanfare, fun and spotlights at the American Music Awards
Absence of singers like Beyonce and Katy Perry (who won three honours — single of the year for number one hit Dark Horse, favourite female artist — pop/rock and favourite artist — adult contemporary) did not stop the American Music Awards from being a star studded one.
Taylor Swift kicked off the AMAs as a mad woman and man eater by feeding a boy a poisonous apple. She held burning roses and gave crazy eyes during the performance of her new number one hit, Blank Space. She was aggressive — grabbing her male dancers by their blazers and singing in character on bended knee — during the performance. She even removed part of her dress to reveal a shimmery, leg-revealing gold number.
She was later presented the first Dick Clark Award by Diana Ross. “To the fans who bought my albums, what you did by investing in music and albums is showing that you believe in the same thing I believe in — that music is valuable and that music should be consumed in albums and albums should be consumed as art and appreciated,” Swift said.
The first award of the night was however presented to One Direction, who won artist of the year and took home two other awards — favourite band and for their album Midnight Memories. “This has been a real perfect day... America feels like a second home to us,” liam Payne, member, said onstage with his band mates after being voted by fans.
For 24-year-old rapper Iggy Azalea, beating heavyweight rappers like Eminem and Drake to win the AMA was nothing less than a shock. “This award is the first award I’ve ever won in my entire life and it means so much to me that it is for best hip-hop because that’s what inspired me to move to America and pursue my dreams and it’s what helped me when I was a teenager to escape and to get through my life and to better times,” said the Australian girl, who was declared the favourite artist — rap/hip-hop and whose album The New Classic won the favourite album. Australian boy band 5 Seconds of Summer won new artist of the year, and they also performed a cover of The Romantics’ What I like About You. Mary J Blige performed Therapy, a new song she wrote with Smith and host Pitbull performed with R&B singer Ne-Yo. Fergie gave a hip-hop flavoured performance of her comeback single, l.A. love (la la), while Selena Gomez slowed it down for the emotional Heart Wants What It Wants. Beyonce, who didn’t attend, won favourite female artist — soul/R&B and favourite album — soul/R&B for her self-titled effort. luke Bryan took home favourite male artist — country. “I want to thank God above for letting me tour night in and night out on the road. I also want to thank the fans,” he said.
Carrie Underwood was named favourite female artist — country and the soundtrack for Frozen, the year’s top-selling album, won top soundtrack.