If the MTV VMAs in August just weren't enough for you, your dreams have come true. The semi-music network aired the European Music Awards on a tape delay from Amsterdam tonight (Nov. 10), featuring many of the same acts from that now legendary August night and a few new rock acts. Of course, there were trophies, too, with awards given out for broad categories like Best Female, Best Hip-Hop and Best Video.
Things kicked off in America at 7:30 p.m. EST with a pre-show live from New York. Hosted by Cher Lloyd, Darren Criss and Guy Code's Andrew Schulz, the distinctly American Fall Out Boy, Jason Derulo and Austin Mahone performed their respective new singles on stage ("Alone Together," "Marry Me" and "Banga! Banga!") before Mahone took home the fan-voted trophy for Artist on the Rise.
Yes, Mahone is very much an American boy and the event in New York was hosted by two Americans and a Brit. The distinctly red, white and blue flavor was spread throughout the EMAs, which felt less like a European Music Awards and less like a VMAs lite. They were even hosted by Redfoo, formerly of LMFAO.
Like the August VMAs ceremony, there were performances from Miley Cyrus, Robin Thicke, Katy Perry and Bruno Mars. The "lite" comes from the lack of controversial moments in the music as well as the more mellowed second singles from Cyrus, Thicke and Perry.
The controversial twerk-queen of the VMAs started off the ceremony with "We Can't Stop," but there was only one little person in a black latex outfit instead of dozens dressed as teddy bears. There were a few moments of twerking and a little pat on Cyrus' companion's bottom, but it was small fry compared to the VMAs. Thicke, too, performed "Blurred Lines" soon after as well as his new single "Feel Good." There were naked girls aplenty, but it's not like that's something we haven't seen from him before.
Later, Cyrus returned to the stage to give an emotionally driven and simple performance of "Wrecking Ball," highlighted by a dead-on look to the camera, wherein she looked near to tears.
The other MTV award vets Perry and Mars actually had a better showing at the EMAs this year. Perry's inspired performance of "Unconditionally" was beautifully executed with ribbon dancers wrapping her in cloth as she rose on a platform, eventually being suspended over the massive EMAs audience. Mars' music video for "Gorilla" was reflected in his performance, with bright orange lighting, neon signs and a stripper, creating the perfectly sleazy Havana hideaway.
The slight European flair was added in three rock performances from Kings of Leon, The Killers and Imagine Dragons. All bands from the U.S. of A, of course, but they've experienced greater success overseas lately than at home.
During the ceremony, awards were given out exclusively to American artists. At the top of the show, Bruno Mars took home the trophy for Best Song for "Locked Out of Heaven." Other winners include Eminem for Best Hip-Hop, Katy Perry for Best Female, Justin Bieber for Best Male, One Direction for Best Pop and Beyoncé for Best Tour for her Mrs. Carter World Tour.
The big winner of the night was "Rap God" Eminem. After a performance of "Berzerk" and "Rap God" from his new album MMLP2, the legendary rapper accepted the Global Icon Award. Upon presentation, the EMAs highlighted his chart successes and his critical success, citing that he has won 14 EMAs (the most of any artist ever), 13 Grammys and 11 VMAs, as well as reaching No. 1 on 83 countries around the world. Em's speech was short and simple until the end, where he had an odd, spacey "I love award" moment with presenter Will Ferrell (as Ron Burgandy).
The night went smoothly and, thus, rather boringly, until it was time for Miley Cyrus to accept the award for Best Video for "Wrecking Ball." "I would like to thank my fans, my Smilers for making this happen and Terry Richardson," she said as she rooted around in her purse, presumably to make room for her cumbersome new trophy.
Not the case, however. Edited out of the American East Coast broadcast, Cyrus lit up a big ol' joint as she accepted her speech. Her favorite herbal remedy is perfectly legal in Amsterdam, and Cyrus was out to prove that she was going to take advantage of the opportunity.
Sigh.
Regardless, things ended without a hitch, yet again. Imagine Dragons performed a crowd-rousing performance of "Radioactive" before Icona Pop closed things out with "I Love It."
Are the EMAs necessary? Not really. A lot of the winners were the same from the VMAs, but the night went on without any particularly shocking or interesting moments. Ain't no water cooler talk here. It is nice to see rock have its moment on MTV yet again, and it's cool that Katy Perry gets to party in Amsterdam tonight, but overall, the night was just another moment in star glorification.
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