Rihanna, Taylor top American Music Awards

Justin Timberlake and One Direction were big winners. Justin got three, Pop/Rock Favorite Male Artist, Soul/R&B Favorite Male Artist and Soul/R&B Favorite Album for The 20/20 Experience while One Direction got two, Pop/Rock Band Duo or Group and Album for Take Me Home. But the 2013 American Music Awards (AMA) held last Sunday evening (Monday morning telecast on Star World) at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles clearly belonged to the girls. 

From the moment when Katy Perry opened the show with Unconditionally in a Kabuki mood down to that inexplainable but much talked-about performance of a string-bikini-ed Miley Cyrus singing a duet of Wrecking Ball with a weeping, lip-synching animatronic cat, it was clear that the females had the upper hand in the entire show.

The girls were also the top winners. Taylor Swift, who sparkled in a gold mini-dress carted off four wins — the most number of trophies for the night â€” Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist, Favorite Country Female Artist, Favorite Country Album for Red and the big plum, Artist of the Year.

Rihanna got top honors with AMA’s very first Icon Award for accomplishments in pop music and her popularity in social media. Rihanna, who also won the Soul/R&B Favorite Female Artist award, looked so elegant in a sedate black dress singing her big hit Diamonds. On hand to give her the trophy was her mother.

And first-timer Arianna Grande bested even the likes of Imagine Dragons, Florida Georgia Line, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and American Idol winner Phillip Phillips for the New Artist of the Year Award. The Nickelodeon star, gorgeous in a tight sequined red sheath, sang her big hit Tattooed Heart and proved why she so deserved the honor.

There were also remarkable performances by the lovely Jennifer Lopez channeling Latin music legend Celia Cruz to the queen of The Voice Christina Aguilera in a surprising pared down performance and a reunited TLC doing an updated Waterfalls with Lil Mama. 

Of course, now that the show is over those performances are what people are talking about. I know the AMA is supposed to be about the awards show but it draws the biggest names who exert extra effort for their numbers.

Remember how Michael Jackson led an all-star cast in We Are The World nearly 30 years ago or Adam Lambert’s controversial song and dance to Your Entertainment and that unforgettable first-time ever performance by New Kids On The Block with The Backstreet Boys together only a few years ago. That one resulted in an album and a tour by the two greatest boy bands of all time.

As it is the American Music Awards has never really been about the winners for the fans. They do all the voting for their favorites early on and then they wait for the show and the performers. You can read about the winners anyway on the web or in the newspapers a day later. What viewers really watch out for are the musical numbers. Some of those from the past have already reached iconic status. 

 And so by which one would you remember the 2013 AMAs? I sure hope it will not be by that duet of Do What You Want by R. Kelly playing American president Kelly and Lady Gaga in a sequined swimsuit looking a lot like Marilyn Monroe set in what looks like the Oval Office at the White House.

That was utterly tasteless. And to think that the show happened on the same week when the rest of the US of A was commemorating the 50th year of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas. Maybe it would not have been so bad if Gaga had just worn a black wig instead and could then be called Monica and not Marilyn.

There were a few other misses this year but entertainment-wise, it was all in all a great show. What I do not know is if the AMA winners will duplicate their feats at the Grammy Awards come February where members of the music industry vote instead of the fans. I have a feeling it will be an entirely different ball game with acts like Jay Z, The Lumineers, Mumford & Sons and Miguel faring better. 

Here are the rest of the American Music Awards 2013 Honor Roll of Favorites:

Single of the Year: Cruise by Florida Georgia Line featuring Nelly

Country — Male Artist: Luke Bryan; Band Duo or Group, Lady Antebellum; Album, Red by Taylor Swift.

Rap/Hip-hop — Artist: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis; Album: The Heist by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.

Alternative Rock Artist: Imagine Dragons

Latin Artist: Marc Anthony

Electronic Dance Music Artist (EDM): Aviicii

Adult Contemporary Artist: Maroon 5

Contemporary Inspirational Artist: Matthew West

Top Soundtrack: Pitch Perfect by Various Artists

Got this heartening bit of news from Simple Plan. The famous rock band has sent out a call for help for the Philippines and made a donation through the Simple Plan Foundation. The letter reads:

“Shocked by the magnitude of the destruction caused by Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful and destructive storms recorded in the region’s history, the members of Simple Plan decided they had to do something to help.

“Because they have had the privilege of visiting this great country many times over the last 10 years and have an amazing Filipino fan base, this disaster really hit home for the band and they are deeply saddened by the human catastrophe that has hit the Filipino people.

“In consequence, the Simple Plan Foundation has decided to donate $10,000 to the Canadian Red Cross to help support the victims and contribute to the rescue effort. The band hopes that their modest contribution will inspire other artists and people to donate and invites their fans to join them and pledge money to come to the aid of the victims of this horrible tragedy.

 â€œTo all our Filipino fans and friends that are dealing with this disastrous situation, we are sending you all our love and our best wishes of hope, courage and strength in these difficult times.”

A big, big thank you to the Simple Plan. God bless.