I’ll be live blogging the Billboard Music Awards right here. It’s the awards event that celebrate chart topping artists. In other words, those who sold lots singles and/or albums in the past year.
Phillip Phillips, Carrie Underwood, Nicki Minaj, Maroon 5, Carly Rae Jepsen and One Direction are all nominated for awards.
Nicki Minaj, Justin Bieber, Jennifer Lopez, Bruno Mars, Miguel, Kacey Musgraves, Prince, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, The Band Perry, Ne-Yo and more will perform.
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ETA: Taylor Swift won EVERY SINGLE country award, despite her latest album Red being mostly a pop album.
Bruno Mars opens the show with “Treasure.” He always puts on a dynamic performance. I love his old school move. A perfect opener.
Host Tracy Morgan takes the stage with a bevy of Las Vegas show girls. We can only hope he’ll totally lose his mind tonight. That would be awesome. “What happens in Vegas goes straight to You Tube.” Stale joke. “Yes, I name the black people first,” after he rattles off a litany of African American performers. Oh oh. He makes a Taylor Swift dating joke. She shrugs with a side eye, but eventually laughs. That’s right. Lighten up Taylor! He introduces Wayne Newton as his biological father.
Shania Twain takes the stage to hand out the first award, Top Rap Artist. She confesses that she loves rap music. WHO KNEW. The award goes to Nicki Minaj! She says she didn’t expect it. She thanks the Barbz. She does not thank American Idol.
Selena Gomez performs her single “Come and Get it.” She seems to have transitioned from a Disney princess to more adult fare. She still strikes me as a flavor of the month, though. She’s sporting a bindi on her forehead, which upsets some Indians. The song has a faux eastern flavor.
Jennifer Nettles takes the stage to introduce The Band Perry. They sing “Better Dig Two.” The performers are singing hit songs, rather than the obligatory greatest hits medley. Which I appreciate. Kim sings this song with a ton of sass. Kind of odd for a song about wanting to be thrown in the grave after your dead husband.
Carly Rae Jepsen introduces the Swedish duo, Icona Pop and their fun hit “I Don’t Care.” Fun, if you ignore the super-violent images in the Carrie Underwood tradition of destroying property in the name of love.
“International pop sensation” Psy takes the stage to introduce a bit with Tracy Morgan. They dance crazily to “Gentleman” before introducing Chris Brown who sings “Fine China.” BOO. I don’t care how successful his PR team is at rehabilitating his image, I still can’t abide his girl friend beating ass. He’s singing live, but it sucks.
Melissa Milano and Avril Lavigne take the stage to hand out the “Top Digital Song.” And the award goes to Carly Rae Jepsen for “Call Me Maybe.” 7 million downloads sold!
Hayden Panettiere introduces Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. They sing their smash hit “Thrift Shop” in a club across the street. It’s a more intimate affair, with a hipper looking crowd. The success of this tune pretty much came out of nowhere. Unless you were following Ryan Lewis on You Tube.
Tracy introduces Kid Rock as an old school Hip Hop artist. But of course, he sings country now. He awards the Top Rap Song to “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. Lewis thanks Goodwill, along with his producers and management.
In what universe is Psy a rap artist? Just asking.
Selena Gomez introduces her BFF Taylor Swift who sings her hit “22” She makes her way to the stage from her dressing room, through offices, up the stairs. She’s wearing black hot pants and a festive pink shirt. Dancers follow behind her. She eventually makes her way up the venue steps and on stage. I’m thinking the part before she hit the stage was taped ahead of time? The performance ends with red balloons falling from the ceiling. A REAL PARTY.
The duo Florida-Georgia Line take the stage to introduce Kacey Musgraves singing “Merry Go Round.” She’s a welcome moment of authenticity in a sea of glamor and glitz.
Will.i.am takes the stage wearing a really stupid hat. He says “Like a Virgin” is his favorite Madonna song. Uh huh. His introduction is glowing. Her MDNA tour sold a crapload of tickets. A video package of clips from the tour runs before the legendary pop singer takes the stage to accept the award for Top Touring Artist. She’s wearing a onesie deal with a feather collar and garters. And pop star shades. I’m surprised she can move her face at all. “I’ll also take off my pretentious sun glasses,” she says before thanking a bunch of people, cheekily. She is kind of a smart ass.
Ariana Grande takes the stage to introduce another young artist. Justin Bieber performs the song “Take You” his fans chose for him on twitter. He’s SO NOT SINGING A THING. His lip syncing sucks. I’m sorry. This is horrible. AND THAT OUTFIT I CANNOT.
Amy…somebody-on-an-ABC show and Jason Derulo hand out the Top Billboard 200 Album to… Oh the “sexy fans in the mosh pit” reveal, with stadium style placards, that Taylor Swift’s Red is the winner. “I’m really happy with this,” she says. She finally has lost “surprise face.”
Ke$ha is next to introduce Pitbull and Christina Aguilera performing their collaboration “Feel This Moment.” The best thing is the A-ha melody interpolated into the song. AND JUST AS I’M THINKING THIS VERY THING PITBULL INTRODUCES Morten Harket, A-ha lead singer, who sings a couple of lines from the original song. SO RANDOM YET SO AWESOME.
A very buff Miley Cyrus takes the stage to pimp her new single (Coming out June 3!) It’s pretty obvious she’d rather go on about herself than hand out the Top Male Artist to Justin Beiber.
Another ABC actress takes the stage to introduce a performance from the SEXAY Miguel. He sings “Adorn.” And yes, he’s very very VERY hot. Oops. While he’s jumping from one stage to the other, he lands on the head and neck of a young girl sitting in the audience. OUCH. I smell a lawsuit!
Chloe Moritz star of KICK ASS II. Yes. That’s a movie. She introduces “my friend” Ed Sheeran who sings “Lego House.” Simple song sung with only an acoustic guitar. Nice. But is he dating Taylor Swift? I MUST KNOW (Not really).
More ABC TV stars take the stage to introduce Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull who sing “Live it Up.” These two JUST performed this on American Idol. Yet, Nicki Minaj claimed she couldn’t perform on the results show because the BBMA producers wouldn’t let her do both. THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HM. In any case, I didn’t need to see this lip-synced wonder again in the space of 4 days. At least Jl0 is wearing a different outfit. She’s got thigh high red patent leather boots and feather bird arms. Maybe she’ll fly away if we’re lucky.
Tracy introduces a product placement bit for the Las Vegas tourist board, or whatever, and it’s hilarious watching him struggle with the teleprompter. Some chucklehead from LMFAO is the star of the package. We watch him spend ONE DAY IN LAS VEGAS HASHTAG.
Kelly Rowland and Oscar somebody present the Top EDM Artist award to smash hit maker guy, David Guetta. In his thank you speech he says he never would have believed that EDM would become the next big thing like those geniuses at Billboard predicted.
Wiz Kalifa and a guy from LMFAO introduce Will.i.am and Justin Bieber who perform their collab, “That Power”. Wow. Double the horrible lip syncing! YAY! Will has a double combo going that involves a stupid hat AND glasses. Hm. The Biebs seems a little unsure of his choreography.
Jenny McCarthy takes the stage to introduce David Guetta, Ne-yo and Akon who join forces to perform “Play Hard.” I don’t really have an opinion on this performance. We’re an hour and a half into this thing, and my brain is beginning to numb.
Cee Lo Green and Shanice (a fan who won a contest to help present the award, or something) present the Milestone Award PRESENTED BY CHEVROLET to Justin Bieber. It sounds like booing from the audience. They’re probably chanting “BIEBS BIEBS BIEBS. *snicker*. Justin just stands there, uncomprehendingly, while the crowd continues to scream. “I’m 19 years old, I think I’m doing a pretty good job,” he pouts, “It really should be about the music. I’m an artist. I should be taken seriously.” YA WANT A LITTLE WHINE WITH THAT CHEESE BIEBS. That entitlement isn’t pretty. I think Justin needs a vacation.
Celine Dion takes the stage to thunderous applause. She hands out Artist of the Year to Taylor Swift. SURPRISE FACE IS BACK. She tells her fans they are the longest and best relationship she’s ever had.
Tracy admonishes the crowd for booing. So they WERE booing Justin? “This ain’t the Apollo,” he says.
Nicki Minaj and her mentor, Lil Wayne take the stage to perform “High School.” The performance consists of Nicki shaking her padded butt in Lil Wayne’s face. She doesn’t even bother to move her lips half the time. Lame.
Erykah Badu and Janelle Monae introduce the ONE AND ONLY PRINCE! He is receiving the ICON award from Billboard. OMG. He’s singing a slowed up rock version of “Let’s Go Crazy.” It’s hot as EFF. He launches into a SCORCHING version of “Complicated” before coming back around to “Let’s Go Crazy” to finish off. Amazing. Showing EVERYBODY HOW IT’S DONE. Hey Justin Bieber. Here’s a TRUE artist. Now take a f*cking seat.
Winners List
ARTIST AWARDS
Top Artist:
Justin Bieber
Maroon 5
One Direction
Rihanna
Taylor Swift – WINNER
Top New Artist:
Carly Rae Jepsen
Gotye
One Direction – WINNER
PSY
The Lumineers
Top Male Artist:
Bruno Mars
Drake
Flo Rida
Jason Aldean
Justin Bieber – WINNER
Top Female Artist:
Adele
Carly Rae Jepsen
Nicki Minaj
Rihanna
Taylor Swift – WINNER
Top Duo/Group:
Coldplay
fun.
Maroon 5
Mumford & Sons
One Direction – WINNER
Top Billboard 200 Artist:
Adele
Justin Bieber
Mumford & Sons
One Direction
Taylor Swift – WINNER
Top Hot 100 Artist:
Flo Rida
fun.
Maroon 5 – WINNER
Rihanna
Taylor Swift
Top Digital Songs Artist:
Carly Rae Jepsen
Flo Rida
fun.
Maroon 5
Taylor Swift – WINNER
Top Radio Songs Artist:
Flo Rida
fun.
Maroon 5
Nicki Minaj
Rihanna – WINNER
Top Touring Artist:
Bruce Springsteen
Coldplay
Lady Gaga
Madonna – WINNER
Roger Waters
Top Social Artist:
Justin Bieber – WINNER
Katy Perry
One Direction
Rihanna
Taylor Swift
Top Streaming Artist:
Baauer
Drake
Nicki Minaj – WINNER
PSY
Rihanna
Top Pop Artist:
Adele
Bruno Mars
Justin Bieber
Maroon 5
One Direction – WINNER
Top R&B Artist:
Alicia Keys
Chris Brown
Ne-Yo
Rihanna – WINNER
Usher
Top Rap Artist:
Drake
Flo Rida
Nicki Minaj – WINNER
Pitbull
PSY
Top Country Artist:
Carrie Underwood
Hunter Hayes
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Taylor Swift – WINNER
Top Rock Artist:
Bruce Springsteen
Coldplay
fun. – WINNER
Gotye
Mumford & Sons
Top Latin Artist:
Don Omar
Jenni Rivera – WINNER
Prince Royce
Romeo Santos
Shakira
Top Dance Artist:
Calvin Harris
David Guetta
Madonna – WINNER
Skrillex
Swedish House Mafia
Top EDM Artist:
Calvin Harris
David Guetta – WINNER
deadmau5
Skrillex
Swedish House Mafia
Top Christian Artist:
Casting Crowns
Chris Tomlin
Matt Redman
MercyMe
tobyMac – WINNER
ALBUM AWARDS
Top Billboard 200 Album:
Adele “21”
Mumford & Sons “Babel”
One Direction “Take Me Home”
One Direction “Up All Night”
Taylor Swift “Red” – WINNER
Top Pop Album:
Adele “21” – WINNER
Justin Bieber “Believe”
Maroon 5 “Overexposed”
One Direction “Take Me Home”
One Direction “Up All Night”
Top R&B Album:
Alicia Keys “Girl On Fire”
Chris Brown “Fortune”
Frank Ocean “Channel Orange”
Rihanna “Unapologetic” – WINNER
Usher “Looking 4 Myself”
Top Rap Album:
2 Chainz “Based On A T.R.U. Story”
Kendrick Lamar “Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City”
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis “The Heist”
Nicki Minaj “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded” – WINNER
Rick Ross “God Forgives, I Don’t”
Top Country Album:
Carrie Underwood “Blown Away”
Jason Aldean “Night Train”
Lionel Richie “Tuskegee”
Luke Bryan “Tailgates & Tanlines”
Taylor Swift “Red” – WINNER
Top Rock Album:
fun. “Some Nights
Mumford & Sons “Babel” – WINNER
Of Monsters And Men “My Head Is An Animal”
Phillip Phillips “The World From The Side of the Moon”
The Lumineers “The Lumineers”
Top Latin Album:
Jenni Rivera “Joyas Prestadas: Banda”
Jenni Rivera “Joyas Prestadas: Pop”
Jenni Rivera “La Misma Gran Senora” – WINNER
Prince Royce “Phase II”
Romeo Santos “Formula: Vol. 1”
Top Dance Album:
David Guetta “Nothing But The Beat”
deadmau5 “Album Title Goes Here”
LMFAO “Sorry For Party Rocking”
Madonna “MDNA” – WINNER
Skrillex “Bangarang”
Top EDM Album:
David Guetta “Nothing But The Beat”
deadmau5 “Album Title Goes Here”
Skrillex “Bangarang” – WINNER
Skrillex “Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites”
Swedish House Mafia “Until Now”
Top Christian Album:
Casting Crowns “Come To The Well”
Lecrae “Gravity”
MercyMe “The Hurt & The Healer”
tobyMac “Eye On It” – WINNER
Various Artists “Wow Hits 2013”
SONG AWARDS
Top Hot 100 Song:
Carly Rae Jepsen “Call Me Maybe”
fun. “Some Nights”
Gotye Featuring Kimbra “Somebody That I Used To Know” – WINNER
Maroon 5 “One More Night”
Maroon 5 Featuring Wiz Khalifa “Payphone”
Top Digital Song:
Carly Rae Jepsen “Call Me Maybe” – WINNER
fun. Featuring Janelle Monae “We Are Young”
Gotye Featuring Kimbra “Somebody That I Used To Know”
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz “Thrift Shop”
Maroon 5 Featuring Wiz Khalifa “Payphone”
Top Radio Song:
Bruno Mars “Locked Out Of Heaven”
Carly Rae Jepsen “Call Me Maybe”
Gotye Featuring Kimbra “Somebody That I Used To Know” – WINNER
Maroon 5 “One More Night”
Maroon 5 Featuring Wiz Khalifa “Payphone”
Top Streaming Song (Audio):
Carly Rae Jepsen “Call Me Maybe”
Ellie Goulding “Lights”
fun. “Some Nights”
fun. Featuring Janelle Monae “We Are Young”
Gotye Featuring Kimbra “Somebody That I Used To Know” – WINNER
Top Streaming Song (Video):
Carly Rae Jepsen “Call Me Maybe”
fun. Featuring Janelle Monae “We Are Young”
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz “Thrift Shop”
PSY “Gangnam Style” – WINNER
Taylor Swift “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”
Top Pop Song:
Bruno Mars “Locked Out Of Heaven”
Carly Rae Jepsen “Call Me Maybe” – WINNER
Ellie Goulding “Lights”
Maroon 5 “One More Night”
Maroon 5 Featuring Wiz Khalifa “Payphone”
Top R&B Song:
Alicia Keys Featuring Nicki Minaj “Girl On Fire”
Frank Ocean “Thinking Bout You”
Miguel “Adorn”
Rihanna “Diamonds” – WINNER
Trey Songz “Heart Attack”
Top Rap Song:
Flo Rida “Whistle”
Flo Rida Featuring Sia “Wild Ones”
Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T, 2 Chainz “Mercy”
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz “Thrift Shop” – WINNER
PSY “Gangnam Style”
Top Country Song:
Eric Church “Springsteen”
Florida Georgia Line “Cruise”
Hunter Hayes “Wanted”
Luke Bryan “Drunk On You”
Taylor Swift “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – WINNER
Top Rock Song:
fun. “Some Nights”
fun. Featuring Janelle Monae “We Are Young”
Gotye Featuring Kimbra “Somebody That I Used To Know” – WINNER
Phillip Phillips “Home”
The Lumineers “Ho Hey”
Top Latin Song:
Don Omar “Hasta Que Salga El Sol”
Don Omar Featuring Natty Natasha “Dutty Love”
Juan Magan Featuring Pitbull & El Cata “Bailando Por El Mundo”
Michel Telo “Ai Se Eu Te Pego” – WINNER
Wisin & Yandel Featuring Chris Brown & T-Pain “Algo Me Gusta De Ti”
Top Dance Song:
Baauer “Harlem Shake” – WINNER
David Guetta Featuring Sia “Titanium”
Nicki Minaj “Starships”
PSY “Gangnam Style”
Rihanna “Where Have You Been”
Top EDM Song:
Baauer “Harlem Shake” – WINNER
Calvin Harris “Feel So Close”
Calvin Harris Featuring Florence Welch “Sweet Nothing”
David Guetta Featuring Sia “Titanium”
Swedish House Mafia Featuring John Martin “Don’t You Worry Child”
Top Christian Song:
Big Daddy Weave “Redeemed”
Building 429 “Where I Belong”
Matt Redman “10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)” – WINNER
newsboys “God’s Not Dead (Like A Lion)”
tobyMac “Me Without You”
